I received an advance reader’s copy (ARC) of The Rise of Neptune by Scott Reintgen. Since this version is just a proof and not the final version, I won’t quote directly and will keep my comments general.

In The Rise of Neptune, the sequel to The Last Dragon of Mars, Lunar Jones has more responsibility than ever, tasked with helping Earthling newcomers to a revitalized Mars. But the revelation about a group of people from Neptune brings new conflict to this part of the solar system, and soon Lunar, the dragon Dread, and their friends find themselves wrapped up in a galactic conflict that could see the end of Mars. With new enemies and new unexpected allies alike, Lunar faces the toughest challenge yet of his young life.

I had a great time reading the first book of this series, and this one continues to deliver an entertaining adventure. Lunar is a good protagonist, a smart kid with decent instincts, but also with reasonable insecurities and flaws that help round out his character. Meanwhile, Dread is still so cool (though granted, I’ve said that about literally every dragon), and I like the ways that he and Lunar interact. Dread often struggles to rein in his anger and to be empathetic, and Lunar brings out the softer parts of him, while in turn Dread helps Lunar to be more assertive. Their rapport is just delightful.

As for the other characters, I really want to spend more time with some of them, Proctor in particular. For the most part, I have some sense of her personality, but it’s mostly how she is in relation to Lunar. So I was pleased to have some scenes from her perspective in this book, and how that promises more development in the future of this series. And overall, I like her dynamic with Lunar, and how much he trusts and depends on her strengths. I just really hope this doesn’t end up with a love triangle…

Anyway, as for the plot, this one seems even more fast paced than Last Dragon. There’s a lot of tense action, combat scenes in space, and twists. The stakes are definitely high, but nothing feels too intense for the book’s intended middle grade audience. It also feels like Reintgen is writing directly for his younger self, clapping a young Scott on the shoulder and saying “here’s a wild adventure specifically for you,” so that lends an element of fun to the whole reading experience.

I also enjoyed how this book expands the lore of dragons introduced in the first book. We get more information about the moon dragons especially, and it’s cool to see the power dynamics between them and the planetary dragons. I like that although there’s a hierarchy to this structure, Reintgen still demonstrates that even the “lower” dragons are formidable and powerful in their own rights, sometimes even stronger than their “superiors.” It lends a complexity to the entire concept, and makes you wonder what else is out there in the galaxy. At one point, there’s a reference to comets being dangerous creatures, and frankly, I’m desperate to know more about that!

In the end, The Rise of Neptune is a solid sequel which both expands the world (rather, universe) of its predecessor, as well as teases even more to come. The characters get a chance to grow and change, and learn from new experiences. The action is near-relentless, but Reintgen still takes time for a few emotional breaths. And the book ends with some things resolved, but also with the promise of more drama to come. It will be fun to see how the story progresses in book three!

The Rise of Neptune will be published on October 7th, 2025!