Cover of The House of Hades by Rick Riordan

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Books Like “The House of Hades” by Rick Riordan

Craving more of the heart-pounding mythic danger, dark trials, and loyal friendships that made The House of Hades unforgettable? From treacherous quests alongside ancient deities to spellbinding battles against impossible odds, these thrilling stories capture that same heroic spark. Dive into our handpicked collection and find your next epic fantasy adventure today.

  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.

    Why it's similar

    Both books feature ancient Greek mythological figures clashing in the modern world during high-stakes, life-or-death trials. They share an action-packed pace centered on mortal descendants wrestling with traumatic divine legacies.

    What's different

    Lore takes place entirely within New York City as a standalone story with a darker, more graphic survivalist tone, whereas The House of Hades is a globe-and-underworld-spanning ensemble adventure.

  2. Cover of Antigoddess by Kendare Blake

    Cover not available

    Antigoddess

    by Kendare Blake

    The Goddess War begins in Antigoddess, the first installment of a beautiful and dark new series by the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Three Dark Crowns and Anna Dressed in Blood

    Old Gods never die...

    Or so Athena thought. But then the feathers started sprouting beneath her skin, invading her lungs like a strange cancer, and Hermes showed up with a fever eating away his flesh. So much for living a quiet eternity in perpetual health.

    Desperately seeking the cause of their slow, miserable deaths, Athena and Hermes travel the world, gathering allies and discovering enemies both new and old. Their search leads them to Cassandra—an ordinary girl who was once an extraordinary prophetess, protected and loved by a god.

    These days, Cassandra doesn't involve herself in the business of gods—in fact, she doesn't even know they exist. But she could be the key in a war that is only just beginning.

    Because Hera, the queen of the gods, has aligned herself with other of the ancient Olympians, who are killing off rivals in an attempt to prolong their own lives. But these anti-gods have become corrupted in their desperation to survive, horrific caricatures of their former glory. Athena will need every advantage she can get, because immortals don't just flicker out.

    Every one of them dies in their own way. Some choke on feathers. Others become monsters. All of them rage against their last breath.

    The Goddess War is about to begin.

    Why it's similar

    Both novels explore the dark, brutal consequences of Greek divine conflicts, echoing the grim atmosphere and survival stakes seen during the Tartarus descent in The House of Hades. Both feature demigods and deities facing visceral physical vulnerability.

    What's different

    Antigoddess incorporates prominent horror elements and a bleak, tragic tone, focusing on dying gods turning on each other rather than an uplifting story of heroic teamwork and friendship.

  3. Cover of The Colossus Rises by Peter Lerangis

    Cover not available

    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 follow youth carrying ancient heritage who must navigate deadly mythological traps and creatures drawn from classical antiquity. Strong themes of mutual loyalty and high-stakes survival drive both adventures.

    What's different

    The Colossus Rises is narrated through a single first-person perspective tailored to middle-grade readers, lacking the sprawling multi-POV structure and romantic complexity of The House of Hades.

  4. Cover of The Song of Achilles by Madeleine Miller

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    The Song of Achilles

    by Madeleine Miller

    **OVER 1.5 MILLION COPIES SOLD**
    **A 10th ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL EDITION, FEATURING A NEW FOREWORD BY THE AUTHOR**

    WINNER OF THE ORANGE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION
    THE INTERNATIONAL SENSATION
    A SUNDAY TIMES AND NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

    'Captivating' DONNA TARTT
    'I loved it' J K ROWLING
    'Ravishingly vivid' EMMA DONOGHUE

    Greece in the age of heroes. Patroclus, an awkward young prince, has been exiled to the court of King Peleus and his perfect son Achilles. Despite their differences, Achilles befriends the shamed prince, and as they grow into young men skilled in the arts of war and medicine, their bond blossoms into something deeper - despite the displeasure of Achilles's mother Thetis, a cruel sea goddess. But when word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, Achilles must go to war in distant Troy and fulfill his destiny. Torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus goes with him, little knowing that the years that follow will test everything they hold dear.

    Why it's similar

    It retells Greek mythology through a character-driven adventure involving heroes, divine forces, dangerous journeys, and intense bonds of loyalty. Like The House of Hades, it explores sacrifice, friendship, love, and the consequences of conflict among gods and mortals.

    What's different

    It is a mythological coming-of-age novel centered on Achilles and Patroclus, with Greek gods, heroic quests, and themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and loss that overlap with The House of Hades. Its first-person literary style and tragic, adult-oriented focus make it more introspective and emotionally devastating, with far less humor and action.

  5. Cover of The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden

    Cover not available

    The Girl in the Tower

    by Katherine Arden

    In the sequel to the nationally bestselling The Bear and the Nightingale, a gifted young woman with ties to the old magic of her homeland blazes a trail out of the frozen wilderness and into the court intrigues of Moscow.

    “A masterfully told story of folklore, history, and magic with a spellbinding heroine at the heart of it all.”—Booklist (starred review)

    Vasilisa’s gift for seeing what others do not won her the attention, even affection, of Morozko—the winter demon from her nurse’s stories. But his aid comes at a cost.

    Orphaned, named a witch, and cast out by her village, Vasya’s options are few: resign herself to life in a convent or marriage to a stranger. Both doom her to life in a tower, cut off from the wide world she longs to explore. So instead she chooses adventure, disguising herself as a young man and riding her trusted stallion, Solovey, into the wilderness.

    But Vasya’s exploits soon reunite her with her long-estranged siblings and earn her the admiration of the Grand Prince of Moscow. Disguised as a boy, she must walk a delicate line, safeguarding her family, concealing her identity and navigating her increasingly fraught relationship with Morozko—even as she realizes the realm is under threat from mysterious forces only she will be able to stop.

    “A compelling, fast-moving story that grounds fantasy elements in a fascinating period of Russian history.”—Kirkus Reviews

    Why it's similar

    Its young protagonist travels through a dangerous supernatural world populated by beings drawn from mythology, while relying on courage, loyalty, and trusted companions. Like The House of Hades, it combines a perilous journey with themes of identity, family, and resisting powerful forces that threaten ordinary people.

    What's different

    It is a slower, folkloric historical fantasy rooted in medieval Russia, with less ensemble banter and fewer large-scale battles. Its atmosphere is more wintry and suspenseful, and its protagonist faces social restrictions as much as supernatural threats.

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