Greenteeth by Molly O’Neill
An ancient lake creature teams up with a witch in this fresh take on British folklore. Jenny Greenteeth spends her days catching fish and collecting sunken treasures for her underwater cave. When she rescues a witch from drowning in her lake, the two realize they should work together to defeat the ancient evil that threatens the village, Jenny’s lake, and magic everywhere. Together they embark on a quest that takes them across a changing British landscape filled with mythical beasts and remnants of a time when fae folk roamed freely.
Greenteeth’s plot will be familiar to readers of folklore: a treacherous journey to the fairy court, three impossible tasks, magical boons given by a fairy queen. But Molly O’Neill makes even a familiar structure feel unexpected. Jenny’s distinct point of view, rich descriptions of geologic features, and connections to Arthurian legend make Greenteeth feel less like contemporary fantasy and more like The Hobbit: a cozy adventure.
Reviewed by Emma Radosevich, collection development librarian, Whatcom County Library System
(Originally published in Bellingham Alive April 2026 issue.)