Cover of The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan

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Books Like “The Mark of Athena” by Rick Riordan

Readers fell in love with The Mark of Athena for its pulse-pounding mythological quests, high-stakes prophecies, and unforgettable friendships. If you miss that thrilling blend of ancient legends and witty, modern adventure, you are in luck. Dive into our curated list below to discover your next epic read.

  1. Cover of Lore by Alexandra Bracken

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    Lore

    by Alexandra Bracken

    THE INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BEST-SELLER

    "Epic from start to finish." --Marie Lu, #1 New York Times best-selling author of Warcross

    "A brilliant and breathless twist on classic mythology!" --Marissa Meyer, #1 New York Times best-selling author of The Lunar Chronicles

    Every seven years, the Agon begins. As punishment for a past rebellion, nine Greek gods are forced to walk the earth as mortals. They are hunted by the descendants of ancient bloodlines, all eager to kill a god and seize their divine power and immortality.

    Long ago, Lore Perseous fled that brutal world, turning her back on the hunt's promises of eternal glory after her family was murdered by a rival line. For years she's pushed away any thought of revenge against the man--now a god--responsible for their deaths.

    Yet as the next hunt dawns over New York City, two participants seek her out: Castor, a childhood friend and first love Lore believed to be dead, and Athena, one of the last of the original gods, now gravely wounded.

    The goddess offers an alliance against their mutual enemy and a way to leave the Agon behind forever. But Lore's decision to rejoin the hunt, binding her fate to Athena's, will come at a deadly cost--and it may not be enough to stop the rise of a new god with the power to bring humanity to its knees.

    From the #1 New York Times best-selling author of The Darkest Minds comes a sweepingly ambitious, high-octane tale of power, destiny, love, and redemption.

    Why it's similar

    Both books feature ancient Greek mythology clashing with the modern world, centering on divine bloodlines, intense combat, and characters confronting vengeful Olympian deities.

    What's different

    Lore is written for an older young adult audience, featuring a grittier, much darker tone with graphic violence and fewer comedic elements than Riordan's story.

  2. Cover of The Alchemyst by Michael Scott

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    The Alchemyst

    by Michael Scott

    Nicholas Flamel appeared in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter—but did you know he really lived? And his secrets aren't safe! Discover the truth in book one of the New York Times bestselling series the Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel.

    The truth: Nicholas Flamel's tomb is empty.

    The legend: Nicholas Flamel lives.

    Nicholas Flamel is the greatest Alchemyst to ever live. The records show that he died in 1418, but what if he's actually been making the elixir of life for centuries?
    The secrets to eternal life are hidden within the book he protects—the Book of Abraham the Mage. It's the most powerful book that has ever existed, and in the wrong hands, it will destroy the world. And that's exactly what Dr. John Dee plans to do when he steals it.
    There is one hope. If the prophecy is true, Sophie and Josh Newman have the power to save everyone. Now they just have to learn to use it.

    “The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel has everything you loved about Harry Potter, including magic, mystery, and a constant battle of good versus evil.”—Bustle

    Why it's similar

    Both stories utilize an ensemble-driven modern fantasy quest driven by ancient prophecies, legendary artifacts, and confrontations with mythical beings.

    What's different

    The Alchemyst synthesizes various world mythologies and historical figures rather than focusing strictly on Greco-Roman traditions, and it maintains a more serious, lore-heavy narrative voice.

  3. 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 follow an ensemble cast of specialized youth racing across the globe to retrieve ancient Mediterranean wonders before a catastrophic prophecy is fulfilled.

    What's different

    The Colossus Rises incorporates science fiction elements like genetic anomalies and Atlantean technology rather than the direct divine intervention of living deities.

  4. Cover of The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

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    The Goddess Test

    by Aimee Carter

    It's always been just Kate and her mom—and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld—and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.Kate is sure he's crazy—until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess.

    Why it's similar

    Both center on Greek mythology and bring ancient gods into a contemporary setting. Each follows a teen heroine pulled into mythic trials, which gives them a similar blend of modern life, divine conflict, and destiny-driven stakes.

    What's different

    The story is more romance-forward and psychologically focused than The Mark of Athena, with a narrower cast and a more intimate, single-protagonist perspective. Its pacing is slower and less action-heavy than Riordan's team-based adventure.

  5. Cover of Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

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    Starcrossed

    by Josephine Angelini

    Helen Hamilton has spent her entire sixteen years trying to hide how different she is—now it's getting harder. She's having nightmares of a desperate desert journey, visions of three women weeping tears of blood. And why is she possessed by the sudden, unstoppable urge to kill the handsome new boy in school, Lucas Delos?

    A love written in the stars . . .

    A feud started in ancient Greece . . .

    A curse not even the gods can break.

    Why it's similar

    Both use Greek mythology as the foundation for a modern YA fantasy plot, including descendants of gods and mythic conflicts in the present day. They share a teen cast, high-stakes supernatural conflict, and a strong sense of prophecy and destiny.

    What's different

    Starcrossed leans more strongly into romance and tragic fate than into comic adventure, so its tone is less playful than The Mark of Athena. It also focuses more on a small circle of characters and a school/community setting than on a globe-spanning quest.

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