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Percy Jackson and the Olympians reading order

Percy Jackson and the Olympians is a five-book adventure series that begins with The Lightning Thief. The books were meant to be read in order, and this is the order they came out.

Where to start

Begin with The Lightning Thief. Each book picks up from the one before it, and the later books refer back to earlier events.

The series is written for middle-grade readers, and the battles grow more serious as it goes on.

Publication order

Publication order is the reading order. Riordan went on to write more Percy Jackson books, including The Chalice of the Gods in 2023, and the follow-up series Heroes of Olympus; none of them are listed here.

  1. The Lightning Thief

    Rick Riordan

    A twelve-year-old learns he is the son of a Greek god and is accused of stealing Zeus's lightning bolt.

    Book 1 of 5, published 2005.

  2. The Sea of Monsters

    Rick Riordan

    The second book sends Percy on a voyage into a dangerous sea to save his camp's magical defenses, which are failing.

    Book 2 of 5, published 2006.

  3. The Titan's Curse

    Rick Riordan

    The third book is a rescue mission and a search for a missing goddess, while a larger threat starts to take shape.

    Book 3 of 5, published 2007.

  4. The Battle of the Labyrinth

    Rick Riordan

    The fourth book follows Percy and his friends into a shifting underground maze that threatens the whole camp.

    Book 4 of 5, published 2008.

  5. The Last Olympian

    Rick Riordan

    The fifth and last book, in which the long war between the gods and the Titans reaches its final stand.

    Book 5 of 5, published 2009.

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