Cover of The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan

5 book recommendations

Books Like “The Son of Neptune” by Rick Riordan

Craving more high-stakes mythology, unforgettable friendships, and witty quests like the ones in Rick Riordan’s The Son of Neptune? If Percy’s Roman journey left you hungry for legendary lore and action-packed storytelling, you have come to the right place. Explore our handpicked recommendations below to discover your next epic adventure.

  1. Cover of The Storm Runner by J.C. Cervantes

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    The Storm Runner

    by J.C. Cervantes

    A contemporary adventure based on Maya mythology from Rick Riordan Presents!
    Zane has always enjoyed exploring the dormant volcano near his home in New Mexico, even though hiking it is challenging. He'd much rather hang out there with his dog, Rosie, than go to middle school, where kids call him Sir Limps a Lot, McGimpster, or Uno--for his one good leg. What Zane doesn't know is that the volcano is a gateway to another world and he is at the center of a powerful prophecy. A new girl at school, Brooks, informs him that he's destined to release an evil god from the ancient Maya relic he is imprisoned in--unless she can find and remove it first. Together they return to the volcano, where all kinds of crazy happens. Brooks turns into a hawk, a demon attacks them in a cave, and Rosie gives her all while trying to protect Zane. When Zane decides to save his dog no matter the cost, he is thrust into an adventure full of surprising discoveries, dangerous secrets, and an all-out war between the gods, one of whom happens to be his father. To survive, Zane will have to become the Storm Runner. But how can he run when he can't even walk well without a cane?

    Why it's similar

    Both books feature modern adolescents discovering their connections to ancient gods and embarking on a high-stakes quest to thwart a divine disaster. They also share a fast-paced, humorous tone with an ensemble of mythic companions.

    What's different

    Instead of Roman military camps and legion dynamics, Cervantes explores Mayan mythology and centers the story around a single protagonist navigating a physical disability.

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

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    Loki's Wolves

    by K.L. Armstrong and M.A. 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 novels follow modern teenagers who discover they are descendants of ancient deities and must unite on a dangerous wilderness quest to prevent a catastrophic war. They both balance contemporary teenage life with ancient mythological obligations.

    What's different

    This book draws exclusively on Norse mythology rather than Roman lore and features a bleaker, more suspenseful tone set in a remote rural town.

  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 stories focus on an action-oriented quest undertaken by a specialized trio of teens possessing extraordinary ancient abilities. Both emphasize camaraderie, ancient mysteries, and ticking-clock stakes.

    What's different

    Lerangis grounds the plot in the lost Wonders of the Ancient World and speculative genetic history rather than literal interactions with active pagan deities.

  4. Cover of Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

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    Aurora Rising

    by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

    From the New York Times and internationally bestselling authors of the Illuminae Files comes a new science-fiction epic. . . .

    The year is 2380, and the graduating cadets of Aurora Academy are being assigned their first missions. Star pupil Tyler Jones is ready to recruit the squad of his dreams, but his own boneheaded heroism sees him stuck with the dregs nobody else in the academy would touch . . .

    A cocky diplomat with a black belt in sarcasm
    A sociopath scientist with a fondness for shooting her bunkmates
    A smart-ass tech whiz with the galaxy's biggest chip on his shoulder
    An alien warrior with anger-management issues
    A tomboy pilot who's totally not into him, in case you were wondering

    And Ty's squad isn't even his biggest problem—that'd be Aurora Jie-Lin O'Malley, the girl he's just rescued from interdimensional space. Trapped in cryo-sleep for two centuries, Auri is a girl out of time and out of her depth. But she could be the catalyst that starts a war millions of years in the making, and Tyler's squad of losers, discipline cases, and misfits might just be the last hope for the entire galaxy.

    Why it's similar

    Both are fast-paced young-adult adventures featuring a diverse group of young protagonists, strong friendship dynamics, humor under pressure, and characters forced to work together against a larger supernatural or cosmic threat.

    What's different

    It is science fiction rather than mythological fantasy, with space travel, extraterrestrial threats, and a more ensemble-driven adventure.

  5. Cover of The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

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    The One and Only Ivan

    by Katherine Applegate

    Soon to be a major motion picture!

    Winner of the Newbery Medal and a #1 New York Times bestseller

    This unforgettable novel from renowned author Katherine Applegate celebrates the transformative power of unexpected friendship. Inspired by the true story of a captive gorilla known as Ivan, this illustrated book is told from the point of view of Ivan himself.

    Having spent twenty-seven years behind the glass walls of his enclosure in a shopping mall, Ivan has grown accustomed to humans watching him. He hardly ever thinks about his life in the jungle. Instead, Ivan occupies himself with television, his friends Stella and Bob, and painting. But when he meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from the wild, he is forced to see their home, and his art, through new eyes.

    In the tradition of timeless stories like Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little, Katherine Applegate blends humor and poignancy to create an unforgettable story of friendship, art, and hope.

    The One and Only Ivan features first-person narrative; author's use of literary devices (personification, imagery); and story elements (plot, character development, perspective).

    Why it's similar

    Like The Son of Neptune, it centers on a marginalized character whose identity and loyalty are tested while he forms meaningful bonds with an unlikely community and takes responsibility for protecting others.

    What's different

    This is a quieter, realistic and emotionally focused story narrated by a gorilla, with far less action and no mythological quest.

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