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Quick answer: Adults who loved Percy Jackson should try Circe, The Song of Achilles, Mythos, Norse Mythology, American Gods and Good Omens. Each brings gods and monsters into stories with the wit, pace or emotional depth that grown readers want.
Rick Riordan's series proved myths can be funny, fast and personal. Many adults who grew up with Percy now want the same gods and heroes written for grown-up readers. That can mean witty retellings, emotional epics from the women of myth, or modern fantasy where old gods live among us. These 15 books cover all three.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Circe | Madeline Miller | Adult | readers who want mythic depth |
| The Song of Achilles | Madeline Miller | Adult | fans of tragic romance |
| The Silence of the Girls | Pat Barker | Adult | readers who want a different view of Troy |
| Ariadne | Jennifer Saint | Adult | fans of women-centered myth |
| A Thousand Ships | Natalie Haynes | Adult | readers who like variety |
| Mythos | Stephen Fry | Adult | fans of funny retellings |
| Norse Mythology | Neil Gaiman | Adult | readers who want a new mythology |
| American Gods | Neil Gaiman | Adult | readers who like gods in the modern world |
| Good Omens | Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman | Adult | readers who want laughs |
| The Odyssey (translated by Emily Wilson) | Homer | Adult | readers who want the source myth |
| The Magicians | Lev Grossman | Adult | fans of grown-up magic school |
| Rivers of London | Ben Aaronovitch | Adult | readers who like fantasy with humor |
| Percy Jackson's Greek Gods | Rick Riordan | Adult | longtime Percy fans |
| Kushiel's Dart | Jacqueline Carey | Adult | adults ready for an epic |
| Stardust | Neil Gaiman | Adult | readers who want a gentle fairy tale |
1. Circe by Madeline Miller
Circe, daughter of the sun god Helios, is exiled to an island and learns witchcraft, meeting Odysseus, Daedalus and the Minotaur along the way. Lyrical, patient and richly human.
Best for: readers who want mythic depth.
2. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Patroclus narrates his life beside Achilles, from boyhood friendship to the Trojan War. It is a moving love story that stays close to the Iliad.
Best for: fans of tragic romance.
3. The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker
Briseis, taken as a prize of war, tells the Trojan War from the women's side of the camp. Bleak, honest and powerful.
Best for: readers who want a different view of Troy.
4. Ariadne by Jennifer Saint
Ariadne helps Theseus defeat her half-brother the Minotaur, then pays for her choice. The story follows her and her sister Phaedra.
Best for: fans of women-centered myth.
5. A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes
The Trojan War is told through many women, from goddesses to captives. Short chapters make it easy to dip into.
Best for: readers who like variety.
6. Mythos by Stephen Fry
Fry retells the Greek myths from the birth of the gods through Prometheus and Pandora in a witty, conversational voice. It is the closest to Percy's humor.
Best for: fans of funny retellings.
7. Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman
Gaiman retells the Norse tales of Odin, Thor and Loki in clear, lively prose. A short, quick read for anyone curious about another pantheon.
Best for: readers who want a new mythology.
8. American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Shadow Moon gets caught in a war between old gods brought by immigrants and new gods of media and technology. Strange, dark and big in scope.
Best for: readers who like gods in the modern world.
9. Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
An angel and a demon who have grown fond of Earth try to stop the Apocalypse after the Antichrist is mixed up at birth. A comic fantasy classic.
Best for: readers who want laughs.
10. The Odyssey (translated by Emily Wilson) by Homer
Wilson's 2017 translation is plain, fast and readable. Odysseus's long journey home, with the Cyclops and the sirens, feels fresh.
Best for: readers who want the source myth.
11. The Magicians by Lev Grossman
Quentin finds a college of magic and discovers a magical land, only to learn the real world follows him. A darker take on school fantasy.
Best for: fans of grown-up magic school.
12. Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch
Constable Peter Grant joins a secret unit of the London police that deals with magic and river gods. Funny, quick and procedural. Published in the US as Midnight Riot.
Best for: readers who like fantasy with humor.
13. Percy Jackson's Greek Gods by Rick Riordan
Percy retells the Olympians' stories in his own sarcastic voice, with illustrations. A nostalgic read for fans.
Best for: longtime Percy fans.
14. Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey
Phèdre, a courtesan with a rare gift, becomes a spy in a court drama that borrows from Renaissance Europe. Mature content and a long, lavish read.
Best for: adults ready for an epic.
15. Stardust by Neil Gaiman
Tristran crosses the wall into the land of Faerie to retrieve a fallen star for the girl he loves. A fairy tale for adults, short and charming.
Best for: readers who want a gentle fairy tale.
How to Choose
Decide whether you want humor, romance or scale. For jokes, pick Mythos, Good Omens or Rivers of London. For emotion, start with Circe or The Song of Achilles. For another mythology, try Norse Mythology or American Gods. If you want to stay close to the source, read Emily Wilson's Odyssey. Check content notes for Kushiel's Dart, The Silence of the Girls and American Gods, which include violence and sex.
Related: 15 Books Like Percy Jackson You’ll Love: Myths, Monsters and Adventure · What Age Is Percy Jackson Appropriate For? A Parent’s Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
What should adults read after Percy Jackson?
Try Mythos for humor or Circe for a deeper retelling. Both keep the gods and heroes at the center.
Are there adult books with Percy's humor?
Yes. Good Omens and Rivers of London have a similar wry tone, though neither is about Greek gods.
Do I need to know Greek myths first?
No. Retellings such as Mythos and Circe explain every character as they appear.