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Quick answer: Teens who liked Percy Jackson should try The Hunger Games, Daughter of the Moon Goddess, Six of Crows, Red Rising, Cinder and Throne of Glass. Each has a young hero, fast plots, humor or myth and a world that teens can get lost in.
Percy Jackson works for teens because it is funny, fast and full of heroes who feel real. Older teens often want the same energy with higher stakes and more complex characters. These 15 books include myth retellings, adventure fantasies and sci-fi quests that move at a similar pace.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Lightning Thief | Rick Riordan | 10-14 | the best place to begin |
| The Hunger Games | Suzanne Collins | 12+ | teens who want action |
| Cinder | Marissa Meyer | 12+ | fairy-tale and sci-fi fans |
| Throne of Glass | Sarah J. Maas | 14+ | older teens who like fantasy romance |
| Six of Crows | Leigh Bardugo | 14+ | fans of ensemble casts |
| Red Rising | Pierce Brown | 15+ | older teens who like sci-fi epics |
| Daughter of the Moon Goddess | Sue Lynn Tan | 14+ | fans of Asian mythology |
| Aru Shah and the End of Time | Roshani Chokshi | 9-13 | younger teens who want funny myth |
| Children of Blood and Bone | Tomi Adeyemi | 13+ | readers who want a bold epic |
| An Ember in the Ashes | Sabaa Tahir | 14+ | readers who like high stakes |
| The Cruel Prince | Holly Black | 14+ | readers who like court politics |
| Skyward | Brandon Sanderson | 13+ | fans of space adventure |
| The Maze Runner | James Dashner | 12+ | readers who like puzzles |
| Eragon | Christopher Paolini | 12+ | dragon fans |
| Rebel of the Sands | Alwyn Hamilton | 14+ | readers who like a western with magic |
1. The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Percy learns he is a demigod and sets off across America to stop a war between gods. The start of the series, for anyone who has not read it yet.
Best for: the best place to begin.
2. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Katniss volunteers for her sister in a deadly televised contest. Fast, tense and thoughtful about power and survival.
Best for: teens who want action.
3. Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Cinder, a cyborg mechanic, is drawn into a royal plot in a futuristic Cinderella story. Quick and inventive, with sequels.
Best for: fairy-tale and sci-fi fans.
4. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Celaena Sardothien, an assassin, is offered freedom if she wins a competition to be the king's champion. Romance, mystery and magic.
Best for: older teens who like fantasy romance.
5. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
A criminal prodigy leads a crew on a heist to break into a heavily guarded fortress. Funny, clever and tense.
Best for: fans of ensemble casts.
6. Red Rising by Pierce Brown
Darrow, a miner on Mars, infiltrates the ruling class to overthrow it. It is violent and mature, but fast and gripping.
Best for: older teens who like sci-fi epics.
7. Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan
Xingyin, daughter of the moon goddess, trains in the Celestial Kingdom to free her mother. Chinese myth, magic and a slow-burn romance.
Best for: fans of Asian mythology.
8. Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi
Aru, a girl who lies to fit in, accidentally unleashes a demon and learns she is a reincarnated Pandava. A Rick Riordan Presents title with Hindu mythology.
Best for: younger teens who want funny myth.
9. Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
Zélie fights to bring magic back to the land of Orïsha after a king killed the maji. West African myth and a fierce heroine.
Best for: readers who want a bold epic.
10. An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
Laia and Elias are on opposite sides in a brutal Roman-style empire. Dark and fast-moving.
Best for: readers who like high stakes.
11. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
Jude, raised among faeries, wants a place at the High King's court even as the faeries torment her. Intrigue and betrayal.
Best for: readers who like court politics.
12. Skyward by Brandon Sanderson
Spensa dreams of being a pilot to defend her planet from alien attackers, despite her father's shameful past. Humor and action.
Best for: fans of space adventure.
13. The Maze Runner by James Dashner
Thomas wakes in a glade surrounded by a deadly maze and must solve it with other boys. Mystery and suspense on every page.
Best for: readers who like puzzles.
14. Eragon by Christopher Paolini
Eragon finds a dragon egg and becomes a Rider. A classic quest with a bond between boy and dragon.
Best for: dragon fans.
15. Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton
Amani escapes her desert town disguised as a boy and joins a rebellion. Djinn, guns and a Middle Eastern-inspired world.
Best for: readers who like a western with magic.
How to Choose
Start with the tone you want. For humor, try Aru Shah or Skyward. For mythology, Daughter of the Moon Goddess and Children of Blood and Bone are the strongest. For action, grab The Hunger Games, Red Rising or The Maze Runner. Younger teens should start with Aru Shah, Cinder or Skyward. Older teens can try Throne of Glass, Red Rising or The Cruel Prince, which include darker content and romance.
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 is the best next book after Percy Jackson?
For similar myth and humor, try Aru Shah and the End of Time. For a faster, more mature step, read The Hunger Games.
Are these books good for reluctant readers?
The Hunger Games, Cinder and The Maze Runner move quickly and have short chapters, so they often work for reluctant readers.
Which books have mythology like Percy Jackson?
Aru Shah, Daughter of the Moon Goddess and Children of Blood and Bone all draw on myths from other cultures.