X-Book

Hagstone

Already purchased

Click to open directly in the xigxag app.

Standard price shown. Sign in for personalised pricing.

Send as a gift Get in the xigxag app

Added to cart

Continue shopping or head to checkout

View cart
How does xigxag pricing work?

Listen to a sample

What to expect

THE INSTANT TOP 5 IRISH BESTSELLER

SHORTLISTED FOR THE JOHN McGAHERN BOOK PRIZE 2025

‘Wild, singular…gripped me from the start’ DOUGLAS STUART

'Passionate, wild, hugely atmospheric' DAVID NICHOLLS

‘Intelligent, probing’ MAGGIE O'FARRELL

‘A gorgeous, mysterious read’ AISLING BEA

‘I adored it’ LOUISE KENNEDY

LONGLISTED FOR THE 2025 DUBLIN LITERARY AWARD

*A most anticipated 2024 debut in BBC, Daily Mail, Stylist, New Statesman, Sunday Independent, Irish Times and Irish Examiner*

The haunting debut novel from acclaimed, Irish no. 1 bestselling author, Sinéad Gleeson.

The sea is steady for now. The land readies itself. What can be done with the women on the cliff?

On a wild and rugged island cut off and isolated to some, artist Nell feels the island is her home. It is the source of inspiration for her art, rooted in landscape, folklore and the feminine. The mysterious Iníons, a commune of women who have travelled there from all over the world, consider it a place of refuge and safety, of solace in nature.

All the islanders live alongside the strange murmurings that seem to emanate from within the depths of the island, a sound that is almost supernatural – a Summoning as the Iníons call it. One day, a letter arrives at Nell’s door from the reclusive Iníons who invite Nell into the commune for a commission to produce a magnificent art piece to celebrate their long history. In its creation, Nell will discover things about the community and about herself that will challenge everything she thought she knew.

Beautifully written and gripping, Sinéad Gleeson’s debut novel takes in the darker side of human nature and the mysteries of faith and the natural world. Perfect for readers of Margaret Atwood and Sarah Moss.

'Sublime' OBSERVER

‘Original and captivating’ BBC

'A gripping punch to the gut' SUNDAY INDEPENDENT

‘Startling, engrossing, darkly playful’ RODDY DOYLE

‘Magnificent…a literary page-turner’ JENNIFER HIGGIE

'Constellations: Reflections from Life' by Sinéad Gleeson won Non-Fiction Book of the Year at the 2019 Irish Book Awards.

Critics Review

'A passionate, wild, hugely atmospheric and enjoyable debut from such an original voice' David Nicholls, author of You Are Here

'An intelligent, probing novel about isolation, art, and the incompatible desires for both solitude and community' Maggie O'Farrell, author of Hamnet

'A wild, singular story that gripped me from the start' Douglas Stuart, author of Young Mungo

'Sublime ... wonderfully wise' Observer

'Startling, engrossing, darkly playful' Roddy Doyle, author of Love

'A gripping punch to the gut' Sunday Independent

'Absorbing and wild' Spectator

'Original and captivating' BBC

'Totally original' Elaine Feeney, author of How to Build a Boat

'Beautifully written, unsettling and eerie' Irish Times

'Gleeson's prose shines with a literary luminescence' Sunday Business Post

'Wonderful and captivating' Cosey Fanny Tutti, author of Art Sex Music

'Mesmerising and haunting' Emilie Pine, author of Ruth & Pen

'Beautiful, unsettling' Rebecca Tamas, author of Strangers

'Beautiful, eerie' Patrick Freyne, author of OK, Let's Do Your Stupid Idea

'Wildly seductive' Kerri ni Dochartaigh, author of Thin Places

'A delicious eccentric story' June Caldwell, author of Room Little Darker

'Engrossing and wild and gothic, a startlingly good debut' Evie Wyld, author of The Echoes

'A wonderful neo-mythic conjuration' Mike McCormack, author of Solar Bones

'A visceral storyteller who nails your head to the page' Blindboy Boatclub

'Fresh and strange and compelling' Lizzie Stewart, author of Alison

User Reviews

Book 4.0
Narration 5.0
4.0
5.0
hyperbooktivity 18/05/2025

More from the same

Author

Narrator

About xigxag and the x-book®

Discover the best audiobooks with xigxag, an innovative and user-friendly audiobook platform designed to simplify finding, purchasing, and enjoying your favourite books in audio format. Our flexible pricing model makes bestselling audiobooks affordable, offering the best audiobook deals without the need for a subscription. You can also give the perfect gift with our convenient audiobook gift cards and in-app audiobook gifting options.

A core differentiator of xigxag is our groundbreaking listen-and-read x-book® technology, which delivers a truly immersive digital book experience. This unique innovation seamlessly combines the audiobook, text, and images into a brilliant, integrated format, complete with exclusive audiobook features and a next-generation digital reading experience. Our growing x-book selection is easily discoverable by looking for the distinctive purple x-book® ribbon, or by simply filtering your search by ‘x-book’.

Beyond our technology, xigxag is committed to sustainability and ethical practices, ensuring a guilt-free listening experience from an exceptional digital book platform. As the only B Corp certified UK audiobook service, we stand as a leader in audiobook innovation and a compelling alternative to big tech. Our commitment extends to delivering extraordinary customer service, provided by our friendly UK support team.

Effortlessly search audiobooks, gain insights from honest audiobook reviews evaluating both the content and narration, and easily discover hidden gems. You can download or stream top audiobook titles anytime, anywhere, guaranteeing the best possible listening experience on the UK’s best independent audiobook app. Experience the future of audiobooks today.