Greenteeth by Molly O’Neill

Book Review

Martin Willoughby

This was a pleasant surprise. Written from the perspective of Jenny Greenteeth, an ancient fae who lives in an old lake, the story takes us through some of the myths and legends of old Britain with some style.

The tale starts with Jenny swimming round her lake, hidden from humans, when she notices a witch slowly drowning despite her ability to breathe using a spell. Instead of eating her, Jenny takes pity on the woman and takes the witch to her cave, where she cares for her. After some initial hesitation, the witch, Charity, tells Jenny the new Pastor has cast her out after discovering she was a witch and in good old-fashioned Puritan style, has her drowned.

Together they concoct a plan to rid the village of this new Pastor by casting a large spell. That’s when they discover that all is not well and the Pastor is not who they thought. Barely surviving, the two of them work out a new plan which has them walk through the lands of ancient legends to gain the help they need for the final confrontation. Still, they find another surprise that nearly kills them.

This book could easily have degenerated into a bad historical novelisation of British myth and legend, but doesn’t. For those of us who have only a passing familiarity with the ancient tales, there is enough to spark a curiosity, but not so much that the tale drags on under a wealth of detail. The characterisation is excellent as is the world building. As trite as it is to say you feel as though they and the world seem to exist, it is mostly true here. The parts where they walk through the land of the fae are detailed enough to visualise but not overwhelming. It was one of the impressive things about this novel.

At the end, Jenny has to make a decision about her present and future, then rediscovers who she was, and what she is capable of doing.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable tale, well written and highly recommended, especially for those who like tales of Albion.