Rick Riordan is a renowned author of young adult fiction, best known for his captivating series of books based on Greek, Roman, and Egyptian mythology. His books have been widely acclaimed by readers of all ages, and have sold millions of copies worldwide. In this article, we will take a closer look at all of Rick Riordan’s books in order, and explore the fascinating worlds he has created.
Starting with his debut novel, “Big Red Tequila”, published in 1997, Riordan has written over 20 books, including the popular Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, the Kane Chronicles, and the Heroes of Olympus series. Each of his books is filled with adventure, humor, and mythology, making them a favorite among young readers.
One of the most notable aspects of Riordan’s writing is his ability to blend ancient mythology with modern-day settings and characters. His books are not only entertaining but also educational, as they introduce readers to different mythologies and cultures from around the world. Whether you’re a fan of Greek gods and goddesses, or Egyptian pharaohs and magic, Rick Riordan’s books are sure to captivate and inspire.
Whether you are a longtime fan or a newcomer to the world of Rick Riordan, there is no better time to dive into his books and explore the wonders of mythology. Please enjoy the complimentary checklist for each series to help you approach this admittedly overwhelming selection! I made them as colorful as possible to make them perfect for a grade school/middle-grade audience, but I know that as a twenty-three-year-old I’m a big fan of them.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series
The Lightning Thief (Rick Riordan)
Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series is a five-book fantasy series by Rick Riordan. The first book in the series, The Lightning Thief, introduces the main character, Percy Jackson, a demigod son of Poseidon.
Percy discovers his true identity and goes on a quest to retrieve Zeus’ stolen lightning bolt to prevent a war between the gods. Along the way, he meets Annabeth Chase, a daughter of Athena, and Grover Underwood, a satyr.
The Lightning Thief is a thrilling adventure filled with Greek mythology and action-packed battles. It is a great start to the series, and readers will be hooked from the first chapter.
The Sea of Monsters (Rick Riordan)
The second book in the series, The Sea of Monsters, follows Percy as he sets out on another quest, this time to find the Golden Fleece, which has the power to save Camp Half-Blood, a summer camp for demigods.
Percy, Annabeth, and Grover encounter new challenges and enemies, including a giant cyclops and the villainous Luke Castellan. The Sea of Monsters is a thrilling adventure that expands the world of Percy Jackson and the Olympians.
The Titan’s Curse (Rick Riordan)
In the third book, The Titan’s Curse, Percy and his friends set out to rescue Annabeth, who has been captured by the goddess Artemis. Along the way, they encounter the powerful Titan lord Kronos and his army of monsters.
The Titan’s Curse is a fast-paced adventure that introduces new characters and expands on the mythology of the series. It is a must-read for fans of the series.
The Battle of the Labyrinth (Rick Riordan)
The fourth book in the series, The Battle of the Labyrinth, sees Percy and his friends explore the dangerous Labyrinth, which was created by Daedalus, a famous inventor from Greek mythology.
Percy must navigate the maze and face new challenges and enemies, including the powerful Titan lord Atlas. The Battle of the Labyrinth is a thrilling adventure that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.
The Last Olympian (Rick Riordan)
The final book in the series, The Last Olympian, is an epic conclusion to Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Percy and his friends must defend Mount Olympus from the Titans and Kronos’ army in a battle that will determine the fate of the world.
The Last Olympian is a thrilling and emotional finale that will leave readers satisfied and wanting more from the world of Percy Jackson and the Olympians.
The Heroes of Olympus Series
The Lost Hero (Rick Riordan)
The Lost Hero is the first book in the Heroes of Olympus series. It follows the story of Jason Grace, Piper McLean, and Leo Valdez, who are all demigods with unique abilities. The book begins with Jason waking up on a school bus with no memory of his past. He soon discovers that he is a demigod and is taken to Camp Half-Blood, where he meets Piper and Leo. The trio embarks on a quest to rescue Hera, the queen of the gods, who has been kidnapped by the giants.
The Son of Neptune (Rick Riordan)
The Son of Neptune is the second book in the Heroes of Olympus series. It follows the story of Percy Jackson, who has lost his memory and finds himself at Camp Jupiter, the Roman counterpart of Camp Half-Blood. Percy joins forces with Frank Zhang and Hazel Levesque to complete a quest to free Thanatos, the god of death, from the clutches of Gaea, the earth goddess.
The Mark of Athena (Rick Riordan)
The Mark of Athena is the third book in the Heroes of Olympus series. It follows the story of Annabeth Chase, who is on a mission to follow the Mark of Athena and find the Athena Parthenos, a statue that has been stolen from the Parthenon in Athens. Along the way, Annabeth reunites with Percy Jackson, and they must work together with the other demigods to prevent a war between the Greeks and Romans.
The House of Hades (Rick Riordan)
The House of Hades is the fourth book in the Heroes of Olympus series. It follows the story of Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase as they journey through the Underworld to reach the Doors of Death and prevent Gaea from rising. Meanwhile, the other demigods must work together to stop the giants from awakening and wreaking havoc on the world.
The Blood of Olympus (Rick Riordan)
The Blood of Olympus is the fifth and final book in the Heroes of Olympus series. It follows the story of the seven demigods – Percy Jackson, Annabeth Chase, Jason Grace, Piper McLean, Leo Valdez, Frank Zhang, and Hazel Levesque – as they face their final battle against Gaea and her giants. The book concludes with the demigods returning to Camp Half-Blood and celebrating their victory.
The Kane Chronicles Series
The Red Pyramid (Rick Riordan)
The Red Pyramid is the first book in the Kane Chronicles series by Rick Riordan. The story follows the siblings Carter and Sadie Kane, who discover that they are descendants of the House of Life, an ancient Egyptian society of magicians.
The book begins with the siblings being reunited with their father, who takes them to the British Museum, where he tries to summon the Egyptian god Osiris. However, things go wrong, and their father disappears, leaving the siblings to fend for themselves.
The rest of the book follows the siblings as they try to rescue their father and prevent the evil god Set from destroying the world. Along the way, they encounter various Egyptian gods and goddesses, and learn more about their magical heritage.
The Throne of Fire (Rick Riordan)
The Throne of Fire is the second book in the Kane Chronicles series. The story picks up a few months after the events of the first book, with Carter and Sadie Kane continuing their quest to prevent the evil god Set from destroying the world.
In this book, the siblings must find the three sections of the Book of Ra, which they believe will help them awaken the sun god and defeat Set. Along the way, they encounter various obstacles, including giant scorpions and a giant cobra.
The book also introduces some new characters, including the magician Walt Stone, who becomes a love interest for Sadie, and the god Bes, who helps the siblings on their quest.
The Serpent’s Shadow (Rick Riordan)
The Serpent’s Shadow is the third and final book in the Kane Chronicles series. The story picks up a few months after the events of the second book, with Carter and Sadie Kane still trying to defeat the evil god Set.
In this book, the siblings must face their greatest challenge yet, as they try to stop Set from destroying the world and releasing the serpent Apophis, who will bring about the end of the world.
The book also ties up some loose ends from the previous books, including the fate of the siblings’ father and the love triangle between Sadie, Walt, and Anubis.
The Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard Series
The Sword of Summer (Rick Riordan)
The Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard series is a trilogy of books written by Rick Riordan. The first book in the series, The Sword of Summer, was published in 2015. The story follows Magnus Chase, a teenager who discovers that he is the son of a Norse god and is thrust into a world of gods, monsters, and magic.
In The Sword of Summer, Magnus learns that he is the son of Frey, the god of fertility, and is tasked with finding the Sword of Summer, a powerful weapon that has been lost for centuries. Along the way, he teams up with a group of friends, including a dwarf and an elf, and battles various monsters and villains.
The book is full of Norse mythology and features appearances from gods such as Thor and Loki. It also deals with themes of family, loyalty, and sacrifice.
The Hammer of Thor (Rick Riordan)
The second book in the series, The Hammer of Thor, was published in 2016. In this book, Magnus and his friends must find the Hammer of Thor, another powerful weapon that has been stolen by the giants. Along the way, they face new challenges and enemies, including a shape-shifting god and a giant serpent.
The Hammer of Thor also introduces new characters, including Alex Fierro, a gender-fluid demigod who becomes a love interest for Magnus. The book continues to explore themes of family and loyalty, and also delves into issues of identity and acceptance.
The Ship of the Dead (Rick Riordan)
The final book in the series, The Ship of the Dead, was published in 2017. In this book, Magnus and his friends must stop the giant god Loki from starting Ragnarok, the end of the world. They embark on a dangerous journey to find the Ship of the Dead, a magical vessel that can help them in their quest.
The Ship of the Dead brings the series to a satisfying conclusion, wrapping up the storylines of the characters and providing a satisfying resolution to the overarching plot. The book also continues to explore themes of family, loyalty, and sacrifice, while also introducing new elements of Norse mythology.
The Trials of Apollo Series
The Hidden Oracle (Rick Riordan)
The Hidden Oracle is the first book in The Trials of Apollo series by Rick Riordan. In this book, readers are introduced to the god Apollo, who has been stripped of his godly powers and sent to Earth as a mortal teenager named Lester Papadopoulos. He must go on a quest to restore his powers and save the world from an ancient evil.
The book is set in Camp Half-Blood, a summer camp for demigods, and features familiar characters from Riordan’s previous books, including Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase. The Hidden Oracle is filled with humor, action, and mythology, making it a great addition to Riordan’s collection of books.
The Dark Prophecy (Rick Riordan)
The Dark Prophecy is the second book in The Trials of Apollo series. In this book, Apollo continues his quest to restore his godly powers and save the world. He must travel to Indianapolis to find the second emperor, who is hiding in the Labyrinth.
Along the way, Apollo meets new friends and enemies, and readers are introduced to new creatures and mythology. The Dark Prophecy is filled with adventure and humor, and it keeps readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.
The Burning Maze (Rick Riordan)
The Burning Maze is the third book in The Trials of Apollo series. In this book, Apollo must go on a dangerous quest to find the third emperor and save the world from destruction. He must navigate through the Labyrinth and face dangerous creatures and enemies.
The Burning Maze is a thrilling and action-packed book that keeps readers engaged from beginning to end. It features familiar characters from Riordan’s previous books, as well as new ones that add depth and excitement to the story.
The Tyrant’s Tomb (Rick Riordan)
The Tyrant’s Tomb is the fourth book in The Trials of Apollo series. In this book, Apollo and his friends must go to Camp Jupiter, a Roman demigod training camp, to help defeat an ancient evil. They must face dangerous challenges and make difficult decisions along the way.
The Tyrant’s Tomb is a gripping and emotional book that explores themes of friendship, loyalty, and sacrifice. It features familiar characters from Riordan’s previous books, as well as new ones that add depth and complexity to the story.
The Tower of Nero (Rick Riordan)
The Tower of Nero is the fifth and final book in The Trials of Apollo series. In this book, Apollo must face his greatest challenge yet as he tries to save the world from destruction and regain his godly powers. He must face his past mistakes and make difficult choices to ensure the safety of the world.
The Tower of Nero is a thrilling and emotional conclusion to The Trials of Apollo series. It features familiar characters from Riordan’s previous books, as well as new ones that add depth and excitement to the story. Readers will be on the edge of their seats until the very end.
Conclusion
Overall, Rick Riordan has created a vast and engaging universe of books that cater to readers of all ages. From Percy Jackson to Magnus Chase, his books have captivated millions of readers around the world.
Each series has its own unique charm and appeal, whether it be the humor and wit of Percy Jackson or the Norse mythology of Magnus Chase. Riordan’s ability to weave complex mythologies into modern-day settings is truly impressive and makes for a thrilling reading experience.
While some may argue that the later books in the Percy Jackson series and its spin-offs do not quite live up to the original, they still offer a fun and exciting adventure for readers to enjoy. And with more books and series on the horizon, there is no doubt that Rick Riordan’s legacy will continue to grow, especially with the upcoming Disney+ adaptation of the Percy Jackson series!