Sunderworld, Vol. 2: The Unfortunate Responsibilities of Leopold Berry
by Ransom Riggs
Pub Date: October 13, 2026
Penguin Young Readers Group | Dutton Books for Young Readers
Sci Fi & Fantasy | Teens & YA
Pages: 336
DESCRIPTION/SYNOPSIS:
The bestselling Sunderworld saga reaches its epic conclusion in this thrilling fantasy from Ransom Riggs, author of the #1 global phenomenon Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children series.
The magic was failing. The monsters were coming. Sunder was desperate for a hero, and Leopold Berry was certain he’d been chosen to save it. He was wrong.
After flunking his channeler test in spectacular fashion and getting kicked out of Sunder in record time, Leopold swore he was done with magic for good—until a trail of clues from his late mother dragged him back in, then led him to a mysterious ring that might just be the most powerful object in magical history. If only he can figure out how the damn thing works. Now the walls are closing in.
Famous in Sunder for all the wrong reasons, Leopold is being stalked by paparazzi, threatened by government agents determined to get their hands on the ring, and hunted by terrifying creatures hungry for its power. His only hope is to learn to wield the ring before someone kills him for it and then use it to uncover his family’s buried connection to Sunder before the trail goes cold—and the magical world collapses around him. Because the magic is still failing. The monsters are everywhere. And Sunder still needs a hero.
With loyal friends Emmet and Isabel at his side, Leopold must decide who he can trust in a city built on illusion—and whether the kid who was never chosen is willing to risk everything for the world that didn’t want him. Welcome back to Sunderworld.
REVIEW:
Sunderworld, Vol. 2: The Unfortunate Responsibilities of Leopold Berry continues and concludes the story of the non-chosen one, the titular Leopold Berry. The Sunderworld books by Ransom Riggs rail against the fantasy tropes we’re all familiar with, the chosen one and the allure and/or danger of the magical world said ‘chosen one’ is thrust into after finally accepting his/her destiny. In my review of Sunderworld Vol. 1, I mentioned how the book felt incomplete in a “to-be-continued” sense, especially since we find out that Leopold is definitely not the chosen one, and the magic (not to mention the failing infrastructure) of Sunderworld is on the decline, interesting but not so alluring. I wasn’t sure where the story would go from there, but I was curious to find out.
The tone of the second volume is much more upbeat. Leopold has accepted his status as a failed channeler and refuses to kowtow to the powers that be in Sunderworld and let them get their hands on the mysterious magical ring, even though they have him under surveillance and keep offering him gifts as bribes—along with veiled threats to come if he doesn’t comply: carrot before the stick. He has solidified his friendship with Emmet and Isabel, and I enjoyed their scenes investigating his mother’s past as they try to solve the riddle of the powerful ring on their own, especially now that Leopold has lost his rose-colored-glasses-view of Sunderworld. Their camaraderie—along with the subtle attraction between Leopold and Isabel—really shines through the narrative. Along the way, they discover secrets about Leopold’s family even his father doesn’t know or remember, the unexpected source of magic and why it is failing in Sunderworld, and expose an equally unexpected and powerful villain operating in the shadows.
After the dashed assumptions of Sunderworld Vol. 1 that led to failure and disappointment for Leopold, Sunderworld Vol. 2 is a much smoother ride with quite a few surprises and a thrilling climax. But… despite its billing as a conclusion, Vol. 2 clearly leaves the door open to explore what the future holds for magical Sunderworld.
Note: I received an eGalley of Sunderworld, Vol. 2: The Unfortunate Responsibilities of Leopold Berry from the publisher via NetGalley in consideration of an unbiased review.
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