STELLA SCURA: DARK STAR RISING by J. Matthew Neal

STELLA SCURA: DARK STAR RISING VOLUME ONE: A blind teenage girl from North Pole, Alaska learns her true destiny as she realizes the full potential of her vast dark energy powers shortly after her eighteenth birthday. Is she really the legendary Aurora the Angel, or something far more sinister? Will the President of the United States ultimately serve as a mentor, or use her as a pawn to become ruler of the world?

STELLA SCURA: DARK STAR RISING VOLUME TWO: Stella Scura impulsively goes on a mission that becomes nothing short of disastrous as she is aided by a long-forgotten group of fourth-rate 1990s TV superheroes in a quest to learn more about her abilities and those of the strange young man from the Netherlands known only as The Orthoman. Along the way she learns of her famous heritage and that her parents are not who they seem to be. Can she develop a relationship with her newly-found friends and family while retaining her humility? Or will she become the greatest "rock star" of all time when fame goes to her teenage head?

STELLA SCURA: DARK STAR RISING VOLUME THREE: In the conclusion of Dark Star Rising, the amazing Stella Scura must confront her own vast potential for destruction and once again save a major city from nuclear devastation - but at what cost? And who close to her will make a tremendous sacrifice?

TOPICS OF CONVERSATION

• Origins and Themes of Stella Scura – How the story began decades ago, the evolution of Paige Marshall as a character, and the central theme that real strength comes from moral choices rather than superpowers.

• World-Building and Political Parallels – The novel’s setting in Alaska and its expansion into cosmic and political territory, including commentary on power, leadership, and modern-day parallels.

• Power, Morality, and Humanity – Exploration of what power truly means, Paige’s moral restraint, and how humor, empathy, and logic play roles in resolving conflict instead of force.

• Family, Mentors, and Relationships – The influence of Petra, Jack, and President Wendy Mendoza on Paige’s growth; how family secrets, loyalty, and differing beliefs shape her identity.

• Series Continuity and Future Works – Connections to Neal’s earlier novels (Specific Gravity, Ontario Lacus, etc.), plans for a sequel, and upcoming unrelated projects including a romance and an Amalgam Man spinoff.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

J. Matthew Neal is a physician (endocrinologist) and medical school assistant dean residing in Muncie, Indiana. He is the author of five problem-based endocrinology textbooks, and began writing fiction in the mid-2000s. His first novel, Specific Gravity, was published in 2007. His other fiction works include its sequel Ontario Lacus (2008), the young adult novel Americium the Beautiful (2010), and medical mysteries Amalgam-Man (2022), and Amalgam-Man: Burnt Crispy (2025).

LEARN MORE ABOUT J. MATTHEW NEAL AND HIS WORK AT: https://www.jmneal.com/