readers advisory for all discussion

I'm looking for recommendations for my 13 y.o. son. He's going into 8th grade, but reads at an 11th or 12th grade level.

He's currently reading Norse Mythology and loved all the Rick Riordan series incorporating Greek, Egyptian, & Norse mythologies. Something along these lines would be great. The sarcastic/irreverent sense of humor really appeals to him.

He likes the fantasy element, but gets bogged down by too much world building. My sister bought him the Mortal Engines series & he fizzled out on the second book. He loves Harry Potter, Doctor Who, and is currently watching The Expanse (but probably would have given up on that if the rest of the family wasn't watching). In general, I'd say he's more into fantasy than sci fi, but he's really into science in general (esp. biology).

Either YA or Adult books are fine. I don't give a flying fuck about language, but would prefer recs without excessive violence or sex. He's fairly mature for his age, but sensitive.

I've read American Gods & Neverwhere (& loved them), but my memory is foggy on how appropriate they would be for a younger teen.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

I wonder if he would like Mercedes Lackey. She has a number of fantasy series. Not related to mythology, but one series is retellings of classic fairy tales. Not babyish. But not overly adult either. Since she's female, her protagonists are often female, but not always.

I recently read a series of two trilogies by her (not the fairy tales) about a young man training to be a spy in the Valdemar universe, then training his children to be spies. He might like those, but he should probably read the Herald series first so he understands the background. There are plenty of young men in the Herald series too. There is one rape scene in the first Herald series, and a little bit of sex but not graphic or overly adult. I think of them as young adult.

Another possibility is The Belgariad series, by David Eddings, about a young man destined to save his world and become king. There are about six or seven books, then there's another series after that if he likes them.

Also, has he read the Pern series? Does he like dragons? There are lots of books, and it has sci-fi elements in some of the later books, too. Starts with Dragonflight.

I assume he's already read The Lord of the Rings. If not, he should start with The Hobbit, or There and Back Again.

Another possibility is the Riddle-Master series, starting with The Riddle-Master of Hed. The third book might be a little too philosophical for him, but he might like the first two. It's one of my favorites.

He might enjoy the Maximum Ride series by James Patterson. They are fast-paced, fantasy based (kinda a mix of science fiction and fantasy), with snarky characters.

I also recommend the Bartimaeus Trilogy by Johnathan Stroud. The main character is a sarcastic djinn summoned to help a teenaged magician's apprentice, and the pace is fairly fast. There is a bit of world-building, but along the lines of the Riordan's mythology based series. The first book is The Amulet of Samarkand

I'm assuming he's read the Ranger's Apprentice and The Rithmatist series? He might enjoy both of those as well.

Try him with the Pendragon series by D. J. MacHale. At 14, the kid's uncle reveals to Bobby that he's a "Traveller," which means he jumps through wormhole-like doorways to different worlds to help them fight against oppressors, etc. The first book is called Merchant of Death. When I was a librarian, I had to buy new copies almost every year because they were either stolen or worn out! Very popular with 12-15yo boys (and some girls too).

The Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz is likewise popular. Kid finds out that his uncle (guardian) has died, and that far from being an international banker, he was a spy for MI-6. Then MI-6 approaches the kid to complete his uncle's mission, on the theory that no one will suspect a teenager. First book is Stormbreaker.

And I also recommend a Jonathan Stroud series, but not Bartimaeus (it's okay, but not my fave). The series is called Lockwood & Co,, and the first book is The Screaming Staircase. It's set in an alternate London in which there has been a "Problem" for about 50 years—ghosts roam the streets after dark, and can be dangerous or fatal. Adults can't see them but can be harmed by them; children and teens CAN see them, and for that reason have been recruited into ghost-busting teams. Most are big corporate-sponsored ones run by the grownups, but Lockwood & Co. is a tiny independent with three teen employees who also run the show. It's a little scary and also pretty funny.

Thanks for all the recommendations!

He's read The Hobbit & we've watched both Hobbit & LOTR trilogies multiple times. The rest of the series could be a possibility, if he's not intimidated by the length.

I'll check out the rest of your recommendations & see what catches his interest.

He might enjoy Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency, On a Pale Horse, or Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch. All three combine mythological elements, some action or mystery, and irreverent humor.