All You Need to Know About Percy Jackson: A Cheat-Sheet for Parents

Do you have a child that cannot stop talking about Percy Jackson? Is our child asking for a trip to Greece but you have no idea where to start looking for information? Do not worry! You have you covered!

Kids Love Greece is the proud organizer of the Mythology Trips to Greece inspired by the Percy Jackson tours. We organize tours for families where you visit the places where the stories of Percy Jackson took action.

As a start though, let’s start with the basics, since most parents don’t know much about the Percy Jackson books.

Who is Percy Jackson?

Percy Jackson is a fictional character created by author Rick Riordan (pronounced Rye-or-dan). He is the protagonist and narrator of the Percy Jackson & The Olympians series, which consists of five books: “The Lightning Thief,” “The Sea of Monsters,” “The Titan’s Curse,” “The Battle of the Labyrinth,” and “The Last Olympian.”

Percy Jackson is a demigod, meaning he is the son of a mortal mother and the Greek god Poseidon, the god of the sea. As a demigod, Percy possesses various powers and abilities associated with his divine heritage.

In the first book, The Lightning Thief, Percy is a twelve-year-old boy who lives in New York City with his mother and stepfather.

Throughout the series, Percy Jackson embarks on numerous quests and adventures, battling mythological creatures and interacting with gods and other mythical beings from Greek mythology.

Percy is known for his wit, bravery, and loyalty to his friends. He forms a close circle of allies, including Annabeth Chase, a daughter of Athena, and Grover Underwood, a satyr. Together, they face various challenges and confront a rising threat to Mount Olympus and the entire world of gods and demigods.

The Percy Jackson series has gained significant popularity, especially among young readers, and has spawned several spin-off series and adaptations in other media, including films and television series.

Who wrote the Percy Jackson books?

Richard (Rick) Riordan is the author of the Percy Jackson book series. Rick Riordan is an American author known for his young adult fantasy series, including the Percy Jackson & The Olympians series. He has also written other popular series such as The Heroes of Olympus, The Kane Chronicles, and Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard. Riordan lives in the US. 

Riordan’s books have been translated into forty-two languages and sold more than thirty million copies in the US. Riordan’s engaging storytelling and relatable characters have garnered him a large fanbase and critical acclaim.

How many books has Rick Riordan written?

As of 2023, Rick Riordan has published a total of 66 books, which can be categorized as follows:

• Novels and Complementary Books: 49 books
• Graphic Novels: 14 books
• Interactive and Coloring Books: 3 books

How many Percy Jackson-related books has Rick Riordan written?

Out of the total 66 books written by Riordan, 46 books are related to Percy Jackson as of 2023. Here is a breakdown of the main book series he has authored:

Rick Riordan has written a total of five books in the Percy Jackson & The Olympians series. Here are the titles of the books in the series:

“The Lightning Thief” (2005)
“The Sea of Monsters” (2006)
“The Titan’s Curse” (2007)
“The Battle of the Labyrinth” (2008)
“The Last Olympian” (2009)

These five books form the core series of Percy Jackson’s adventures. However, Rick Riordan has also written additional books set in the same universe, featuring Percy Jackson and other characters.

These include spin-off series such as The Heroes of Olympus, The Trials of Apollo, and various companion books, providing readers with further exploration of the world and mythology surrounding Percy Jackson.

The Heroes of Olympus series:

“The Lost Hero” (2010)
“The Son of Neptune” (2011)
“The Mark of Athena” (2012)
“The House of Hades” (2013)
“The Blood of Olympus” (2014)

The Trials of Apollo series:

“The Hidden Oracle” (2016)
“The Dark Prophecy” (2017)
“The Burning Maze” (2018)
“The Tyrant’s Tomb” (2019)
“The Tower of Nero” (2020)

Additionally, Rick Riordan has written other related books, companion guides, and short stories within the same mythological universe.

• The Demigod Files (2009)
• The Ultimate Guide (2010)
• The Demigod Diaries (2012)
• Percy Jackson and the Singer of Apollo (2013)
• Percy Jackson’s Greek Gods (2014)
• Percy Jackson’s Greek Heroes (2015)
• Camp Half-Blood Confidential (2017)
• The Percy Jackson Coloring Book (2017)
• The Lightning Thief: Illustrated Edition (2018)
• Demigods of Olympus (2015)
• The Lightning Thief Graphic Novel (2010)
• The Sea of Monsters Graphic Novel (2013)
• The Titan’s Curse Graphic Novel (2013)
• The Battle of Labyrinth Graphic Novel (2018)
• The Last Olympian Graphic Novel (2019)
• The Lost Hero Graphic Novel (2014)
• The Son of Neptune Graphic Novel (2017)
• Introduction to the anthology Tales of the Greek Heroes, Roger Lancelyn Green (2009)
• Introduction to the essay collection Demigods and Monsters (2013)

What is the connection between Percy Jackson and Greece?

Percy Jackson and the Olympians is a five-book fantasy series set in the present-day United States. Throughout the series, and the two continuation series The Heroes of Olympus and The Trials of Apollo, Riordan brings Greek myths to life in often humorous ways.

In The Lightning Thief, Percy discovers the Greek gods still exist and that his long-lost father is actually the god of the sea, Poseidon.

In Riordan’s world, Mount Olympus is suspended above the Empire State Building in New York City, and there is a camp called Camp Half-Blood on Long Island Sound for demigods like Percy.

What is The Percy Jackson and the Olympians?

The Percy Jackson & the Olympians series is a popular fantasy series written by Rick Riordan. It consists of five books:

• The Lightning Thief: This is the first book in the series, where we are introduced to the main character, Percy Jackson, a twelve-year-old boy who discovers that he is a demigod, the son of Poseidon. Percy embarks on a quest to prevent a war among the gods and retrieve Zeus’ stolen lightning bolt.

• The Sea of Monsters: In the second book, Percy, along with his friends Annabeth Chase and Grover Underwood, goes on a quest to find the Golden Fleece. Their mission takes them to the treacherous Sea of Monsters, also known as the Bermuda Triangle.

• The Titan’s Curse: In this book, Percy and his friends join forces with the Hunters of Artemis to rescue Annabeth, who has been kidnapped by the villainous Titan lord Kronos. Along the way, they encounter new allies and face dangerous challenges.

• The Battle of the Labyrinth: The fourth book sees Percy exploring the dangerous Labyrinth, a vast underground maze created by Daedalus. Percy and his friends navigate the labyrinthine passages, facing monsters and traps, as they try to stop Kronos’ army from infiltrating Camp Half-Blood.

• The Last Olympian: The final book in the series brings the conflict between the gods and the Titans to a climax. Percy and his friends must defend Olympus from Kronos and his forces in a battle that will determine the fate of Western civilization.

What is The Heroes of Olympus?

The Heroes of Olympus is a second five-book series written by Rick Riordan. The Heroes of Olympus is set six months after the last book in Percy Jackson and the Olympians and follows the adventures of a new group of demigods, while also featuring some characters from the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series. It follows Percy and six other demigods as they fight against Gaea, the primordial earth goddess, and mother of the titan lord Kronos. The series consists of five books:

• The Lost Hero: This book introduces new main characters, Jason Grace, Piper McLean, and Leo Valdez, who are joined by familiar characters from the Percy Jackson series. The story follows their quest to save Hera, the queen of the gods, and uncover their own roles in a new prophecy.

• The Son of Neptune: In this book, Percy Jackson returns as one of the main characters, but with a case of amnesia. He finds himself at Camp Jupiter, the Roman demigod camp, where he joins forces with Hazel Levesque and Frank Zhang to prevent a war between the Roman and Greek demigods.

• The Mark of Athena: This book brings the characters from both Greek and Roman camps together. They embark on a perilous journey to Greece to find the ancient artifact, the Athena Parthenos, and prevent a catastrophic war between the two camps.

• The House of Hades: The fourth book continues the quest as the demigods travel through the Underworld, facing various challenges and battling monsters, in order to reach the Doors of Death and close them before the forces of Gaea can use them to rise.

• The Blood of Olympus: The final book in the series focuses on the demigods’ efforts to defeat Gaea and save the world from destruction. The characters must face their own personal challenges and unite to fulfill the prophecy and prevent the rise of Gaea.

The first two books, The Lost Hero and The Son of Neptune, are set in the United States and the last three, The Mark of Athena, The House of Hades, and The Blood of Olympus, are set in various cities in Europe including Rome, Venice, and Split.

What is The Trials of Apollo?

The Trials of Apollo is another five-book series written by Rick Riordan that takes place in the same fictional universe as the Percy Jackson & the Olympians and The Heroes of Olympus series.

The main character is the god Apollo, who, following events in The Blood of Olympus, is cursed by his father, Zeus, to be mortal until he can redeem himself. In this series, three of the worst emperors of Ancient Rome have returned to take over the United States. It is up to mortal Apollo, known as Lester Papadopoulos, the demigods of the previous books, and some new characters to defeat these emperors. 

The series consists of five books:

• The Hidden Oracle: In this first book, Apollo is punished by Zeus and sent to Earth as a mortal teenager. He must navigate the modern world and face various challenges while seeking help and guidance from his demigod friends at Camp Half-Blood. Apollo’s goal is to regain his immortality by restoring the Oracles of Ancient Greece.

• The Dark Prophecy: In the second book, Apollo continues his quest and travels to Indianapolis, where he faces new enemies and allies. He must unravel the dark prophecy that predicts the destruction of Camp Jupiter and find a way to prevent it.

• The Burning Maze: In the third book, Apollo and his companions’ journey to the dangerous and labyrinthine depths of the Oracle of Trophonius. They face deadly trials and encounter powerful enemies while attempting to secure the next Oracle.

• The Tyrant’s Tomb: The fourth book sees Apollo and his friends at Camp Jupiter facing a new threat as the triumvirate of Roman emperors seeks to gain control. They must navigate the treacherous underworld and confront the ancient tyrant who poses a grave danger to both Camp Half-Blood and Camp Jupiter.

• The Tower of Nero: The final book in the series concludes Apollo’s story as he confronts his arch-nemesis, Emperor Nero, in New York City. Apollo must rally his allies and make a final stand against the forces of evil to save the world and regain his godly powers.

Is Percy’s name Greek Mythology-related?

Yes, Percy is actually named after the Greek hero Perseus, the original slayer of Medusa.

In the series, Percy’s mother named him after this hero because Perseus is one of the few heroes who has a “happy ending,” and actually lives until old age.

Does Percy Jackson ever visit Greece? Which places?

Yes, Percy and the six other demigods travel to Greece in the last book of The Heroes of Olympus, The Blood of Olympus, in order to gather ingredients for the physician’s cure and defeat Gaea.

They visit the Greek cities of Ithaca, Olympia, Pylos, Sparta, Mykonos, Delos, Epidaurus, and Athens in this book. 

Which books should you read before visiting Greece?

We recommend reading the entire Percy Jackson and the Olympians if possible because of the many myth references that will be relevant during a trip to Greece.

If you want an even more immersive experience, read The Blood of Olympus where the characters go to Greece. However, we don’t recommend reading The Blood of Olympus without reading the first four books in the Heroes of Olympus series.

Did you know that the Kids Love Greece can help you organize your Percy Jackson Trip to Greece? Contact us NOW!

What kind of Percy Jackson trips are there to Greece?

Kids Love Greece has a variety of Percy Jackson tour options.

We have private tours where you can create a Private Percy Jackson Mythology DIY Trip personalized for your family and have a specialized guide all to yourself.

We also have organized Small Groups Percy Jackson Trip with other families visiting Greece for the same reason as you!

Small groups can be fun for your kids because they get to meet other Percy Jackson fans and play games during their tours. This is often the cheaper option as well if that is a concern for your family.

We also have different Greek Mythology Tour Packages depending on how long you plan to be in Greece and how many cities you want to visit!

Contact us NOW and we will help you organize your own Greek Mythology Trip to Greece (Percy Jackson or not Percy Jackson related).

What Greek Heroes Appear in the Percy Jackson Books?

Many heroes are mentioned throughout the series, including Perseus, Hercules, Daedalus, and Jason. Also, Percy and his friends battle many of the same monsters that appear in the Greek myths.

What Greek Gods Appear in the Percy Jackson Books?

All of the major gods appear at some point in the series. Percy enters the throne room on Mount Olympus in The Lightning Thief, The Titan’s Curse, and The Last Olympian to commune with the twelve Olympian gods. 

Multiple gods also reveal themselves and provide aid to Percy and his friends throughout the series including Dionysus, Ares, Hermes, Apollo, Aphrodite, and Hephaestus.

Which Greek Cities Are Mentioned in the Percy Jackson Books?

Athens is mentioned a few times throughout the series, and in The Blood of Olympus, the last book in the Heroes of Olympus series, the characters go to Athens, Ithaca, Sparta, Olympia, Pylos, Epidaurus, Mykonos, and Delos.

Visit Athens and Join our Pecy Jackson Athens Tour there and join our tours in Acropolis, Acropolis Museum and Temple of Poseidon in Sounion).

What Are The Best Archeological Sites in Greece Related to Percy Jackson?

The Acropolis in Athens is the #1 spot for Percy Jackson fans to see. It is mentioned by Annabeth in The Lightning Thief, and in The Blood of Olympus the major battle against the giants takes place at the site. 

The sites at Delphi, Olympia, Epidaurus, and the island of Delos are also great sites to visit for Percy Jackson fans.

If you want to visit these places with your kids, you should take a look at our newest Percy Jackson tours in Greece. 

Are Percy Jackson Trips in Greece Suitable For Adults?

Our Percy Jackson trips are most often booked by adults with children, but they are fun for Percy Jackson fans of any age. If you prefer a tour without children, we have options for private Percy Jackson tours.

Disclaimer: The Percy Jackson tour to Greece and its promotion are not sponsored by Rick Riordan or Disney*Hyperion and they specifically disclaim any legal obligations or responsibilities for the tour.