This is one of those books that I didn’t know much about going in, and I hadn’t heard the old folk tale about Jenny Greenteeth, so really had no idea what to expect! Turns out I loved it - it’s one of those great fantasy novels where a cast of rag tag characters go on an epic quest together, so I never had a chance to get bored. Plus I really liked all of our main characters and the way they became friends as the book progressed!

The audio narration was excellent so I’d definitely recommend it, and would happily read more by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for an eARC (is there an alternative term for an audiobook??) in return for an honest review.

The blurb gives a very good indication of what type of story this will be. This was a fun and engaging adventure story, steeped in British mythology. I appreciated that the protagonist didn't become humanised as we went (she remained her true monstrous self), and I enjoyed the various shenanigans that she and her sidekicks got up to. The descriptions of setting are beautiful and I enjoyed the weaving in of traditional folklore alongside the original aspects of the story. The narrator made good use of her accents to differentiate the different characters, and had nice pacing and delivery.

Jenny Greenteeth is quite happy in her lake and has been for hundreds of years, thanks very much. There’s her carp for company, the occasional animal or human treat if they happen to fall in, and her treasures. It’s amazing what people throw away, from beer bottles to a rather lovely sword.

So when she comes across a woman sat at the bottom of the lake, clearly a witch, given the air bubbles she’s conjuring up, Jenny surprises herself by rescuing the woman and taking her to her cave. She surprises herself even more when she finds herself offering to help Temperance Crump get back to her family. It soon appears however that things aren’t as they seem with the new pastor and the pair, along with goblin Brackus, on a quest to face a foe that could destroy them all.

I was caught by the story from the first page. There’s a lovely warmth to Jenny, used to her ways and being alone. The arrival of Temperance makes her realise she does actually like company. She comes to appreciate friends and that working with others for a greater good is something she’s good at.

The trio are all different. Temperance is kindly by nature, using her magical gifts to cure and heal. Brackish is wily, using his nature to make a living, selling and trading with magical folk. Jenny is solitary, keep to her lake, taking care of it and herself for centuries. The three soon learn there is more to the world than they realise and that they are all capable of more than they imagined.

This is a tale of adventure for there are three tasks they must face before they can take on the pastor, who is also more than he seems. They travel to the fair lands, from the village to Wales and the highlands of Scotland, coming into contact with the magical history of the island.

I listened to this on audio. The narrator matched the story perfectly. I was immediately drawn to the characters and the feeling of being read a very good story. I couldn’t ask for more from an audiobook.

Greenteeth is a story of the battle against evil, myths and legends, friendship and love. It’s funny, moving, engaging and highly entertaining.

I loved this audiobook, reminded me of one of my favourite series, Emily Wilde. Jenny Greenteeth voice is captured so well and so entertaining. I am not normal a fan of travelling in a book but I really enjoyed this.

This book made me laugh at times and made me sad and I was thinking about it long after I finished it.

I enjoyed this book a lot. The story was fun and the narrator was excellent. It was a good production and one I would listen to again.

I would have liked Jenny to be a bit more feral. She was portrayed with a lot of humanity. I liked the character as she was. With her well-ordered lake, she had her charm, but I just wanted something different out of the book.

I liked the other characters too. I liked the adventure they went on and the quest format of the book. It very much reminded me of a fairy story of old, with them having to fulfil three tasks before they could get the help they needed.

It was a really good book, not what I wanted from it, but I still enjoyed it a lot.

Greenteeth is an atmospheric standalone fantasy story set in the heart of the English countryside, in a lake (well, mostly). It revolves around a Jenny - a faerie creature that lives in lakes, ponds and streams and feels more horror-movie than fairytale.
I enjoyed the quest side of the story and the found family who band together to do what needs to be done. The narration was brilliant, the voices for all the characters so clear-cut and well acted, it really added to the experience of the story.
I would say that it felt to me as if it straddled a strange middle-ground between middle-grade and YA. The themes are perhaps a little dark for it to fit properly in children’s literature, but the style felt at some times a bit juvenile and more suited to that age-range.
I have to say, I found the reveal a bit groan-worthy, although I admired the way the story was told to withhold the twist to the last moments. I actually went back and re-listened to the last couple of chapters to spot how I could have missed it. It was very clever!
All in all a solid story, though the pacing was a little lacking particularly during the second and third tasks, which seemed to drag a little.

This book is for everyone who loves a quest narrative. It's heartwarming and adventure filled romp of a read with goblins, witches, faeries, nymphs and a whole host of fantastical creatures.

If you've enjoyed the likes of Nettle and Bone and Til Dead Do Us Bard, I highly recommend this one!

A cosyvadjacent fantasy replete with Celtic folklore as magic clashes with impending modernity. Jenny Greenteeth - monstrous lake fae - is minding her own business when a young witch is thrown into her lake. Thus begins a tale of hilarity, friendship and dealing with loss as with goblin, Braccus, thecthree set off on a quest tp save Chipping Appleby. Loved this and read it in 2 sittings.

A great fantasy novel filled with edge of the seat thrills and heart warming friendships.

Jenny Greenteeth has lived in her lake in Chipping Appleby for longer than any human can remember. A water spirit, she keeps to herself and seems content tending to her lake and keeping humans away. When her tranquility is disturbed by a witch trial, little does she realise what her actions will expose her too.

Temperance is a resident and healing woman of Chipping Appleby, as her mother and mother's family have been for generations. When the new pastor takes against her and decries her as a witch, her dunking in the lake seems to be the end. Saved by Jenny, she comes up close to the magical world (and its peoples) most humans have forgotten, pitting her wits and belief to the test in a quest for survival.

The audiobook copy I was given access to by Netgalley was expertly narrated, with each character having their own distinct voice and mannerisms, adding delightful colour and texture.

Quickly centering on the unlikely friendship of Jenny and Temperance, we see how their similarities and differences strengthen this bond as they undertake the battle to end all battles.

Greenteeth is a wonderfully cozy historical fantasy, perfect for readers who enjoy folklore-rich storytelling. The novel weaves mythology and legend into an atmospheric tale that kept me engaged throughout.
The story follows Jenny, who stumbles upon a witch being drowned in her lake. As tensions rise in their village with the arrival of a new pastor, Jenny and the witch must embark on a journey to protect their home.
I particularly enjoyed the author's vivid descriptions of nature, which added to the immersive, almost dreamlike quality of the book. It also introduced me to aspects of British mythology I hadn't encountered before, making it both an entertaining and enlightening read.

I want to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me access to an advanced copy of this book.


Greenteeth was a gripping yet cozy story following three unlikely travel companions going off quests to be able to defeat evil forces that have taken over their town. The prose was perfect and interesting. The plot, the characters, and their struggles kept the audience interested and the flow smooth. What I really loved about this novel, was the intricacies of relationships. The author delved so deep into different types of platonic love with the least amount of overtness. The ups and downs in relationships were properly addressed and the consequences of these relationships on the plot and its twist was also quite interesting. Characters showed both faults and virtues and they grew and learned through the course of the story.

If you enjoy fantasy, heroic tales, and fae creatures and courts, this book is for you. Enjoy this perfect balance of adventurous and heartwarming storytelling.

solid 4 ⭐ read

the vibes were immaculate, I honestly enjoyed reading / listening to this book. Jenny's character arc was written really well, and the little pieces of Arthurian legend sprinkled here and there were just the cherry on top.

Thi<I>is</I> heartwarming and cozy, but it has a lot more action than your average cozy fantasy book, and for that I am grateful.

Jenny Greenteeth is our narrator, and from the get go I enjoyed reading from the monster's POV. When Temperance, Chipping Applebee's local witch is chucked into Jenny's lake, Jenny doesn't quite know what to do with her. She decides against eating her, and is then stuck with a witch who is supposed to be dead and is desperate to get back to her family. Things aren't quite what they seem in the village and Jenny and Temperance end up on a quest to save everyone. Along the way they make friends with a Goblin, a great big dog, some of the high Fae and a variety of British folklore creatures. Their journey takes them all across England, Scotland and Wales.

Catrin-Walker Booth did a fabulous job of the narration - bringing each character to life with a solid rendition of the regional accents (and I'm picky about Scottish accents!).

If you like TJ Klune's books you will probably love this.

Thank you to Netgalley and Hatchette UK audio/Little Brown Audio for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Jenny Greenteeth is a mythical water creature that rarely engages with humans. The moment the local villagers decide to drown a witch in her lake, she has to change. The initial objective of returning the witch Temperance to her family evolves into a deeper commitment to defend the village, Jenny's lake, and potentially all of Britain from a malevolent mythical entity.
The characterization of the mythical creatures was remarkable, particularly that of Jenny. I greatly appreciated her as a character; her bewilderment towards the world was conveyed with such endearing detail. The portrayal of Jenny and the Fae at court exuded a captivating sense of otherworldliness and monstrosity, contributing to a rich atmosphere of ancient, disconnected myths throughout the narrative.
While the character development and the friendship between the two women were well executed. Sadly, it felt like all the other characters and relationships lacked depth. Overall, I found the book to be quite enjoyable, particularly due to its themes of female friendship and motherhood.
I am eagerly looking forward to reading the next book by Molly O'Neill. Her work demonstrates a profound understanding and appreciation of folklore, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in myth retellings or fantasy with more relatable stakes.

This book was very enjoyable. I especially appreciated as a British reader how the landscape and folklore of the British Isles was incorporated into the story.

The characters were likable and the villain felt genuinely ominous. The story adhered to the traditions within the fantasy and fae genres, at times perhaps a little too closely. My one criticism is that some of the twists in the story were easy to guess as a reader very familiar with this genre.

The motivations of the Faye Queen were not particularly clear given that the fae have a reputation for being cruel and uncaring. I’m not sure why they gave the group the dog, but he was adorable and really nicely written, he added a lot of fun elements to the story. The dog and Jenny’s personality (eating rotten fish and generally lacking self awareness) meant that there was some nice comic relief, without the jokes being overworked or two on the nose which I really enjoyed. I often find fantasy books really belabour jokes at the cost of the story, this book did not do that and really benefited as a result.

I didn’t feel that there was a lot of literary analysis that could be applied (for example feminist or Marxist readings), so it feels like quite a light hearted read. There didn’t seem to be a lot of deep subtext or symbolism happening. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, this book was a really fun cozy, recreational experience.

I would absolutely recommend it to readers who enjoy stories based on folklore stories with female protagonists and stories involving fae legends.

The narration of the audiobook was excellent and all of the characters had a clear voice and personality, the pacing was very good and it was very professionally produced I found listening to this audiobook very pleasurable experience and the narrator suited the text wonderfully.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to enjoy this audiobook and review it via NetGalley.

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.

This was an absolute pleasure of an audiobook. I loved how an anti-hero became the main story of a quest and the travelling around the British Isles with beautiful folklore woven in was presented. I loved it. The narrator was great too.

Many thanks to Hachette UK Audio, Little Brown Audio, and Molly O’Neill for the advanced audio copy of Greenteeth via NetGalley, in return for my honest and unbiased review. Quick note: I don’t recap plots in my reviews, as it’s easy enough to read the book’s synopsis and blurbs, I purely focus on my feelings & opinions of how the books makes me feel.
Greenteeth was a lovely, richly woven narrative of British folklore and fantasy. Rather than using the popular, well-known tales, O’Neill has explored the lesser known myths and legends of England, Wales, and Scotland and then used small excerpts of lots of them to make one cohesive story – and she has done it well.
The story is one of loss and sadness, bitterness and mystery. It will particularly be enjoyed by those with an interest in folklore, but will also perhaps appeal to those with strong parental feelings.
I enjoyed Catrin Walker-Booth’s narration greatly and will definitely be seeking out her work in future.
Moods: adventurous, challenging, dark, emotional, mysterious, reflective, sad, tense
Tropes: folklore/myth retelling
Pace: medium
Character development: medium
Plot or character driven: plot
Diversity: high
Spice: 0/5
Trigger warnings: Blood/Gore, Death, Death of a family member, Physical or mental abuse, Violence
Rating
Story: 4/5
Audio: 5/5

What happens when a hedgewitch, a hobgoblin, and a lake guardian enter a faerie court? This was a delightful fairtale in which our characters are sent on a quest to save their village. This story is slow paced, and it doesn’t reach many points of high tension. An enjoyable read for those who favour atmospheric stories, over action and pace.

It’s beautifully written, capturing so much British folklore. The audiobook narrator, Catrin Walker-Booth, does a brilliant job capturing each character’s voice and bringing the story alive.

Oddly, while reading this book, I was struck for the first time by how much I’d have preferred it to have been written in third (rather than first) person. For the first half of the book, it felt as though our main character was Temperance rather than Jenny, as we gained little insight into Jenny’s thoughts from a first person perspective. It almost felt that Jenny was a narrator of someone else’s story, and I found that I kept have to remind myself who’s mind we were in. Jenny Greenteeth came into her own in the last third, bringing the story to a much more satisfying close!

A story of friendship, overcoming pride and grief, and working to a common goal. I absolutely recommend it to anyone after a warm, comforting read!

A warm thank you to Hachette UK Audio, Little, Brown Audio, and NetGalley for sending me an Advanced Reader Copy of this book for an honest review.

What starts as the slightest ripple in a pond somewhere in mystical-mythical England takes on a life of its own and starts to ripple and flow to reach the sea and rather epic proportions.

Loved the non-human main character and the companions she finds on her quest. And what a quest it is. It takes the reader to places, some imagined, some taken from myth and folklore and creates a retelling that is very satisfying and an enjoyable read from beginning to end.

I listened to the audiobook received from the publisher and found the narration top notch and very well done.