Molly O’Neill has blended Arthurian legends with folklore from the British Isles to create ‘Greenteeth’, a quest narrative featuring a rather unlikely found family.

Narrator Jenny Greenteeth is an ancient swamp beast whose peaceful existence is interrupted when a witch is hurled into her lake.

After saving Temperance from drowning, Jenny soon discovers that the evil force responsible for Temperance’s watery mishap is affecting a whole lot more than the witch’s wellbeing.

The unlikely pair team up with the hobgoblin Brackus to complete a series of tasks from the faerie king. In exchange, the king of the hunt will give them the resources necessary to defeat the evil that’s threatening Temperance and Jenny’s homeland.

Personally, I imagined Jenny as a kind of Gollum-meets-mermaid-from-2003-live-action-Peter-Pan hybrid, which was a whole lot of fun.

The narrative voice is youthful and bouncy but there are some violent scenes and darker themes, so check the content warnings before diving in!

'Greenteeth' will suit your TBR if you're a fan of: cosy fantasy with a dark twist; folk tales; task quests; and found family.

Thank you to @netgalley and @littlebrownbookgroup_uk for the digital ARC!

This book was a bit of a surprise to me, so I've been telling people about it ever since I read it and I hope it does good numbers too now it's out in the world!

The basic premise of Greenteeth is that it's told from the perspective of Jenny, who is a water-fae, living a happy life in her lake. One day that life is interrupted by the sudden appearance of an unexpected addition, namely a young woman (Temperance) who's been bound with chains and thrown into the lake to drown. She is, after all, a witch. Rather than letting Temperance drown, Jenny decides to rescue her and this starts the ball rolling in terms of their quest together to take down the black-clad pastor who tried to kill her and who is also controlling the people of Temperance's village (since he's not what he seems and is decidedly not human himself).

Along the way, Jenny and Temperance run across a wide variety of characters from English and Welsh mythology (the Wild Hunt, Gwyn ap Nud, hobgoblins etc) and both of them are changed by their experiences together. For a first novel, this is a well done piece of work and I can't wait to see what else this author does.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, via Netgalley. This is my honest review of the book in question.

Greenteeth had a lot of buzz and an interesting premise. The cover is appealing and the promise of a potential cozy fantasy sounded great to me. Unfortunately i was left a little dissapointed.

The start where we meet Jenny Greenteeth and the witch she saves is very strong. The idea of this world where there are the witch hunts with fae scattered throughout was appealing. The world of Jenny, who she is and her species, was great to read about.

But once the plot gets going and we head into the fae court where they get 3 quests, things start to meander. It was not compelling to read about, and Jenny and her witch are having an unnessecary and childish tiff throughout it. Even worse, the ending about who Jenny is made me cringe to be honest.  It was too much.

The relationship between Jenny and her witch had a good start as in, it had a lot of potential to grow. But it didn't end up deepening the way i would have liked. It looks like it does, on the surface level, but if you really start critically looking at their interactions, it doesn't go quite as deep.

All in all it didn't even give me the cozy feels. Jenny does not invite that. There is nothing cozy about her, she's a monster as she likes to point out herself. She might make the 'right' choice, but that doesn't make her any less what she is. And there is nothing wrong with that. I'm all about the unapologetic monster. But cozy it is not quite. But cozy fantasy is also a personal feel.

It was a decent read. I can see why it appeals to others.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Orbit for the digital ARC, it has not affected my honest review.

TW: animal death, child death, violence, blood, murder, witch trials

Jenny Greenteeth has a contented, simple life in her lake- she hunts, tidies up and avoids the humans who live nearby- even if she is a terrifying monster with sharp teeth. She’s never spoken to a human, but when a woman is thrown into her lake accused of being a witch, Jenny doesn’t eat her, she saves her. Temperance isn’t sure why her village has turned on her, she’s been a witch and healing woman for most of her life to the people’s benefit. She’s convinced it’s something to do with the passionate new pastor twisting everyone’s minds, even Temperance’s husband and children. Jenny and Temperance team up to go on a quest to defeat the evil that is infecting Jenny’s lake and influencing the village, gathering together a goblin salesman and an enchanted dog to protect the lives of everyone in Britain, whether monster, human or fae.

One of the first things I loved about this book is the really distinct voice that Jenny has, and how because she’s never really associated with humanity before, she has to learn. Her character development is beautiful, she’s very isolated (except for her daughter, who lives in another lake now) and misses companionship. The different faerie races that Jenny, Brackus and Temperance meet on their journey were all so different and realistic, I especially liked how the high fae are perceived by the deeply unimpressed Jenny. I loved how this book wove the myths and legends of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland together. There's a lot of Welsh mythology in this and I learned new stories to read about more. I really enjoyed the way that she and Temperance tried to fix things and how their differences made both of them see the world in another way. This is a sweet, short and cosy book, but it tells a gorgeous story about unlikely friendship, being yourself and protecting what’s right.

"A Witch, a goblin and Jenny Greenteeth are off to seek the King of the Fairies,' he said. 'What a delicious disaster this could be."

GENRE: Cozy Fantasy
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/5
FORMAT: eBook Arc from netGalley

Would I recommend to others?: Yes! This book is perfect for those who enjoy cozy fantasy, found family and folklore! It is cozily eerie and goes on an adventure with three different people to defeat an evil that threatens their village and lake.

Long Review:
Greenteeth by Molly O'Neill is definitely a top read of 2025 for me, with the fact that it combines alot of my favourite tropes: Found Family, historical fantasy, cozy fantasy, witches and other folklores. I had so much fun reading this book and got invested into all of the characters and wanted to know the outcome. It is also a funny book and has many instance where you will be laughing with the characters and at the jokes & the way they maintain each other.

This book follows Jenny Greenteeth, who is a monster in the lake with sharp teeth and is meant to be hungry and consume whatever comes into her lake.
"I've never been quite sure what it is that I am; apart from a Jenny, that is. Jenny Greenteeth, that's my name. And it's my mother's, and her mother's, all the way back upstream to the source of all the rivers and lakes in the country."

We delve into the folklore of Jenny Greenteeth and the style of writing in here definitely captivated me and put me in the mood to read more about Jenny Greenteeth:
"I'm sure your own mother or grandmother told you about Jenny Greenteeths. We make a good story for a winter's night when the wind is howling down the chimney and the fire is casting long shadows on the wall. That's the best kind of night for stories. I bet you liked to curl up with a blanket and listen to tales about the bogeymen, the pixies and the hobgoblins. Jennys belong in fairy stories, and like the other fae creatures, we're more real than your mothers would like to believe."

Additionally, we get to see how Jenny battles with her own feelings about how Temperance views her. This is seen throughout the story, where Jenny states that she is not necessarily bad, but she isn't good either.
"I frowned. That certainly wasn't the lesson I wanted her to learn from our collaboration. I might not have eaten her but I certainly wasn't good. I wasn't bad either, I simply was.

There's bad magic and good magic just like there are bad humans and good humans,' I said, picking my words carefully. 'Most of us low fae aren't either one.'"

However, when Temperance, a witch & a human, is dumped into her lake by her village, Jenny saves her and takes her into her cave. Mind you, Jenny's cave is organised and filled with collectibles she has gathered or bought from a goblin that we get to know, Brackus.
"I like to keep the lake looking neat and tidy. You wouldn't know it from the surface,
but my lake is spotless, with excellent water circulation and the best crop of brown trout in western England."

Obviously Temperance is afraid of her in the beginning, but as they get to know each other, they find out that Temperance was thrown into the lake by an evil pastor. Jenny goes to investigate this and they find out that there is a bigger evil threatening their village & lake so they band together to work against the evil creature.

Jenny is bonded to Temperance in the fact that Temperance is a mother and Jenny has her own daughter, also named Jenny. The way Jenny Greenteeths make daughters are quite interesting:
"Any Jenny can make another Jenny, but it doesnt happen very often. We dont give birth to our own babies. There aren't any male Jennys and frankly the idea of human reproduction makes me feel a bit sick. We make our children from the unwanted offspring of others."

Throughout folklore, there are many instance where unwanted children are turned into creatures and since this is the first time I have heard of Jenny Greenteeth, it was quite interesting to see the same theory apply here.

We also see the flourishing of found family and watch the main characters build a bond throughout the months that they spend together:
"I was surprised at how happy it made me to think of future company. I had always thought I was content to live alone in the lake."


There is a bit of a conflict too (no major spoilers here) that basically shows why different "species" do not mix together as Jenny & Temperance deal with a fall out. Jenny then tries to convince herself that she has been okay for years alone and that she does not need her new companions.
"Well, I didn't need them anyway. I had been doing find on my own for a thousand years, I would do fine again. Maybe I would be gone by the time they came back for me; if they came back at all. people rarely did in my experience - they left and didn't return."

All in all, this book addresses the different tropes and themes in a unique way and yet remains to be cozy fantasy in a lovely way. You'd love it if you enjoy retellings & cozy fantasy together with found family there!

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this eArc in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Orbit Books for providing me with a review copy. Greenteeth recently released, so this is the perfect time to pick it up!

Jenny Greenteeth’s life in her lake is disturbed when a witch is suddenly thrown in. Jenny decides to help Temperance in fighting against the new pastor who is a more dangerous threat than imagined.

This is a faerie story that features many figures from folklore in Britain. I really loved the vibes of this book because it really did feel otherworldly, even outside of the faerie court. It is set in the past, and feels fantastical as well as historical.

I feel like I have a pretty good knowledge of folklore from the British isles, both from general knowledge and from appearances in other fantasy books. However, I’d never heard of Jenny Greenteeth before so it was fun to read about a new figure.

The character of Brackus was a nice surprise. I really loved his personality and seeing him and Jenny gripe at one another with Temperance kind of stuck in the middle. Seeing the friendships and dynamics between the characters was probably my favourite part.

This book was quite fast paced. It was fun to move between different settings, follow parts of a quest, and see the relationships between characters develop. I wish there was a bit more time with the characters at the end to have more of a resolution.

I do think given the nature of threat they faced, the stakes could have been higher. I feel like I understood Temperance’s motivations, but it was so easy to forget about her normal life from before and her family. I also think the book could have just been longer to allow for additional detail and development.

All in all, though, I really enjoyed this. The atmosphere was really engrossing, and Jenny was such a memorable character. It was so interesting to see humanity through the eyes of such a character. This was a great debut and I look forward to seeing what Molly O’Neill does next.

Greenteeth reads like a whimsical fairytale. It’s filled with British folklore and creatures. It has elements of cosy fantasy, like the slower pace, detailed descriptions of nature, and the constant homesickness of main characters, but I wouldn’t call a quest to save one’s family and village low stakes.

The story captured my attention early on. I loved reading about Jenny’s quiet, organised, solitary life and how it was disturbed by the arrival of Temperance. Their friendship and their conversations about love, family and motherhood were my favourite part. Also, I should mention that this novel has no romantic subplot, as the narrative focuses on friendship and family, which is refreshing.

To sum up, I enjoyed this novel and would recommend it to the fans of whimsical fantasy.

Greenteeth is a very interersting blend of folklore, set in a cosy fantasy quest type story.

Personally for me this missed the mark. The characters depsite all being adults (at least 2 of them hundreds if not thousands of years old) acted like children. For that reason I just couldnt connect with them.

The Scottish folklore in it was also very dissapointing as a Scottish person. The inclusion of Flora McDonald was a strange choice as she is a real historical woman, not a folklore myth. Scotland as a whole, but particularly the Isle of Skye, is incredibly rich in folk tales and myths and yet the authors choice for the Scotland segment was a whole lot of midges, rain, and a few Unicorns. It just really let the book down for me honestly.

This was such a good read, it was so beautiful and kept me engrossed. Such a cosy and magical read overall.

If you want something that is sort of in the same vein as Emily Wilde but with a swamp villain as your protagonist instead, then this is for you.

I must confess, I was expecting more lake monster shenanigans and chaotic-neutral mischief than I got, but Greenteeth is a fun and light-hearted cozy-quest novel that dips heavily into British mythology and Arthurian legend. In fact the appearance of a variety of folkloric creatures beyond the standard high-fae is what I loved most about this story. And while Arthurian legend does play a role in the plot, it is thankfully primarily about Jenny. Who cares about the sleeping king, I want swamp hag.

This was a great concept and a solid debut from O’Neill and I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on what she decides to do next. Plus, the cover designer, Leo Nickolls, did a stellar job, this book is beautiful.

SO GOOD. I honestly was sad this was a debut because I immediately wanted to pick up anything else Molly O'Neill might have written. Greenteeth is proper fairytale through and through. I absolutely loved this from beginning to end, what an adventure! 'Emily Wilde' lovers rejoice because Molly O'Neill has given us a gift. I love when the fae are portrayed more realistically in their terrifying and dangerous forms, not particularly friendly to humans, as is passed on in folklore from many different cultures. I love that when I picture Jenny Greenteeth, she would actually shock and scare me on sight, but that's the point...she befriends a human and they go on an endearing adventure and it's not all rainbows and butterflies. It's found family at it's finest. Greenteeth is full of ancient lore and its set across the UK in the 1600s (which becomes relevant to some tie ins you find out toward the end, I thoroughly enjoyed this addition to the story which I did not see coming). Its magical and charming and I genuinely couldn't put it down. My favorite elements were the banter between Jenny and Marsh. And Cavall! He had my heart. I just didn't want the journey to end, but alas maybe we can look forward to a sequel or something equally as magical from O'Neill in the future.

A charmingly monstrous story that is full of magic and even more heart. A story that weaves together an utterly charming tale of fae, folklore and found family. An epic quest riddled with unique characters and poignant friendship, rooted in deep magic and mythology that will live in your mind long after you leave the story behind.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞, 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 𝐔𝐊 | 𝐎𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐯𝐢𝐚 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐛𝐲 𝐌𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐎'𝐍𝐞𝐢𝐥𝐥

I enjoyed this, it was an interesting take on Jenny Greenteeth, who is a lake monster often found in old fairytales and children’s stories. There are wonderful references to traditional British legends and stories of the fae, including the Wild Hunt.
Jenny was great as a morally ambiguous main character, she thinks a lot like a human though which was odd. I loved her friendship with Brackus, the two of them are holdovers from the old days and it’s great to see Jenny realise how important he is.
I really liked the quest aspect, finding the magic needed to defeat evil, and the evil was… really well executed.

It was my first 5 star read of this year. It's overall a light read that might work really well for fans of T. Kingfisher and Someone You Can Build a Nest in by John Wiswell. It has folklore elements and mixes elements of horror with a sense of humor and cozy moments.

I love the trope of looking at the world and humanity through the eyes of what people deem to be a monster, and found family is one of my favorite things in books so it definitely was a story for me. It also has a dog and Kingfisher-like sense of humor.

I'd only say, don't expect a highly convoluted plot or high action, it was more of a light, palate cleanser type of read, reminiscent of a fairy tale for adults,and I very much enjoyed it for that. I started caring for the characters quite a lot and the ending made me tear up.

I'll admit, I might have been hoping for a sapphic storyline, but it wasn't the case - it made me a bit sad but I also appreciate how it was actually done.

I’m a huge fan of T. Kingfisher’s books and am always on the lookout for more fantasy that shares her style. Greenteeth by Molly O’Neil is exactly that - a charming, cosy debut novel that is an absolute delight to read.

This book is told in the first person with Jenny as our narrator. An ancient lake monster who just wants to mind her business, her peace is disturbed when the villagers throw a suspected witch into her waters and she makes an important decision - she saves the witch. This spurns her to leave her lake and send her on a wonderful character arc. I loved seeing her grumpy facade slip as she grew closer to her companions. She is, however, very much not human and this is a theme explored in the story. She is also more than a monster - she has depth of character and I just adored seeing the story through her eyes.

I loved the setting and the world that O’Neil creates in Greenteeth. She works with existing British folklore and weaves a tale of fae and mythology that spans across Britain. Jenny’s lake, the countryside the crew traverse, and the fae creatures are all a delight and so vivid. The addition of some of my favourite tropes - found family and a good old fashion quest - make it a fun, cosy, and compelling tale.

The book slows down a little in the middle and there were some choices with one particular character that I didn’t love, but otherwise Greenteeth is a great cosy fantasy for people like me who want a bit of teeth to go alongside the cosy vibes. If you like T. Kingfisher’s fantasy stories as well as cosy fantasy that still involves limbs being forcibly removed, Greenteeth is the book for you. I can’t wait to see what she writes next!

A lake monster, a witch and a goblin battle the oppressor. Magical quest meets Arthurian legend. Fun. Superficially this is cosy fantasy, but it also has surprisingly sad moments and is deeper than expected, tense and a little scary at times. If you know your way around the folklore and mythology of the British Isles, you might get a clue early on where this is headed, but it didn‘t harm the story telling. I kept me hooked and guessing. Nice mesh with German folklore and myth. A rather shocking event towards the end. Nicely done debut.

I would definitely read more by the author. Thoroughly enjoyable. Found family, female empowerment, unlikely friendship, a cute dog and the fair folk. And musn‘t forget the pike and the underwater scenes.

For the first 40% and 10 chapters I read the ebook and then started to alternate between ebook and audio. Well done audio, I liked the narrator.

Pretty cover!

I received an advanced copy of this book in ebook and audio format from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and I was not required to give a positive review.

Wow, this is a debut?

I adore everything about this book and it is very fitting that it has a blurb by T. Kingfisher on the cover! This novel about a lonely mythical creature, a witch and a merchant who suddenly find themselves in a fight against the Erlkönig (I had to supress a scream because I grew up in a town in Germany where we have a lot of Erlkönig-places). was not only entertaining but also gripping and thoughtful in so many aspects.

I loved how the journey not only involved a way to find a weapon against a strong enemy but also friendship, social cohesion and hardships on the way. Molly O'Neill is able to make her characters relatable and lovable even if they are only on page from time to time (like the king and queen of the faery court) or not at all (like Temperance's husband and children).

Another great part about this book is how folklore and legends are combined, how hints are strewn throughout the story and yet there as a reader I was still very interested in how excactly O'Neill would combine the different throngs of her narrativ. And I wasn't disappointed at all! I knew some time before the ending that something with king Arthur and Merlin has a connection to the story of our unlikely heroes but I wouldn't have guessed Jenny Greenteeths role in it.

With themes of regrets, also about some inactions with regard to the disappearing of magic and magical creatures where handled so well and I will love to read more by Molly O'Neill!

I already ordered myself a copy of the book because I want to have it on my shelves.

Molly O'Neill's debut "Greenteeth" is a carefully crafted exploration of British folklore and mythology, reimagining a feared water spirit as a complex protagonist navigating a magical and challenging adventure. When the lake-dwelling creature Jenny unexpectedly comes to the rescue of a drowning witch named Temperance, a legendary adventure begins, blurring the lines between what it means to be a monster and what it means to be a hero.

Perhaps this book's greatest strength is its detailed world-building, drawing inspiration from British and Welsh traditions. The story comes to us through Jenny Greenteeth, whose monstrous perspective offers you both a sense of danger and deep emotional resonance. The unexpected friendship between Jenny and Temperance is a touching look at how forged connections can overcome even the greatest differences.

It is a great story on the order of The Hobbit (the original), with an unlikely band of friends questing to save the life and land they love. I read it in one long sitting and I was rewarded for my efforts. The story is well-paced and weaves a more complex story than you might expect from the blurb. Without giving any spoilers, if you are a fan of fae lore, Arthurian legends, or other British and Welsh mythology, you should read this book.

"Greenteeth" will enchant anyone looking for fantasy folklore with mythological richness rather than the traditional romantic tale. It will resonate particularly well with fans of T. Kingfisher and those who enjoy magical settings that offer fresh takes on classic tales.

Thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for providing an eARC for my review.

Special thank you to Littl Brown Group / Orbit Books & Netgalleg for letting me emerge myself into this beautiful book ahead of release day !

4.5 / 5

Molly O'Neill's Greenteeth offers a refreshing reinterpretation of the classic legend of the monstrous Jenny Greenteeth, a water hag, said to lurk beneath the surface of ponds and rivers, waiting to drag vulnerable victims - such as children and the elderly —to their watery graves. While retaining Jenny's aquatic origins and solitary nature, O'Neill transforms her from a fearsome predator into a complex, morally ambiguous protagonist that is more relatable than we might want to admit!

In the novel, Jenny's life takes an unexpected turn when she rescues Temperance, a village witch wrongfully condemned by a malevolent pastor. They then embark on a quest to save their beloved village, joined by Brackus the goblin and an adorable pup named Cavall, entering the world of Fae on a level no other mortal has in the last few centuries!

This story is incredibly cosy and definitely met my expectations! I found it easy to visualise the characters and the world-building was beautiful. I couldn't help but think I might be a Jenny deep down! It was humorous, with elements of good banter, and had me giggling under the blanket at times. There was no sense of heavy politics so it is a very easy read which is exactly what I needed.

As someone who isn’t originally from England but have lived here most of her adult life, I enjoyed learning about some Arthurian legends whilst our protagonists were on their big quests. This was also my first time hearing about Jenny Greenteeth and some of the other characters such as Gwyn ap Nupp, which made me really excited to get on with the story and learn something new that I can possibly teach my kids in the future.

Greenteeth is very straight forward and exactly as you would expect it; a creature ends up on a quest with the most unexpected characters and they become friends for life. Come on, who doesn’t love a Found Family trope? I sure do!

I was promised a cozy and delightful book and O'Neill definitely delivered. I would say this is exactly what I was looking for! The folklore background of the story really pulled it all together and overall I had a very great time reading this book. After the beginning of the book I felt like there was a slight lull, but soon after it thankfully picked up again. Would highly recommend this to lovers of cozy fantasy and fantasy creatures embarking on a magical mission!