Percy Jackson Books in Order: The Complete Reading Guide

The short answer: start with the five original Percy Jackson and the Olympians books, beginning with The Lightning Thief. Then read the two newer Percy books, The Chalice of the Gods and Wrath of the Triple Goddess, and move on to The Heroes of Olympus and The Trials of Apollo. The easiest way in is a five-book Percy Jackson box set (£15.49 at the time of writing). Below is the complete reading order for Rick Riordan's Camp Half-Blood world, plus the box sets that make each stage easy.

Percy Jackson reading order at a glance

Prices checked on our product pages in October 2026 and may change.

1. Percy Jackson and the Olympians (books 1–5)

This is where everything begins. Twelve-year-old Percy discovers he is the son of Poseidon and is sent to Camp Half-Blood, a training camp for the children of Greek gods. Read these five in order:

• 1. The Lightning Thief
• 2. The Sea of Monsters
• 3. The Titan's Curse
• 4. The Battle of the Labyrinth
• 5. The Last Olympian

We stock two five-book paperback sets: the Percy Jackson 5 Books Collection Set (£15.49) and the Percy Jackson & The Olympians 5 Books Box Set (£14.50). Both list the same five titles, so pick whichever cover style your reader prefers.

2. Percy's senior year (books 6 and 7)

Riordan returned to Percy with a new run of adventures set in his final year of high school. Percy needs recommendation letters from the gods to get into college:

• 6. The Chalice of the Gods (2023)
• 7. Wrath of the Triple Goddess (2024)

Rick Riordan has said a third senior-year book is in progress, but at the time of writing it has not been published. If your reader needs everything from book 1, the Percy Jackson books 1–7 set (£49.99) has all seven in one go. If they already own the original five, Wrath of the Triple Goddess is available as a hardcover (£11.99).

Should you read books 6–7 before Heroes of Olympus?

Not necessarily. They were written much later and take place after The Heroes of Olympus and The Trials of Apollo, so some readers save them for the end. Reading them straight after book 5 is fine for younger fans who just want more Percy, but there are minor spoilers about later events.

3. The Heroes of Olympus (books 1–5)

The sequel series introduces new demigods, Jason, Piper and Leo, and Camp Jupiter, the Roman counterpart to Camp Half-Blood. Percy returns from book two onwards.

• 1. The Lost Hero
• 2. The Son of Neptune
• 3. The Mark of Athena
• 4. The House of Hades
• 5. The Blood of Olympus

Grab the Heroes of Olympus 5-book set (£49.99), or get both series together with the Percy Jackson and Heroes of Olympus 10-book set (£34.99 at the time of writing). That's the best value if you're starting from scratch. For readers who prefer pictures, the Heroes of Olympus graphic novel set covers the first three books (£22.95).

4. The Trials of Apollo (books 1–5)

Zeus punishes Apollo by turning him into a mortal teenager called Lester, and he needs demigod help to get back to Olympus. The narration is very funny, and many familiar faces return.

• 1. The Hidden Oracle
• 2. The Dark Prophecy
• 3. The Burning Maze
• 4. The Tyrant's Tomb
• 5. The Tower of Nero

Our Trials of Apollo books 1–4 set (£18.85) covers the first four. Search for The Tower of Nero to finish the series.

5. The Nico di Angelo Adventures

Co-written with Mark Oshiro, these follow Nico, son of Hades, and his boyfriend Will Solace on quests into the Underworld:

• 1. The Sun and the Star
• 2. The Court of the Dead

Both are in the Nico di Angelo 2-book set (£17.49). There's also a 9-book set (£39.99, mixed format per the listing) that combines the original five Percy books, Percy Jackson's Greek Gods and Greek Heroes, and both Nico books.

Other Riordan series you can read at any time

The Kane Chronicles (Egyptian mythology)

Siblings Carter and Sadie Kane discover they descend from Egyptian magicians. The Kane Chronicles 3-book set (£11.49) includes The Red Pyramid, The Throne of Fire and The Serpent's Shadow. Afterwards, read Demigods and Magicians (£7.99), three crossover stories in which Percy and Annabeth meet the Kanes.

Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard (Norse mythology)

Magnus, a homeless teenager in Boston, learns he's the son of a Norse god. The series links to the Percy world through Annabeth's cousin. Our Magnus Chase 4-book set (£13.99) starts with The Sword of Summer; check the listing for the full title list.

Percy's guides to the myths

In Percy Jackson's Greek Gods and Greek Heroes, Percy retells the original myths in his own cheeky voice. Percy Jackson's Greek Heroes was £4.49 in hardcover at the time of writing.

What's new from Camp Half-Blood?

In September 2026, Riordan and co-author Annabelle Oh launched a new spin-off series set at Camp Half-Blood, starting with Camp Half-Blood: The Wild Zone. Use our Rick Riordan search to see which new titles are in stock.

How Percy Jackson began

Rick Riordan was a middle-school teacher in the United States when he began telling his son bedtime stories based on Greek myths. When those ran out, he invented a modern demigod hero, and Percy was born. The Lightning Thief was published in 2005, and the books have since been adapted for film and a Disney+ television series.

Because Riordan wrote first for a child who found reading hard, the books are deliberately fast, funny and full of action. Percy himself has ADHD and dyslexia, which in the story are signs of being a demigod. Many readers who struggle with school find that hugely encouraging.

What age are the Percy Jackson books for?

The original series is usually enjoyed from around nine to fourteen. Chapters are short, the humour is quick and the monster fights are exciting without being gory. The Heroes of Olympus books are longer and suit slightly older readers. Many adults enjoy them too. Find more adventures for this stage in books for ages 9–12 and young adult books.

The series is also a sneaky way to learn classical mythology. Plenty of children come away knowing their Hermes from their Hephaestus, and the books often send them to the original myths afterwards.

Percy Jackson buying checklist

• Starting from scratch? The 10-book Percy Jackson and Heroes of Olympus set gives the most books per pound.
• Already read 1–5? Add the Heroes of Olympus set, then Trials of Apollo.
• Reluctant reader? Try the graphic novel editions first.
• Buying several sets? Check our Bundle Savings page for current multi-buy codes.

Frequently asked questions

What order should I read Percy Jackson in?

The Lightning Thief, The Sea of Monsters, The Titan's Curse, The Battle of the Labyrinth and The Last Olympian. Then read The Heroes of Olympus, The Trials of Apollo and the newer Percy books.

How many Percy Jackson books are there?

There are seven in the main Percy Jackson and the Olympians series: the original five plus The Chalice of the Gods and Wrath of the Triple Goddess. Dozens more books are set in the same world.

Do I need to read Percy Jackson before Heroes of Olympus?

Yes. Heroes of Olympus continues storylines and characters from the first five books, so read those first.

Can you read The Kane Chronicles without Percy Jackson?

Yes. It's a separate series about Egyptian gods. Only the Demigods and Magicians crossover stories need both.

Is Percy Jackson good for fans of Harry Potter?

Very much so. Both follow young heroes at a special school or camp, mixing humour, friendship and danger. See our Harry Potter box set guide for more.

Begin the quest

One box set is all it takes to get a young reader hooked on myths and monsters. Explore more epic adventures in our fantasy books, or browse every children's book box set.