You’d think reading a book series would be simple. Start at book one, end at the last one, right? Not with Rick Riordan. If you try to read Percy Jackson in order by just looking at the numbers on the spines, you’re going to hit a massive wall of confusion around book six.
Trust me. I’ve seen enough confused demigods at the bookstore to know that the timeline is a total mess if you don't have a map.
Back in 2005, we just had The Lightning Thief. It was a simple time. Now? We have Norse gods, Egyptian magicians, a Sun God turned into a flabby teenager named Lester, and Percy trying to get college recommendation letters from deities who want him dead. It's a lot. If you want to actually understand why certain characters are missing or why a random guy with a sword made of "Bone Steel" is suddenly relevant, you need the right sequence.
The Foundation: The Original PJO Pentalogy
You have to start here. There’s no skipping around. These five books set up every single rule of the "Riordanverse." You learn about the Mist, the cabins, and why you should never, ever trust a Luke Castellan with a plan.
- The Lightning Thief
- The Sea of Monsters
- The Titan’s Curse
- The Battle of the Labyrinth
- The Last Olympian
Honestly, The Last Olympian felt like the perfect ending for a long time. It wrapped up the Great Prophecy. It gave us that big Battle of Manhattan. But then Rick decided he wasn't done with us.
The "New" PJO: The Senior Year Adventures
This is where the timeline gets weird. In 2023 and 2024, we got The Chalice of the Gods and Wrath of the Triple Goddess. These are technically "Books 6 and 7" of the original series.
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Wait. Stop. Do not read these immediately after The Last Olympian.
Even though they focus on the original trio—Percy, Annabeth, and Grover—they take place after the massive events of the Heroes of Olympus series. If you read them right after book five, you’ll be wondering why Percy and Annabeth are talking about "The Seven" or why they seem so much more exhausted than usual. These are "Senior Year" stories. They are lower stakes, sort of like a victory lap, but they assume you know what happened during the Roman war.
The Chronological Headache: How to Actually Do It
If you want the full experience without spoilers, you have to jump series. It sounds annoying. It kind of is. But it’s the only way the character growth makes sense.
Step 1: Heroes of Olympus
This is the direct sequel series. It introduces Jason, Piper, and Leo. Percy is missing for a good chunk of the first book, The Lost Hero, which is why some people try to skip it. Don't.
- The Lost Hero
- The Son of Neptune (Percy's back!)
- The Mark of Athena
- The House of Hades
- The Blood of Olympus
By the time you finish The Blood of Olympus, Percy is finally heading toward his senior year of high school. This is when you go back to the new "original" books.
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Step 2: The Senior Year Trilogy
As of early 2026, we are still waiting on the final piece of this specific puzzle. Rick Riordan has confirmed that while The Chalice of the Gods and Wrath of the Triple Goddess are out, the third book—likely focused on that final college recommendation letter—is looking like a 2027 release because he’s been busy with the Disney+ show and other projects.
- The Chalice of the Gods
- Wrath of the Triple Goddess
- The (Untitled) Senior Year Book 3 (Coming soon-ish)
What About the Spin-offs?
You’ve probably seen The Kane Chronicles or Magnus Chase on the shelf. Do they matter for Percy Jackson in order?
Sorta.
The Kane Chronicles (Egyptian) happens roughly around the same time as the early Heroes of Olympus books. You can read them whenever, but there is a crossover collection called Demigods and Magicians where Percy and Annabeth meet Carter and Sadie Kane. If you haven't read the Kane books, that crossover will make zero sense.
Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard is more intertwined. Magnus is Annabeth’s cousin. Percy actually shows up in the third book, The Ship of the Dead, to give Magnus some "sea-traveling advice" (which basically consists of Percy being very stressed out).
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The Trials of Apollo: The Real Ending?
If you want to see where the timeline currently "ends" in terms of the world's fate, it's The Trials of Apollo. These happen after the Senior Year books chronologically.
- The Hidden Oracle
- The Dark Prophecy
- The Burning Maze (Warning: This one will wreck you emotionally.)
- The Tyrant’s Tomb
- The Tower of Nero
And then, for the Nico di Angelo fans, you have The Sun and the Star (2023) and the brand new The Court of the Dead (2025). These are essential if you care about the Underworld side of the story. They take place after Apollo’s trials and show a much more mature, albeit still very grumpy, Nico.
Summary Checklist for the Purists
If you just want a list to check off, here is the "No-Spoilers, Expert-Approved" path:
- Start with the Original 5 (Lightning Thief through Last Olympian).
- Jump to Heroes of Olympus (All 5 books).
- Read the Senior Year books (Chalice and Wrath).
- Tackle The Trials of Apollo (All 5 books).
- Finish with the Nico di Angelo standalones.
Pro-tip: Don't ignore the "Side Quests." Books like The Demigod Files contain short stories (like The Sword of Hades) that actually introduce characters and items that become huge plot points later. If you skip The Demigod Files, you’ll be very confused when Bob the Titan shows up in the Underworld later on.
The biggest mistake people make is thinking they can just stay within the "Percy Jackson" titled books. You can't. Rick built a universe, not a line. If you stick only to Percy’s perspective, you’re missing about 60% of the actual story.
Start with The Lightning Thief. By the time you get to the Roman camp in The Son of Neptune, you'll be glad you followed the path. Just remember to keep some blue cookies nearby for the emotional damage in The Burning Maze.
Next Steps for Your Collection:
Go check your copies of the Heroes of Olympus series. If you haven't read The House of Hades yet, prioritize that next; it’s widely considered the best book in the entire Riordanverse for its character development and darker tone.