Greenteeth

Jenny Greenteeth doesn’t have green teeth, but she does have a lot of them, and they are very sharp. I didn’t think I’d ever encounter a super cozy morally grey character, but here we are.

The first 30% of Greenteeth felt like a nice, cozy fantasy. I found Jenny’s cluelessness about humans both funny and endearing and the addition of Brackus the goblin to the group provided some great banter. But once they set out on their quest, things went a little downhill for me.

Temperance, Brackus, and Jenny visited some amazing locations, but they had to walk to get to them and even with a bit of time skipping (for example “it took us a week to travel from A to Z”), it dragged. I’m quick to DNF when I’m not enjoying a book. I kept reading Greenteeth because I truly was invested in the plot and enjoyed the action (there was more than I expected!) but those stretches of travel made me wonder if I was making the right choice. I look longer than usual to finish the book because I had trouble feeling motivated to read through those parts.

Ultimately, I’m glad I persevered because apart from the travel, I did enjoy the book. I love the folklore, the fairy court, and the evolution of the relationships between Brackus, Jenny, and Temperance. Witnessing Jenny’s growth was especially fun, though I’m not gonna lie: I was a little disappointed at how quickly she outgrew her eager cluelessness from the first chapter. Overall a good read, even with what I felt was uneven pacing.

I received an ARC of Greenteeth from Orbit Books via Netgalley.

Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit for providing me with a copy of this book! I voluntarily leave this review!

Jenny Greenteeth lives a relatively peaceful life. She keeps a tidy lake and shares meals with her pet pike. When a witch is thrown into her lake, she has to decide between eating the woman or saving her. Choosing to save Temperance, Jenny finds a bereft woman whose village has turned against her. But that is only the start. The new pastor has devious plans for fae and humans alike.

Jenny Greenteeth’s cranky older woman vibes are hilarious. When she finds herself questing with Temperance the hedge witch and Brackus the goblin hijinks ensue. The three will have to face their prejudices and biases to work together. Though they are unlikely allies, and they bicker back and forth, the trio will form quite a bond throughout the novel. Their developing friendships will foster heartwarming moments to counterbalance the darker ones readers will encounter.

Molly O’Neill is a master at hiding key details. There will be twists in store, both heartbreaking and advantageous ones. The story will evolve from being centered on Jenny’s lake and Temperance’s village, into a quest that encompasses Welsh lore and mythical creatures. There may even be some legends tied in that are hinted at in small bits at the very beginning of the story. Each piece of the world-building brought together over time creates an alluring tale of a found family and the quest to save those they love and hold dear.

The allure of the fae will always pull me into trying a novel, and Greenteeth did not disappoint. With the wonderful balance of cozy vibes and dark fantasy, this novel kept me riveted right to the end. Readers who enjoy the themes of found family and quests for the greater good need to read Greenteeth.

Jenny Greenteeth is my favorite monstrous heroine!