There are lots of aunts and uncles in the Riordanverse, from the under-respected mortals who’ve stepped up for our beloved demigods, to the villainous Aunty Em and her stony gaze.

Since June 26 is National Aunt and Uncle’s Day, we’re profiling the good ones—those who’ve pitched in when our heroes were contending with a missing mother, a disgusting slob of a stepfather, or absolutely no mortal parents whatsoever.

The Chase Family

It’s hard to be a good aunt or uncle after getting into a family-shattering fight with your siblings. Thankfully, Natalie, Frederick, and Randolph Chase were able to smooth over their little tiff and they all lived happily ever after.

What’s that? They didn’t? That’s not what happens in the Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard series? Did Natalie die still angry at her brothers? Did Randolph betray his nephew Magnus and team up with Loki to start Ragnarok? These days, it’s surprisingly easy for a family quarrel to lead to an Asgardian apocalypse.

Rosa Valdez

We don’t envy Rosa. When she lost her beloved sister in a tragic fire, Rosa was forced to become legally responsible for her nephew, Leo. Just the thought of raising an immature, rambunctious young Leo sends chills up our spines, and Rosa definitely wasn’t up to the task. She blamed Leo for his mother’s death, dubbed him “diablo,” and convinced the entire family to shun him. That kind of hurt runs deep. So deep that when Nemesis, the goddess of revenge, appeared to Leo in The Mark of Athena, she took the form of Rosa. Goes to show that even in a world of angry giants and hungry sea serpents, a bad relative can be the scariest monster of all.

Amos Kane

You probably couldn’t ask for a better uncle than Amos Kane. As we learned in The Kane Chronicles, not only is he the most powerful magician in the known world, he’s also the kind of uncle who would casually slip you $20 when Dad isn’t looking. He’s just that cool. Except when he’s possessed by Set, the god of Chaos. Check to make sure which personality is in control before you invite Amos to your next barbeque. Sure, Set may be better when it comes to grilling hot dogs, but unlike Amos, he has this really annoying quirk of randomly killing innocent people.

Hondo

Hondo is the kind of uncle you love, despite the fact that he’s never quite gotten his life off the ground. He may lack ambition, but Hondo is the first to come to his nephew’s aid whenever Zane is in trouble, whether that means dealing with school bullies or wrestling demons and evil dwarves to the ground. No matter what the future has in store for Zane, Brooks, and Rosie in The Fire Keeper, you can be sure that Hondo will be on the frontlines. Unless he passed out on the couch watching WWE again. 

Who’s your favorite aunt or uncle? Our vote goes to Uncle Rick!