Harry Potter Vs Percy Jackson – What’s The Difference?

*This post may contain affiliate links, meaning we earn a small commission if you make a purchase through links on our site. This is at no additional cost to you.

So, which young boy of a great prophecy who has three main friends while, on a series of adventures, ends up saving the world…is better?

Honestly, the answer to the question of Harry Potter or Percy Jackson mostly comes down to personal preference, but there is no doubt that these two leading boys do have a lot in common.

So, what’s the difference between Harry Potter and Percy Jackson? Both books feature a middle-school aged boy who has magical powers they’re unaware of. Both books feature a trio of friends that accompany the boy on his quest, and both books have the boy saving the world. They’re actually more similar than they are different!

I have to say though, I love both of these characters a ton!

I am a huge fan of both book series and the worlds they live in, so let’s discuss Harry Potter vs. Percy Jackson and see what they have in common and what sets each series apart.

What Do Percy Jackson And Harry Potter Have In Common?

To state the obvious again, both series follow a young boy of about middle school age who has magical powers that (until the point where the book begins) they were unaware of.

Harry is the child of two wizards, and is being raised by his muggle aunt and uncle.

Percy is a half-blood (demigod). His father is Poseidon, and until a monster attack at the Met believes that he is just a mortal boy with ADHD and dyslexia.

One of the major things these boys have in common is having their fate determined by a prophecy.

The prophecy in Harry Potter is told by Sybill Trelawney. This prophecy sets the Dark Lord off to murder Harry’s parents and follows him throughout his time at Hogwarts till he ultimately defeats Voldemort.

 “The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches…Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies…and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not…and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives…”

The Percy Jackson books use prophecy heavily as a way to move the plot along. Every book has at least one prophecy, and each series has an overarching prophecy.

The Great Prophecy is what follows Percy and his friends throughout Percy Jackson & the Olympians.

“A Half-Blood of the eldest gods,

Shall reach sixteen against all odds,

And see the world in endless sleep.

The hero’s soul, cursed blade shall reap,

A single choice shall end his days,

Olympus to preserve or raze.”

Both series also have a trio of friends as the main characters.

In Harry Potter, we have the golden trio: Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and  Hermione Granger.

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief follows Percy Jackson, Grover Underwood, and Annabeth Chase.

Not only is it a trio of two boys and one girl (or one boy, one girl, and a goat hehe), but you could also argue that Annabeth and Hermione share some characteristics!

Both girls are defined as being very smart and stubborn and excel in everything they do.

Ron and Grover, in my opinion, don’t share too many things in common. However, they both are often the comic relief and lovable doofs.

Ron desires to be seen and to have attention and is often jealous of Harry, and Grover really just wants to protect Percy and find Pan.

Percy Jackson And Harry Potter – What Makes These Series Different?

I will say, one thing that the Percy Jackson series does better is diversity.

Rick Riordan has a cast of characters from different races, religions, and sexualities, whereas Rowling has been criticized over the years for the lack of diversity within the Wizarding World.

As well as that, some obvious differences are the difference between Riordan’s re-telling of mythology and Rowling’s original storyline and world.

Though both can be categorized as urban fantasy and take place within our world, Hogwarts and the Wizarding World’s problems are more separated from the real world than the conflicts that Percy and the other demigods are facing.

Is Percy Jackson Or Harry Potter Better?

Once again, this really comes down to personal opinion!

As far as movies are concerned, Harry Potter definitely takes the cake (though that Disney+ series could be a game-changer).

But as far as the books go, both are such great series!

If I really had to answer, I would probably just say that I prefer the world of Harry Potter but the character of Percy Jackson.

But at the end of the day, I really do love both!

Which Is More Popular: Harry Potter Or Percy Jackson?

The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling is definitely more popular than Rick Riordan’s series.

Over 500 million copies of Harry Potter have been sold, compared to Percy Jackson which has sold around 180 million copies.

If you also look at the success of the movies of the Wizarding World compared to the FLOP Percy Jackson movies, Harry Potter definitely takes the cake of popularity.

Though Harry Potter may be more popular, Percy Jackson and the Olympians is a beloved book and by no means  unpopular.

Which Is Darker: Harry Potter Or Percy Jackson?

Harry Potter is definitely the darker series of the two.

Percy Jackson’s target audience is younger, being marketed as a middle-grade book where, whereas Harry Potter is more YA even though the first book starts out with Harry Potter at age eleven.

Rick Riordan’s upcoming release, Percy Jackson and the Chalice of the Gods, will feature a fully teenage Percy trying to get into college.

So, not exactly middle school-aged problems, but Riordan has informed readers that the reading age of his new book is still to be enjoyed by middle-grade readers fitting the same tone of the other books.

Rick wrote on his website, “Yes, our characters are now in high school, but if I do my job right, I hope Chalice will read very much like Percy Jackson #6.”

On the other side of the argument, the Harry Potter series grows as the characters grow. Not only are there more deaths in Harry Potter, but there is also a darker tone throughout all the books.

The villains in Harry Potter are fueled by much darker motives: Voldemort not only murders people in cold blood to create Horcruxes, but he’s also on a mission to get rid of all wizards who are not pureblooded and take over the world.

Kronos as a villain is already wrapped in Greek mythology, which makes him seem less evil and a bit more whimsical. Also, he’s kind of just a voice in a pit for most of the books!

Though Kronos taking over Lukes’s body is very tragic and evil, it just doesn’t compare to “He who must not be named” Avada Kedavra-ing Harry’s mom and dad.

Rick Riordan is certainly not afraid to kill off a character, but none of his deaths are as tragic as the Battle of Hogwarts.

The Percy Jackson books being written for middle schoolers are also just sillier. Rick Riordan is known for putting a goofy twist on mythology, and that makes for a lighter tone overall.

Would Harry Potter Win Against Percy Jackson?

Now, this question comes with a lot of stipulations, simply because if they were near a body of water, I do think that Percy would have the upper hand over Harry.

Also, Harry’s typical duel strategy is Expelliarmus (Disarming Charm), and Percy doesn’t really have anything to disarm, other than Riptide.

Percy’s sword Riptide is made out of celestial bronze and is only effective on demi-gods and monsters.

This makes things tricky as it would have no effect on Harry, who is not human but is also not a demi-god, nor a monster. So, Riptide would essentially be useless.

Harry, with his wand, would probably be able to best Percy (barring his proximity to a body of water).

Unfortunately, we can really only ever theorize about this; there will never be a fight for us to get a final answer 🙁

What House Would Percy Jackson Be Sorted In?

After a lot of thinking on this and some searching down the rabbit hole of the internet fandom for a Percy Jackson and Wizarding World crossover, I have come to the decision that Percy would be in Hufflepuff.

However, many people do argue that he would be a Gryffindor because of his bravery and, y’kno, his main character energy. But Gryffindors are only have main character energy because Harry is a Gryffindor, and it’s from his POV.

Though Percy is very brave, his most definable character trait is that he is loyal, even loyal to a fault.

“Your fatal flaw is personal loyalty, Percy. You do not know when it is time to cut your losses. To save a friend, you would sacrifice the world. In a hero of the prophecy, that is very, very dangerous.”

Percy is loyal and friendly, and though he is ambitious, he is not driven by ambition but by love.

So, it’s gotta be Hufflepuff!

What Cabin Would Harry Potter Be In?

Harry would most definitely be a son of Zeus! I mean, the lighting bolt on his forehead alone…

But in all seriousness, Harry is a main character kinda dude, and his cabin would definitely be the king of the gods himself.

Also, the most notable flying camper is Jason (son of Zeus/Neptune), and HP, early on in the series, is set apart from the other Hogwarts students due to his broomstick flying skills.

Should I Read Harry Potter Or Percy Jackson First?

Because these books are two completely separate series, you can read them in any order you like!

I think that depending on the time of year, if you’re a mood reader, Harry Potter has such a fall and Christmas-y vibe, and in the colder months, wrapping up with a warm drink and a blanket is perfect for those Hogwarts Castle classrooms.

Percy Jackson, in my opinion, is a perfect summer read. The summer camp setting and the adventuring around the world are great to read on the beach or sitting in the sun outside at a coffee shop.

If you are a younger reader, I would recommend checking out Percy Jackson and the Olympians first, but you can’t go wrong with either series!

I am very curious about who you think would win in a fight, so please comment below!

-Paisley

Other Articles From PaisleyReads: What To Read After ACOTAR – My Top 5 Picks