Greenteeth by Molly O’Neill Summary, Characters and Themes

Greenteeth by Molly O’Neill is a historical fantasy that reimagines English folklore through a lens of resistance, redemption, and the power of unlikely friendship.

Set in 17th-century England, it follows Jenny Greenteeth, a solitary fae water-creature, and Temperance Crump, a wrongly accused witch. Their alliance begins with a rescue and grows into a revolution against fear, cruelty, and patriarchal tyranny. With rich prose and evocative themes of magic, memory, and transformation, Greenteeth is both a folklore revival and a feminist retelling.

Summary

In the still waters of an old English lake lives Jenny Greenteeth, a fae creature from folklore known to locals as a monster who drowns the unwary.

She spends her days cleaning her lake, reflecting on the ignorance of humans, and remembering lost things.

Her lonely existence is interrupted when a young woman is thrown into her lake, bound in iron shackles.

Expecting dead animals, Jenny instead finds Temperance Crump, a cunning woman accused of witchcraft by her village.

Against her own instincts, Jenny saves her—reviving not just the girl but something buried in herself.

Temperance is wary, afraid Jenny will drown her after all, but quickly realizes the creature is not cruel.

As she recovers, she tells Jenny her story: once a healer and respected villager in Chipping Appleby, her life was shattered by the arrival of Pastor Asa Braddock.

He is a fire-and-brimstone preacher who turns the town against “witches.”

Fueled by fear, jealousy, and ambition, the villagers—including the bitter Hezekiah Bone—accuse her of witchcraft.

Her husband, Benedict, is publicly punished for defending her.

Temperance is shackled and thrown into the lake during a witch trial by water.

Now alive and hidden, Temperance bonds with Jenny, who offers her sanctuary and gold—treasures gathered from centuries of lake offerings.

Temperance initially tries to flee to Oxford but returns, compelled by fear for her children.

She and Jenny decide to fight back, using cunning and magic to reclaim what was taken.

Jenny teaches her fae magic rooted in water and memory, and their friendship deepens.

Temperance, disguised with Jenny’s glamours, begins haunting the village, pretending to be her own ghost.

This terrifies the villagers and weakens Braddock’s authority.

Jenny and Temperance sabotage his sermons and twist the symbols of his power.

Hezekiah, broken and afraid, reveals that Braddock manipulated the villagers and faked divine visions to secure control.

He agrees to testify.

The pair mount a nighttime rescue.

They sneak into the village, free Benedict from the stocks, and reclaim the children from Hezekiah’s barn.

Jenny unleashes the terrifying beauty of water-magic to scatter their pursuers.

The reunited family hides in a grove near the Caerlee River, which Jenny wards with ancient protections.

For the first time, they rest.

Benedict admits he once doubted his wife’s innocence, but now sees the truth.

It was never about witchcraft—it was about power and fear.

With his full support, Temperance prepares for a final confrontation.

She calls a village gathering and openly accuses Braddock, backed by Hezekiah’s confession.

Braddock tries to perform an exorcism, but his magic fails spectacularly—undermined by Jenny’s unseen hand.

At the climax, Jenny rises from the lake, awe-inspiring and terrifying.

The villagers fall into silence, and Braddock flees, disgraced and exiled.

Temperance and her family, using Jenny’s gold, settle upstream.

They build a home where magic, healing, and memory are cherished.

Temperance teaches her daughter Ursula small magics, and Jenny watches from the lake.

She wonders if Ursula might one day become the next Jenny—reborn through water and blood, as is the old way.

In the epilogue, years pass.

Ursula, now a teenager, visits the lake.

She dives into its depths with comfort and confidence, bearing signs of the fae in her sharp teeth and dark eyes.

Jenny watches with quiet pride.

The river remembers.

The story ends not in tragedy, but in legacy—where monsters protect, witches thrive, and the water holds memory and transformation.

Characters

Jenny Greenteeth

Jenny Greenteeth is the story’s central fae creature, a character deeply rooted in English folklore. Initially, she appears as a solitary, somewhat cold, and judgmental entity who fiercely guards her lake and dislikes humans.

Over time, her character reveals deeper layers as she forms an unlikely bond with Temperance Crump. Jenny is centuries-old, and her knowledge of magic and ancient practices runs deep. She is wise, albeit weary, and demonstrates a fierce protectiveness, not only over her lake but also for those she considers worthy of her care.

Her companionship with Temperance allows her to reconnect with a sense of purpose, as she begins to mentor Temperance in the ways of water magic and rebellion. Jenny’s role in the narrative symbolizes the power of nature and ancient magic, but also the potential for transformation and renewal.

By the end of the book, she is no longer the detached creature she once was but a vital force of resistance and guardianship. This emphasizes the importance of growth and alliance in the face of oppression.

Temperance Crump

Temperance Crump is a young, capable, and resilient woman who initially starts as a victim of circumstance. As a folk healer, she is a cunning woman with knowledge of herbs and magic, but she faces relentless persecution due to the influence of the new preacher, Asa Braddock, and the jealousy of villagers like Hezekiah Bone.

Her journey is one of profound transformation; initially fearful and oppressed, she evolves into a fierce planner and a figure of resistance. Temperance’s internal conflict between family loyalty and the pursuit of freedom adds depth to her character.

Her initial reluctance to accept Jenny’s help shows her distrust of creatures of the fae, but over time, her bond with Jenny grows, and she gains the confidence to stand up for herself and her family. Temperance’s journey mirrors the theme of female empowerment and the reclaiming of one’s power, as she shifts from being a victim to an active participant in her own fate.

Benedict Crump

Benedict Crump, Temperance’s husband, is a relatively quiet but supportive character who plays a pivotal role in the story’s emotional depth. Initially, his fear of the supernatural and suspicion about his wife’s abilities place him at odds with the more magical aspects of the story.

However, his experiences with the cruelty of the villagers and his own imprisonment in the stocks ultimately lead to a shift in his perspective. Benedict comes to recognize the injustice of the accusations against Temperance and grows to support her fully.

His character arc reflects the theme of realizing the importance of standing up against oppression, even when it challenges deeply held beliefs. He is a symbol of personal growth and understanding, highlighting the need for empathy and the ability to change one’s perspective when confronted with truth.

Asa Braddock

Asa Braddock is the primary antagonist in Greenteeth, a preacher who arrives in Chipping Appleby with the intent of rooting out witchcraft and asserting control over the community. His character represents fear, manipulation, and authoritarianism.

He uses his position to exploit the villagers’ fears of witches, turning them into an angry mob. Braddock’s character is manipulative and self-serving, as he seeks to increase his power through deceit.

His fall from grace in the latter part of the book, where his failed exorcism and attempts to use magic backfire, marks the triumph of truth and justice over fear and lies. His role in the narrative is crucial in highlighting the dangers of unchecked authority and the ways in which fear can be used to control and oppress others.

Hezekiah Bone

Hezekiah Bone is a secondary antagonist who serves as a sycophantic ally to Braddock. He is a local villager who plays a significant role in the witch-hunting efforts, particularly in imprisoning Benedict and persecuting Temperance.

Hezekiah is not as ideologically driven as Braddock but is motivated by fear and self-preservation. His eventual breakdown and willingness to testify against Braddock add a layer of complexity to his character.

While he is not a deeply malicious figure, Hezekiah’s actions show how people can become complicit in cruelty when they are driven by fear and the desire to protect themselves. His character arc represents the potential for redemption, as he ultimately aids in exposing Braddock’s lies.

Ursula Crump

Ursula Crump, Temperance’s daughter, emerges as a character of importance in the epilogue. While she does not have a major role throughout most of the book, her character represents the continuation of legacy and transformation.

As she grows older, Ursula begins to show signs of possessing the traits of the fae, with sharper teeth and darker eyes, symbolizing her connection to Jenny and the ancient magic of the lake. Ursula’s quiet confidence in her ability to connect with the lake and its whispers in the epilogue suggests that she will be a key figure in the future.

Her presence in the epilogue brings a sense of continuity to the story, showing that the legacies of both Jenny and Temperance will persist in future generations.

Themes

Folklore and Feminism

One of the central themes in Greenteeth is the intersection of folklore and feminism, explored through the relationship between Jenny Greenteeth and Temperance Crump. Jenny, a fae lake creature rooted in English folklore, initially embodies the role of the “monster” from traditional tales.

However, she is far more than the terrifying being that folklore often presents. As the story unfolds, Jenny becomes a powerful ally to Temperance, a victim of religious persecution and witch hunts. Together, they reclaim ancient powers tied to the natural world, using water magic and fae traditions to resist the forces that seek to oppress them.

This dynamic challenges the conventional portrayals of mythical creatures and witches, presenting them as empowered figures capable of reshaping their destinies and those around them. Temperance’s journey is a reclamation of her identity as a cunning woman, and Jenny represents a bridge between the ancient, mystical world and the human struggle for autonomy and justice.

Through these characters, the novel reimagines traditional folklore, turning it into a vehicle for feminine resistance and empowerment.

The Power of Female Friendship in the Face of Oppression and Isolation

The evolving bond between Jenny and Temperance is a key thematic pillar in Greenteeth. What begins as an unexpected rescue becomes a deep and transformative friendship that transcends both species and societal boundaries.

Both women (or creature and human, in Jenny’s case) have been marginalized—Jenny, as a fae creature misunderstood and feared by humans, and Temperance, as a woman accused of witchcraft in a small, religiously fervent village. Their friendship not only serves as a means of survival but also as a form of resistance to the oppressive forces that seek to silence them.

Their collaboration and mutual trust provide each other with the strength and courage to face the trials that come their way. The novel portrays female friendship as a sanctuary, a space for healing, solidarity, and empowerment in the face of societal rejection.

Through their bond, Jenny and Temperance redefine what it means to be a woman in a world that seeks to control them—rejecting the traditional narratives that diminish their power and value.

The Corruption of Power and the Destructive Impact of Fear-Based Leadership

Another critical theme in Greenteeth is the corruption of power, particularly in the character of Pastor Asa Braddock, whose authoritarian and fear-based leadership drives the persecution of those who defy his beliefs. Braddock’s use of fear and manipulation to maintain control over the villagers represents a broader societal issue where leaders exploit the fears and prejudices of their followers for personal gain.

His campaign against witches is less about protecting the community from true threats and more about consolidating his power and eliminating any challenges to his authority. The novel critiques this kind of toxic leadership, highlighting how those in power often manipulate the masses, using scapegoats and hysteria to maintain their control.

Temperance’s rebellion against Braddock and the eventual exposure of his deceit serves as a powerful commentary on the dangers of fear-driven leadership and the need for communities to question authority and seek justice.

The Evolution of Identity and Legacy

Throughout Greenteeth, there is a strong focus on the evolution of identity, particularly in how the characters redefine their roles and the legacies they leave behind. Jenny, initially seen as a monstrous figure, transforms into a symbol of protection and wisdom, challenging the conventional narrative of the “evil fae.”

Her actions throughout the novel turn her into a maternal figure, one who imparts knowledge and magical skills to Temperance and her family. Similarly, Temperance’s journey is one of self-discovery and transformation. From being a victim of societal judgment, she evolves into a strong figure of resistance, reclaiming her identity as a healer and witch.

The theme of rewriting one’s legacy is further explored through the character of Ursula, Temperance’s daughter, who visits Jenny in the epilogue. Ursula’s interaction with Jenny suggests that the story of the Greenteeth and the magical traditions will continue, but in a new, more integrated form, where the lines between monster and human, legend and reality, are blurred.

The novel suggests that identity is not fixed but is instead an ongoing process, shaped by personal choices and the broader context of society.

Environmental Justice and the Connection Between Nature and Magic

A quieter but equally important theme in Greenteeth is the relationship between the natural world and magic, particularly through Jenny’s connection to the lake and the fae traditions tied to water. The novel suggests that the natural world is not merely a backdrop for the story but an active, sentient participant in the characters’ struggles.

Jenny’s magic, which is intrinsically linked to the lake, reflects a broader environmental message about the sanctity of nature and the dangers of disrupting natural harmony. The lake itself is not just a source of refuge for Jenny but also a symbol of the deep connection between humans, creatures, and the earth.

In the end, when Temperance and her family plant new roots and use Jenny’s gold to establish a new life, it signals a return to the land and an acknowledgement of the sacred relationship between humanity and nature. The novel invites readers to consider the role of environmental stewardship and respect for natural forces in shaping a more just and sustainable world.