A reader looking for epic, action-packed quests rooted in mythology will love these picks! "American Gods" by Neil Gaiman and "The Poppy War" by R.F. Kuang are must-reads. See the full list for more!
by Rick Riordan
This is the most direct recommendation possible. It's from the same author as Percy Jackson and follows an almost identical formula, but this time you get to dive into Egyptian mythology. You wanted an exploration of mythology and an action-packed plot, and this delivers on both with Riordan's signature humor and breakneck pacing as siblings Carter and Sadie Kane discover they're descended from pharaohs.
by Rick Riordan
This is the most direct recommendation possible. It's from the same author as Percy Jackson and follows an almost identical formula, but this time you get to dive into Egyptian mythology. You wanted an exploration of mythology and an action-packed plot, and this delivers on both with Riordan's signature humor and breakneck pacing as siblings Carter and Sadie Kane discover they're descended from pharaohs.
by Roshani Chokshi
If you're looking for another pantheon to explore, this is your book. It kicks off a fantastic series centered on Hindu mythology, packed with wisecracking gods and epic quests. Aru Shah is a fantastic protagonist who, much like Percy, is thrown into a world of myth and magic she barely understands and must undertake a grand quest to stop a world-ending threat. It's a perfect match for your love of mythological deep dives.
by Roshani Chokshi
If you're looking for another pantheon to explore, this is your book. It kicks off a fantastic series centered on Hindu mythology, packed with wisecracking gods and epic quests. Aru Shah is a fantastic protagonist who, much like Percy, is thrown into a world of myth and magic she barely understands and must undertake a grand quest to stop a world-ending threat. It's a perfect match for your love of mythological deep dives.
by Tomi Adeyemi
You asked for an epic quest with a grand scope, and this book delivers a journey across a sprawling, beautifully realized kingdom. It's inspired by West African mythology, following a young girl named Zélie as she tries to bring magic back to her oppressed people. The action is relentless and the stakes are incredibly high, capturing that 'world on your shoulders' feeling that made Percy's quests so compelling.
by Tomi Adeyemi
You asked for an epic quest with a grand scope, and this book delivers a journey across a sprawling, beautifully realized kingdom. It's inspired by West African mythology, following a young girl named Zélie as she tries to bring magic back to her oppressed people. The action is relentless and the stakes are incredibly high, capturing that 'world on your shoulders' feeling that made Percy's quests so compelling.
by Neil Gaiman
Here's a thought: what happens to the gods when people stop believing in them? This is an adult novel that takes your love of mythology in a darker, more modern direction. It's an epic quest in the form of a road trip across America, as old gods from every culture imaginable clash with the 'new gods' of media and technology. It has the grand scope you're after, but with a more philosophical and gritty tone.
by Neil Gaiman
Here's a thought: what happens to the gods when people stop believing in them? This is an adult novel that takes your love of mythology in a darker, more modern direction. It's an epic quest in the form of a road trip across America, as old gods from every culture imaginable clash with the 'new gods' of media and technology. It has the grand scope you're after, but with a more philosophical and gritty tone.
by Garth Nix
This recommendation leans into the 'epic quest' aspect but swaps out real-world mythology for a completely original and incredibly rich fantasy world. Published in the 90s, this is a classic for a reason. Sabriel must journey into a dangerous land where the dead walk and magic is unpredictable to rescue her father. It has the action and grand scope, but with a more serious, atmospheric tone and a one-of-a-kind magic system based on bells and necromancy.
by Garth Nix
This recommendation leans into the 'epic quest' aspect but swaps out real-world mythology for a completely original and incredibly rich fantasy world. Published in the 90s, this is a classic for a reason. Sabriel must journey into a dangerous land where the dead walk and magic is unpredictable to rescue her father. It has the action and grand scope, but with a more serious, atmospheric tone and a one-of-a-kind magic system based on bells and necromancy.
by R.F. Kuang
You want an action-packed plot with a grand scope? This book takes that idea and injects it with adrenaline. It's a grimdark military fantasy inspired by 20th-century Chinese history, where gods are real, terrifying, and can grant immense power... for a price. The quest is one of survival and revenge that escalates into a full-scale war. This is Percy Jackson's world if it grew up and went to war; the mythology is brutal and the action is visceral.
by R.F. Kuang
You want an action-packed plot with a grand scope? This book takes that idea and injects it with adrenaline. It's a grimdark military fantasy inspired by 20th-century Chinese history, where gods are real, terrifying, and can grant immense power... for a price. The quest is one of survival and revenge that escalates into a full-scale war. This is Percy Jackson's world if it grew up and went to war; the mythology is brutal and the action is visceral.
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