This was exciting and fun! This tale is like the love child of the author’s “peculiar children” and Harry Potter. Less dark than his earlier series, but still full of danger, loss, mystery and magic. This falls into that “just one more chapter”…until way after bedtime category. I’ll be eagerly awaiting the next installment.

Not for me as a reader. Could not connect with the characters and writing style. Awesome premise, but missed the mark for me. Would recommend if you enjoy the authors previous series. I may try that one instead.

Since finishing up the Miss Peregrine's books, this is Ransom's first book out of the universe that we have all become so fond of. This is another story where a seemingly normal kid comes across a world of not-normal, though he might not be as normal as he always thought--but is he still perfectly ordinary in that world too? This book is mostly world-building. We have regular Los Angeles, but overlaying that is a Sunder version of Los Angeles, where in some places they interact and some places they're more separate. While Leopold--or Larry--knows a lot about that world through a 90s tv series he found in his mother's belongings, the reader has to learn what Larry already knows. And even for him there's a lot to learn! I really enjoyed reading this book and looked forward to getting home from work for my reading time every day. And now that I've finished, I'm dying to know more! Can't wait for book 2.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a fun read as the first book in a new series from the author. If you enjoyed his previous series, you will enjoy this one. Filled with mystery and suspense this book takes you on a fantasy adventure. Although the book is promoted to children, I would not recommend it to youth due to profanity.

Thank you NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group,Dutton Books for Young Readers for the copy of Sunderworld, Vol. I: The Extraordinary Disappointments of Leopold Berry
by Ransom Riggs. I loved this book. There have been many books about young people finding magic and this is one of the best. The magic was skillfully woven into the story and I liked how inventive it was. I loved Leopold and Emmet’s friendship and how they really took care of each other. I can’t say too much about the book because it’s better if you discover what happens for yourself because it really is magical. I can’t wait for the next book in this fantastic new series.

While I was writing this review in my head, I realized so much of what I wanted to say would be spoilers. I don't want to make a review that nobody can read until they read the book, I want to write a review so everyone reads this book. And that's purely for the personal reason of getting a full series of Sunderworld books! So please forgive my vagueness and read the book and enjoy this new world with me.

I was excited to see a new Ransom Riggs book pop up. I read Miss Peregrine's when it first came out and loved it. I shared the series with my step kid and we enjoyed all the books together. The characters were so well written and had such deep, unique stories. This new book and the new characters are written just as well. Leopold is a young adult trying to figure out what he should be doing with his life, still heartbroken from losing his mom, dealing with a controlling and judgmental father....all while seeing things that can't possibly be real. Or can they? Following Leopold through this story was a fun adventure, full of fantasy themes and a lot of friendship. Riggs created a new little world in Sunderworld. We don't see too much of it, but fingers crossed we can later. Leopold is an unlikely hero but is very likeable and charming in his own ways. And the ending? Oh boy, you won't be able to get to it fast enough! Once the action starts, you won't be able to put the book down. I finished it right before bed, then woke up and reread the last part one more time to make sure I got all the details. The way the magic works is unique, no wands or spells here. It's so hard to find new ways to work older things, but Riggs found a few.

I rated this four stars right after finishing it because the beginning felt slow. But after thinking about it, it wasn't slow, it was just setting up the story and that can take time when you're building a new world for readers. It definitely feels like a volume 1 of many more to come.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC!

Leopold Berry is just your typical teenager with no outstanding talent; he is about as average as average gets. Losing his mother at a young age, he’s had to endure his dad’s harsh upbringing and constant verbal abuse that he is a failure. The few joys he has in his life are his loyal best friend Emmet, his dear old Volvo Bessie that he inherited from his mother, and of course his collection of antiquated VHS tapes of the show Max's Adventures in Sunderworld. There’s nothing particularly remarkable about Leopold, yet why does he keep seeing strange visions no one else can see? From raccoons and birds catching on fire, to a parking lot attendant adorned with wings, and then even witnessing a man feeding his own teeth to a parking meter; Leopold is either losing it or finally discovering he may not be as unremarkable as he always thought.

So this story was fantastically weird, and I loved every minute of it!! I was kept on the edge of my seat the entire time; the mysteries and the oddities just kept me hooked and wanting more. I definitely loved the retro, eclectic, and nonsensical vibe of this world. The 90’s kid in me found it so nostalgic and magical. I’m looking forward to more adventures with Leopold and Emmet, and hope Ransom won’t keep us waiting too long for the next installment. We're left with so many mysteries by the end of book 1, that I'm restless and dying to get back to Sunderworld already.

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.