Rick Riordan is beloved for fantasy adventures that bring ancient mythology into the modern world. Best known for Percy Jackson & the Olympians, he combines humor, action, and unforgettable young heroes in a way that keeps readers turning pages.
If you enjoy Rick Riordan, there’s a good chance you’ll have fun with the following authors as well:
Jonathan Stroud is a terrific choice for readers who love supernatural adventures, sharp humor, and memorable characters. Like Riordan, he knows how to balance danger with wit.
Stroud’s novel The Amulet of Samarkand, the first book of the Bartimaeus Trilogy, introduces Nathaniel, a young magician with more ambition than experience.
Determined to get revenge on a powerful rival, Nathaniel summons Bartimaeus, a sarcastic and highly entertaining djinni, to help him carry out his plan.
The result is a clever, fast-moving story full of magical conflict, lively banter, and plenty of surprises. If you enjoy quests with humor and strong character chemistry, Stroud is well worth a try.
Eoin Colfer is known for inventive fantasy, quick pacing, and a wonderfully mischievous sense of humor. Those qualities make him a natural recommendation for Rick Riordan fans. A great place to start is Artemis Fowl.
The story follows Artemis, a young criminal mastermind who kidnaps a fairy in hopes of securing a massive ransom in gold. He quickly learns that the fairy world is far more dangerous and sophisticated than he expected.
Blending magical technology, clever schemes, and nonstop twists, Artemis Fowl creates a hidden world that feels fresh, funny, and exciting.
Cassandra Clare writes urban fantasy packed with hidden worlds, supernatural conflict, and high-stakes adventure. Readers who enjoy Riordan’s mix of myth and modern life may find a lot to like in her work. Her series, The Mortal Instruments, begins with City of Bones.
The novel introduces Clary Fray, an ordinary teenager whose life is upended after she witnesses a murder carried out by Shadowhunters, secret warriors who battle demons in New York City.
As Clary is pulled deeper into their world, she uncovers startling truths about her family and herself. With action, humor, romance, and supernatural intrigue, Clare offers a vivid fantasy setting layered beneath everyday city life.
Neil Gaiman has a gift for making mythology feel strange, vivid, and completely alive. If you like Rick Riordan’s modern spin on ancient stories, Gaiman’s American Gods may appeal to you.
The novel follows Shadow, a man newly released from prison who falls in with the enigmatic Mr. Wednesday. Their journey across America reveals a world where old gods live in disguise and struggle against newer powers born from modern life.
It’s imaginative, eerie, and often darkly funny, with unforgettable characters and a fascinating collision between myth and contemporary culture.
Roshani Chokshi brings myth, humor, and heart together in a way that feels especially welcoming to Riordan fans. Her novel, Aru Shah and the End of Time, centers on twelve-year-old Aru Shah.
Aru has a habit of exaggerating, and one of her stories leads to a disastrous mistake: she awakens an ancient demon and puts the world in danger. To fix it, she must set out on an adventure rooted in Hindu mythology.
Joined by a pigeon named Boo and a girl named Mini, Aru races through a lively, magical tale filled with friendship, danger, and playful reimaginings of myth.
Shannon Messenger writes expansive middle grade fantasy with plenty of magic, mystery, and friendship. Readers who enjoy Riordan’s adventurous energy will likely be drawn to her work.
In Keeper of the Lost Cities, twelve-year-old Sophie Foster has always known she was different. Everything changes when she meets a mysterious boy named Fitz, who reveals that she is actually an elf.
Forced to leave her human life behind, Sophie enters a hidden world full of strange abilities, magical creatures, and dangerous secrets. As she adjusts, she discovers that her past may be far more complicated than she ever imagined.
Tui T. Sutherland is a strong pick for readers who love action-driven fantasy and richly imagined worlds. Her book The Dragonet Prophecy, the first installment of the Wings of Fire series, drops readers into a land ruled by dragons.
The story follows five young dragonets who are said to be the key to ending a brutal war between rival dragon tribes.
As they wrestle with prophecy, loyalty, and their own identities, they begin to uncover secrets about both their pasts and the future they’ve been told to fulfill.
Sutherland combines danger, humor, and strong friendships in a way that makes the series especially appealing for readers who enjoy adventurous, character-driven fantasy.
Brandon Mull is an excellent recommendation for readers who want more magical quests, hidden worlds, and fast-paced adventure after Rick Riordan.
Mull’s fantasy series Fablehaven follows siblings Kendra and Seth, who learn that their grandparents’ estate is actually a secret preserve for magical creatures.
Once they stumble into this hidden world, they must deal with dangerous beasts, ancient rules, and powerful artifacts that could fall into the wrong hands.
Fablehaven mixes wonder, suspense, and humor to create a fun, imaginative reading experience from start to finish.
J.C. Cervantes blends mythology, humor, and high-energy storytelling in ways that should click with many Riordan readers. Her novel The Storm Runner introduces thirteen-year-old Zane Obispo.
Zane discovers that the volcano near his home conceals a portal to the ancient Maya underworld. Before long, he learns that he may play a central role in a prophecy involving powerful Maya gods.
What follows is a lively adventure filled with monsters, magic, and unexpected allies. With its strong voice and mythological focus, The Storm Runner is an easy recommendation for fans of modern-day heroic quests.
Chris Colfer writes stories full of imagination, humor, and fairy-tale adventure, making him a good match for readers who enjoy the fun side of Rick Riordan’s books. In The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell, twins Alex and Connor are transported into a magical world of classic fairy-tale characters.
To find their way home, they must gather a collection of rare items while navigating dangerous situations and meeting famous figures like Cinderella and Goldilocks.
Colfer’s storytelling is playful and warm, with enough action and clever twists to keep younger fantasy readers thoroughly entertained.
Jennifer A. Nielsen is a great choice for readers who love clever protagonists, quick pacing, and constant suspense. While her work leans more toward fantasy and intrigue than mythology, it shares the same page-turning energy many Riordan fans enjoy.
In her book The False Prince, readers meet Sage, a sharp-witted orphan who is forced into a dangerous scheme to impersonate a missing prince and claim a kingdom.
Sage’s intelligence, humor, and refusal to give up make him an especially compelling lead. The story moves briskly, with secrets, shifting loyalties, and plenty of tension along the way.
Readers who appreciate humor, heart, and strong character voice may enjoy Katherine Applegate’s The One and Only Ivan.
Inspired by a true story, the novel is told by Ivan, a silverback gorilla who has spent years living behind glass in a shopping mall. His quiet routine begins to change as friendships deepen and new possibilities emerge.
Applegate’s writing is moving, thoughtful, and often surprisingly funny. While it differs from Riordan’s mythological adventures, it offers the same kind of emotional connection that makes a story memorable.
Marissa Meyer reimagines myths, legends, and fairy tales with a modern twist, which makes her an appealing pick for Rick Riordan fans looking for something a little different.
Her novel Cinder, the first book in the Lunar Chronicles series, retells Cinderella in a futuristic setting. The heroine, Cinder, is a gifted cyborg mechanic living in New Beijing.
As she deals with prejudice, a deadly plague, and growing political tension, she becomes entangled with Prince Kai and a much larger interplanetary conflict.
Meyer’s fiction is fast, smart, and highly readable, with strong characters and inventive worldbuilding. Readers who like fresh takes on familiar stories should find plenty to enjoy here.
If you’re drawn to Rick Riordan’s blend of mythology, humor, and nonstop action, Peter Lerangis is another author to consider. His novel The Colossus Rises, the first book in the Seven Wonders series, follows thirteen-year-old Jack McKinley.
Jack discovers that he has a rare genetic trait that gives him extraordinary abilities but may also cut his life short before he turns fourteen. Soon he is taken to a hidden island, where he meets three other kids facing the same fate.
Together, they set out to recover seven ancient artifacts tied to the legendary Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
With puzzles, villains, escapes, and myth-infused adventure, Lerangis delivers a story that feels tailor-made for readers who love high-stakes quests.
Michael Scott is well known for writing energetic fantasy that blends mythology, history, and modern-day adventure. In The Alchemyst, readers meet fifteen-year-old twins Sophie and Josh Newman.
Their ordinary lives in San Francisco are turned upside down when they learn that their boss, Nick Fleming, is actually Nicholas Flamel, the legendary alchemist.
When Dr. John Dee steals an ancient magical book, the twins are swept into a conflict that spans myths, secret histories, and supernatural powers.
Scott’s storytelling is brisk and imaginative, filled with magical creatures, hidden knowledge, and escalating danger. For readers who want more myth-fueled adventure after Riordan, he’s a natural next pick.
