Sunderworld, Vol. I: The Extraordinary Disappointments of Leopold Berry By Ransom Riggs

In his much-anticipated new fantasy series, Max's Adventures in Sunderworld, Ransom Riggs introduces Leopold Berry, a 17-year-old grappling with his mother’s death and the disappointment of his overbearing father. Set in Los Angeles, the novel follows Leopold as strange visions blur his reality: a man popping a tooth into a parking meter, a glowing trapdoor in a lot, and a half-mechanical raccoon with its tail on fire. These bizarre moments all echo an obscure 1990s TV show called Max's Adventures in Sunderworld, a fantasy series that Leopold became obsessed with after finding old VHS tapes.

As the visions intensify, Leopold turns to his best friend Emmet for help, and the two uncover an astonishing truth: Sunderworld isn’t just an old TV show—it’s real. What’s more, it’s in peril. Seizing this as his moment to prove his worth, Leopold risks everything to save the fantastical world of his childhood dreams, believing he’s finally destined for greatness.

However, things spiral out of control, and Leopold’s quest to save Sunderworld only amplifies his own shortcomings. In a world where no one believes in him, including himself, Leopold must confront his inner darkness and learn that heroes are forged by choice, not fate.

Blending peculiar magic with heartfelt emotional arcs, Riggs delivers a tale of friendship, loss, and self-discovery in a narrative that reminds readers that sometimes, you must choose your own destiny when no one else will.