Rick Riordan Presents is a book imprint of Disney-Hyperion (Disney Publishing Worldwide) that was launched in 2018 and is led by Stephanie Owens Lurie. The line publishes books that utilize the mythology of various cultures and countries in its storytelling akin to Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson & the Olympians. The first book published under the imprint, Aru Shah and the End of Time, was released on March 23, 2018.
American author Rick Riordan was approached by Disney about creating an imprint but was initially unable to focus on the request. He later responded to Disney stating that he wanted to launch an imprint that would "find, nurture, and promote the best storytellers for middle grade readers" and "focus on diverse, mythology-based fiction by new, emerging, and under-represented authors".[1] Books released through the imprint would be edited by Riordan and have a short introduction written by him.[2] Prior to the announcement of the imprint in September 2016, Riordan was frequently approached by readers and fans of his mythology-based series, asking when he would write novels based on other mythologies.[1]
Riordan's editor Stephanie Owens Lurie noted that he did not have enough time to write novels on every mythology and that "he feels that, in some instances, the books his readers are asking for him to write are really someone else's story to tell".[1][3] Since then the imprint releases approximately four books a year.[4] The novels and the imprint have received praise for its diverse representation.[5]
The Pandava Quintet, written by Roshani Chokshi, is a five-book series centering around Hindu mythology. It follows Aru Shah, the reincarnated form of the PandavaArjuna and the birth daughter of the Sleeper, who also serves as the main antagonist of the book. Over time, Aru must find the other four Pandavas and defeat the Sleeper, while having many adventures and encountering Hindu deities. In September 2017, Lurie and Riordan announced that the first novel in the imprint would be Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi and that it would release in March 2018. The first book in the Pandava Quintet, Aru Shah and the End of Time, was released on March 23, 2018, as the first book in the "Rick Riordan Presents" imprint.[6]Aru Shah and the Song of Death, book two in the series, was published on April 30, 2019. Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes was released one year later on April 7, 2020. The fourth book in the Pandava Quintet and the fifteenth overall published by Disney Hyperion in the imprint, Aru Shah and the City of Gold was released on April 6, 2021.
The cover of Aru Shah and the City of Gold was revealed on Rick Riordan's website in June 2020.[7] The fifth and final book, Aru Shah and the Nectar of Immortality, was published on April 5, 2022. Chokshi also released a short story centering around the characters introduced in her novels in the "Rick Riordan Presents" anthology The Cursed Carnival and Other Calamities along with eight other writers and Riordan himself. In addition, a graphic novel adaptation of Aru Shah and the End of Time was released on March 2, 2022. It was illustrated by Anu Chouhan and adapted by Joe Caramunga. Entertainment Weekly likened the series to Riordan's Percy Jackson series and the Sailor Moon franchise.[6]
Storm Runner and Shadow Bruja series
The Storm Runner series is written by J. C. Cervantes and centers around Aztec and Mayan mythology. It follows Zane Obispo, a young boy who walks with a cane because of a debilitating limp. Zane discovers through Brooks, a new acquaintance, that he is the child of Hurakan, a Mayan god. The trilogy began with the second book in the whole imprint, The Storm Runner, which was released on September 18, 2018.[8] The second book, entitled The Fire Keeper was released on September 3, 2019, and a third and final installment in the trilogy, The Shadow Crosser, was published on September 1, 2020. The series was followed by a sequel duology, also written by Cervantes, called the Shadow Bruja series. The duology consists of two novels, both of which focus on Ren Santiago, a character introduced in The Fire Keeper. The first book in the duology is The Lords of Night and was released on October 4, 2022.[9]
Thousand Worlds series
The Thousand Worlds series is written by Yoon Ha Lee and is a mix of science fiction and Korean mythology. The series follows Kim Min, a fox spirit on the planet Jinju whose brother, Jun, was a space cadet. When Jun disappears, Min sneaks away to find him. The first book in the series and the third in the imprint overall, Dragon Pearl, was released on January 15, 2019.[8]Tiger Honor, the second book in the series, was initially announced on Lee's website,[10] with more information included on a ReadRiordan article published on May 19, 2021.[11] On May 21, ReadRiordan released an article with the cover and title.[12] In addition, the second book, though existing within the same continuity of Dragon Pearl, focuses on a new main character, Juhwang Sebin, a tiger spirit belonging to the Juhwang clan who is hoping to become a space cadet to follow in the footsteps of their uncle Hwan, though Kim Min also returns as a secondary character. Tiger Honor was released on January 4, 2022. Fox Snare, the third and final book in the series, was released on October 17, 2023, and is the first book in the series to be told from alternating perspectives.
Speaking to the large "departure" in the genre difference in Dragon Pearl as opposed to the other series in the imprints, Lee said he drew on sources such as Folk Tales from Korea by Zong In-Sob, Hong-Key Yoon's The Culture of Fengshui in Korea, and Religions of Korea in Practice by Robert Buswell Jr. for inspiration.[13]
Sal & Gabi series
The Sal & Gabi series is a duology of novels written by Carlos Hernandez. The series focuses on Cuban mythology, and in it, Sal Vidon is a young magician attending Culeco Academy. After his mother died, though, Sal developed the ability to reach into different dimensions, and he and new friend Gabi Real have an adventure that spans multiple universes in order to save Gabi's dying baby brother, Iggy. The first book in the duology and the fourth overall in the "Rick Riordan Presents" imprint is entitled Sal and Gabi Break the Universe, and it was published by Hernandez on March 5, 2019. The second and final novel, titled Sal and Gabi Fix the Universe and published on May 5, 2020, sees an alternate-universe version of Gabi, who Sal dubs "FixGabi" coming to prevent Sal's father's machine from destroying the universe as it did hers.
The Tristan Strong series is a trilogy of novels written by Kwame Mbalia and published by Disney Hyperion from 2019 to 2021. The series, which is all about African-American and West African mythology, follows the character Tristan Strong. After the tragic and sudden death of his best friend Eddie, Tristan goes to stay at his grandparents' farm for the Summer. One night, a mysterious doll-like creature steals Eddie's notebook, the only thing Tristan has left of his friend, so Tristan follows the doll into a world of deities and mythological creatures. The first book in the series, Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, was released on October 15, 2019.[14] According to Mbaliia, Tristan Strong deals with grief and loss in Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, both personal and cultural.[15] The second book in the trilogy, Tristan Strong Destroys the World was released almost a year later on October 6, 2020.[16] A third and final installment in the series, Tristan Strong Keeps Punching, was published on October 5, 2021. Illustrated by Olivia Stephens, the graphic novel adaptation of the first book was released on August 9, 2022.[17]
Paola Santiago series
The Paola Santiago series, written by Tehlor Kay Mejia, consists of three books. The series follows Paola Santiago, a space-obsessed nerd whose friend disappears after walking by a forbidden river. Paola, along with her other friend Dante, must venture there to find her, and meet the Niños de la Luz, a group of children who have gone missing. The first book, Paola Santiago and the River of Tears, was released on August 4, 2020.[16] A sequel, Paola Santiago and the Forest of Nightmares, was released on August 3, 2021.[18] The third installment in the trilogy, Paola Santiago and the Sanctuary of Shadows, was released on August 2, 2022.[19]
A live action Disney+ series was announced on February 8, 2022.[20]
The Adventures of Sik Aziz series
The City of the Plague God series is written by Sarwat Chadda. The first novel, "City of the Plague God", was published on January 5, 2021. It follows young Sikander "Sik" Aziz, who must stop the Mesopotamian god of plagues and sickness before he takes over Manhattan and turns it into a diseased wasteland. Sik must work with his friend from school, Belet, who is the adopted daughter of a goddess.[16] A sequel, "Fury of the Dragon Goddess", was released on August 1, 2023. It follows Sik as he tries to stop the resurrection of the dragon goddess Tiamat and deals with the consequences of changing fate.
The Gifted Clans series
The Gifted Clans is a trilogy of novels written by Graci Kim. The first book, The Last Fallen Star was released on September 7, 2021. Two sequels are planned; The Last Fallen Moon was released on June 7, 2022. The final installment in the trilogy, The Last Fallen Realm, was released on June 6, 2023.
Race to the Sun is a novel written by Rebecca Roanhorse and was published on January 14, 2020. The book follows Nizhoni Begay, who has the self-proclaimed power of detecting monsters, as she adventures with her brother, Mac, and her best friend, Davery Descheny, through a series of trials to the House of the Sun to find her father, who was taken by the mysterious Mr. Charles.[14] A short story written by Roanhorse about Nizhoni will be featured in the upcoming short story anthology book, The Cursed Carnival and Other Calamities. The cover art was revealed in February 2019 to have been by Dale Ray DeForest.[21]
The Cursed Carnival
A short story anthology called The Cursed Carnival and Other Calamities: New Stories about Mythic Heroes was announced in 2021. It will consist of 10 short stories written by "Rick Riordan Presents" authors Roshani Chokshi, J. C. Cervantes, Yoon Ha Lee, Carlos Hernandez, Kwame Mbalia, Rebecca Roanhorse, Tehlor Kay Mejia, Sarwat Chadda, and Graci Kim, in addition to Riordan himself. The stories will be about their respective characters.[22] In January 2021, Rick Riordan announced that his story would be about Irish mythology and would be titled, "My Life as a Child Outlaw".[22] In March 2021, Kwame Mbalia announced that his story, entitled "The Gum Baby Files" would be about the titular character in the Tristan Strong series. In addition, J. C. Cervantes' story will be entitled "The Cave of Doom". Mbalia also released an image of the first page of his story and of the cover of the book.[23]The Cursed Carnival and Other Calamities: New Stories about Mythic Heroes was released on September 28, 2021.
Disney Publishing Worldwide (DPW), formerly known as The Disney Publishing Group and Buena Vista Publishing Group, is the publishing subsidiary of Disney Experiences, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. Its imprints include Disney Editions, Disney Press, Kingswell, Freeform, and Hyperion Books for Children. It has creative centers in Glendale, California, and Milan, Italy.
The Lightning Thief is a 2005 American fantasy-adventure novel based on Greek mythology, the first children's novel by Rick Riordan. The opening installment in the series Percy Jackson & the Olympians, the book was recognized among the year's best for children. Riordan followed the novel with various books and spin-off series, spawning the Camp Half-Blood Chronicles media franchise.
Richard Russell Riordan Jr. is an American author, best known for writing the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series. Riordan's books have been translated into forty-two languages and sold more than thirty million copies in the United States. 20th Century Fox adapted the first two books of his Percy Jackson series as part of a series of films in which Riordan was not involved. Riordan currently serves as a co-creator and executive producer on the television series adaption of the book series that was released on Disney+ in 2023. Riordan's books have also spawned other related media, such as graphic novels and short story collections.
Camp Half-Blood Chronicles is a media franchise created by author Rick Riordan, encompassing three five-part novel series, two short-story collections, two myth anthology books, a stand-alone short story, three crossover short stories, an essay collection, multiple guides, seven graphic novels, two films, a video game, a musical, and other media. Set in the modern world, it focuses on groups of demigod teenagers, and features many characters from Greek and Roman mythology. The first series, Percy Jackson & the Olympians, follows the adventures of a boy named Percy Jackson at a summer camp for Greek demigods. The second series, The Heroes of Olympus, introduces several more lead characters and a second camp for Roman demigods named Camp Jupiter. The third series, The Trials of Apollo, follows the now-mortal god Apollo, with appearances by many characters from the first and second series.
The Battle of the Labyrinth is an American fantasy-adventure novel based on Greek mythology written by Rick Riordan. It is the fourth novel in the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series. The novel was first published in the United States on 6 May 2008 by Hyperion Books for Children, an imprint of Disney Publishing Worldwide. It has been published in hardcover, audiobook, ebook, and large-print editions. The Battle of the Labyrinth has been translated into 29 languages from its original English.
The Red Pyramid is a 2010 fantasy-adventure novel based on Egyptian mythology written by Rick Riordan. It is the first novel in The Kane Chronicles series. The novel was first published in the United States on May 4, 2010, by Hyperion Books for Children, an imprint of Disney Publishing Worldwide. It has been published in hardcover, audiobook, ebook, and large-print editions, and has been translated into 19 languages from its original English.
Percy Jackson's Greek Gods is a collection of short stories about Greek mythology as narrated by Percy Jackson. It was written by Rick Riordan and was released on August 19, 2014. It features Percy Jackson giving his own take on the Greek myths in a humorous way.
Roshani Chokshi is an American children's book author and a New York Times bestselling author.
Sal and Gabi Fix the Universe is a novel written by Carlos Hernandez. The novel was published by Disney-Hyperion in May 2020 and follows Sal Vidón, a magician who can reach into parallel universes and Culeco Academy class president Gabi Reál as they find out from an alternate version of themselves that Sal's Papi's class-nine AI remembranation machine might destroy the universe as they know it.
Sal and Gabi Break the Universe is a novel written by Carlos Hernandez. It is a science fiction novel that is also about Cuban mythology. It was published by Disney-Hyperion in March 2019. The book also won the Pura Belpré Award. A short story by Hernandez about the Sal and Gabi characters are featured in the anthology book, The Cursed Carnival and Other Calamities.
Aru Shah and the End of Time is a 2018 American-fantasy-adventure novel written by Roshani Chokshi and published in March 2018 by Disney-Hyperion. It is the first of many "Rick Riordan Presents" imprint books, and focuses on twelve-year-old Aru Shah who doesn't fit in at school and often stretches the truth to please her friends, but discovers her Pandava sisters, and the very real world of Hindu mythology. The novel received critical acclaim, with critics praising the story, the tone, the humor, and the characters.
Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes is a fantasy mythology book published by Disney-Hyperion on April 7, 2020, under the "Rick Riordan Presents" publishing imprint. It is the third book in the Pandava Quintet and was written by author Roshani Chokshi. It revolves around the titular character Aru Shah as she adventures in a world of Hindu mythology with her friends and fellow Pandava sisters.
Aru Shah and the City of Gold is the fourth and penultimate book in the Pandava Quintet, written by author Roshani Chokshi. It was published under the "Rick Riordan Presents" imprint on April 6, 2021. The book follows fourteen-year-old Aru Shah as she struggles to find her place, and win the war against an ancient entity called the Sleeper. It received critical acclaim, with reviewers praising the complexity of the characters, and story's scope.
The Storm Runner is a novel written by J. C. Cervantes and published in September 2018. It is the second of many books in the "Rick Riordan Presents" imprint and is about fourteen-year-old Zane Obispo who uses a cane to get around due to a debilitating limp. The jacket art was designed by Maria Elias and drawn by Irving Rodriguez. A short story by Cervantes about the characters in the book were featured in the anthology book, The Cursed Carnival and Other Calamities.
Pandava Quintet is a five-part book series written by Roshani Chokshi. It is part of the "Rick Riordan Presents" publishing imprint. The first book of the series and the imprint was published on March 23, 2018, under the name Aru Shah and the End of Time. The next books are Aru Shah and the Song of Death, Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes, Aru Shah and the City of Gold, and Aru Shah and the Nectar of Immortality. The main character of the series is the young Aru Shah, who is disliked by her classmates, but fits in with the other Pandava sisters, like Mini and Brynne, once she meets an enchanted talking pigeon who she nicknames "Boo" after touching a cursed ancient artifact. The rest of the series has gotten praise for being similar to Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and the Olympians series.
The Tristan Strong series is a mythology book trilogy written by Kwame Mbalia. The series currently consists of three books. The first book, Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, was published on October 15, 2019, and the second installment, Tristan Strong Destroys the World, was released a year later on October 6, 2020. Book three, the last in the trilogy, Tristan Strong Keeps Punching, was announced on February 8, 2021, and released on October 5, 2021. All three books are about African-American folktales.
Dragon Pearl is a middle grade novel written by Yoon Ha Lee and published on January 15, 2019, by Disney Hyperion under their "Rick Riordan Presents" publishing imprint. The book is a mix of Korean mythology and science fiction as the main character travels the galaxy. A short story by Lee about the characters in the book was featured in the anthology book The Cursed Carnival and Other Calamities.
Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky is a 2019 middle grade fantasy-adventure novel written by Kwame Mbalia. Published under the "Rick Riordan Presents" imprint, the novel is focused on African American folktales and West African mythology. The story follows teenager Tristan Strong, who is struggling with guilt after his best friend's death. Tristan accidentally creates a rift that transports him to Alke, a parallel world where myths are real, and must survive the evil forces that threaten Alke's people and discover his own abilities.
Aru Shah and the Song of Death is an American fantasy-adventure novel written by Roshani Chokshi, published on April 30, 2019, under the "Rick Riordan Presents" publishing imprint. It is the second book in the Pandava Quintet, following the debut novel, Aru Shah and the End of Time. While learning how to control her Pandava powers, Aru Shah is accused of stealing the god of love’s bow and arrow. To prove her innocence, she must navigate the serpent realm with Mini and two new companions.
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