Beyond Camp Half-Blood: 15 Epic Books Like Percy Jackson For Young Adventurers
What if you could find more books like Percy Jackson? That’s the question echoing in the minds of millions of readers who finished Rick Riordan’s legendary series and felt that unique mix of elation and emptiness. You’ve just closed the cover on The Last Olympian, said goodbye to Percy, Annabeth, and Grover, and now you’re staring at your bookshelf, wondering, “What do I read next that will give me that same rush?” That desperate search for books like Percy Jackson is a universal rite of passage for young fantasy fans. The series masterfully blends modern teenage life with ancient mythology, creating a recipe of humor, heart, and high-stakes adventure that’s notoriously hard to replicate. But the literary world is vast and wonderful, filled with authors who have taken Riordan’s blueprint and spun it into their own dazzling tapestries of magic, quests, and coming-of-age drama. This guide is your map to those hidden treasures and celebrated cousins of Camp Half-Blood, designed to fill that void with stories that will capture your imagination just as fiercely.
The Magic Formula: Why Percy Jackson Resonates So Deeply
Before we dive into the alternatives, it helps to understand why the Percy Jackson series is such a phenomenon. It’s not just about gods and monsters; it’s about relatable protagonists. Percy is a kid with ADHD and dyslexia who discovers these “disabilities” are actually battle-hardened instincts. This re-framing of perceived flaws as strengths is a powerful message. The series also excels at seamless world-building, where the mythological past constantly collides with the modern world—a Starbucks in Olympus, the Empire State Building as a portal to the Underworld. Furthermore, the found family dynamic is central. Percy finds belonging not with his mortal parents, but with his fellow demigods at Camp Half-Blood. Finally, the balance of humor and high stakes is perfect. Even as the world teeters on the brink of war, characters crack jokes and banter. When seeking books like Percy Jackson, look for these core ingredients: a relatable hero, a creative fusion of myth and modernity, a strong chosen family, and a tone that doesn’t take itself so seriously that it forgets to be fun.
Rick Riordan’s Own Expanded Universe: The Direct Lineage
The most obvious and rewarding place to look for books like Percy Jackson is within the same publishing universe. Rick Riordan didn’t just write one series; he built a mythological multiverse connected by the “Riordanverse.”
The Magnus Chase Series: Norse Mythology Meets Modern Boston
If you loved the Percy Jackson series, the natural next step is Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard. This trilogy follows Magnus, a homeless teenager in Boston who learns he’s the son of a Norse god. The parallels are immediate: a reluctant hero with a tragic past, a secret camp (this time, Valhalla), and a quest across the Nine Worlds. The humor is sharp, the action is cinematic, and the representation is groundbreaking, featuring a protagonist of color and a major genderfluid character, Alex Fierro. The series brilliantly adapts Norse myths—Valkyries, dwarves, and giants—into a contemporary setting. The audiobooks, narrated by different actors for each character, are also a masterclass in performance. It’s the closest you’ll get to that original Percy Jackson feeling while exploring a completely new pantheon.
The Kane Chronicles: Egyptian Magic in the Modern World
For a shorter, more focused adventure, dive into The Kane Chronicles. This trilogy follows siblings Carter and Sadie Kane as they accidentally release the Egyptian god Set and must navigate a world where magic is real and pharaohs are still a thing. The dual-narrator structure (Carter and Sadie take turns telling the story) is a fresh twist. The Egyptian pantheon is less familiar to most readers, making the discoveries feel new and exciting. The series is slightly more serious in tone than Percy Jackson but retains the fast-paced plotting and character chemistry. It’s a perfect bridge for readers who want to stay in the Riordanverse but crave a different cultural backdrop.
The Heroes of Olympus: The Direct Sequel Series
Of course, we can’t forget the direct sequel series, The Heroes of Olympus. This five-book series expands the world by introducing Roman mythology and a new prophecy with a new set of demigods from Camp Jupiter. It’s a larger-scale, ensemble-driven epic that brings the original Camp Half-Blood crew together with their Roman counterparts. If you want more Percy, Annabeth, and friends but with higher stakes and a broader cast, this is your pick. The themes of unity and overcoming deep-seated division between Greeks and Romans add a layer of social commentary that elevates the series.
Branching Out: Books That Capture the Same Spirit
Now, let’s venture beyond Riordan’s own work to other authors who have captured lightning in a bottle.
The “Hero’s Journey” with a Mythological Twist: The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
While older and more allegorical, C.S. Lewis’s classic is the foundational text for many portal fantasies. Children from our world are magically transported to Narnia, a land of talking animals and epic battles between good and evil. The theme of ordinary kids becoming extraordinary is central, as is the found family dynamic among the Pevensie siblings and their allies. The clear moral framework and sense of wonder are reminiscent of Percy Jackson’s battles for Olympus. Start with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe for the quintessential experience.
A Reluctant Hero in a Hidden World: Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
This series flips the script. Instead of a human in a mythical world, it’s a criminal mastermind fairy who kidnaps a leprechaun. Artemis Fowl is a genius, anti-Percy in many ways—arrogant, calculating, and initially selfish. But over the series, he evolves, forming deep bonds with his fairy allies, particularly the fierce Holly Short. The high-tech meets magic aesthetic, the intricate heist-style plots, and the bickering-but-loyal team dynamic will appeal to readers who loved the strategic planning and witty banter of Percy’s quests. It’s for the reader who appreciated Percy’s cleverness as much as his bravery.
Modern Mythmakers: Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi
Part of the Rick Riordan Presents imprint, this series is a direct response to the call for diverse mythological stories. Aru Shah, a chronic liar from Atlanta, accidentally releases a demon and must navigate the Kingdom of Death in Hindu mythology. The voice is vibrant and funny, the world-building is lush and immersive, and the found family (Aru and her sister, plus a snarky pigeon) is central. It follows the Riordan formula so closely—modern kid, ancient myth, camp-like setting (the Otherworld), a quest—that it feels like a natural, beautiful extension of the genre. It’s arguably the single best recommendation for someone asking for books like Percy Jackson but with a fresh cultural lens.
The Darker, Grittier Cousin: The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
This is for the older teen or adult who loved the mythological depth and emotional weight of the Percy Jackson series but is ready for something more literary and tragic. It’s a retelling of the Trojan War through the love story of Patroclus and Achilles. While not a middle-grade adventure, it shares the deep dive into Greek mythology and the perspective of a secondary character (much like how we see the gods through Percy’s eyes). The prose is breathtakingly beautiful, and the exploration of fate, love, and glory will resonate with readers who pondered the bigger questions Riordan’s myths often hinted at. It shows the full, brutal power of the myths that Percy Jackson only ever touched the edges of.
Epic Quests and Unbreakable Bonds: The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
The grandfather of all quest narratives. Bilbo Baggins, a comfort-loving hobbit, is thrust into an adventure with dwarves to reclaim a mountain from a dragon. The “small person in a big world” trope, the journey structure filled with encounters with trolls, goblins, and spiders, and the transformation of the hero are all here. The loyalty and camaraderie among the company mirrors the bonds at Camp Half-Blood. While the tone is more earnest and the prose more dense, the sense of epic scale and personal growth is the bedrock upon which series like Percy Jackson were built.
The “Riordan Presents” Imprint: A Goldmine of Diverse Mythology
Launched in 2018, the Rick Riordan Presents imprint is a game-changer for the “books like Percy Jackson” search. Its mission is to publish middle-grade novels by authors from the cultures they write about, featuring mythology from around the world. This is where you’ll find the most direct and exciting successors to the formula.
- Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia: A stunning blend of African American folklore and West African mythology. Tristan, grieving his best friend, accidentally punches a hole into a world where the heroes of the stories his grandmother told him are real and in trouble. The emotional core is powerful, the mythical figures (like Brer Rabbit and Anansi) are brilliantly rendered, and the quest to save both the mythic world and our own is thrilling. It’s a masterclass in cultural storytelling.
- Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee: A space opera infused with Korean mythology. Min, a teenage fox spirit (kumiho), runs away from her home planet to search for her lost brother, disguised as a cadet in a space fleet. The world-building is incredibly inventive (spaceships with ghost engines, dragon pearls as power sources), the protagonist is fiercely determined and clever, and the mystery plot is tightly wound. It proves the “kid discovers hidden heritage” trope can soar in a sci-fi setting.
- Race to the Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse: A Navajo-inspired adventure set in the American Southwest. Nizhoni Begay, who can spot monsters, must race to the Sun with her brother and best friend to save her family from a mysterious threat. The integration of Navajo lore, monsters, and heroes is authentic and awe-inspiring. The sassy, protective older brother dynamic and the road-trip quest structure will feel very familiar and comforting to Percy Jackson fans, while the specific cultural details are entirely new and captivating.
What to Look For: Your Personal “Books Like Percy Jackson” Checklist
Not every book will hit the same notes for every reader. Use this checklist to tailor your search:
- For the Reader Who Loved the Mythology: Prioritize the Riordan Presents titles and Magnus Chase. Dive into The Song of Achilles for depth or Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman for a straightforward, witty retelling of the source material.
- For the Reader Who Loved the Humor & Banter:Artemis Fowl is a must. Also try The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart for a team of gifted kids on a secret mission with plenty of witty dialogue, though without the mythology.
- For the Reader Who Loved the Found Family & Camp Vibes:Magnus Chase (Hotel Valhalla is a spectacular found family), Aru Shah (the Otherworldly friends), and Harry Potter (the original found family school) are essential. The Girl Who Could Not Dream by Sarah Beth Durst also features a tight-knit group protecting a magical sanctuary.
- For the Reader Who Loved the Modern/Myth Mashup:Aru Shah, Dragon Pearl, and Tristan Strong are the pinnacle of this. For a non-Riordan Presents example, try The Storm Runner by J.C. Cervantes (Mayan mythology) or Paola Santiago and the River of Tears by Tehlor Kay Mejia (Mexican folklore).
- For the Reader Who Loved the High-Stakes Quest:The Hobbit, The Chronicles of Narnia, and The Princess Bride (yes, the book!) offer that classic, perilous journey with a clear goal and mounting obstacles.
Addressing Common Questions About “Books Like Percy Jackson”
Q: My kid loved Percy Jackson but is only 8. Are there younger options?
A: Absolutely. Look for early chapter books with similar themes. The Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne has a historical/mythical adventure vibe. The Zoey and Sassafras series by Asia Citro blends science and magic with a young protagonist. For mythology specifically, the Mythical Beasts series by various authors (often under the “National Geographic Kids” brand) are informative and engaging starters.
Q: I’ve read all of Rick Riordan’s books. Is there anything else even close?
A: Yes! The Riordan Presents imprint is your next stop. It was created explicitly for readers who have exhausted Riordan’s own work and want more. Start with Aru Shah (Hindu), Tristan Strong (African American/West African), or Dragon Pearl (Korean). They follow the same beloved structure but with entirely new cultural contexts.
Q: Are these books appropriate? Do they have similar levels of action/violence?
A: Most books like Percy Jackson in the middle-grade category (ages 8-12) feature peril, monster battles, and occasional character death, but the violence is generally not graphic. The focus is on adventure and cleverness over gore. The Riordan Presents books maintain this standard. For older teens, books like The Song of Achilles contain more mature themes and romantic content. Always check a specific book’s content review on sites like Common Sense Media if you have concerns.
Q: What if I want something completely different but with the same “feel”?
A: The “feel” of Percy Jackson is optimistic, character-driven adventure with a mythic backbone. Try The Last Kids on Earth by Max Brallier for post-apocalyptic humor and monster fighting, or The Wild Magic series by Tamora Pierce for a young mage’s journey in a richly detailed fantasy world. Pierce’s work is a major influence on the entire genre and shares the coming-of-age, skill-building, and friendship themes.
Crafting Your Own Mythological Adventure Map
Don’t just read—engage! Here’s how to deepen your experience with books like Percy Jackson:
- Map the Pantheons: Create a chart. List each book/series you read and note its core mythology (Greek, Norse, Egyptian, Hindu, etc.). Then, list 3-5 key gods, goddesses, or monsters from that tradition that appear. This turns reading into an active learning quest.
- The “What If” Game: After finishing a book, ask: “What if this protagonist met Percy Jackson? What would they argue about? What skill would they admire in each other?” This builds intertextual thinking and makes the Riordanverse feel even larger.
- Cook the Myth: Many of these books feature iconic foods—ambrosia, Turkish delight, baklava, pan dulce. Find a recipe from the culture featured in your current read and make it. It’s a sensory connection to the story’s world.
- Start a Myth Club: Find one or two friends who’ve read the same book. Have a debate: “Which god from this mythology would you want as a parent? Which monster would be the hardest to fight?” This turns solitary reading into a shared social adventure, just like Camp Half-Blood.
Conclusion: Your Adventure is Just Beginning
The search for books like Percy Jackson is more than a simple genre hunt; it’s a search for that particular alchemy of wonder, humor, and heart that makes a story feel like it was written just for you. Rick Riordan opened a door for millions, proving that ancient myths could be vibrant, relevant, and deeply personal. The good news is that door has now become a grand hall, with countless other authors guiding you through the mythologies of the world. From the high-tech fairy heists of Artemis Fowl to the soul-stirring poetry of Madeline Miller’s Greece, from the spacefaring kumiho of Dragon Pearl to the Norse afterlife of Magnus Chase, there is a universe of adventure waiting. The key is to know what you loved most about Percy’s journey—was it the found family, the clever hero, the mythological mashup, or the unbreakable bonds of friendship? Use that as your compass. Pick up a book from this list that aligns with your favorite element, and prepare to be transported. The campfire is always burning, new prophecies are always being written, and your next great mythological adventure is just a page away. Now, go find your quest.
