Rick Riordan Books in Order: 2026 Complete Guide

TL;DR: The Quick Answer

• Start Here: Begin with Percy Jackson & The Olympians (Book 1: The Lightning Thief). It is the foundation for everything else.
• The Golden Rule: Read the series in publication order to avoid massive spoilers. The order is: PJO -> The Kane Chronicles -> Heroes of Olympus -> Magnus Chase -> Trials of Apollo -> Sun and the Star.
• New for 2026: Watch out for the new Nico di Angelo adventure and the upcoming Season 3 of the Disney+ show later this year.
• Total Count: There are over 45 books in the interconnected universe. Pace yourself.

So, you watched the show on Disney+, or maybe you just saw a kid reading a bright orange book and laughing out loud. Now you want in. You want to know how to tackle the massive literary beast that is the "Riordanverse."

Rick Riordan has built an empire. We are talking about an author who has sold over 190 million copies globally. He is not just a writer; he is a genre all on his own. But with five major series, multiple crossover short stories, and stand-alone novels, figuring out where to start is tricky. Do you read about the Egyptian magicians before the Roman demigods? Where does Magnus Chase fit in?

This guide covers everything. We are breaking down the definitive Rick Riordan books in order, updated for 2026, so you don't miss a single prophecy, joke, or monster fight.

Why Publication Order is the Only Way to Go

Before we list the books, we need to settle a debate. Some fans argue for a chronological reading order. They are wrong.

Okay, that is a bit harsh, but hear me out. Riordan writes his books so that information is revealed slowly. If you try to read chronologically, you might jump into The Kane Chronicles or Magnus Chase at points that spoil major character arcs from The Heroes of Olympus.

Stick to the publication order. It allows the universe to expand naturally. You grow with Percy, you discover the Romans when he does, and you meet the Norse gods only after you understand the stakes.

Here is the master timeline of the major series:

1. Percy Jackson & The Olympians (Greek Mythology)
2. The Kane Chronicles (Egyptian Mythology)
3. The Heroes of Olympus (Greek & Roman Mythology)
4. Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard (Norse Mythology)
5. The Trials of Apollo (Greek & Roman… and a lot of complaining)
6. The Senior Year Adventures (Percy applying for college)

Let's break them down.

1. Percy Jackson & The Olympians (PJO)

This is where it all began. Originally a bedtime story for his son Haley, Rick Riordan turned this idea into a franchise that has generated massive revenue. In fact, Riordan has earned over $103 million from book sales since 2010, proving that middle-grade fiction is a financial powerhouse.

This series follows Percy Jackson, a twelve-year-old boy diagnosed with dyslexia and ADHD, who discovers he is a demigod—the son of Poseidon.

The Books in Order:

1. The Lightning Thief (2005)
2. The Sea of Monsters (2006)
3. The Titan's Curse (2007)
4. The Battle of the Labyrinth (2008)
5. The Last Olympian (2009)

Companion Books:

• The Demigod Files (Contains essential short stories set between books 4 and 5)

Why Read It:
This is the heart of the universe. You cannot understand the later books without this foundation. It introduces Camp Half-Blood, the Olympians, and the core conflict between the gods and the Titans. The voice is sarcastic, fast-paced, and incredibly funny. If you are an aspiring author looking to capture this kind of voice, you might want to study his use of first-person perspective. You can learn more about crafting similar narratives in our guide on how to write a book like Percy Jackson.

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2. The Kane Chronicles

After saving Olympus, Riordan took a detour to Egypt. Well, not literally, but narratively. The Kane Chronicles is set in the same universe as Percy Jackson but deals with Egyptian gods.

The Books in Order:

1. The Red Pyramid (2010)
2. The Throne of Fire (2011)
3. The Serpent's Shadow (2012)

Companion Books:

• The Kane Chronicles Survival Guide

The Context:
Carter and Sadie Kane are siblings who discover they are descended from powerful Egyptian pharaohs. Unlike the demigods who are children of gods, the Kanes are magicians who host gods. The magic system is completely different—using hieroglyphs and the Duat (the spirit world).

Why Read It Here:
Technically, you could read this after Heroes of Olympus, but publication order places it here. There are subtle references to "other gods" in Manhattan that you will catch if you read this second. Plus, it serves as a nice palate cleanser between the two massive Greek/Roman series.

3. The Heroes of Olympus (HoO)

This is the Avengers: Endgame of the Riordanverse (before the actual end game). It takes the world of Percy Jackson and blows it wide open. Riordan introduces a second camp, Camp Jupiter, which is home to the Roman demigods.

The Books in Order:

1. The Lost Hero (2010)
2. The Son of Neptune (2011)
3. The Mark of Athena (2012)
4. The House of Hades (2013)
5. The Blood of Olympus (2014)

Companion Books:

• The Demigod Diaries

The Shift in Style:
Unlike PJO, which is strictly Percy's first-person POV, Heroes of Olympus switches between seven different characters in the third person. This allows for a much broader scope. We meet Jason Grace, Piper McLean, Leo Valdez, Hazel Levesque, and Frank Zhang.

Warning:
The Mark of Athena has one of the most notorious cliffhangers in YA history. Be glad you are reading this in 2026 and don't have to wait a year for the resolution like we did back in 2012.

4. Demigods & Magicians (The Crossover)

Once you have finished The Kane Chronicles and Heroes of Olympus, you are ready for the crossover. Percy and Annabeth meet Carter and Sadie.

The Short Stories:

1. The Son of Sobek (Percy meets Carter)
2. The Staff of Serapis (Annabeth meets Sadie)
3. The Crown of Ptolemy (All four team up)

These are collected in a book titled Demigods & Magicians. They are fun, low-stakes romps that confirm the Greeks and Egyptians exist in the same space and time.

5. Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard

Now we head to Boston. Magnus Chase is actually Annabeth Chase's cousin (she appears in the series). This trilogy focuses on Norse mythology—Odin, Thor, Loki, and Valhalla.

The Books in Order:

1. The Sword of Summer (2015)
2. The Hammer of Thor (2016)
3. The Ship of the Dead (2017)

Companion Books:

• 9 From the Nine Worlds
• Hotel Valhalla Guide to the Norse Worlds

The Vibe:
Magnus dies in the first few chapters. The whole series takes place after his death, as he becomes an einherji (a warrior in Valhalla). The tone is very similar to the original Percy Jackson books—sarcastic and irreverent. It also features Alex Fierro, a gender-fluid character who became a fan favorite for their complexity and snark.

Riordan's inclusion of diverse characters has been praised extensively. If you are looking to understand the market for diverse middle-grade fiction, checking out lists of literary agents for children's books shows that agents are actively seeking these kinds of inclusive stories.

6. The Trials of Apollo

This series brings us back to the Greek/Roman world, but with a twist. Apollo, the god of music and archery, is punished by Zeus and turned into a mortal teenager named Lester Papadopoulos. He has acne, flab, and no powers.

The Books in Order:

1. The Hidden Oracle (2016)
2. The Dark Prophecy (2017)
3. The Burning Maze (2018)
4. The Tyrant’s Tomb (2019)
5. The Tower of Nero (2020)

Why It Matters:
This acts as a capstone to everything that started in The Lightning Thief. It ties up loose ends for Percy, Jason, Piper, and the rest of the Seven. It is arguably the most emotional of all the series because we see the consequences of the demigod life through the eyes of a former god who learns what it means to be human.

7. Nico di Angelo & The Sun and the Star

Nico di Angelo, the son of Hades, has had a rough go of it since his introduction in The Titan's Curse. In 2023, Riordan teamed up with author Mark Oshiro to give Nico his own standalone novel.

• The Sun and the Star: A Nico di Angelo Adventure (2023)

This book follows Nico and his boyfriend, Will Solace, as they journey into Tartarus (again) to rescue a Titan. It is poignant, sweet, and deals heavily with trauma and recovery.

New for 2025/2026:
A sequel or follow-up involving these characters, titled The Court of the Dead, is slated for release in late 2025. This keeps the Nico storyline active well into the current year.

8. The Senior Year Adventures (Percy's Return)

Just when we thought Percy was done, Disney+ happened. To support the TV show, Riordan returned to Percy's point of view with a new trilogy set during Percy's senior year of high school. He needs recommendation letters from gods to get into New Rome University.

The Books:

1. The Chalice of the Gods (2023)
2. Wrath of the Triple Goddess (2024)
3. Untitled Book 3 (Projected 2027)

These books are lower stakes than saving the world. They are "slice of life" quests. They feel like a warm hug for fans who grew up with the characters.

9. Rick Riordan Presents: Expanding the Universe

We cannot talk about Riordan without mentioning his imprint, Rick Riordan Presents. Riordan realized he couldn't write every mythology authentically. So, he used his platform to lift up other authors.

While these books are not written by Riordan and do not technically take place in the Percy Jackson timeline, they share the same DNA: modern kids, ancient magic, and lots of humor.

Notable Series:

• Aru Shah (Hindu Mythology) by Roshani Chokshi
• Tristan Strong (West African/African American Folklore) by Kwame Mbalia
• The Storm Runner (Mayan Mythology) by J.C. Cervantes
• Dragon Pearl (Korean Mythology) by Yoon Ha Lee

If you have an idea for a story based on mythology and have zero experience, seeing how these authors adapted their cultures is a masterclass. You can start your own journey by checking out guides on how to write a book with no experience.

10. Tres Navarre: The Adult Mystery Series

Before Percy Jackson, Rick Riordan was an award-winning mystery writer for adults.

The Tres Navarre Series:

1. Big Red Tequila (1997)
2. The Widower’s Two-Step (1998)
3. The Last King of Texas (2000)
4. The Devil Went Down to Austin (2001)
5. Southtown (2004)
6. Mission Road (2005)
7. Rebel Island (2007)

Note: These are gritty Texan mysteries. They are not for kids. They have violence, adult language, and complex themes. Riordan has explicitly stated he doesn't recommend them for his young middle-grade readers.

2026 Update: The State of the Riordanverse

The year 2026 is a massive one for the franchise.

The Disney+ Show
The live-action adaptation of Percy Jackson and the Olympians is in full swing.

• Season 1 (The Lightning Thief) aired in Dec 2023.
• Season 2 (The Sea of Monsters) aired in 2025.
• Season 3 (The Titan's Curse) is confirmed for December 2026.

According to a Vertex AI Search report on current media trends, Season 3 production is expected to wrap up by March 2026, keeping the yearly release schedule on track.

Demographics Shift
Interestingly, the readership is aging up. While the books are middle grade, a significant chunk of the audience is now in their 20s and 30s. A demographic analysis showed that 25% of the show's audience was under 17, implying that 75% were adults—many of whom grew up with the original books.

Financial Success
It is worth noting the sheer scale of this operation. Riordan's books have sold over 190 million copies worldwide. To put that in perspective, that is more than the population of many countries. This success is backed by verified sales data that tracks his dominance in the fantasy genre.

Key Themes and Why They Work

Why do these books work so well? It's not just the monsters.

1. Modernizing the Myth
Riordan doesn't just retell myths; he updates them. Mount Olympus is above the Empire State Building. The Underworld is in Los Angeles (naturally). This makes ancient history feel immediate and relevant.

2. Humor as a Defense Mechanism
Percy is sassy. He talks back to gods. This humor makes the scary elements manageable for kids and entertaining for adults.

3. Representation
As the series progressed, Riordan made a conscious effort to include characters from different backgrounds, sexual orientations, and gender identities. This has made the books a safe haven for many marginalized readers.

If you are a writer looking for inspiration on plot ideas that blend the modern with the fantastical, you might find our list of fantasy writing prompts helpful to get your creative gears turning.