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The Monsters at the End of the World
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 The Many Faces of Ista Flit.
Rebecca Orwin 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025
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 The Many Faces of Ista Flit.
Rebecca Orwin 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025
Audible Audio
Published January 8, 2026
5 people are currently reading
7 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I was lucky enough to get my hands on a pre-release of this absolutely stunning children's fantasy novel. It highlights simply beautifully the power and importance of empathy, compassion and understanding. This is so important now, arguably, more than ever, for children to read about and engage with. The character of Sunny was a true heroine, and her and Mo are a model of kindness and friendship in unlikely circumstances. The illustrations are also a stunning companion. I will be recommending this book to all the younger Secondary school students that I teach and their parents. What a stunning debut by a talented woman.
January 24, 2026
I really loved this book and honestly think it’s the best book you’ve sent me. From the very beginning, it pulled me in and made me want to keep reading. It’s about a girl named Sunny who lives in a village where difficult and mysterious things start happening. Sunny is a bit of a troublemaker, so not everyone trusts her, but she’s also brave, adventurous and has a really kind heart. There are lots of secrets, and they keep building up, which made the story exciting.
One of the biggest reasons I liked this book is because every chapter ended on a cliffhanger. Every time I finished one, I felt like I had to read just one more. The author’s writing is amazing because she uses really strong descriptive language. Sometimes the words were a bit hard, and I needed help from my dad, but they created such clear pictures in my head that I felt like I was actually inside the story, watching everything happen.
The characters were another reason I loved it. Sunny is a great main character, and Mo is really interesting too. He doesn’t always understand Sunny at first, but he’s kind and important to the story. Sunny’s friends, Taran, Nea, and Dev, also made the book better and showed how important friendship can be.
When something sad happened, it actually made me feel sad too. The way the characters talked and reacted felt very real, and I think the author is especially good at making readers feel like they are in the moment.
The main theme of the book is friendship. Even when characters argue or make mistakes, they don’t give up on each other, and that’s something I really liked. It made the story feel hopeful.
None of my friends really like reading, so I’m not sure if they would choose this book on their own, but I’m definitely going to encourage different people to try reading it. I would give this book a million stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes adventure and mystery.
I know it is different, but sorry I have to say it. It is better than Lottie Brooks and I literally do not know what I’m going to read next. I just hope the next book comes out soon.
One of the biggest reasons I liked this book is because every chapter ended on a cliffhanger. Every time I finished one, I felt like I had to read just one more. The author’s writing is amazing because she uses really strong descriptive language. Sometimes the words were a bit hard, and I needed help from my dad, but they created such clear pictures in my head that I felt like I was actually inside the story, watching everything happen.
The characters were another reason I loved it. Sunny is a great main character, and Mo is really interesting too. He doesn’t always understand Sunny at first, but he’s kind and important to the story. Sunny’s friends, Taran, Nea, and Dev, also made the book better and showed how important friendship can be.
When something sad happened, it actually made me feel sad too. The way the characters talked and reacted felt very real, and I think the author is especially good at making readers feel like they are in the moment.
The main theme of the book is friendship. Even when characters argue or make mistakes, they don’t give up on each other, and that’s something I really liked. It made the story feel hopeful.
None of my friends really like reading, so I’m not sure if they would choose this book on their own, but I’m definitely going to encourage different people to try reading it. I would give this book a million stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes adventure and mystery.
I know it is different, but sorry I have to say it. It is better than Lottie Brooks and I literally do not know what I’m going to read next. I just hope the next book comes out soon.
January 17, 2026
Fabulous book, beautifully written and illustrated. Bought for a friend's granddaughter who loved it, so I thought I would listen to the audio book and also loved it even though Well outside the age range 😁.
Characters have real depth and emotion and a story that you want to keep listening .
All in all delightful book that I would thoroughly recommend . 5 Stars +
Characters have real depth and emotion and a story that you want to keep listening .
All in all delightful book that I would thoroughly recommend . 5 Stars +
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Absolutely wonderful, heart warming and wrenching story of friendship. It offers an important reminder of our shared humanity, the value of tolerance, understanding, and compassion in a world that too often forgets them. Beyond this, it is also a genuinely gripping read, beautifully paced and impossible to put down. The characters are lovable and honest. Adore this book.
January 17, 2026
The best fantasy book that can be found on a shelf.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews