Cover of The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

5 book recommendations

Books Like “The Lightning Thief” by Rick Riordan

Craving more legendary quests, witty humor, and ancient myths colliding with the modern world? If you fell in love with Percy Jackson’s thrilling adventures and unforgettable friendships, you are in luck. Explore our favorite fast-paced mythological tales and urban fantasies to find your next unforgettable read.

  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-school protagonist who discovers they are connected to ancient gods and must embark on an urgent quest to save the world. Each story modernizes ancient mythology by placing deities and magical relics into everyday modern settings.

    What's different

    Chokshi draws exclusively from Hindu mythology rather than the Greco-Roman pantheon, and the story explores themes of cultural expectations and familial shame rather than divine abandonment.

  2. Cover of Amari and the Night Brothers by B. B. Alston

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    Amari and the Night Brothers

    by B. B. Alston

    Artemis Fowl meets Men in Black in this exhilarating debut middle grade fantasy, the first in a series filled with #blackgirlmagic. Perfect for fans of Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, the Percy Jackson series, and Nevermoor.

    Amari Peters has never stopped believing her missing brother, Quinton, is alive. Not even when the police told her otherwise, or when she got in trouble for standing up to bullies who said he was gone for good.

    So when she finds a ticking briefcase in his closet, containing a nomination for a summer tryout at the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs, she's certain the secretive organization holds the key to locating Quinton--if only she can wrap her head around the idea of magicians, fairies, aliens, and other supernatural creatures all being real.

    Now she must compete for a spot against kids who've known about magic their whole lives. No matter how hard she tries, Amari can't seem to escape their intense doubt and scrutiny--especially once her supernaturally enhanced talent is deemed "illegal." With an evil magician threatening the supernatural world, and her own classmates thinking she's an enemy, Amari has never felt more alone. But if she doesn't stick it out and pass the tryouts, she may never find out what happened to Quinton.

    Plus don't miss the thrilling sequel, Amari and the Great Game!

    Why it's similar

    Both novels follow an underdog adolescent thrust into a hidden supernatural society hidden in plain sight who possesses a rare, feared power. The plots share a fast-paced mystery structure involving a missing family member and rigorous trials among peers.

    What's different

    Instead of an ancient mythological camp, the setting is a modern covert law enforcement agency, and the narrative focuses more directly on real-world systemic bias and socioeconomic barriers.

  3. Cover of Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

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    Artemis Fowl

    by Eoin Colfer

    Twelve-year-old Artemis is a millionaire, a genius-and above all, a criminal mastermind. But Artemis doesn't know what he's taken on when he kidnaps a fairy, Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon Unit. These aren't the fairies of the bedtime stories-they're dangerous!

    Why it's similar

    Both are fast-paced middle-grade fantasies that blend modern settings with hidden magical worlds, featuring a witty adolescent protagonist who gets drawn into conflicts with powerful supernatural beings.

    What's different

    Its tone is slightly darker and more technologically driven, focusing on criminal masterminds and fairies rather than heroic quests rooted in classical mythology.

  4. Cover of The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel by Michael Scott

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    The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel

    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

    Read the whole series!
    The Alchemyst
    The Magician
    The Sorceress
    The Necromancer
    The Warlock
    The Enchantress

    Why it's similar

    Both stories center on teens discovering they are entwined with ancient myths and legends, mixing multiple mythological traditions with modern urban settings and high-stakes battles involving gods and magical artifacts.

    What's different

    The series has a more sprawling, globe-trotting plot and denser mythological exposition, which can feel more complex and less humorous than Percy’s adventure.

  5. Cover of Fablehaven by Brandon Mull

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    Fablehaven

    by Brandon Mull

    Brandon Mull’s New York Times bestselling series about siblings Seth and Kendra who discover their grandparents are the caretakers of a sanctuary for magical creatures!

    For centuries mystical creatures of all description were gathered into a hidden refuge called Fablehaven to prevent their extinction. The sanctuary survives today as one of the last strongholds of true magic. Enchanting? Absolutely. Exciting? You bet. Safe? Well, actually, quite the opposite.

    Kendra and her brother, Seth, have no idea that their grandfather is the current caretaker of Fablehaven. Inside the gated woods, ancient laws keep relative order among greedy trolls, mischievous satyrs, plotting witches, spiteful imps, and jealous fairies. However, when the rules get broken—Seth is a bit too curious and reckless for his own good—powerful forces of evil are unleashed, and Kendra and her brother face the greatest challenge of their lives. To save their family, Fablehaven, and perhaps even the world, Kendra and Seth must find the courage to do what they fear most.

    Why it's similar

    Like The Lightning Thief, it features young siblings uncovering a secret world of magical creatures, with a focus on action, discovery, and learning to navigate dangerous supernatural rules.

    What's different

    Its setting is more contained, focusing on a single magical preserve, and the tone leans more toward classic fantasy adventure than contemporary humor.

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