Greenteeth by Molly O’Neill is a delightful cozy read!

Synopsis

From an outstanding new voice in cozy fantasy comes Greenteeth, “a joyful, warm-hearted” (H. G. Parry) tale of fae, folklore, and found family, narrated by a charismatic lake-dwelling monster with a voice unlike any other, perfect for fans of T. Kingfisher.

Beneath the still surface of a lake lurks a monster with needle sharp teeth. Hungry and ready to pounce.

Jenny Greenteeth has never spoken to a human before, but when a witch is thrown into her lake, something makes Jenny decide she’s worth saving. Temperance doesn’t know why her village has suddenly turned against her, only that it has something to do with the malevolent new pastor.

Though they have nothing in common, these two must band together on a magical quest to defeat the evil that threatens Jenny’s lake and Temperance’s family, as well as the very soul of Britain.

★“[Greenteeth] is full of magic that is rich, mysterious, and exciting, and Jenny Greenteeth is a morally grey, delightfully monstrous protagonist that fantasy readers are bound to fall in love with.” – Booklist (Starred Review) 

Review

ALL THE STARS!

I was lucky to get an advanced reading copy from Orbit Books but it has no influence on my review. I just happen to absolutely adore that book!

Let’s try to write a somewhat coherent review (that’s always difficult for books I fell totally in love with because I tend to gush a lot! Apologies if I do it here..)

The plot.

What is Greenteeth about? Essentially it’s a cozy story about banding together in the most unexpected circumstances to fight evil, creating lasting friendship bonds in the process and finding a new family.

The protagonists should never have been able to work together, being from different species but danger is a great motivator! Soon they will embark on a quest to fight back the villain lurking in the shadows.

The characters.

The book is told from a single POV, even if we have two/three main characters: Jenny Greenteeth point of view.

You are going to love Jenny Greenteeth, even if she essentially is a monster in appearance (she eats kittens people throw in her lake). I was charmed by Jenny from the very first lines!

Jenny is a …well a Jenny, a being all green with humanoid form and living in a lake. She is tasked with the upkeep of the lake and has lived for many centuries now. Jenny is the story parents write for children to behave, the monster living in the lake.

Aside from the occasional visit of Brackus Marsh, a goblin peddler, she is quite lonely, having lost friends to the slow decay of time.

Temperance is the second main character.

Temperance is a witch, taking care of the villagers with small spells but the arrival of a new pastor ends up with the villagers turning against her and Temperance is thrown, manacled, into Jenny’s lake.

Of course she is frightened by Jenny’s appearance and her double row of razor sharp teeth but soon enough, they will band to fight back and take control of the lake and the village again.

Temperance is courageous and desperate to save her husband and children from the evil now reigning in their village.

It’s Temperance’s courage and determination that will inspire Jenny to help.

Our third main character is precisely the goblin, Brackus, who wishes to help because Jenny is one of his last friends. Unassuming, he will prove brave and resourceful.

Oh and I nearly forgot a loyal and courageous dog Cavall, who will save the day more than once!

What I loved (let’s go for bullet point else the review will be so long!):

-the unexpected alliance and friendship;

-the found family;

-Jenny’s character and her wanting to “slay a dragon and save a damsel”;

-the quest! I love a good quest and you will have tests to pass demanding bravery, intelligence, intuition and audacity;

-the writing! It’s beautiful, vivid and enthralling;

-the lore and legends evoked in the story;

-that we have a true evil villain;

-the action and the surprises, we have a big twist at the end!

I will just say that if you loved The Spellshop, Legends & Latte or even Lord of the Ring (with unassuming characters winning the day and saving the world), this would be the perfect fantasy read for you! It’s cozy, charming, humorous, adventurous and well written!

I already know that Molly O’Neill has won a new fan.

Thanks for reading.

Sophie