GREENTEETH

An unlikely trio sets out on an epic quest to defeat an ancient evil in O’Neill’s debut.

Jenny Greenteeth isn’t a hag, thank you very much, she’s a Jenny! Jennies are water-dwelling magical creatures who all have green skin; long, sharp teeth; and the name “Jenny Greenteeth.” Our Jenny lives in the lake at Chipping Appleby and is quite content keeping her lake neat, eating small creatures, and keeping to herself. But when Temperance Crump is tossed into the lake, sentenced to death for being a witch, Jenny decides to rescue her rather than eat her. Jenny takes Temperance to a hidden cave where she dries out and, after getting over her alarm at meeting a fae creature, tells Jenny her story. Temperance was living happily as the village “cunning woman” when a new parson came to town. This parson whipped up witch fever in the townspeople, and it didn’t take much for them to chain her up and toss her in the lake for her “crimes.” Jenny, who has a daughter of her own (“Little Jenny,” of course), sympathizes with Temperance’s despair at being separated from her husband and two small children and offers to help her cast a spell that will make the whole village forget she was ever a witch, much less executed for her craft. A hobgoblin named Brackus helps Jenny and Temperance find what they need for the spell, but when Temperance attempts to cast it, they learn that the new parson is actually an ancient evil, the Erl King, who could threaten all the magical and mortal creatures of Great Britain. The three of them set off on a noble quest to defeat the Erl King, and on their way, they meet all manner of enchanting and magical creatures and places. But best of all, O’Neill’s story of friendship, family, and perseverance is so sweetly written that even her finely drawn fairy world and excellent plotting take a backseat to the growing bonds among her unlikely heroes.

Full of magic, but even more heart.