Cover of The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan

4 book recommendations

Books Like “The Sea of Monsters” by Rick Riordan

Craving another legendary quest packed with mythological mayhem, witty humor, and unstoppable friendships? Readers adore The Sea of Monsters for its fast-paced peril and clever spin on ancient legends. Dive into our handpicked recommendations below to discover your next epic, high-stakes fantasy adventure.

  1. Cover of Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi

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    Aru Shah and the End of Time

    by Roshani Chokshi

    'Has everything I like: humour, action, great characters and awesome mythology!' Rick Riordan, bestselling author of Percy Jackson

    'A new star is born.' Eoin Colfer, bestselling author of Artemis Fowl

    The first book in an exciting AND funny adventure series. Twelve-year-old Aru Shah has a tendency to stretch the truth in order to fit in at school.

    Whilst her classmates are jetting off to exotic locales, she'll be at home, in the Museum of Ancient Indian Art and Culture where her mother works.

    Is it any wonder that Aru makes up stories about being royalty, traveling to Paris, and having a chauffeur?

    When Aru's schoolmates dare her to prove that the museum's Lamp of Bharata is cursed, she doesn't think there's any harm in lighting it. Little does Aru know that lighting the lamp has dire consequences. She unwittingly frees the Sleeper, an ancient demon whose duty it is to awaken the God of Destruction.

    Her classmates and beloved mother are frozen in time, and, accompanied by a wise-cracking pigeon and her long-lost half-sister, it's up to Aru to save them.

    Pacy, page-turning storytelling charming, funny writing relatable characters to root for a diverse, original feel to the set-up - drawing inspiration from Hindu gods

    Praise for Aru Shah and the End of Time:

    "The characters and gods that make up Chokshi's world are hilarious ... The empowerment that Chokshi places in her two main characters of Aru and Mini, tells readers that girls are strong and fierce and not to be underestimated." Bill Gowsell, Laughing Place

    "Chokshi weaves an engrossing adventure that will leave readers anticipating the next installment." Publishers Weekly

    Why it's similar

    Both books feature a humorous, contemporary middle-grade protagonist who discovers their divine heritage and embarks on a quest across mythological realms to save family members.

    What's different

    It draws from Hindu mythology rather than Greek legend, and focuses on undoing an accidental magical catastrophe rather than undertaking a seafaring rescue mission.

  2. Cover of Loki's Wolves by K.L. Armstrong and Melissa Marr

    Cover not available

    Loki's Wolves

    by K.L. Armstrong and Melissa Marr

    Calling all fans of myths, action-adventure, and the Percy Jackson series - don't miss this first book in the Blackwell Pages trilogy from bestselling authors K.L. Armstrong and Melissa Marr.
    While thirteen-year-old Matt Thorsen has always known he's a modern-day descendent of Thor, he's been living a normal kid's life. In fact, most people in the small town of Blackwell, South Dakota, are direct descendants of either Thor or Loki, including Matt's classmates Fen and Laurie Brekke. No big deal.
    But now Ragnarok is coming, and it's up to the champions to fight in the place of the long-dead gods. Matt, Laurie, and Fen's lives will never be the same as they race to put together an unstoppable team, find Thor's hammer and shield, and prevent the end of the world.
    In their middle grade debut, bestselling authors K.L. Armstrong and Melissa Marr begin the epic Blackwell Pages series with this action-packed adventure, filled with larger-than-life legends, gripping battles, and an engaging cast of characters who bring the myths to life.

    Why it's similar

    Both stories center on modern adolescents who discover they are descendants of ancient gods and must band together to battle mythical beasts threatening their world.

    What's different

    It explores Norse mythology instead of Greco-Roman myth and employs a darker, multi-POV narrative rather than a single witty first-person voice.

  3. Cover of Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia

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    Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky

    by Kwame Mbalia

    Best-selling author Rick Riordan presents Kwame Mbalia's epic fantasy, a middle grade American Gods set in a richly-imagined world populated with African American folk heroes and West African gods.
    Seventh grader Tristan Strong feels anything but strong ever since he failed to save his best friend when they were in a bus accident together. All he has left of Eddie is the journal his friend wrote stories in. Tristan is dreading the month he's going to spend on his grandparents' farm in Alabama, where he's being sent to heal from the tragedy. But on his first night there, a sticky creature shows up in his bedroom and steals Eddie's notebook. Tristan chases after it--is that a doll?--and a tug-of-war ensues between them underneath a Bottle Tree. In a last attempt to wrestle the journal out of the creature's hands, Tristan punches the tree, accidentally ripping open a chasm into the MidPass, a volatile place with a burning sea, haunted bone ships, and iron monsters that are hunting the inhabitants of this world. Tristan finds himself in the middle of a battle that has left black American folk heroes John Henry and Brer Rabbit exhausted. In order to get back home, Tristan and these new allies will need to entice the god Anansi, the Weaver, to come out of hiding and seal the hole in the sky. But bartering with the trickster Anansi always comes at a price. Can Tristan save this world before he loses more of the things he loves?

    Why it's similar

    Both novels follow a snarky, reluctant young male protagonist thrust into a world of living myth, navigating monster battles and dangerous waters on a high-stakes adventure.

    What's different

    It incorporates West African deities and African American folklore rather than classical mythology, with a stronger thematic focus on processing trauma and grief.

  4. Cover of The Colossus Rises by Peter Lerangis

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    The Colossus Rises

    by Peter Lerangis

    The day after twelve-year-old Jack McKinley is told he has six months to live, he awakens on a mysterious island, where a secret organization promises to save his life - but with one condition. With his three friends, Jack must lead a mission to retrieve seven lost magical orbs, which, only when combined together, can save their lives. The challenge: the orbs have been missing for a thousand years, lost among the ruins and relics of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. With no one else to turn to and no escape in sight, the four friends have no choice but to undertake the quest. First stop: The Colossus of Rhodes, where they realise that there's way more at stake than just their lives.

    Why it's similar

    Both books feature a fast-paced Mediterranean adventure where young characters with extraordinary abilities race against time across perilous waters and ancient mythical locations.

    What's different

    The protagonists' abilities stem from an Atlantean genetic anomaly rather than divine parentage, framing the adventure around historical mysteries rather than active deities.

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