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

5. Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Sea of Monsters

What’s most notable about the second novel in the Olympians series is how Riordan weaves Greek mythology into the modern world, something he will do over and over again across multiple series. The mysterious Bermuda Triangle now becomes the ancient Sea of Monsters, which our heroes must navigate their way across to rescue both Grover and the Golden Fleece and save Camp Half Blood.

With new characters introduced and Rick Riordan’s usual humor shining through characters who have very little brain-to-mouth filter, The Sea of Monsters ties in with themes established in The Lightning Thief while also opening the world wider for readers.

4. Heroes of Olympus: The House of Hades

One of the most enjoyable things about the Heroes of Olympus series is the way in which a handful of Greek demigods and a handful of Roman demigods are thrown together to fulfill a quest, and their differing backgrounds are shown to be both a benefit and a hindrance. Once you get used to the dynamic, this novel is incredibly enjoyable, with characters old and new traveling to Italy and Greece to save the world once more.

In The House of Hades, these characters are split up into multiple parties, with one pair of characters making their way through Tartarus to close the Doors of Death while the rest of the group travels to meet them on the other side, encountering monsters and side quests of their own along the way. It’s a heart-stopping book with twists, turns, and encounters with characters long since forgotten about, expanding the Riordanverse and driving the main plot of Heroes of Olympus forwards.