If you loved Percy bickering with Annabeth and Grover while racing to return Zeus’s master bolt, you’ll click with Aru’s snarky, high-stakes quest through Hindu mythology. Like Percy’s run-ins with Medusa and Ares, Aru faces legendary beings in malls and museums, all while uncovering her divine heritage and trying to avert a world-ending catastrophe. It’s brisk, funny, and full of monster showdowns that echo the cross-country chaos of The Lightning Thief.

If the bolt-retrieval mission hooked you—the way Percy hits the road with a single, urgent objective—you’ll enjoy Taran’s first quest to find the oracular pig Hen Wen and confront dark forces in Prydain. Like Percy’s westward sprint and showdown with war gods and Furies, Taran’s journey is straight-ahead, full of dangers, strange allies, and a mission that grows bigger than he imagined.

If Percy’s wisecracks while battling Echidna or outwitting Ares made you grin, Skulduggery and Stephanie’s nonstop quips during magical brawls will be your jam. The duo chases cultists and creatures through our world’s hidden magical underbelly, delivering the same laugh-while-you-duck-a-fireball energy that made The Lightning Thief so fun.

If Percy’s discovery that he’s a demigod—training at Camp Half-Blood with Chiron and claiming his powers—was your favorite part, Sabriel’s journey will resonate. She learns she’s heir to a dangerous magical role and must cross into the Old Kingdom to master necromancy and rescue her father, mirroring Percy’s leap from clueless kid to capable hero.

If you loved how Percy found a real home with Annabeth, Grover, and the cabins at Camp Half-Blood, you’ll vibe with Amari joining the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs. She bonds with fellow recruits, faces off against magical threats, and proves herself against doubters—just like Percy earning his place after the St. Louis Arch and Lotus Hotel escapades.