Rick Riordan Presents

Rick Riordan Presents

Parent company	Disney-Hyperion
Founded	2016; 5 years ago (2016)
Country of origin	United States
Key people	Rick Riordan Stephanie Owens Lurie
Publication types	Books
Official website	rickriordan.com/rick-riordan-presents/

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.

History[]

American author Rick Riordan had been 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]

Pandava Quintet[]

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 Pandava Arjuna 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] A fifth and final book, Aru Shah and the Nectar of Immortality, is set to be published on April 5, 2022. Chokshi will also release 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, an upcoming graphic novel adaptation of Aru Shah and the End of Time is planned. To be released on March 2, 2022, it will be 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 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 will be followed by a sequel duology, also written by Cervantes, called the Throne of Sand series. The duology will consist of two novels, both of which focus on Ren Santiago, a character introduced in The Fire Keeper. The first book in the duology will be called The Throne of Sand.

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 over all, Dragon Pearl, was released on January 15, 2019.^[8] , the second book in the series, was initially announced on Lee's website,^[9] with more information included on a ReadRiordan article published on May 19, 2021.^[10] On May 21, ReadRiordan released an article with the cover and title.^[11] In addition, the second book, though existing within the same continuity of Dragon Pearl, will focus on a different character than Min. Tiger Honor will be released on January 4, 2022.

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.^[12] There is a possibility of a third book.^[10]

Sal & Gabi series[]

The Sal & Gabi series is a series 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.

Tristan Strong series[]

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 grandparent's 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.^[13] According to Mbaliia, Tristan Strong deals with grief and loss in Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, both personal and cultural.^[14] The second book in the trilogy, Tristan Strong Destroys the World was released almost a year later on October 6, 2020.^[15] A third and final installment in the series, Tristan Strong Keeps Punching, is set for publication on October 5, 2021. Illustrated by Olivia Stephens, the graphic novel adaptation of the first book is set for release on May 10, 2022.^[16]

Paola Santiago series[]

The Paola Santiago series, written by Tehlor Kay Mejia, will consist of three books, though only two are currently published. 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 past who have gone missing. The first book, Paola Santiago and the River of Tears, was released on August 4, 2020.^[15] A sequel, Paola Santiago and the Forest of Nightmares, has come out on August 3, 2021.^[17] A planned third installment in the trilogy, , is set for release sometime in August 2022.^[18]

The Gifted Clans[]

The Gifted Clan is a trilogy of novels written by Graci Kim. The first book, The Last Fallen Star was released on May 4, 2021. Two sequels are planned; The Last Fallen Moon is to be published sometime in 2022, likely in May like the previous book. A final installment in the trilogy, , will be released in 2023.

Standalone novels[]

Race to the Sun[]

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.^[13] 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.^[19]

City of the Plague God[]

City of the Plague God is a novel written by Sarwat Chadda and 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.^[15]

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.^[20] In January 2021, Rick Riordan announced that his story would be about Irish mythology and would be titled, "My Life as a Child Outlaw".^[20] In March 2021, Kwame Mbalia announced that his story, entitled "The Gum Baby Files" would be about the titilar 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.^[21] The Cursed Carnival and Other Calamities: New Stories about Mythic Heroes will be released on September 28, 2021.

Chronological release list[]

Title	Author	Release date	Series	Pgs	Mythology	Citation	Notes
Released
Aru Shah and the End of Time	Roshani Chokshi	March 23, 2018	Pandava Quintet	368	Hindu	[8]	Nominated for a Nebula Award.[22]
The Storm Runner	J. C. Cervantes	September 18, 2018	Storm Runner series	448	Maya	[8]
Dragon Pearl	Yoon Ha Lee	January 15, 2019	Thousand Worlds series	320	Korean	[8]
Sal and Gabi Break the Universe	Carlos Hernandez	March 5, 2019	Sal and Gabi series	400	Cuban	[13]
Aru Shah and the Song of Death	Roshani Chokshi	April 16, 2019	Pandava Quintet	304	Hindu	[23]
The Fire Keeper	J. C. Cervantes	September 3, 2019	Storm Runner series	432	Maya, Aztec	[13]
Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky	Kwame Mbalia	October 15, 2019	Tristan Strong series	496	African-American	[13]	To be adapted into a graphic novel.[16]
Race to the Sun	Rebecca Roanhorse	January 14, 2020	None	298	Navajo	[13]
Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes	Roshani Chokshi	April 7, 2020	Pandava Quintet	400	Hindu	[15]
Sal and Gabi Fix the Universe	Carlos Hernandez	May 5, 2020	Sal and Gabi series	432	Cuban	[15]
Paola Santiago and the River of Tears	Tehlor Kay Mejia	August 4, 2020	Paola Santiago series	360	Mexican	[15]
The Shadow Crosser	J. C. Cervantes	September 1, 2020	Storm Runner series	432	Maya	[15]
Tristan Strong Destroys the World	Kwame Mbalia	October 6, 2020	Tristan Strong series	400	African-American	[15]
City of the Plague God	Sarwat Chadda	January 5, 2021	None	400	Mesopotamian	[15]
Aru Shah and the City of Gold	Roshani Chokshi	April 6, 2021	Pandava Quintet	376	Hindu	[24]
The Last Fallen Star	Graci Kim	May 4, 2021	The Gifted Clans	336	Korean	[25]
Paola Santiago and the Forest of Nightmares	Tehlor Kay Mejia	August 3, 2021	Paola Santiago series		Mexican	[17]
Upcoming
Pahua and the Soul Stealer	Lori M. Lee	September 7, 2021	None		Hmong	[26]
The Cursed Carnival and Other Calamities	Various[27]	September 28, 2021	None		Various[27]	[28]	Anthology containing 10 stories.[20]
Tristan Strong Keeps Punching	Kwame Mbalia	October 5, 2021	Tristan Strong series		African-American	[29]
	Yoon Ha Lee	January 4, 2022	Thousand Worlds series		Korean	[30]
Aru Shah and the Nectar of Immortality	Roshani Chokshi	April 5, 2022	Pandava Quintet		Hindu
	Tehlor Kay Mejia	August 2022	Paola Santiago series		Mexican	[18]
The Throne of Sand	J. C. Cervantes	September 2022	Throne of Sand series		Aztec	[31]
	Roseanne A. Brown	2022	Serwa Boateng series		Ghanaian
The Last Fallen Moon	Graci Kim	2022	The Gifted Clans		Korean	[32]
	Daniel José Older	2022	Outlaw Saints		Santería
	Stacey Lee	2022	Winston Chu duology		Chinese	[33]
Untitled Throne of Sand sequel	J. C. Cervantes	2023	Throne of Sand series		Aztec
	Graci Kim	2023	The Gifted Clans		Korean	[34]
Untitled sequel	Roseanne A. Brown	2023	Serwa Boateng series		Ghanaian
	Tracey Baptiste	2023	Moko Magic		Caribbean
Untitled sequel	Stacey Lee	2023	Winston Chu duology		Chinese	[33]
Untitled sequel	Tracey Baptiste	2024	Moko Magic		Caribbean
Untitled sequel	Daniel José Older	TBA	Outlaw Saints		Santería

Graphic novel adaptations[]

Title	Author	Adapted by	Illustrated by	Release date	Pgs	Mythology	Citation
Upcoming
Aru Shah and the End of Time	Roshani Chokshi	Joe Caramugna	Anu Chouhan	March 2, 2022	128	Hindu	[35]
Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky	Kwame Mbalia	Robert Venditti	Olivia Stephens	May 10, 2022	128	African-American	[16]

References[]