Common Sense Media Review
By Sage Moreaux
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Thrilling dragon space battles teach teamwork, compassion.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In THE RISE OF NEPTUNE, Mars is just recovering from decades of hardship when a new threat arises. Luckily, 14-year-old dragonrider Lunar Jones, and his dragon, Dread, are prepared to do whatever it takes to defend Mars. But when the enemy proves stranger and more clever than expected, it becomes clear that Lunar won't be able to win on his own. As he rallies his teammates and allies, Lunar needs to decide which dragons to trust. But will he make the right choices, and will he do so in time to save his people from being destroyed?
Is It Any Good?
Fun and action-packed, part two of the series is possibly more enjoyable than the first book. In The Rise of Neptune, we see how the struggles Lunar faced in the first book will pay off. While this book focuses less on Lunar's struggle with becoming a hero, the action and adventure start sooner, and are more dynamic. The characters we've come to love play a bigger role in the story, while the humor and humanity author Scott Reintgen brought to the first book are here, too. The ending feels a bit rushed, making the story feel a tad anti-climactic, but the final scenes set up the next story nicely. Fans will be more than ready for book three after this installment. The positive role models and thoughtful messages about violence and teamwork make this series a great choice for middle-grade kids who love space adventures (and dragons)!
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the bond between Lunar and the other dragonriders in The Rise of Neptune. Why is their teamwork so important?
Lunar, Proctor, and Roddy have different but complementary traits. How do their individual strengths and weaknesses balance out? Do you have people in your life that make you better the way the three of them do?
What do you think about the way the Neptunian soldiers were being manipulated? How do war and violence differ when it's on a screen versus in real life?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Science Fiction
- Topics : Adventures , Fantasy ( Dragons , Magic ) , Space
- Character Strengths : Communication , Compassion , Courage , Integrity , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Aladdin
- Publication date : October 7, 2025
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 10 - 18
- Number of pages : 432
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 27, 2025
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