All 11 Percy Jackson books (including Chalice of the Gods), ranked worst to best

9. Percy Jackson the the Olympians: The Last Olympian

I know, I know: Putting the final book in the Olympians series this far down the list may raise some eyebrows. But here’s the thing: while this book absolutely sticks the landing for the series, which has been leading up to a fight against Kronos the whole time, The Last Olympian can feel plot-heavy. The things that make us love the Olympians series so much, like the humor and rich characters, fall slightly to the side.

However, the aftermath of the huge battle is one of the most rewarding sections in the entire Olympians series. The decisions made feel entirely in line with the series we have come to love, and the novel closing at the beloved and familiar setting of Camp Half Blood feels perfect. The door feels shut on the Olympians series, but loosely enough to still be reopened for the Heroes of Olympus novels.

8. Heroes of Olympus: The Lost Hero

The opening novel of the Heroes of Olympus series focuses on three entirely new characters — including new lead character Jason Grace — as they try and work out their place in a vast plan being constructed by the goddess Hera. Similar to Percy in The Son of Neptune, Jason is suffering from memory loss; by the end of the book we discover he is in fact a Roman demigod from Camp Jupiter and that he and Percy are part of an elaborate scheme to bring the two camps together.

This amnesia can at times make it feel hard to connect with the story; however, unlike in The Son of Neptune, because we are with Jason in a familiar setting — Camp Half Blood — this is much easier to move past.

The Lost Hero also takes us to Quebec, Canada, which brings up some interesting questions, e.g. what effect does being further north have on the demigods? By weaving together the familiar with the unfamiliar, Riordan kicks off this new series in an engaging way.