Thank you to Orbit Books and NetGalley for sending me an ARC of Greenteeth in exchange for review.

4.25 stars—

Firstly I cannot believe this is the authors debut novel. Molly!!!!!! You’re going to be one for me to follow.

This book has everything you want. Monsters, myths, magic, demons? With a dash of surprising Arthurian legend. Unlikely friendship and a kooky trio forced to adventure together for the greater good. We had quests, mysteries, and the most chill dog companion ever.

The best part of this book is how exciting it is straight away from chapter one. I read a lot of fantasy books, and you usually endure quite a bit of explanation and world building before you connect with the story. For Greenteeth it was instant, so much so that I saw one of my friends added this book to their goodreads and I told them it was amazing while I was 7% into the book. That carried through the entirety.

I loved the journey the three main characters went on, it seemed so random but also made so much sense? I was excited for bed time each night where I could curl up and read more of this book. It even had me audibly gasping in disbelief.

Thank you so much for the lovely read!

Greenteeth was so much more than I expected. It felt new yet classic. It was full of quests, fae, and the stuff of legends, but it was also about family, friendship, and what it means to be good.
From the beginning I was taken in by Jenny and Temperance's tentative friendship. I loved watching Jenny - a self-proclaimed monster - want to help another woman in any way she could. I also adored Brackus and the barbs he and Jenny threw back and forth.
Each character was so special, but what was even more special was their friendships. While the end of Greenteeth was far from cozy, the majority of the story was cozy, in a way. Mostly because of the warmth I could feel between the characters. There were also tougher moments, and watching the characters grow due to them was wonderful.
The story moved quickly from beat to beat without any lulls in pacing, and packed in a few fun surprises at the end. I came away feeling very warm and fuzzy. It is a truly lovely book and I can't wait to see it on best seller lists!

Thank you to Orbit and Netgalley for the ARC.

What attracted me to this book was many things: the cover is amazing, the premise is intriguing, and the title eye catching!

This book was a quick, easy read, and entertaining enough.

I liked the cozy aspect of it, and I liked the take on Jenny's character. Being a cozy fantasy, I appreciated the sprinkling in of some quite dark themes, as I love the Grimm fairytales and folklore.

I think the book has great bones, and the structure is there, however I found it lacking as far as syntax goes. The pacing is quite linear in my opinion, yet not detrimental; I believe this to vary depending on age range of the reader.

Overrall, it was not the worst book I've ever read. I can see the appeal, and it has a great foundation. I loved the cover and title as well. I desperately wanted to like this one, but personally, I couldn't put it on a list of ones that I enjoyed. I might recommend it to someone if they are in need of a palette cleanser, and would like some light fantasy.

It is for these reasons I give this book 3 stars.

This was a fun, mythical story following Jenny Greenteeth, a many-toothed lake spirit and her adventures to protect her lake.

This book was at its best with Jenny in her lake. The author set us up well with this nearly-forgotten creature of the depths and her quirks: her love of trinkets, her pride in keeping her lake neat, and her distaste in eating humans, only for the bulk and difficulty in doing so. This felt like a very fun setup for a cozy fantasy story.

The majority of this story follows a traditional quest structure, where Jenny teams up with her jovial goblin acquaintance and a stubborn human witch to protect their home. I enjoyed the appearance of several other British mythical beings throughout the story, as well as the lush landscape descriptions.

Unfortunately, the middle of the story felt too long and lacking tension for me. I did not connect with the characters enough to fully buy into the quest, and the obstacles encountered felt very formulaic.

Later, the story interweaves more with Arthurian legend and while I initially enjoyed these callbacks, eventually it felt too referential and less of a unique story in its own right.

I would have loved a much deeper dive on the mythology of Jennys in particular, as well as more scenes showcasing her individuality. It was easy to forget at many points in the story our heroine was not a human woman (a conflict addressed but not totally resolved by the story in my opinion).

That said, this was overall a fun and cozy read. I would recommend this to readers who enjoyed the fae elements of Emily Wilde or the Arthurian references of Gwen and Art are Not in Love.

Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Fantastic Celtic/British mythology, Arthurian legend, found family quest novel that is truly unlike anything I’ve ever read. Truly where this book shone was within the found-family/unlikely trio dynamic, and I loved watching the stories of these three friends play out along the quest. I probably would’ve enjoyed this one more if I had some more source knowledge for the Arthurian inspiration, but I still really enjoyed it nonetheless. Looking forward to seeing this one get the buzz it deserves - my thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a chance to read an early copy!

Thank you NetGalley and Orbit Books for sending me an eARC to read and review.

A solid four stars for me, perhaps even edging a bit into 4.5 territory the longer I sit with it. If you enjoy fae, folklore, and the narrative style of T. Kingfisher, then this should be on your TBR. Truthfully, I’m not sure what I was expecting going into this story, through I am all the happier to now identify with and love my terrifying lake monster, Jenny.

Beautifully written with scenes of vivid nature, this story follows Jenny as she sets out on a journey to defeat a great evil alongside Temperance the hedgewitch and the goblin Brackus. If you are familiar with folktale-based plots, then you will acclimate to this quite quickly, but this in no way makes the story entirely predictable or redundant. A true credit to the novel is Molly O’Neill’s approach to narrative and the characterization of Jenny, how she interweaves various myths to create a truly surprising ending, and the care she gave to exploring Jenny’s complexities.

Jenny’s perception of herself versus outside forces plays a central role within the narrative—“. . . I certainly wasn’t good. I wasn’t bad either, I simply was”—acting as a touchstone by which she navigates not only the trials of the road, but also unraveling the truths hidden within herself. This also makes Jenny an incredibly relatable character who I empathize with throughout the novel, even crying at times (though I am naturally inclined toward crying, but still!). And though I am not familiar with what exactly constitutes a ‘cozy’ book, I would say my growing fondness for Jenny and her friends as the story progressed was nothing short of heartwarming.

If you’re looking for a novel steeped in folklore, which explores love found in friendship and chosen family, with moments of humor splashed throughout, I would highly recommend Moly O’Neill’s Greenteeth. And I for one cannot wait to see what O’Neill does in the future.

This was a great engaging story from beginning to end, it had a very fairytale vibe. It follows Jenny Greenteeth, a naiad/low fae creature as she embarks on a quest with a witch and a goblin to save their village from an evil entity. I loved all the characters from the get go specially Jenny, she has a very sardonic and morally gray personality but is very loyal. Temperance (the witch) was brave and compassionate, willing to do anything to save her family. Brackus the goblin who also accompanies them was quirky and funny, willing to engage in good banter. Together they make an unlikely group that forms a unique connection through dire circumstances. The story was pretty fast paced and dare I say a bit too fast at times but it made for a nice change since a lot of the times quest based stories drag a lot. Overall I really enjoyed it and will be looking forward to the author's following works.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for this ARC, all opinions are my own.

i must say that jenny greenteeth is one of my favorite protagonists that i've had the pleasure to read about in the past few months. i adored her character, attitude, and outlook on life, and really sympathized with her throughout this novel. this was such a fun play on the folklore of the british isles, which i haven't read about before, but found myself so fascinated by the creatures featured. while the book has its high stakes, it actually felt quite cozy to me and is something i would return to for a comfort read. the side characters temperance and brackus were such a treat as well! (4.5★)

I was drawn in to this book by the title and the synopsis. It sounded so whimsical and fun. After seeing the endorsement from my favorite author, T. Kingfisher, I moved this right up my list to read next. And I am SO glad I did. Greenteeth is an absolute blast to read. Fae, monsters, witches, a quest for the impossible. This novel has all the important parts of a fantastic story without any of the drag. The pacing was on point, the characters were fully fleshed out, and I loved the bits of lore that Molly O'Neill packed into this novel. Absolutely a 5 star read, I cannot wait to do a reread. Jenny, Temperance, and Brackus have my entire heart!!! If you are a fan of Kingfisher's "Thornhedge" or "Summer in Orcus", I think you'll absolutely adore this novel. I know I did!! This was an outstanding debut novel and I can't wait to see what else O'Neill publishes.

An unlikely trio on a quest to defeat a major villain, a whole cast of creatures from fantasy and folklore, magic spells, hidden fairy roads, a series of trials, and a faithful dog…what more could a reader ask for? I was unfamiliar with the myth of Jenny Greenteeths aka Wicked Jennys, but it was a fascinating perspective for the story to be told from. While O’Neill certainly includes enough plot elements to keep readers interested, I admit that I struggled to really connect with this book. I’m not sure why as the writing was fine, the characters interesting and varied, and it seems to have almost everything I look for in a good read. Maybe this one just didn’t quite hit me at the right moment or maybe it’s because the big bad was a bit too evil for my taste (especially when combined with religious subtext), but I do think it’s well written and that many readers, particularly fans of historic folklore, will find it a great book!

CW: infant abandonment/death(ish), witch hunts, mild gore, animal death, dark/blood magic

This one sounded like an amazing fantasy story and I could not wait to start reading it. Unfortunately, this one was not for me. There is way too much imagery and too little story in my opinion. It just did not hold my attention, and I found myself bored with it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of Greenteeth by Molly O’Neill.

British mythology and Arthurian legend blend in this winning historical fantasy wherein a predatory lake monster, a witch, and goblin trader set off on a quest to defeat a powerful malevolent entity that has invaded a small village. It's also a really lovely story about an ancient, deeply lonely individual slowly connecting with others..

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher Orbit books for the advanced readers copy. It did not affect my reviews in any way!

4.25 stars -- Greenteeth is a refreshing, Arthurian-inspired fantasy with a fae found family and quests galore! Featuring Welsh mythology, character growth, and a unique tone, this is a fantasy book to add to your radar.

We follow Jenny Greenteeth, a lake monster of old who saves a witch who was thrown into her pond one fateful day. In order to save Temperance's family and village from the clutches of the evil Erl King, the pair teams up with the Goblin Brackus to find their last hope: The wild hunt and Gwyn ap Nudd. What follows is a quest filled journey but O'Neill's writing shows that the characters are at the heart of this tale.

From the first chapter, I loved the tone. It was refreshing and unique in a way that paid homage to the classic Arthurian legends and their style. I genuinely loved the interactions between Jenny and Temperance and Brackus in that they had to trust each other but not everything went over so smoothly (like any family!). I didn't know the Welsh folklore and creatures of this book but I am so glad I know more about them now. I did *not* see the twist at the end but I appreciate that it made me go "Oh!" I thought it tied things up nicely and showed that places have memory and power! (And if you're an earth scientist like me, I could totally tell that Molly O'Neill is a geologist -- I clocked the "botryoidal iron" part and was like 👀. So Molly if you're reading this, I didn't take that for granite).

I think it's safe to say O'Neill's debut is a satisfying and fresh fantasy read. If you like folklore, interesting characters, and traveling quests with the occasional appearance of The Wild Hunt, I recommend this one. Jenny is not perfect but it's clear that O'Neill intended her main character to grow a lot during the course of the novel. I look forward to reading what she'll write next!

Man, I'm conflicted on this. 3.5/5

The Writing:
Within the first page or 5 of this I was really feeling the promise. Jenny is just so voicey in a way that I really love. And after a year of rather lackluster releases, it was amazing to read a debut that's so well composed!

The Characters:
What O'Neill clearly loves and held in mind first and foremost was the characters. And primarily Jenny, at that. This is a character-driven story and if you don't like the characters and their banter, I'm afraid this won't be the book for you. I truly believe that the author had these characters in mind and crafted a janky story around them to bring them to the page.

Jenny's primary traits are pettiness and curiosity. Imagine Ariel from The Little Mermaid with all her whozits and whatsits... but Jenny has very sharp teeth, a clean cave, and an immaculate collection of skulls. She's not afraid to hold onto a grudge and may even do so with glee.

I think Brackus and Temperance had a lot more characterization in the beginning of the novel when there were moments of playfulness and banter, but were reduced more and more down to just 'hero' or 'martyr' as the quest went on.

The Plot:
What really made me stall out on reading this was when I realized it was just a series of fetch quests for a MacGuffin. That's one of my least favourite tropes in fiction, it makes me want to tear my hair out in video games, and I just wasn't ready to sit through the futility here. In all likeliness, your tolerance is higher than mine (it's hard to get lower, honestly) so this may not be an issue for you.

I also often felt like Jenny was clearly the main character, but her companions weren't given enough to do during their quests. Each one was only accomplished because of Jenny. And ultimately that's not as satisfying for me, especially when the author is trying to create a found family and show how they're stronger together, and when it's repetitive over multiple tasks.

The Setting:
Alright, this one's definitely on me. I had an initial inclination of the type of setting/inspiration this might draw from, but brushed it off and was happy when it seemed to be going in a different direction. I was less happy when it seemed to be focused on witch trials and evil preachers, but thankfully that's not a huge percentage of the book.

Unfortunately the reveal at the end of the book proved my initial inclination to be accurate, and I found that wildly disappointing.
Note: I don't like to spoil these sorts of details in case astute readers like to pick up on it themselves.

Overall:
So I had a real blast in the first 25%-30% of the novel, then a real lack of desire to go on which I eventually persevered through, and finally more of a whimper of an ending. But man, that beginning was such a banger for me and even made me consider creating fanart! There are some bits I really loved and can picture so vividly.

The story is disjointed and I'm not sure how cohesive it is by the end. But it's solid for a debut and I'm interested to see what this author comes out with next.

Thanks to netgalley for a copy of Green teeth in exchange for an honest review!

I enjoyed this one as we met more and more Celtic fae creatures and stories and the take of them in a slightly more modern and yet still historical world than they inhabit in their myths. The main trio of characters did not capture me as much as I would've hoped, nor did the envoke much of an emotional response in any direction from me. But it was still an enjoyable ride and fairly whimsical and fun!

This book was everything I love about cozy fantasy. I read this book all in one day. If you're a fan of the found family trope, this book really delivered on it. It's rare for a book to make me feel like I'm walking right alongside the characters. I felt totally immersed and had such a fun time with this one. They made me laugh, frustrated, worried, happy, proud.. If you're someone who usually doesn't like cozy fantasy because of the lack of stakes, this one kept me more engaged. There was a great mix of wholesome moments, side quests, suspense, and personal development.

I'd love to see this book translated to a cartoon adaptation. It'd be so neat to see Jenny, Brackus, Temperance, Cavall, the high fae, scenery, and side characters come to life in that way. The descriptions were lush and beautiful all around, from the setting, to the food, to character descriptions. There were also lots of fun references to legends and fae. You can tell the author did their research for the folklore and scenery inspiration. I will definitely be paying attention to this author. I can't wait to buy a physical copy when the book comes out.

Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this!! Review will be posted to Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books a Million, Goodreads, and a Tiktok. Will update review with Tiktok link.

Jenny Greenteeth for life, I want to be a lake monster when I grow up.

Wonderful book, so glad I read it. I was hooked after the first few pages but I took my time reading it because I was enjoying it so much (and I cried twice lol). There are a lot of quests our main characters must go on before the climax but it didn’t drag for me at all.

4.5 rounded up. A delightful and whimsical tale, that’s pretty enjoyable from start to finish. We get a strange, entertaining, and unreliable narration voice from Jenny that keeps the book fun even in its troughs. It was leaning more towards four stars, but the end was interesting and surprising enough that my opinion was raised.

Platonic relationships, explorations of darkness and monstrosity, grief, and fairytales. Not completely new or genre-bending, but pushing the boundaries a bit!

Oh I loved this!

Greenteeth's main focus is Jenny Greenteeth. A lower fae who's the caretaker of a lake.

Our story begins when her loooong, peaceful existence is disturbed by a village parson trying to drown a witch in her lake. However Jenny saves the witch and discovers the parson is actually inhabited by a dark creature.

Jenny, the witch, and Jenny's goblin frenemy set out on a quest to find the tools needed to drive out this darkness and save their home.

There's tie ins to the old stories of Arthur and Merlin that just add the the magic of the story.

3.75 stars!

Aw, what a nice treat for a rainy day. The cozy fantasy lovers are going to eat this up for sure!

Greenteeth is the story of a lake monster, a witch, and a goblin on a quest to save a village and the ones they love from a pastor and the inhuman force that inhabits him. This was adorable, of course, and the opening was really strong. I was giggling and enjoying the characters, which are the highlight of the book, but I was reading a story I've read a dozen times before and I really felt like it. There's something to be said for comfort in predictability, but plot-wise this book brings very little novelty. I did really like Jenny, she's a great character. Temperance and Brackis also felt like very well-outlined characters and I enjoyed their interplay and relationships. Admittedly, cozy fantasy tends to fall a little short for me so I'm not surprised that I wasn't wowed, but I think more could have been done to liven up the world or plot. I guessed one of major twists from its first small mention towards the start of the book and that really made the climax fall flat.

If you're the type looking for something comforting and a little predictable, Greenteeth will be a lovely read for you. If you need a little something more to seek your teeth into (much like Jenny herself) I think you might be a disappointed.

Thank you to Molly O'Neill and Orbit for this ARC in exchange for my full, honest review!

Happy reading!