Percy Jackson is officially back, and honestly, it’s about time. If you’ve been keeping up with Rick Riordan lately, you know he hasn't just been busy with the Disney+ show. He’s been quietly (well, not so quietly) dropping a brand-new trilogy that finally gives us the senior year adventures we’ve been begging for since 2009.
The newest full-length novel in the main series is Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Wrath of the Triple Goddess, which hit shelves in late 2024. But since we’re now moving through 2026, everyone is asking the same thing: where is the next one?
Basically, the "new book" is part of a very specific roadmap. We aren't just getting random stories; we're in the middle of a "Senior Year Adventures" trilogy. Percy needs three recommendation letters from the gods to get into New Rome University. If you think fighting Kronos was hard, try navigating the admissions process for a college that requires literal divine intervention.
What Actually Happens in Wrath of the Triple Goddess?
If you haven't cracked this one open yet, it’s kinda different from the world-ending stakes of The Last Olympian. This time around, Hecate—the goddess of magic and crossroads—is the one making Percy’s life a living nightmare.
Hecate is heading out for Halloween (her favorite holiday, naturally) and needs a pet sitter. She leaves Percy, Annabeth, and Grover in charge of her "pets": a giant mastiff named Hecuba and a polecat named Gale.
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Everything goes south when Grover drinks a strawberry-flavored potion that turns him into a giant, rampaging goat. He basically trashes the house, the pets escape into the streets of New York, and the trio has to find them before Hecate returns on Saturday. It’s essentially Adventures in Babysitting, but with more necro-magic and fewer car chases.
The Real Chronology of the New Books
A lot of people get confused about where these fit. Are they after The Trials of Apollo? Nope.
- The Original 5 Books (Lightning Thief through Last Olympian)
- The Heroes of Olympus series (The giant 5-book war with Gaia)
- The Senior Year Adventures (Chalice of the Gods and Wrath of the Triple Goddess)
- The Trials of Apollo (Chronologically, this happens after Percy graduates)
The Percy Jackson New Book: What About Book 8?
Right now, the big buzz is around the untitled eighth book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. Since the current trilogy is based on the "three recommendation letters" premise, we know for a fact there is one more book coming to wrap up Percy’s senior year.
Rick Riordan has been somewhat tight-lipped about the specific god Percy will have to serve next. We’ve had Ganymede in book six and Hecate in book seven. Rumors and early teasers suggest the third letter might come from someone like Hermes or maybe even Athena (which would make things very awkward for Percy and Annabeth).
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What we know about the 2026 release:
- Release Window: Most estimates point toward a late 2026 release for the final book in the Senior Year trilogy.
- The Mission: Percy needs that third and final letter to secure his spot at New Rome University with Annabeth.
- The Vibe: Expect more "domestic" demigod problems mixed with high-octane mythology.
Honestly, it’s refreshing. We’ve seen Percy save the world twice. Seeing him stressed about SATs and pet-sitting a hellhound feels more relatable, even if most of us don't have to worry about our best friend turning into a thirty-foot goat.
Why These New Books Feel Different
Riordan is writing these in the first-person again. That’s the "Percy POV" that made the original series such a hit. In Heroes of Olympus, we jumped between different characters, which was cool, but nothing beats Percy’s internal monologue. He’s older now, snarkier, and definitely more tired.
There’s also a lot of meta-humor. In Wrath of the Triple Goddess, there are some pretty pointed digs at other magic franchises (looking at you, Harry Potter). Riordan knows his audience has grown up, so while the books are still "middle grade," the jokes hit a bit differently for those of us who have been reading since 2005.
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Common Misconceptions
Some fans think these are "reboots." They aren't. They are canon. Everything that happened in the Roman camp and the battle with the Giants still happened. Percy just wants a normal life now, which is the most "Percy" thing ever.
Another thing? People keep asking if Nico di Angelo is in these. He’s around, but he isn't the focus. These books are specifically designed to be the "original trio" books. It’s Percy, Annabeth, and Grover. Back to basics.
Actionable Steps for PJO Fans
If you're trying to stay ahead of the curve for the 2026 release cycle, here is what you should actually do:
- Catch up on the Senior Year Adventures: Read Chalice of the Gods and Wrath of the Triple Goddess immediately. You can't skip to book 8 without them.
- Monitor the Rick Riordan Blog: Rick usually drops "Athena House" updates every few months. This is where the real title reveals happen first.
- Pre-order early: Disney Hyperion usually does special editions (sprayed edges, etc.) for the first print runs of these new Percy books. If you wait until the week of release, you'll miss the cool collectibles.
- Re-read the "Heroes of Olympus" finale: The new books make quite a few references to the aftermath of the war with Gaia, especially regarding how the Greek and Roman camps are interacting now.
Don't expect another ten-book series. Rick has been pretty clear that this is a "thank you" trilogy for the fans. Once Percy gets into college, his story might finally get the "happily ever after" (or at least the "happily ever quiet") he’s been looking for since he was twelve.