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Quick answer: If you grew up on Percy Jackson and want something for older readers, try The Hidden Oracle, Lore, Circe, The Song of Achilles, The Hunger Games and Six of Crows. They keep the myth and pace but grow up with you.
Riordan's heroes are in middle school, but many fans are 18 or 25 now. They still like gods, monsters and humor, and they now want deeper emotion and more complex heroes. These 15 books cover Riordan's later series, YA myth retellings and adult myth novels. They include mature themes in places.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Trials of Apollo: The Hidden Oracle | Rick Riordan | 12+ | more Riordan |
| Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Sword of Summer | Rick Riordan | 12+ | readers who want more myth |
| The Kane Chronicles: The Red Pyramid | Rick Riordan | 10+ | Egyptian myth fans |
| Lore | Alexandra Bracken | 14+ | readers who want mature myth |
| Circe | Madeline Miller | Adult | readers who want depth |
| The Song of Achilles | Madeline Miller | Adult | readers who want a love story |
| Mythos | Stephen Fry | Adult | readers who want the stories again |
| American Gods | Neil Gaiman | Adult | readers who like gods in the modern world |
| The Hunger Games | Suzanne Collins | 12+ | readers who want action |
| Six of Crows | Leigh Bardugo | 14+ | readers who like ensembles |
| Red Rising | Pierce Brown | 16+ | older readers |
| Throne of Glass | Sarah J. Maas | 14+ | readers who like fantasy romance |
| Daughter of the Moon Goddess | Sue Lynn Tan | 14+ | readers who like mythic romance |
| Divine Rivals | Rebecca Ross | 14+ | readers who like letters |
| Skyward | Brandon Sanderson | 13+ | readers who like space adventure |
1. The Trials of Apollo: The Hidden Oracle by Rick Riordan
Apollo is turned into a mortal teen and must earn his way back to Olympus. A funny, Percy-adjacent series for older fans.
Best for: more Riordan.
2. Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan
Magnus Chase, a homeless teen, learns he is a son of a Norse god. Humorous and full of Norse lore.
Best for: readers who want more myth.
3. The Kane Chronicles: The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan
Carter and Sadie Kane face Egyptian gods. Two narrators, lots of action.
Best for: Egyptian myth fans.
4. Lore by Alexandra Bracken
Every seven years, the Greek gods hunt each other in a modern contest. Dark, stylish and fast.
Best for: readers who want mature myth.
5. Circe by Madeline Miller
Circe, an exiled witch, finds her own power. Lyrical and richly told.
Best for: readers who want depth.
6. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Patroclus tells his life beside Achilles, from boyhood to the Trojan War. Emotional and powerful.
Best for: readers who want a love story.
7. Mythos by Stephen Fry
Fry retells the Greek myths in a witty voice. Easy to read.
Best for: readers who want the stories again.
8. American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Shadow Moon becomes the bodyguard of a mysterious man in a war between old and new gods. Dark and imaginative.
Best for: readers who like gods in the modern world.
9. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Katniss volunteers for a televised fight to the death. Fast and tense.
Best for: readers who want action.
10. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
A crew of misfits attempts an impossible heist. Funny, clever and twisty.
Best for: readers who like ensembles.
11. Red Rising by Pierce Brown
Darrow infiltrates the elite on Mars. Violent and intense.
Best for: older readers.
12. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
An assassin competes to be the king's champion. Romance, action and magic.
Best for: readers who like fantasy romance.
13. Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan
Xingyin trains in the Celestial Kingdom to free her mother. Based on Chinese myth.
Best for: readers who like mythic romance.
14. Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
Iris and Roman, rival journalists, write to each other without knowing it while the gods wage war. Warm and bookish.
Best for: readers who like letters.
15. Skyward by Brandon Sanderson
Spensa dreams of being a pilot to defend her planet. Fast and funny.
Best for: readers who like space adventure.
How to Choose
For more Riordan, start with The Hidden Oracle or The Sword of Summer. For deeper myth, pick Circe or The Song of Achilles. For action, choose The Hunger Games or Six of Crows. For modern gods, read American Gods. Some of these titles include violence, romance and adult content, so check ages. A good path is Riordan's The Trials of Apollo, then a grown-up retelling like Circe, then a fast YA hit like Six of Crows. Between heavier books, reread a favorite Percy Jackson scene for nostalgia. Audiobooks narrated by Jesse Bernstein are a good comfort listen.
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
Is Percy Jackson for adults too?
Yes. Many adult readers enjoy the humor and myth.
What should I read after Riordan?
Circe and Mythos are popular next steps for older fans.
Do I need to read the Percy Jackson books in order?
Yes. They run in order before Heroes of Olympus and The Trials of Apollo.
Are there graphic novels?
Yes. Percy Jackson has graphic novel adaptations.
Which series follows Percy Jackson directly?
The Heroes of Olympus continues the story, followed by The Trials of Apollo.
Are there adult versions of Percy's humor?
Good Omens and Mythos have a similar wry tone, though they are written for adults.