Molly O'Neill's Greenteeth was such an unexpected surprise. Jenny Greenteeth lives in a lake in England and has never encountered a human before. That is until one is pushed into her lake. Drawing heavily on folklore, Jenny and Temperance must fight to save England from an assortment of evils that lurk. Funny, heartwarming, and evocative, Greenteeth was a breath of fresh air.

4.25/5
An unlikely trio going on an adventure. That makes you giggle to shedding tears. The writing style is different it's told breaks the barrier and addresses us as a reader. It's very oral storytelling but written that creates this more intimate understanding of the storyteller Jenny. It's a different narrative than most fantasy with her being a "lower fae" and I absolutely enjoyed it. I did find it slow at times but this isn't an action packed story. It includes witches, fae bargains, many magical creatures and is a wonderful combination for a fantasy read. Jenny and her friends are wonderful and great chemistry in their little found family trio. I love how the story just falls together.

Thank you NetGalley and Orbit for the opportunity to read this E-arc. I absolutely enjoyed it!

Thank you net gallery for the advanced copy of this book. I found it a lovely cozy read. It had everything, found family, epic quests, magical creatures and quirky characters. I would definitely recommend this.

Curses on you, cozy fantasy label, for once again leading readers astray. The marketing team did this book a disservice. Sadly, GREENTEETH didn’t go the way I had expected, and I think it’s a bit too high stakes to be called a cozy fantasy. Still, it’s a fairly serviceable traditional fantasy tale involving a quest, found family, and an evil magical enemy.

At first, I was enamored with the story, particularly with Jenny. She was just so entertaining at the beginning, a legendarily dangerous lake monster with an underwater hoard that would give Ariel a run for her money and an insistence upon cleanliness and order. I remember thinking to myself around the 10% mark that if the rest of the story continued in this tone, I would love it and consider it a worthy successor to the Emily Wilde trilogy.

Unfortunately, my adoration for Jenny and interest in the story started to fade as the motley crew began their quest all over the land of the United Kingdom. Jenny and Temperance began to act in ways that were rather petty, unattractive, and not at all charming. This felt like such a 180 from the way in which their characters were set up in the first half of the book that I was disappointed.

The fantasy element of GREENTEETH was relatively straightforward. There were some tie-ins with Arthurian legends that I wasn’t fully on board with, given that they seemed to have been set up, again, too late in the game for me to care.

Overall, GREENTEETH wasn’t a bad story at all, but I would not call it a cozy fantasy. Instead, go into it when you want a classic tale of a noble quest with a ragtag but ultimately lovable group of magical creatures, and you will not be as disappointed as I was.

I love this book! It’s perfect for the spring time and makes you want to sit next to a lake while reading. Feeling the sunshine and water will immerse you into thinking that maybe Greenteeth could exist..

This is a story of friends and found family, of good times and hard times, of trials and tribulations that take trust to overcome. Jenny, Temperance, Brackus, and even Cavall will forever remain with me. The journey to fight for those you love most dearly is perilous but a worthy cause. This book was beautifully written and told a story that will have you going through many different emotions. I couldn’t believe while reading that this is a debut novel. I cannot wait to explore future works by Molly O’Neill.

This story begins with the attempted execution of Temperance who is saved by Jenny. They band together to fight the evil that has moved into the village. They journey all throughout England and into Scotland to complete quest in order to fight the evil. Along the way they find trust and friendship with each other that is surely able to withstand all.. or will it?

I whole heartedly recommend reading this cozy fantasy, specifically in the early spring, and let the story sweep you away. This was simply amazing! The descriptions of food kept me hungry, I recommend keeping a snack or two nearby while reading. Enjoy the story and let the tale take you places you never would’ve imagined.

Final rating: 4.5 stars ✨

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of Greenteeth. I am always truly honored🤍

Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit for the arc to read and review!

Greenteeth was exactly what I was hoping it would be! Based on folklore from England and Wales, Greenteeth is a story of magic, mystery, and love. Jenny Greenteeth is a lake creature who enjoys her solitude in her lake, when a witch is thrown into the lake by the townspeople. Jenny saves Temperance and agrees to help her save her village from a mysterious and malevolent new Pastor. The two unknowingly set off on a quest to defeat the evil, and maybe become friends in the process.

This book was so good! The settings were all beautifully written and immersive. The characters all showed immense growth throughout their journey. The book asks if someone can only be good or evil, or if there are shades of gray in the middle. The folklore in this book was beautiful, the quest was exciting without dragging on, and the plot twists were twisty. I was really excited to read this one and it did not disappoint.

5 Stars.

Well this was a refreshing and unique fantasy book unlike a lot of the fantasy that I have been reading lately. It had elements of fairytales, coziness, found family and a quest that made it so engaging and fun to read. I have never heard of a Jenny Greenteeth and it was fun to learn about this creature from English myths in this story. She was so endearing and the journey she went through was so precious and lovely to see. The found family element in this book was probably my favorite part, I loved their bickering and communication. This was just a lovely book especially if you are looking for a little bit of whimsy and a little bit of scary old world fairy stories with a twist.

Thanks to Netgalley and Orbit Books for granting me access in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely LOVED this story!!! What a wonderful debut novel by Molly O'Neill! On a journey with good friends is the best way to grow as a Jenny!

What an incredible debut by Molly O'Neill - Greenteeth explores what it means to be a monster and takes us on a journey where three outcasts - a Jenny Greenteeth, a witch, and a goblin - work together to defeat the evil Erl King who has infiltrated the small town of Chipping Appleby posing as the local pastor. Their journey is fueled by three quests by the high fae king, Gwyn ap Nudd, and takes inspiration from the Arthurian Legends.

This was such a fun read - the entire story takes place from the perspective of Jenny Greenteeth, who is a low fae guarding the lake near Chipping Appleby. Her world is turned upside down when Temperance Crump is tossed into her lake by the pastor after being called a witch. Jenny decides to save Temperance and the two forge an unlikely friendship as Temperance returns to her full health and tries to save her village. I loved seeing the friendship bloom between Temperance and Jenny and the slow trust building over the course of their adventures. Throughout the story, we see Jenny reckon with her past - both the "monstrous" things she's done and the not so monstrous things, like the love for her daughter. Brackus, the goblin, was also very fun and the bantering and bickering between him and Jenny was great.

I definitely recommend if you need some lightness and a story where the misunderstood become the heroes. Thank you so much to NetGalley and to Orbit Books for the advanced copy.

This loosely falls into “adult fairytale” for me. There’s good and evil with a few gray areas, some rather mythical or imaginary creatures, and a lesson to be learned, Though the story feels as though it took place at some time in the past, there’s much in the lesson that is applicable today. Told from the viewpoint of Jenny Greenteeth, one of those imaginary creatures, the perspective of the story was especially enjoyable for me. I loved that the reader gets to see everything from the way Jenny Greenteeth maintains her home to the inner workings of her mind, dealing with friendships, loyalty and resilience.

Thanks for the ARC.

Greenteeth is a humorous and heartfelt journey through the mythology of the British Isles. Incorporating important figures from Wales, Scotland, Ireland, and England, I could not have enjoyed this found-family quest through the countryside any more. Jenny Greenteeth, resident lake monster at Chipping Appleby, unwittingly rescues a witch that the town has thrown in the lake. When Jenny and Temperance realize that the new parson is even more sinister than he appears, they team up with a variety of local fae - both low and high - to gather materials to defeat the evil presence. From kelpies to King Arthur to the Wild Hunt, all the most renowned myths are sampled here. But what shines the most is Jenny and Temperance's burgeoning friendship and their handling of conflicting interests. Both are mothers, both fighting for their own rights to exist as they are. The nuanced discussion of their natures was executed perfectly. This is a must read from a new voice at Orbit.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for the ARC of Greenteeth! All opinions are my own.

Greenteeth was such a cozy, heart warming fantasy that had me captivated and both gasping and laughing out loud. The unlikely friendships, chosen family, adventure, quests, and conclusion all left me satisfied with this book and also wanting more about the characters that I came to love.

Jenny's internal monologue was both hysterical and frustrating and showed the full depth of her character. Through her perspective, we learned so much about the highs and lows of her existence along with other fae in the world that Molly O'Neill built. After reading more about the folklore of Jenny Greenteeth, I can only love the character that Molly wrote and the depth that she brought. <spoiler>Also big thanks to Molly for not killing off Cavall because I don't think Jenny nor myself would have recovered from that. </spoiler>

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a cozy fantasy with <i>some</i> stakes. The book really moves with the journey, which can be slow paced at times, but reminded me a lot of stories like Ella Enchanted and Labyrinth (which I love).

A cozy fantasy about a lake dwelling monster, fae, and found family! This was a sweet story that has all the cozy monster vibes and found family adventure you could imagine. It's an easy read and follows the story of a lake monster who encounters a witch thrown into her lake... and instead of eating her, decides to save her... and so begins their magical journey together as they save Jenny's lake and the the whole of Britain! This wasn't a bad book but it just felt a little boring and I got a little lost, however it was a nice cozy read and one I would absolutely recommend to others.

Release Date: February 25, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Orbit Books | Orbit for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Jenny Greenteeth has been the caretaker of her lake for millenia, she has never spoken to a human, only observed them from under the water's surface. One day a woman is thrown into her lake shackled and left to drown. Jenny takes a chance and saves the woman who turns out to be a witch who the people of her town for her supposed "crimes" tried to kill. They both end up teaming up to defeat the evil that has now plagued the town in the form of a pastor that has mysteriously showed up to rid the town of evil, but in reality he is an ancient evil that is a threat to all existence.

This book was truly so fascinating, it drew on myths and legends I had never heard of. British and Welsh folktales that were so interesting I was so pulled into the story. This book had a band of misfits at its core, going through trials to be able to defeat the evil and I was in it from page one. The characters were flawed, and vastly different but they all found a way to connect and work as a team. Friendship was the core of this story, and understanding those that are different from you and finding common ground. I loved the emphasis of nature and keeping harmony with it, and exploring belief systems. Overall it was a wonderful book and I very much enjoyed the experience.

There are 2 reasons to read this book: you either like lush, atmospheric, descriptive narration or you like rustic nostalgic cozy vibes. Unfortunately, I'm a fan of neither, so any appeal this book has was lost upon me.

How do you manage to make a team consisting of a witch, a lake hag and a greedy goblin more bland and boring than a team consisting of only humans? In the opening chapters Jenny felt more outlandish and baffled by human behavior, but as the story progressed the hints she's not a human and doesn't think as one became more sparse. Yes, she's thousands years old, yes, she sometimes runs on all fours or likes to eat carrion, but these became frills rather than central to her way of thinking and presenting the story (she's the 1st person narrator here).

It had all the common weaknesses of a cozy: everyone's nice and kind at heart despite their quirks, except some remote cartoon villain they need to defeat as the end goal of the story. This creates a fairly boring, predictable good vs evil story. The stakes seem removed from the protagonists who prance around on some fetch quests. The solutions are breadcrumbed and served on a silver platter. Oh, we need spell reagents? We just have a convenient goblin merchant to sell them. Oh, now we need to ask a fae king for help? We just conveniently know the means to find him. And then the fae king gives them the first of the three tasks to fulfill where they immediately jump from clueless to a random haphazard plan and I had zero interest to see them go paint-by-numbers through 3 random tasks.

The book is short enough there's no space for any complication to throw a significant wrench into the cogs, but also I was forcing myself to read at least a page here a page there and my eyes were glazing. Half of it is Jenny's random ramblings or extended descriptions of the environment.

Objectively, there's "nothing wrong" with the book. The characters are likeable, the prose is voicey, the plot objective is clear (save your home from a villain), the characters are progressing towards the goal in a proactive manner. It's just boring. Or really not for me. Give me humor, give me drama, give me tension, give me morally grey characters, pique my interest to turn the page.

But, alas, I don't think that's the goal of cozy fantasy, ultimately. Cozy isn't supposed to shock, upset, irritate or thrill the reader, but rather give a comfy narrative of likeable characters working towards a commendable goal and achieving it without much suffering or sacrifice.

Verdict: if you like cozy fantasy with British mythology, quaint villages, vivid descriptions of nature, and rag tag team / found family vibes, you'd most likely enjoy this one. For me, it was a pass.

Thank you NetGalley and Orbit Books for the ARC.

I didn't know what to expect going into this book. Jenny Greenteeth is a loner, living in a lake and spending her day, weeks, years doing mundane tasks to spend her time on. Then a local witch is thrown into her lake by the townspeople and the trajectory of her life totally changes. Add in a goblin and a goofy fae dog, and you have a great story revolving around this strange group. I loved this book. 5*

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and Orbit Books for the digital ARC of “Greenteeth” by Molly O’Neill!

If you're looking for a cozy adventure populated with the Fae creatures of the British isles, then “Greenteeth” by Molly O’Neill is the book for you! Jenny Greenteeth is a solitary creature and has lived comfortably in her humble lake for an age, taking little interest in the politics of other Fae or the dramas of the nearby village. That is until the day the villagers rudely dropped a witch called Temperance into her lake on the orders of the new pastor who’s come to town. Jenny and Temperance form a friendship and with the help of a hobgoblin tinker named Brackus they must work together to save Temperance’s husband and children, the village, and all of Britain from the supernatural threat that has come to their shores. Jenny Greenteeth is an entertaining narrator with a gruff exterior and kind heart. I especially enjoyed the friendships of the unlikely heroes. Jenny and Temperance connect as mothers, as outsiders, and grow as people through their friendship. Jenny and Brackus are so sweet, Jenny grouses and grumbles about Brackus’ theatrics but after a very long friendship they know they can depend on each other. The plot is a good old traditional quest, and there’s plenty of interesting mythology encountered along the way. “Greenteeth” is definitely worth picking up if you’re in the mood for a fantasy book that is equal parts an adventure and a journey of healing the heart with a found family.

Greenteeth was ... okay. It reminded me a lot of SOMEONE YOU CAN BUILD A NEST IN, and I particularly enjoyed seeing Jenny's little world (the cavern, the pond) through her gently monstrous eyes. Unfortunately, much of the 'main' adventure seemed to drag, and I found myself unable to focus or connect with most of the secondary characters. I can't quite put my finger on why. But it's a lovely tale nevertheless, and I'm sure it will resonate with the right readers, especially those who enjoy cozy fantasy.

I love folklore and this was a great exploration of faeries both scary and delightful. The writing was lovely, but the pace was a bit slower than I personally prefer, but overall, I liked it and recommended it to our acquisitions librarian.

fae folklore -- -- found family -- -- arthurian vibes --

Listen, I enjoy the occasional sexy, anthropomophised fae allà Rhysand and the like, but when it comes down to it, sometimes a girl just wants to read about the type of faeries her ancestors left out bowls of milk to appease.

If you grew up watching 'Labyrinth' this is the book for you. From the courtly high fae to the whimsical and wild lower fae, O'Neill spins a terrific narrative perfect for fans of T. Kingfisher, Travis Baldree and Holly Black.

Jenny Greenteeth, sharp-toothed water-dwelling guardian of the lake by the small town of Chipping Appleby likes to keep her own company and mind her own business (which happens to be the kind of diligent house, err, *lake*keeping that most of us can only aspire to).

When a witch from the village is thrown into her lake, Jenny has to make a choice to follow these ripples in her usually calm waters or to let things be.

What follows is a rollicking adventure of found family. Set against the backdrop of a beautifully realised and wild historic Britain where the last vestiges of paganism are only just clinging on, O'Neill manages to capture the melancholy of passing time while still maintaining pace and humour.

I thoroughly enjoyed travelling along with these characters. O'Neill keeps the tone light enough to feel playful, but balances this well with stakes that feel real. Overall, a big fan of her writing.

My only small quibble would be that I would've liked slightly more exposition toward the end of the novel. The lore builds to such a point that the resolution feels cramped in the confines of such a whimsically structured tale. I can only hope that this is deliberately done and that she intends to grace us with more adventures in this world. Certainly not a bad thing at all!

You should read this book.