3.5 Stars:

Greenteeth is a cosy fantasy novel that is narrated by Jenny Greenteeth and follows three characters on a journey: Jenny, Temperance and Brackus (there is also a dog for most of the journey). The main plot of this novel is a quest to gather the tools needed to defeat this evil that has over taken Temperance’s town. However, I think this book was more of a character-focused novel.

This book was a bit of an average read for me. The characters were well written and fleshed out. Their motivations, relationships and actions were understandable; they felt true to the characterisation. But, they fell flat in the sense that they weren't easy to connect to. Every step of the quest was solved so conveniently, the stakes would only just begin to rise when it fell. The task is already completed, and they have the prize. The characters do advance the plot, yes, but there was substantial help from some convenient outside source. Because everything felt relatively easy, there was nothing tying me to the characters. I don’t think they were particularly charismatic, funny, or inspiring. So if the characters are just okay and the plot isn’t forcing me to grab the characters and hold on tight, there was no reason for me to care.

The worldbuilding, specifically the setting and the magic system, was quite interesting. The doorways used to travel quickly, the different types of witches and witchcraft, and the mythologies tied in and mentioned in the story.

The writing, specifically the descriptions, whether that be scenery or descriptions of action scenes, were vivid. O’Neil paints beautiful pictures with straightforward language.

There was one thing that frustrated me, however. The ultimate method to defeat the big evil was hinted at so obviously and frequently that I wasn’t surprised when it was finally used to win. It made the whole journey feel moot, and I would have enjoyed the book more if this tool that was there the whole time, the tool which the author basically highlighted every other chapter, wasn’t actually the thing that allowed them to defeat this great evil.

This was a debut novel, and while it won’t be on any of my favourite lists, I do think it shows great potential for the author.

Thank you to Orbit Books and Netgalley for an ARC of this novel.

OMG I am in love.
A sassy monster being the MC?! Sign me up.
This story had me laughing one moment and getting all up in my feels the next. The writing was sharp and so much fun.
It moved at a great pace. Fast but never rushed and I really appreciated that.

Highly recommend to anyone who loves humor, heart, and a monster with attitude.

This book wasn’t bad, but I l just didn’t love it.

Greenteeth is the story of an unlikely friendship between a witch drowned for practicing witchcraft and the water fairy whose lake she gets tossed into. This is yet another story about fae. But it’s secretly also a King Arthur tale.

Jenny Greenteeth is a water witch centuries old who lives in a lake in Britain. She rescues Temperance from drowning and the two become friends. Temperance wants to rescue her children from her village but must create a spell to do so, so she barters with a goblin, Brackus, for ingredients. Then Brackus teams up with Jenny and Temperence to travel to the land of the high fae to ask for assistance to defeat an evil plaguing the village.

The plot doesn’t really get going until around 30% of the way into the book. I spent the beginning wondering what the story was even going to be about, but eventually the plot reveals itself. The beginning was honestly a bit slow and boring compared with the rest of the novel, which ended up being much faster paced.

Readers who like tales of folklore—specifically English and Welsh folklore—and friendship and adventure will enjoy this tale. While Greenteeth isn’t exactly a cozy book, I think it would appeal to fans of cozy fantasy. I want to note there is no romance in this book, which was a refreshing change. Overall I thought the story was different and enjoyable, but ultimately not something I see myself rereading or thinking about again.

I fell in love with it before I even knew the premise, because the cover is so stunning! I wouldn't say it's as "cozy" as some would claim, but it is delightful and earthy and soft

I went into this book blind with the audio narration and a copy in my hand. The audio narration was a solid 5 stars, the narrator did an absolutely amazing job of bringing all the characters to life. The story itself felt very fresh, very new and like nothing I had read before. There were creepy moments, hilarious moments, sad, tense, and joyous moments as well. There were some dark and tense moments too (which I didnt even expect). The book really did touch nearly every human emotion as well as many human experiences but told through the eyes of a lake dwelling monster named Jenny.

Ultimately, this is a story about the lengths two mothers will go to in order to protect their children, their friends and those they love. Along the way, they pick up a hilarious side character (Brackus) and an adorable animal companion. The interwoven folklore from the Welsh and British region are present but subtle until closer to the end (although I am not a scholar in this folklore so to others it may have been quite obvious from the beginning). The book finishes with some twists and a very satisfying ending.

I absolutely adored this book and will look forward to works from this author in the future. If this was her debut author, I have high hopes her future will bring us amazingly rich and immersive worlds! I would recommend this to readers who enjoy T. Kingfisher, folklore retellings, or cozy fantasy with some creepy elements and humor.

Immersion read
First person POV
Single POV
Slow pacing
Cozy/Fantasy/Folklore/Welsh-British

This was a delightful blend of cozy vibes and dark fantasy. Jenny Greenteeth, a cranky lake monster, saves a witch named Temperance, and together with a goblin named Brackus, they embark on a quest filled with Welsh lore and mythical creatures. The trio's developing friendships are heartwarming, balancing the darker moments. Molly O’Neill masterfully hides key details, delivering twists that keep you hooked. The world-building is rich, and the story evolves beautifully. If you love found family themes and quests for the greater good, this book is a must-read!

Greenteeth
By Molly O’Neill
Narrated by Catrin Walker-Booth
4 ⭐️

This is a story of friendship, trust, loyalty, and personal growth. Human lore melds with folklore throughout the story. Three unlikely companions take on an epic quest to defeat the most awfully evil fae foe in Jenny’s old stories. Jenny is endearing and had me rooting for her throughout the story. She reminds me of an elderly neighbor who will yell at you to get off her lawn on Tuesday and give you home baked cookies on Thursday. I found this story to be on the adventurous side of cozy. True character development is a strong component of the book which was my favorite part. I liked this one and think it’s a solid option to pick up.

Molly O’Neill’s Greenteeth is a historical fantasy novel rooted in folklore, centering on Jenny Greenteeth—a monstrous, bogeyman-like figure from English legend who lurks in lakes, waiting to drag unsuspecting victims beneath the surface. But in this reimagining, Jenny is more than just a terrifying creature. She is sharp-toothed and deadly, yes, but also lonely, curious, and perhaps even capable of kindness.

When Temperance, a woman accused of witchcraft, is thrown into Jenny’s lake by an oppressive preacher, Jenny makes an unprecedented decision: she saves her. This single act sets off a journey that takes Jenny beyond the safety of her waters and into a world filled with magic, danger, and unexpected companionship. Alongside Temperance and Brackus, a goblin trader, Jenny embarks on a quest that intertwines ancient myths, Arthurian legends, and a battle against forces that threaten both her lake and the people she has come to care for.

Jenny is, without a doubt, the highlight of the book. Her voice is sharp, witty, and distinctly non-human, especially in the beginning. She is monstrous in both nature and personality—petty, curious, and unapologetically herself. The early chapters establish her as a unique and compelling protagonist, making it easy to root for her even when she isn’t particularly kind.

The author's writing is rich and immersive, blending historical fantasy with folklore to create a setting that feels both grounded and otherworldly. The novel pulls from a variety of sources—Celtic mythology, Old English literature, and Arthurian legends—while maintaining a dreamlike quality that makes the world feel vivid and alive. The attention to detail is one of the book’s strongest aspects, making it easy to sink into the eerie yet enchanting world Jenny inhabits.

Although I enjoyed this, the plot felt a little too linear. A lot of the story revolves around a series of fetch quests, which makes some of the book feel repetitive. I thought it lacked tension.
I loved the characters, especially Jenny, but I thought Brackus and Temperance had a lot more development at the beginning of the novel as the story progressed their characters felt one-dimensional.

Overall, I thought Greenteeth was fun and unique. The author's love of folklore is evident on every page, and her world-building is lush and evocative. While the pacing, linear story, and character development could have been better, Jenny’s voice and the novel’s atmospheric charm make it a worthwhile read. I can't wait to see what Molly O’Neill writes next!

GREENTEETH is an enchanting historical fantasy novel where a fearsome (and charming) lake monster, a novice witch, and a traveling salesman hobgoblin embark on a quest to defeat an ancient evil force threatening their world. What follows is an adventurous, feel-good tale rich with magic, folklore, and found family. I enjoyed this debut so much and highly recommend for fans of T. Kingfisher!

Greenteeth is a cozy new fantasy in which a lake monster, a witch and a goblin travel across Great Britain to search for the means to vanquish the enemy that threatens their peaceful village. A fun read that will appeal to readers of Travis Baldree.

Jenny Greenteeth is a name that has haunted stories for generations. But few know what it actually means to be a Jenny Greenteeth. I am so excited to see this lore being explored! When a witch is thrown into Jenny Greenteeth’s pond, they couldn’t be more surprised to see each other. As Jenny and Temperance talk, they realize they have more in common than they realized. The two must work together with a goblin merchant to defeat the terrible evil that has invaded their town.

Greenteeth is an atmospheric and unputdownable tale. Molly O’Neill has crafted a tale of lesser known fae, the fae whose stories may not have been told before. I loved the lore of the Jennys! Jenny and Temperance have a beautiful friendship. I enjoyed how they found connection in motherhood and being underestimated. O’Neill’s writing is warm and charming. The witty banter between the characters is beautifully woven into the fae quest they undertake. Readers who enjoy T. Kingfisher, magical fae adventures, and found family will love this book. I can’t wait to read what Molly O’Neill writes next!

Thank you to Molly O’Neill, Orbit Books, and NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, and Barnes & Noble etc.

I went into Greenteeth not knowing what to expect. Immediately, in the first chapter, I was in love with our main character Jenny and her lake-monster ways. Her peaceful life in the lake is shaken up by the appearance of Temperance, who has been thrown into Jenny's lake for being a witch. Instead of eating her, Jenny saves her life and the two plus Jenny's goblin friend Brackus are set off on an adventure to save the town from this "pastor" who tried to kill Temperance. It's an excellent fae storytelling with layered approaches to different fae creatures and how they don't always follow the same morals that humans do. This was an engaging story of found family going on a quest and I found it extremely difficult to put down. Overall, this book is a delight and I laughed out loud in several parts. I definitely recommend if you're in the mood for an adventure across 1500s-era Britain and beyond.

Some content notes to be aware of: animal death, blood, gore

A huge thank you to Orbit for sending me the eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts and to Colleen for buddy reading this with me! :)

The setting was absolutely wonderful and I just loved everything about the writing style in this one — the descriptions of the landscape made me wish I was there to see it for myself! I loved the band of characters in this story too; this is a tale that is delightful and definitely worth picking up :) highly recommend!

This was one of my most anticipated reads this winter and although I didn't love it, I still had a good time with it. I felt this fantasy definitely leaned more towards cozy fantasy overall, but did involve a quest that included a few fight scenes. I loved the idea of this rag tag group of outcasts...a swamp monster, a witch, and a goblin, going on a quest to help save their community but somehow parts of it seemed forced and others just drug on. Overall I thought it was cute and entertaining.

This was ALMOST the perfect cozy fantasy book for me, but I felt blindsided by a sudden shift towards the last 20% of the story or so. We start off with a delightful fae monster, very similar in tone to Someone You Can Built a Nest In, which I loved. Jenny was my favorite character throughout and I really appreciated her journey and development. The introduction of the other two main characters was fun and funny, and I liked both of them a fair bit.

When the story shifted to a hero's journey type setting, I was less excited for that. I was hoping for a little more focus on Jenny Greenteeth, which is such a unique and charming character, and a little less on the types of tropes and storylines you see in a lot of fantasy fae stories. Still, it was fine, and I do think the examination of each character's trust/feelings towards humans/sense of being a "monster" was interesting. Some of the elements--of all of the Scottish lore to explore, why unicorns? why spend so much time traveling and so little on the actual creatures?--dragged a bit, but I didn't mind it.

However, I really felt let down by the near-ending. The introduction of a particular set of lore/myths that I just find so overused (I will avoid naming it to avoid spoilers) was a real disappointment. Not every story needs to tie back to that particular set of characters as an explanation for things, nor did that tie in make any particular amount of sense to me as a plot device. The actual ending was fine.

I would still recommend this book, particularly to someone who wanted low/no romance in a fantasy. I would also eagerly pick up the author's next title, hoping for something that leaned more into the quirky and fun and less into the well-trodden paths of other fantasy books.

Greenteeth is such a charming, storybook tale. We meet Jenny Greenteeth, a tidy lake monster of sorts who comes upon a young woman dumped into her lake by yelling humans. After saving her, Jenny learns that the villagers believe this woman to be a witch... and they are correct, but Temperance is a good witch whose community has suddenly been turned against her by the new pastor. After checking things out, Jenny finds that the Pastor is not a man of God at all, but rather an ancient evil come to sink its teeth into England. After some discussion with Brackus, a panhandling goblin, Jenny and Temperance convince him to take them to the faerie court to determine a way to defeat this evil. From there, we get a quest for the ages!

Truly this book was a blast to read. It feels like a fairytale, and it is, in a way. We have a group of unlikely companions traveling to obtain things to help them defeat a big bad. The relationships between all of them were so well thought out, and, just like real family, they have their spats and issues as well. I liked that we get to see different dynamics and how they can change under difficult situations.

My favorite part of the book was always Jenny. She is such a character. Her personality is grumpy and standoffish, but also full of heart and hidden depths. This book is in third person limited POV and we very closely follow Jenny as she navigates dry land and friendship. She is so funny in the beginning of the book and is so very charming, even if she is a dangerous water-dwelling lake monster. I didn't realize how attached I had become to her and the others until further on in the story. Somehow, I ended up with tears in my eyes at certain points?

If you like the tone of books like How to Summon a Fairy Godmother, the Emily Wilde series, and even A Letter to the Luminous Deep, please do yourself a favor and check out Greenteeth. I also think people who enjoy fairytales or King Arthur lore would find things to enjoy in this story. We get to meet a lot of different creatures and see some magic. The descriptions are just enough to immerse you without being too much. I really loved this book, and I think it was a really neat debut!

This is a beautiful and vibrant story for anyone looking for a cozy fantasy with a monstrous folklore twist. This story is rooted in the folklore of Jenny Greenteeth, who supposedly lures unsuspecting animals, children, and the elderly to the edge of the water and pulls them under. But this version of Jenny, while she has the capability of being that monster, wants to be so much more. When Temperance, a witch, is thrown into her lake for witchcraft, Jenny gets her chance to be more than a monster.

The found family of Jenny, Temperance, and Brackus is wonderful and heartwarming that such a unique group of characters could come together for a quest to vanquish the evil that threatens Temperance’s home and the fae creatures of Britain. We also get some fun Arthurian legends strewn into the story as the group is sent on a quest by the fae court to find the necessary components to create a weapon that can stop the Erl King.

I love that this story twists a monster myth into something beautiful and cozy with stakes that are a little higher than most cozy fantasy books, but still not a world-ending situation.

FOUR AND A HALF STARS

3.5 stars rounded up.

I love mythology, so I was excited to dive into this book—especially since I’d never heard of Jenny Greenteeth before! This book had a great premise and a fun trio of characters, but I found myself wanting more—more depth, more world-building, more time with the story. It felt like it tried to do too much in too little space. The quests moved so fast that they lacked impact, and I never fully immersed myself in the world. That said, the writing was solid, the humor worked, and I enjoyed the banter. While this one didn’t completely click for me, I’d definitely read more from this author in the future—it’s a promising debut!

Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit Books for this wonderful eARC. All opinions are my own.

I was really enjoying the storytelling flow of this book, but unfortunately the first chapter alone had two major triggers for me - death of animals and child abuse/death. And while I was interested to see where the story went, I couldn’t get past those things and can’t finish it at this time.

It starts slow but is immediately unique with amazing low-fae characters. Jenny Greenteeth has been longing for company and ends up saving a witch from drowning. Temperance's village turned against her after a new priest appeared. It turns out he is more than she thought and not easy to defeat. Unlikely heroes who go on a journey with fae, folklore, Arthurian lore, and mythology inspiration world of Britain, to finish their quest to slay the evil king.


I love the heroes. They are not the usual ones, but they are flawed and very different, making them the perfect team.



Thank you netgalley for the earc.