Hey Everyone!
I hope you’ve all had an amazing week! Mine has ben incredibly long, but my excitement about this weekend is pretty much eclipsing it all! That is actually what the inspiration behind this post is.
I know that I have told you all before how big of a Rick Riordan fan I am, especially the Percy Jackson world. I am heading out of town with my sister-in-law this weekend to go see The Lightening Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical! You guys! I am so excited!!
With that being said, I thought that I would make a post to introduce everyone to Rick Riordan’s (affectionately known as Uncle Rick) Worlds.
Here we go!
Percy Jackson and the Olympians (complete)
5 books
6 companion books
1 illustrated book
3 graphic novels
1 coloring book
This is probably the most well known of Riordan’s series, and the beginning of the “middle grade/YA adventures”. This is where we meet 12-year old Percy, who has some personal issues. Come to find out, those issues are due to his being the Demi-God some of Poseidon. We then get to follow Percy and his friends on their epic quest, after it is believed (by Zeus and the other Gods) that Percy stole Zeus’ master lightening bolt.
This was my introduction to Riordan’s work, and I fell in love from the start. I loved Percy’s snark, the laughs and adventures contained within, and that he wrote strong female characters. This series is also a great way to introduce kids (or adults!) to Greek Mythology, as they’ll learn and have a great time doing it!
The Heroes of Olympus (complete)
5 books
2 companion books (shares with PJO)
1 graphic novel
1 coloring book (shares with PJO)
This is the series that follows the events of the final book of Percy Jackson and the Olympians. It’s really just a continuation of the series. We see the same characters from the original series, and meet new characters in the form of the Roman Demi-Gods. I, personally, believe that these books continue to get better and better as they go. Just as a side note, my favorite book in the run falls in this series. It’s the third book in HOO: Mark of Athena. These books are definitely “Percy” books, but maybe a bit more grown up than the first series (not so much that kiddos won’t be able to move from one to the other, they just grow from one book series to the next, so the tone grows with them). While I truly enjoy all of his MG series, if pressed, I would say that this is my favorite. I really loved the addition of the Romans in this series, and thought that they added so much depth and fun. If you enjoy PJO, you have to continue on to HOO!
The Kane Chronicles (complete)
3 books
3 companion books (1 crossover shared w/PJO)
2 graphic novels
This series follows Carter and Sadie Kane, who were split up after their mother died. Sadie went to live with their grandparents, while Carter travelled with their Egyptologist father. When their father brought them back together in an attempt to make things right, everything went terribly wrong. He unleashed the Egyptian God, Set, who banished him and sent the Kane children fleeing from the waking Egyptian Gods. They then set off on an adventure that takes them around the globe in an attempt to stop Set and find out the truth about their family and themselves.
Where PJO and HOO focused on Greek and Roman mythology, The Kane Chronicles treats the reader to all of the fun that comes from Egyptian mythology. Reading this series, you will definitely be able to recognize Riordan’s voice as this carries the same wit and humor as his other series’.
Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard (ongoing)
3 books (so far)
1 companion book
Magnus has lived on the streets of Boston since the night that his mom told him to flee their home. Something killed her the night, and left Magnus to survive on his own. Now someone is looking for him, his Uncle Randall, the one that his mother warned him about. Magnus falls right in to his trap, and once captured Randall begins to spout nonsense about Norse history and some weapon that has been lost for thousands of years that is supposedly Magnus’ birthright? Magnus remembers being told stories of the Norse Gods and the Doomsday to come, but they are not incredibly clear. When the fire giant, Surt, attacks the city Magnus must choose between his personal safety and that of others. His choice marked the end…and a whole new beginning for him.
This series, obviously, focuses on Norse mythology and is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. It is closely behind HOO in the order of favorites for me. It has some of the most interesting and complex characters of any of the series that Riordan has written, in my opinion. The world building is beautiful and detailed. If you note the last name, Magnus is Annabeth from PJO/HOO’s cousin, so we have gotten to see a little bit of crossover in seeing Annabeth and Percy pop up in the series, so far! I can’t wait for the next book to see what happens next!
The Trials of Apollo (ongoing)
3 books (Book 4 coming on September 24th)
1 companion book (shares with PJO/HOO)
This book takes us back to the world of Percy Jackson and the Camp Half-Blood life. Set after the events of HOO, we find the God Apollo has been cast out of Olympus by Zeus for his part in the events that took place. When he lands in New York, he has taken the form of a regular teenaged boy with no powers and no protection and he must find a way to earn Zeus’ favor before all of the other Gods and monsters find a way to destroy him for good. There’s only one place to go, if he can make it there alive, Camp Half-Blood.
I am really enjoying this series and being back in the Camp Half-Blood world. It is not fully set in the PJO/HOO world, but we do get to see some of the characters come in and out pretty regularly throughout the books. Apollo was always a pretty funny God in the previous series’, and that is no exception here. The partner that he has in Meg just makes it even better. I have September’s release pre-ordered, and am looking forward to a fun read!
Tres Navarre (complete?)
7 books
This is an adult mystery series about a P.I. who returns to his Texas home town to save the one-time love of his life and solve his father’s murder a decade after it happened.
The last book that was written in this series was published in 2007, so I am assuming that it is complete, however I am unsure of that. I hav not read this series, but I do have it on my tbr. This is Riordan’s only adult series, but if it is anything like the rest, it has to be great!
I hope you guys enjoyed meeting Uncle Rick and learning about his body of work (or hearing my thoughts on it, if you already knew!). I’ll let you know how the musical was when I get back! Have a great weekend!!!
Always,
-T