The Heroes of Olympus is a five-volume adventure and fantasy collection of novels by American writer Rick Riordan. The series continues the world established in Percy Jackson & the Olympians and was followed in publication by later works such as The Trials of Apollo and the standalone Daughter of the Deep.
Scope and premise
The books weave elements from both Greek and Roman mythology. Their central storyline follows seven demigod protagonists who join forces to keep the earth goddess Gaea from rising and destroying the world. Much of the action moves across the modern United States and the Mediterranean while the heroes travel aboard the ship Argo II. The first volume appeared on October 12, 2012, and the final installment was published on October 7, 2014.
Books in the series
- The Lost Hero
- The Son of Neptune
- The Mark of Athena
- The House of Hades
- The Blood of Olympus
Main characters and influences
Several characters from the earlier Percy Jackson books reappear, alongside a new ensemble. Returning faces include Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase, while important newcomers are Leo Valdez, Jason Grace and Piper McLean. The plot of The Lost Hero also involves the public figure Tristan McLean, who becomes part of Piper's backstory when he is kidnapped.
Riordan has acknowledged literary influences; he drew inspiration for aspects of the series from older retellings of heroic myths, including works by Padraic Colum.