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Quick answer: If you loved Rick Riordan's The Trials of Apollo, try The Lightning Thief, Magnus Chase and the Sword of Summer, The Red Pyramid, Aru Shah and the End of Time, Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky and Race to the Sun. They bring mythology, humor and heroes to life.
The Trials of Apollo follows Apollo, the god of the sun and music, who is turned into a mortal teenager named Lester Papadopoulos. He must complete quests to earn back his place on Olympus. Readers who finish all five books want more funny, myth-filled adventures. These 15 books include Riordan's other series, plus books from his Rick Riordan Presents imprint.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Lightning Thief | Rick Riordan | 9-13 | readers new to Riordan |
| The Lost Hero | Rick Riordan | 10-14 | series readers |
| The Sword of Summer | Rick Riordan | 10-14 | Norse myth fans |
| The Red Pyramid | Rick Riordan | 9-13 | Egyptian myth fans |
| Aru Shah and the End of Time | Roshani Chokshi | 9-13 | Hindu myth fans |
| Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky | Kwame Mbalia | 9-13 | folklore fans |
| Race to the Sun | Rebecca Roanhorse | 9-13 | readers who like quests |
| The Storm Runner | J.C. Cervantes | 9-13 | Maya myth fans |
| Dragon Pearl | Yoon Ha Lee | 9-13 | science-fiction fans |
| Sal and Gabi Break the Universe | Carlos Hernandez | 9-13 | readers who like humor and heart |
| Percy Jackson's Greek Gods | Rick Riordan | 9-13 | readers who want more Greek myth |
| Mythos | Stephen Fry | Adult | older fans |
| Circe | Madeline Miller | Adult | older readers |
| Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Last Olympian | Rick Riordan | 10-14 | fans who want a reread |
| Keeper of the Lost Cities | Shannon Messenger | 9-13 | readers who want a long series |
1. The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Percy learns he is a demigod and heads to Camp Half-Blood. The first Percy Jackson book.
Best for: readers new to Riordan.
2. The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan
The first Heroes of Olympus book, with Greek and Roman demigods. Fast and bigger in scope.
Best for: series readers.
3. The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan
Magnus Chase dies and wakes in Valhalla. Funny and full of Norse lore.
Best for: Norse myth fans.
4. The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan
Carter and Sadie Kane face Egyptian gods. Two narrators and lots of action.
Best for: Egyptian myth fans.
5. Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi
Aru lights a cursed lamp and learns she is a reincarnated Pandava. A Rick Riordan Presents title.
Best for: Hindu myth fans.
6. Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia
Tristan punches a hole into a world of African American folktales. Moving and funny.
Best for: folklore fans.
7. Race to the Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse
Nizhoni Begay can spot monsters, and her father is kidnapped by a villain from Diné stories. Fast and fun.
Best for: readers who like quests.
8. The Storm Runner by J.C. Cervantes
Zane Obispo learns he is the son of a Maya god. Action and Maya mythology.
Best for: Maya myth fans.
9. Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee
Min, a fox spirit, goes to space to find her missing brother. Korean myth meets science fiction.
Best for: science-fiction fans.
10. Sal and Gabi Break the Universe by Carlos Hernandez
Sal can pull objects from other universes, and a mistake brings his dead mother back. Funny and tender.
Best for: readers who like humor and heart.
11. Percy Jackson's Greek Gods by Rick Riordan
Percy retells the myths in his own sarcastic voice. A fun companion.
Best for: readers who want more Greek myth.
12. Mythos by Stephen Fry
Fry retells the Greek myths in a witty voice. Easy to read for older fans.
Best for: older fans.
13. Circe by Madeline Miller
Circe, an exiled witch, finds her power. Lyrical and richly told.
Best for: older readers.
14. Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan
The final Percy Jackson book, with the battle for Olympus. A great reread.
Best for: fans who want a reread.
15. Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger
Sophie learns she is an elf with telepathic powers. A big series with lots of secrets.
Best for: readers who want a long series.
How to Choose
If you finished Apollo's story, the best next steps are Magnus Chase and The Kane Chronicles. For new mythologies, read the Rick Riordan Presents books. For older fans, try Mythos or Circe. A simple plan is to rotate between a Riordan book and a book from another culture's myths. All are suited for ages 9 and up, with action and some scary scenes. If you want to try audiobooks, Robbie Daymond narrates the Apollo series with lively voices. For a family read-aloud, the first Percy Jackson book is a good place to restart.
Related: 12 Best Books on the Salem Witch Trials · 15 Best Books on the Nuremberg Trials: Justice After World War II
Frequently Asked Questions
How many books are in The Trials of Apollo?
Five: The Hidden Oracle, The Dark Prophecy, The Burning Maze, The Tyrant's Tomb and The Tower of Nero.
Do I need to read Percy Jackson first?
It helps, because characters from Percy's world appear, but it is possible to start with Apollo.
Is it a funny series?
Yes. Apollo's vain, funny narration is the series' main appeal.
What is Rick Riordan Presents?
An imprint where Riordan promotes authors who write fantasy based on their own cultures' myths.
Is The Trials of Apollo a sequel to Percy Jackson?
It continues in the same world and appears after The Heroes of Olympus, but it has its own hero.
What age is it for?
It is usually recommended for ages 10 and up.