If you liked
Books like The Lightning Thief
by Rick Riordan
The Lightning Thief turned a dyslexic kid into a demigod and Greek myth into a playground, launching Percy Jackson and a generation of readers into the genre. Rick Riordan writes fast, funny, big-hearted adventure. If you want more of that quest energy and found-family fun, these are the reads.
The shortlist
What to read next
Children of Blood and Boneby Tomi Adeyemi
“Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi 2018 review. In a West-African-inspired fantasy kingdom, a young woman fights to restore magic to her people after the king has it eradicated. The YA fantasy debut that defined the late-2010s book-club moment.”
Six of Crowsby Leigh Bardugo
“Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo 2015 review. A crew of six outcasts attempts an impossible heist in the corrupt city of Ketterdam. The YA fantasy heist novel that defined the contemporary Grishaverse and made Bardugo the major YA fantasy writer of her generation.”
The Cruel Princeby Holly Black
“The Cruel Prince by Holly Black 2018 review. Jude Duarte, a human raised in the High Court of Faerie, navigates Prince Cardan's cruel politics. Canonical contemporary YA romantasy.”
The House in the Cerulean Seaby TJ Klune
“The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune 2020 review. A caseworker is sent to evaluate a remote orphanage that may contain the Antichrist. The Mythopoeic Award winning cozy fantasy.”
The Atlas Sixby Olivie Blake
“The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake 2022 review. Six powerful magicians are recruited for the Alexandrian Society. Only five will be initiated. The first Atlas trilogy book and the canonical BookTok-era dark academia romantasy.”
The Priory of the Orange Treeby Samantha Shannon
“The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon 2019 review. A standalone epic fantasy across four kingdoms preparing for the return of a banished ancient dragon. Canonical contemporary literary epic fantasy.”
FAQ
Common questions about The Lightning Thief read-alikes
- I want another big adventure with a young hero and a quest.
- Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi is the pick: West-African-inspired magic, a teenage heroine, and a fight to bring magic back to her world. It aims a little older than Percy Jackson but keeps the propulsive quest structure.
- I want the found-family heist crew.
- Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo gives you a ragtag team of teenage criminals with distinct voices and a job that should be impossible. It is the natural next step up in age and stakes from the Camp Half-Blood gang.
- I want fantasy that is warm and comforting.
- The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune is the coziest book on this list, a found-family story about magical children and the man who learns to love them. If the heart of Percy Jackson mattered more to you than the swordfights, start there.
- I want to grow into more grown-up fantasy.
- The Cruel Prince offers sharp faerie-court intrigue, and The Atlas Six and The Priory of the Orange Tree take you into full adult fantasy. All three are good next rungs as young Riordan fans level up.
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