Pre-order

The Monsters at the End of the World

Author Rebecca Orwin, illustrated by Oriol Vidal
Narrator Jessie Elland
Publisher Penguin Random House Children's UK
Publish Date 8 January 2026
Run Time 6 hours and 27 minutes
Format Audio
Genre Children’s / Teenage fiction: Action and adventure stories, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic stories, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Fantasy, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Nature and animal stories, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Science fiction.

Get in the xigxag app

Already purchased

Click to open directly in the xigxag app.

This book is not purchasable in your country. Please select another book. Pre-order Buy Now £{{ price }} Send as a gift

How does xigxag pricing work?

Listen to a sample

What to expect

Brought to you by Penguin.

Sunny waited until her mother was asleep before she went back for the monster . . .

All her life, Sunny has known three truths about the creatures that prowl the seas off her tiny coastal town. They are dangerous. They are violent. They are monsters.

But when a chance encounter leads to an unexpected connection, Sunny discovers just how wrong she has been. The monster she meets – Mo – is intelligent, gentle, and searching for his lost brother.

Sunny desperately wants to help, and to keep her new friend a secret. But other people are keeping secrets too. And as hunger grips the town, new truths will emerge about the real monsters in Seawaren . . .

An astonishing debut novel about friendship, trust and survival, perfect for fans of Skellig.

'A powerful tale of compassion and understanding' – Hannah Gold, author of The Last Bear.

'A spectacular debut, full of adventure and bravery. Sunny and Mo have stolen a piece of my heart' – Clare Harlow, author of Tidemagic: The Many Faces of Ista Flit.

© Rebecca Orwin 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

Critics Review

A powerful tale of compassion and understanding between a girl and a so-called monster. Sunny is the heroine who inspires us all to build a gentler, kinder world.

Hannah Gold, author of The Last Bear

A richly drawn study of empathy, curiosity and kindness – I loved every minute of it.

Beth Lincoln, New York Times bestselling author of The Swifts

A spectacular debut, full of adventure and bravery. Sunny and Mo have stolen a piece of my heart.

Clare Harlow, author of Tidemagic: The Many Faces of Ista Flit

A heart-warming tale packed with mystery, magic and monsters. Tender and thought-provoking.

Abi Elphinstone, author of Sky Song and Saving Neverland

A superb new voice in children’s fiction, Orwin’s writing is beautifully balanced between clarity, heart-tugging emotion and grippingly tense action. Sunny is a memorable, loveable character, finding her way in an atmospheric post-apocalyptic world that might just be saved by her sensitivity and courage.

Liz Flanagan, author of Dragon Daughter

More from the same

Narrator

About xigxag

Experience the best audiobooks with xigxag, an innovative and user-friendly audiobook platform designed for seamless discovery, purchase, and enjoyment of your favorite titles. Our flexible pricing model offers bestselling audiobooks for less, providing affordable prices and the best audiobook deals without requiring a subscription. Perfect for gifting, xigxag also features convenient audiobook gift cards and in-app audiobook gifting options.

Beyond the listening experience, xigxag stands as an exciting alternative to big tech, embodying a strong commitment to sustainability and ethical practices. As the only B Corp certified UK audiobook service, we ensure a guilt-free listening experience from a leader in audiobook innovation.

Effortlessly search audiobooks, access honest audiobook reviews that evaluate both the content and narration, and easily discover hidden gems. Whether you prefer to download or stream top audiobook titles, xigxag provides the best possible listening experience anytime, anywhere, on the UK’s best independent audiobook app. Discover the future of audiobooks today.