chronological order of rick riordan books

Why Reading in Chronological Order Matters

There are two main ways to experience Riordan’s world: by publication date or by inuniverse timeline. If you’re after tighter narrative continuity and smoother character progression, following the chronological order of Rick Riordan books is the way to go. Some characters pop up in multiple series, and reading out of order can spoil plot twists or miss subtle development arcs.

Core Series in Chronological Order

Here’s a simplified breakdown of the chronological order of Rick Riordan books, including his three main mythologies—Greek, Roman, and Norse—as well as a few modern entries.

1. The Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Greek Mythology)

Start here. Percy Jackson’s world introduces you to demigods, monsters, and the secret world of Camp HalfBlood.

Books in order: The Lightning Thief The Sea of Monsters The Titan’s Curse The Battle of the Labyrinth The Last Olympian

2. The Heroes of Olympus (Greek/Roman Mythology)

This series picks up months after Percy’s original story ends, bringing in Roman mythology and new heroes like Jason Grace and Leo Valdez.

Books in order: The Lost Hero The Son of Neptune The Mark of Athena The House of Hades The Blood of Olympus

3. The Trials of Apollo (Greek/Roman Mythology)

Set directly after Heroes of Olympus, this series follows the god Apollo, now human and struggling to survive and redeem himself.

Books in order: The Hidden Oracle The Dark Prophecy The Burning Maze The Tyrant’s Tomb The Tower of Nero

4. The Kane Chronicles (Egyptian Mythology)

Now we switch mythologies. These books run roughly parallel to the last books in Percy’s original series. There are subtle connections to Camp HalfBlood but they function mostly as standalones.

Books in order: The Red Pyramid The Throne of Fire The Serpent’s Shadow

5. Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard (Norse Mythology)

This trilogy kicks off shortly after the Heroes of Olympus. Magnus is Annabeth Chase’s cousin, and the crossovers are minor but nice if you’re reading everything.

Books in order: The Sword of Summer The Hammer of Thor The Ship of the Dead

6. Crossovers and Companion Stories

If you’re a completionist, there are short stories and crossovers that matter: Demigods and Magicians (Percy meets Carter & Sadie Kane) Demigod Diaries and Demigod Files (add depth to the Percyverse) Camp HalfBlood Confidential (great context)

These don’t shift major plot lines but do enrich the experience if read after the main series they belong to.

The Modern Additions

Rick Riordan has also released The Sun and the Star, written with Mark Oshiro, following Nico di Angelo and Will Solace. While technically part of the Percyverse, it’s more of a spinoff that takes place after all other major series.

Another title, Daughter of the Deep, is outside the myththemed universes entirely, so you can treat it separately.

Best Reading Path (If You Want it All)

For those looking for a comprehensive read, here’s a condensed chronological order of Rick Riordan books:

1. Percy Jackson and the Olympians
2. The Kane Chronicles
3. The Heroes of Olympus
4. Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard
5. The Trials of Apollo
6. Spinoffs like The Sun and the Star and the companion books

This approach keeps the emotional and thematic arcs intact, especially for characters like Percy, Annabeth, and Nico.

Final Thoughts

Getting the chronological order of Rick Riordan books straight pays off. With everything tied together through gods, monsters, and shared worldbuilding, the reading experience feels more layered and natural when you proceed in order. It’s not mandatory, but it sure beats googling “who is this again?” every few chapters.

If your goal is immersion, stick to the roadmap. If you’re only in it for certain mythologies, feel free to break off into series you find most interesting. But either way, Riordan’s crafted a universe where starting in the right place makes all the difference.