Will there be another Percy Jackson book? This might seem like an odd question to ask ten years after the main series wrapped up, but the subsequent Trials of Apollo concluded relatively recently, and, with so many series getting sequels, prequels, or even spin-offs lately, one is bound to wonder about the beloved pentalogy by Rick Riordan. So, can we expect any updates in 2021 or later?
In the improbable case you didn't come across the books growing up, Percy Jackson and the Olympians is a YA Fantasy series that first came out in 2005. It follows 12-year-old Percy Jackson, a boy who finds out he's a demi-god, son of Poseidon. In Camp Half-Blood he learns about his legacy and the dangers that he might face and makes friends.
Following the first book The Lightning Thief, four more followed as part of the main series:
The Sea of Monsters (2006)
The Titan's Curse (2007)
The Battle of the Labyrinth (2008)
The Last Olympian (2009)
Riordan additionally published companion books and several short stories and anthologies. Two films that adapt the first two books were also created. These, however, were not as well-received as the books, while the author's complicated feelings about them became well-known. The film series was eventually discontinued.
The Camp Half-Blood Chronicles, as the franchise is otherwise known – has been commended for its strong characterization, good pacing, and positive – though not flawless – representation of characters with learning disabilities. The books are all rated with more than 4 out of 5 stars on Goodreads, with The Last Olympian boasting a near-perfect 4.5/5.
The Trials of Apollo, another pentalogy by Riordan that features several of the main series' characters also enjoyed popularity and was well-received by fans. The books came out between 2016 and 2020 – when the final book was released.
So, can we expect another Percy Jackson book anytime soon? According to author Rick Riordan, we cannot, at least not an epic-scale one. In a 2020 interview, the author talked about the bittersweet feeling of writing what he deems "the last book of the last series." While he remains open to the possibility of a couple of short stories or standalone at some point, Riordan feels that he has used all the myths he could to find inspiration, and another grand adventure seems highly unlikely, as he's content with where the series and his characters are.
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The author additionally commented on the choice to have a now-adult Percy head off to college without elaborating much about his character's future. "I don't want to seal everyone's fate forever; I'm a big nonbeliever in epilogues, and I want to leave a little room for the readers to imagine what happens next," he succinctly mentioned.
This is a great admission for an author to make, and one that other authors haven't been equally good at. As important as it is to ensure a story reaches its full potential, it's equally great to know when it's time to wrap up and bid the characters farewell.
Meanwhile, Riordan recently penned Daughter of the Deep, a new adventure inspired by Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea.
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Fantasy & Science Fiction