Percy Jackson & the Olympiansis one of the biggestchildren’s fantasy storiesout there, andall the books inRick Riordan’s seriesare action-packed and fun to read— whether it’s for the first time or while revisiting them. The concept of Greek gods and monsters existing in a modern world is intriguing on its own, and watching young demigods navigate that setup is even more entertaining. Percy’s journey over thefirst fivePercy Jacksonbooksbrings readers on a fantastical adventure full of heart, and it will stay with readers long after they’ve put the story down.
Riordan’snewestPercy Jackson & the Olympiansbookspick up with Percy as a senior in high school, reminding viewers why they love this series yet again. Of course,not allPercy Jacksonbooks are created equal; as with any series, some installments are stronger and more memorable than others. Unlike some fantasy series,Percy Jacksondoesn’t have too many lows. However, it occasionally reaches heights that can’t be topped, even by the other additions to the series.
7The Sea Of Monsters (2006)
Percy Jackson & The Olympians Book 2
The Titan’s Curseis a great addition toPercy Jackson & the Olympians,as its 4.24 averageGoodreadsrating suggests. However, it’s still arguably the weakest of the seven-book series, despite being necessary to set up later installments.The Titan’s Curseintroduces great characters like Tyson, Blackjack, and Thalia. It also has another fun, quest-based narrative, butit doesn’t quite reach the heights ofThe Lightning Thief.The Sea of Monstersworks as a follow-up, but it feels like a lull between the first installment and the gripping later sequels.
10 Things Percy Jackson Gets Right About Greek Mythology
Though plenty of big changes are made from the original Greek myths in the Percy Jackson series, some aspects are faithful to the legends.
Riordan’s writing also evolves over the course of his series, and this is especially noticeable in his 2023 and 2024Percy Jacksonbooks. While those don’t have the same high-stakes storytelling as the original series, they come off as better crafted and more comical than Riordan’s earliest books. This isn’t enough to put them ahead of a classic likeThe Lightning Thief,butit placesThe Sea of Monstersjust slightly below them. That said, the second book is still a winner. It’s a testament to the quality of the other installments that it ranks last.
6The Chalice Of The Gods (2023)
Percy Jackson & The Olympians Book 6
The Chalice of the Godsreturns readers to Percy Jackson’s narrative after years away, picking up with the young demigod preparing for college. Seeing Percy at a new stage of life is a highlight of Riordan’s sixth addition to the series, which rightfully feels more mature than the earlier books. This could also be attributed to Riordan’s evolved writing, as well as Percy’s character growth. AlthoughThe Chalice of the Godshas lower stakes than the original series, it’s a nostalgia trip that pays off Percy’s original adventures. It earns its 4.31Goodreadsscore.
Riordan writes Percy so well that it feels like no time has passed picking upThe Chalice of the Gods,and the concept of demigod college expands the author’s world in an interesting way.
Riordan writes Percy so well that it feels like no time has passed picking upThe Chalice of the Gods,and the concept of demigod college expands the author’s world in an interesting way. The book’s more modern timeline also results in some clever references and Easter eggs throughout its run. Unfortunately,its lower stakes still place it beneath most of the original novels. It also ranks below its sequel,Wrath of the Triple Goddess,as Percy’s quest for Ganymede is slightly less memorable than his quest for Hecate.
5Wrath Of The Triple Goddess (2024)
Percy Jackson & The Olympians Book 7
Wrath of the Triple Goddessis a direct sequel toThe Chalice of the Gods,seeing Percy Jackson embark on his second quest for college recommendation letters. Pet-sitting for Hecate initially sounds like a piece of cake, but that’s proven wrong when the goddess' hellhound and polecat escape. This brings Percy, Annabeth, and Grover on another adventure — and while failing could be dangerous for them,it still has lower stakes than the first fivePercy Jacksonbooks. LikeThe Chalice of the Gods,though, its writing style, tone, and references are improved.
Wrath Of The Triple Goddess' Ending Pays Off Percy Jackson’s First Chapter, 19 Years Later
Wrath of the Triple Goddess’ ending contains a reference to the first Percy Jackson chapter, and it brings the story full circle in the best way.
This isn’t enough forWrath of the Triple Goddessto rank above most of the original books, but its main storyline does feel a bit more coherent thanThe Sea of Monsters.The fact that Hecate and her pets have more interesting backstories than Ganymede also places it aboveThe Chalice of the Gods.AndRiordan’s decision to setWrath of the Triple Goddessaround Halloween is a winning choice— oneDisney’sPercy JacksonTV show should copy. It’s deserving of its 4.32Goodreadsrating, proving there are still great stories to tell in this world.
4The Lightning Thief (2005)
Percy Jackson & The Olympians Book 1
Because it’s the firstPercy Jacksonbook,The Lightning Thieftakes some time to find its footing— but it’s far too iconic to rank on the lower side of Riordan’s series.The Lightning Thiefintroduces the concept of demigods and Camp Half-Blood, making it a nostalgic read for many fans of the series. It also takes Percy on his first quest, which has greater stakes thanThe Chalice of the GodsandWrath of the Triple Goddess, even if it feels disjointed at times.
The Lightning Thiefsuccessfully sets the tone for the rest ofPercy Jackson & the Olympians, and the events that unfold in the first installment set up the major conflicts that follow
The Lightning Thiefsuccessfully sets the tone for the rest ofPercy Jackson & the Olympians, and the events that unfold in the first installment set up the major conflicts that follow. In general,the 2005 book is a strong start to Riordan’s first series. It’s not perfect, but its flaws are easy to overlook when you realize how fun Riordan’s story is. The world and characters leave a positive impression from the beginning. The only reasonThe Lightning Thiefcan’t rank higher is because its later sequels are far more epic.
3The Titan’s Curse (2007)
Percy Jackson & The Olympians Book 3
The Titan’s Curseis the middle book of the originalPercy Jacksonseries, so it’s fitting that it’s a turning point for the story. The third installment in Riordan’s series sees Percy and the other demigods trying to stop the Titans from returning, raising the stakes significantly after books one and two.The Titan’s Curseis whenPercy Jacksonstarts to get a bit darker, pushing the characters closer to the final fight against Kronos. It doesn’t quite touchThe Battle of the LabyrinthorThe Last Olympianin terms of stakes, but it’s still a gripping read.
At this point inPercy Jackson & the Olympians,the characters, world-building, and writing are all solid — likely a result of Riordan nailing down all the details in the first two books.The Titan’s Cursebenefits from the work done inThe Lightning ThiefandThe Sea of Monsters, improving on both installments significantly. It also ranks above Riordan’s newer books, as its central story is more impactful than anything that happens inThe Chalice of the GodsorWrath of the Triple Goddess. Its 4.37Goodreadsscore perfectly reflects its place in the series.
2The Battle Of The Labyrinth (2008)
Percy Jackson & The Olympians Book 4
As the fourth installment in thePercy Jackson & the Olympians series,The Battle of the Labyrinthdoes a solid job setting the stage for the original story’s finale. Its 4.42Goodreadsrating speaks volumes about its quality, driving home how thrilling Percy’s journey through Daedalus' labyrinth really is. This quest feels riskier than anything Camp Half-Blood’s demigods have done before, and the consequences of failing are also greater. After all, they’re trying to stop Luke’s forces from gaining access to Camp Half-Blood.
The stakes are very much felt throughoutThe Battle of the Labyrinth,which takes on a more serious tone than the first threePercy Jackson & the Olympiansbooks. The looming threats of Luke and Kronos warrant this shift, and everything that unfolds feels more epic as a result. The storylines also converge in interesting ways, withThe Battle of the Labyrinth’stwists placing it ahead of almost every otherPercy Jacksonbook. Only the finale tops it, and that’s fitting, as this novel sets book five up.
1The Last Olympian (2009)
Percy Jackson & The Olympians Book 5
It’s no surprise thatThe Last Olympianis the bestPercy Jacksonbook, as it serves as the conclusion to the original story — and it also sets Percy up for the growth we see in the newer novels.The Last Olympianserves as a reminder of what readers love about the original series, bringing all the subplots and characters together for one last hurrah. Kronos is the greatest enemy Percy faces in all the books, and his confrontation with the king of the Titans is action-packed and emotional.“Percabeth” also sets sailin this installment, paying off five books' worth of feelings.
The sacrifices that take place inThe Last Olympianmake it feel like a proper ending, and they add weight and meaning to the story.
The sacrifices that take place inThe Last Olympianmake it feel like a proper ending, and they add weight and meaning to the story. Even with a more serious tone, the finalPercy Jacksonbook manages to maintain the series' heart. It drives home the notion that goodness and love will prevail, and it still squeezes humor into its pages. There’s a good reasonThe Last Olympianhas the highest averageGoodreadsrating of all thePercy Jackson & the Olympianbooks, sitting at a whopping 4.55.The Last Olympiansticks the landing, surpassing everything that came before.
Source: Goodreads
Percy Jackson & The Olympians
A young demigod named Percy Jackson learns about his divine heritage and must navigate a world where Greek mythology intersects with modern life. Alongside friends from Camp Half-Blood, he faces mythical creatures, uncovers family secrets, and undertakes perilous quests to thwart ancient prophecies. The series intricately weaves classical mythology with contemporary challenges, exploring themes of bravery, loyalty, and self-discovery, captivating audiences with its rich blend of adventure and timeless legends.
