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House of Teeth
Listening Length: 7 hours and 15 minutes
There’s more to the swamplands than meets the teeth. In this supernatural tale of magic and mysticism, Henry Lemarchand grew up in Philadelphia knowing very little of his family—his father disappeared when he was young, leaving behind only a strange pouch of animal teeth. When he is sent to the Louisiana bayou to spend the summer with his eccentric uncle and cousin in their decaying ancestral mansion, Henry learns about his family’s supernatural legacy—he is part of a long line of rootcrafters, folks who can absorb the powers and memories of anyone whose teeth they touch. In delving into his family’s strange legends, Henry soon discovers that some secrets bite back, especially in the swamplands. This tale of identity awareness and the need for belonging, is set in a world where everything is not as it seems.
There’s more to the swamplands than meets the teeth. In this supernatural tale of magic and mysticism, Henry Lemarchand grew up in Philadelphia knowing very little of his family—his father disappeared when he was young, leaving behind only a strange pouch of animal teeth. When he is sent to the Louisiana bayou to spend the summer with his eccentric uncle and cousin in their decaying ancestral mansion, Henry learns about his family’s supernatural legacy—he is part of a long line of rootcrafters, folks who can absorb the powers and memories of anyone whose teeth they touch. In delving into his family’s strange legends, Henry soon discovers that some secrets bite back, especially in the swamplands. This tale of identity awareness and the need for belonging, is set in a world where everything is not as it seems.
196 pages, Audible Audio
First published December 5, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 215 reviews
February 29, 2020
3.5 stars. My family - husband, son (12) and daughter (11) - drove down to Eastern Cape and back to Johannesburg for our December holidays, which means spending almost 24 hours together in a car. I downloaded House of Teeth as one of the December free audible originals to see if everyone would listen to it. To be honest I didn't have much hope as we all have very different tastes in books, but it was a hit with all.
The story was super fast-paced, funny (especially so for my son) and interesting. I loved all the fresh magical ideas thought up by the author, but what made this so enjoyable was the narration. Josh Hurley did an outstanding job, and none of us could believe that this was not done by a full cast of narrators. We especially loved the Bayou accents.
I highly recommend this as a family listen.
The story was super fast-paced, funny (especially so for my son) and interesting. I loved all the fresh magical ideas thought up by the author, but what made this so enjoyable was the narration. Josh Hurley did an outstanding job, and none of us could believe that this was not done by a full cast of narrators. We especially loved the Bayou accents.
I highly recommend this as a family listen.
May 8, 2023
2.5 stars. Fun little fantasy/adventure romp about a kid who goes to spend the summer with his uncle and cousin in the Louisiana bayou, and ends up learning a bunch of secrets about the family, their powers and his deceased father. It has a creative little magic system (absorbing animal powers through their teeth and claws, which is both macabre and cool) and the plot isn't quite as straightforward as I'd thought it was gonna be. One particular plot point made me kinda emotional. I caaaaaan't say I was riveted by the mystery or fell in love with the characters, but it was a fun time. Listened to the audiobook as read by Josh Hurley, who did lots of great voices, and there were a lot of sound effects and music for ambiance. Another book I'll happily pass along to my nieces.
February 15, 2020
Premise: While visiting his cousin and Uncle in the swamp lands of Louisanna, Henry Lemarchand discovers there's much more to his father's family than he originally knew, and that the pouch of animal teeth his father left behind are the key to tapping into his family's power of root craft.
This middle grade audible original about family, responsibility, and second chances was a quick, family friendly read. The Lemarchand family were a fun mystical bunch to follow and the magic system was different.
Free Audible Original Dec. 2019
This middle grade audible original about family, responsibility, and second chances was a quick, family friendly read. The Lemarchand family were a fun mystical bunch to follow and the magic system was different.
Free Audible Original Dec. 2019
September 9, 2020
This was a cute young adventure tale! I would absolutely recommend for younger kiddos or an older person looking for a sweet, easy fun story to lighten the mood. Fun magic, a mix of some past supernatural stories and overall easy read.
July 24, 2020
Well this was a fun book! I picked this I don't know when as one of my free Audible originals. I finally listened to it and enjoyed it even though I am way past the target age for it. Some of the plot was predictable but it didn't bother me too much.
Adrenaline junkie Henry gets sent to stay with his Dad's family in Louisiana. He finds out he is from a long line of "rootcrafters". They can absorb the powers and memories of anyone whose teeth they touch. It's a pretty cool ability to have. While they can use human teeth, they mostly use animal teeth in the story. There is also the mystery of a strange blight that is killing the swamp in their area. With his new found powers and his cousin Ren, they set out to discover the secrets of the swamp.
Joshua Hurly's narration was great!
Adrenaline junkie Henry gets sent to stay with his Dad's family in Louisiana. He finds out he is from a long line of "rootcrafters". They can absorb the powers and memories of anyone whose teeth they touch. It's a pretty cool ability to have. While they can use human teeth, they mostly use animal teeth in the story. There is also the mystery of a strange blight that is killing the swamp in their area. With his new found powers and his cousin Ren, they set out to discover the secrets of the swamp.
Joshua Hurly's narration was great!
January 8, 2020
Supernatural YA Adventure in the Louisiana Swamplands
Review of the Audible Original audiobook edition (Dec. 2019)
The oddly named House of Teeth has rambunctious Henry Lemarchand learning about his family's supernatural capabilities while on a trip to Louisiana to visit his uncle and cousin. Discussing the story's tooth or "root-crafting" magic here would be a spoiler, but suffice to say that it was a fun element. The overall story plays out in a fairly standard fashion. The narration by Josh Hurley in all voices was excellent without overdoing the Louisiana/French accents that were occasionally required.
House of Teeth was one of the free Audible Originals for members in the month of December 2019. It is now available to everyone for a standard price.
Review of the Audible Original audiobook edition (Dec. 2019)
The oddly named House of Teeth has rambunctious Henry Lemarchand learning about his family's supernatural capabilities while on a trip to Louisiana to visit his uncle and cousin. Discussing the story's tooth or "root-crafting" magic here would be a spoiler, but suffice to say that it was a fun element. The overall story plays out in a fairly standard fashion. The narration by Josh Hurley in all voices was excellent without overdoing the Louisiana/French accents that were occasionally required.
House of Teeth was one of the free Audible Originals for members in the month of December 2019. It is now available to everyone for a standard price.
December 23, 2019
One of my free Audible choices. Fun, with a bit of suspense. I would recommend it to kids.
April 25, 2022
House of Teeth is a great middle-grade fantasy story set in our own world. If you like Louisiana vibes of crocs and swamps, bestial teeth containing magical powers and a bit of mystery, this is your story.
I don't often read MG but I'm so glad audible gave me a free copy of this one. It was so much fun! And the narration is brilliant. Really, really well done.
Sexual content: none
Coarse language: none
Violence and gore: mild
I don't often read MG but I'm so glad audible gave me a free copy of this one. It was so much fun! And the narration is brilliant. Really, really well done.
Sexual content: none
Coarse language: none
Violence and gore: mild
December 19, 2019
Really enjoyed the pace and lack of unnecessary details.
December 31, 2019
If you are looking for an opportunity to stop adulting for a bit, I highly encourage you to listen to this audiobook, a truly enjoyable performance.
January 7, 2020
It was honestly pretty good.
April 25, 2022
Five stars! Great book! I'm glad I was finally able to correct my review. For some reason Goodreads would only let me leave one star when I read it.
December 4, 2021
I've enjoyed a number of the Audible Original stories for kids, but this one was rough. In fact, if I hadn't been listening with my kids, I probably would have abandoned it.
The story revolves around Henry Lemarchand, who must be the densest 12-year old on the planet. Felt like he was always exclaiming "Wait! You mean [insert whatever he was just told or saw]?!?"
But anyway, dear Henry is sent to the Louisiana swampland to stay with his uncle and cousin after his mother has had enough of his daredevil stunts. There, he learns he is part of a family of rootcrafters, meaning they can obtain power and knowledge from teeth and talons.
So much of this story seemed sloppy and unclear. Why did the swamp start to feel different when Henry arrived? Why are the house guardians animal hybrids? Who exactly is the bad guy again? And what has he been doing kicking around the swamp for the last nine years? It's all very vague.
This story should have been fast-paced given its plot, but the chapters felt long and slow. I think the author violates the "show, don't tell" rule because there is so.much.talking. At one point, one person is cursed and the other two characters sit there talking...and talking...and talking some more. It's like, hello, maybe a little urgency is needed here?
As a parent's note, this is classified as a children's audiobook, which made me surprised to hear a "hell" and a "damn" and something else which escapes me. For a children's book, it felt out of place as did some of the descriptions of the pain inflicted on characters during fights.
YMMV, but I don't recommend this one.
The story revolves around Henry Lemarchand, who must be the densest 12-year old on the planet. Felt like he was always exclaiming "Wait! You mean [insert whatever he was just told or saw]?!?"
But anyway, dear Henry is sent to the Louisiana swampland to stay with his uncle and cousin after his mother has had enough of his daredevil stunts. There, he learns he is part of a family of rootcrafters, meaning they can obtain power and knowledge from teeth and talons.
So much of this story seemed sloppy and unclear. Why did the swamp start to feel different when Henry arrived? Why are the house guardians animal hybrids? Who exactly is the bad guy again? And what has he been doing kicking around the swamp for the last nine years? It's all very vague.
This story should have been fast-paced given its plot, but the chapters felt long and slow. I think the author violates the "show, don't tell" rule because there is so.much.talking. At one point, one person is cursed and the other two characters sit there talking...and talking...and talking some more. It's like, hello, maybe a little urgency is needed here?
As a parent's note, this is classified as a children's audiobook, which made me surprised to hear a "hell" and a "damn" and something else which escapes me. For a children's book, it felt out of place as did some of the descriptions of the pain inflicted on characters during fights.
YMMV, but I don't recommend this one.
January 30, 2020
I just wasn't feeling this one. It was an Audible freebie, and I feel a weird... obligation to finish those, even when sometimes the selections aren't that interesting. And I have enjoyed some of the children's fantasies Audible offers. But this was just boring. Boy who's getting into mischief, his dad died when he was young, so his mom sends him to spend some time with his family in Louisiana (totally not because of her new boyfriend), and he finds out his father's family is some kind of mystical shapeshifter clan. Could have been interesting, but wasn't, and I just decided before the halfway point that I have other books queued up I'd rather listen to.
February 9, 2020
This was an entertaining listen about Henry who spents his summer with his cousin and Louisiana and finds out a whole lot about himself and his family, involving magic.
The narrator, Josh Hurley, did a brilliant job with this. He put all the accents in place without overdoing it, and gave each character an unique voice. As with most audible originals, the production of this was great.
I adored the magic system. It was unique, complex and creative. It really was what made this story great, because the plot itself was just fine. It was fun but predictable and really nothing special. It never really grabbed my attention.
And that is all I have to tell you about this... it was a decent listen that could be very entertaining to a younger audience, but nothing that will stay with me.
The narrator, Josh Hurley, did a brilliant job with this. He put all the accents in place without overdoing it, and gave each character an unique voice. As with most audible originals, the production of this was great.
I adored the magic system. It was unique, complex and creative. It really was what made this story great, because the plot itself was just fine. It was fun but predictable and really nothing special. It never really grabbed my attention.
And that is all I have to tell you about this... it was a decent listen that could be very entertaining to a younger audience, but nothing that will stay with me.
January 30, 2020
A really cool story for young adults. Sort of like a Goosebumps meets Harry Potter meets Animorphs. Some of the plot twists were predictable and some of the plot pieces felt disjointed and/or borrowed in homage to other book series. Other than that, I loved that the story takes place in the swamp, and lots of it in a creepy old mansion. There are some cool fight scenes and I loved the vivid imagery throughout of the landscape and the mansion.
Overall, a very fun story that I enjoyed listening to.
Overall, a very fun story that I enjoyed listening to.
June 20, 2020
3.5 Stars Rounded Up
I thought this was a cute and fun middle grade audiobook. I enjoyed the Fantasy elements and the setting of the Louisiana bayou. I would recommend this to any middle grade Fantasy reader!
I thought this was a cute and fun middle grade audiobook. I enjoyed the Fantasy elements and the setting of the Louisiana bayou. I would recommend this to any middle grade Fantasy reader!
January 3, 2020
Weird, but the performance was pretty good, they did a good job, and I loved the ending
January 4, 2020
Surprisingly weird and boring.
January 14, 2020
Good for a free middle grade audiobook.
September 1, 2020
Lovely little story.
A little predictable and Story lines that has been done before but its kept me entertained.
:)
A little predictable and Story lines that has been done before but its kept me entertained.
:)
June 1, 2023
Interesting magic system. Well-performed.
January 3, 2020
3.5 stars. Very much so enjoyed this for the most part, but I wish the characters were more flushed out
December 26, 2019
Ok, so I DNFed this around page 175. I just couldn't take the Deu Ex Machina of the teeth, the many different storylines that seems mostly unconnected, the wording of some things that seemed picked to try and make something more interesting that in really was, and the stupidity of the MC! Especially when the author made a point out of a bunch of pther characters saying he was so smart!
Sure, he's only 12 years old, but some things even 12-year-olds understand point blank.
And the writing was... Not that great.
It was slow and had oh so many thoughts and details that ended up ruining scenes that should be fast-paced nd action-packed.
It went hand in hand with the story-telling, which was a mix of easy solutions and convenient coinsidences.
On top of that, this book did what I've noticed a lot of audible original does: they add exstra noises to make ambiance, but the noises end up drowning out the narrator - and some of them really mess with my sensitive ME-hearing, forcing me to take breaks or all together stop listening - as well as the general sound of the narrator changing as he speaks. I find myself turning the volume up and down A LOT when listening to originals.
I know I'm not the demographic, but I do enjoy MG books a lot! This one didn't work for me, though
Sure, he's only 12 years old, but some things even 12-year-olds understand point blank.
And the writing was... Not that great.
It was slow and had oh so many thoughts and details that ended up ruining scenes that should be fast-paced nd action-packed.
It went hand in hand with the story-telling, which was a mix of easy solutions and convenient coinsidences.
On top of that, this book did what I've noticed a lot of audible original does: they add exstra noises to make ambiance, but the noises end up drowning out the narrator - and some of them really mess with my sensitive ME-hearing, forcing me to take breaks or all together stop listening - as well as the general sound of the narrator changing as he speaks. I find myself turning the volume up and down A LOT when listening to originals.
I know I'm not the demographic, but I do enjoy MG books a lot! This one didn't work for me, though
January 14, 2021
This was a really cute middle grade fiction!
December 29, 2019
3.5 stars
The extra half star is because I liked how it ended, but overall, it was probably a better performance than it was a story. The story itself is okay but it didn't really grab my attention the way some of the past Audible Originals geared towards children do. Still, it was a decent story and the performance made it better.
The extra half star is because I liked how it ended, but overall, it was probably a better performance than it was a story. The story itself is okay but it didn't really grab my attention the way some of the past Audible Originals geared towards children do. Still, it was a decent story and the performance made it better.
February 3, 2020
Fine for kids. Entertaining enough for adults who want to be there to answer questions for young listeners.
May 18, 2020
Henry Lemarchand lives in Philadelphia and doesn't know much about his family🙎♂️ His father had disappeared during his early years, leaving only a pouch of teeth behind, which he always keeps with him as a lucky charm😮 The story kick starts with his mother sending him to spend the summer at the Louisiana bayou, with his uncle and cousin in their ancestral mansion🕍 *Wow- can't relate! Lol*
Strange things happen during his visit at the bayou🌳 The swamp lands have all kinds of animals🐊, kinds that Henry has never seen before and deep into the swamps something even more scarier!😱. *GRRR!* He soon learns of his family's unusual history; His family line is a line of rootcrafters, folks who can absorb powers and memories of those whose teeth they touch!🙀🦷*WHAAAATT??!*
I have to say, Henry was so easy for me to imagine as the adrenaline junkie - He never takes heed for any warning and is all about living his life on edge🤦♀️ Unfortunately, this also ends up with him taking stupid decisions every now and then, in the name of the thrill in being spontaneous🤷♀️.
Honestly, I couldn't bring myself to believe that this book is for teens😂 It was so creepy with some of the sudden sound effects scaring me out of my mind😲! It was a great experience overall. The plot was interesting, the narrator Josh Hurley was incredible and obviously, the sound effects definitely won entertainment points with me😍
Do check out our review post on Instagram!!
https://www.instagram.com/p/CANeyFBgKha/
Strange things happen during his visit at the bayou🌳 The swamp lands have all kinds of animals🐊, kinds that Henry has never seen before and deep into the swamps something even more scarier!😱. *GRRR!* He soon learns of his family's unusual history; His family line is a line of rootcrafters, folks who can absorb powers and memories of those whose teeth they touch!🙀🦷*WHAAAATT??!*
I have to say, Henry was so easy for me to imagine as the adrenaline junkie - He never takes heed for any warning and is all about living his life on edge🤦♀️ Unfortunately, this also ends up with him taking stupid decisions every now and then, in the name of the thrill in being spontaneous🤷♀️.
Honestly, I couldn't bring myself to believe that this book is for teens😂 It was so creepy with some of the sudden sound effects scaring me out of my mind😲! It was a great experience overall. The plot was interesting, the narrator Josh Hurley was incredible and obviously, the sound effects definitely won entertainment points with me😍
Do check out our review post on Instagram!!
https://www.instagram.com/p/CANeyFBgKha/
March 11, 2020
It was... okay. Just, okay. The performance was nice, as far as audiobooks go, although I wasn’t a fan of the very occasional ambient sounds. They added nothing to the story and were so few and far between I just found them odd. The story itself was meh. I can’t quite put my finger on the why... maybe it’s the predictability, the pace, the reactions of some of the characters not really being believable... More than anything it annoys me in a fantasy story when an author does something “just because they can”... it seemed many details were like this and I spent much of the book going... “Huh? But why?” In the end I didn’t not like it... but I also didn’t really like it. 🤷🏻♀️
May 11, 2020
A fun, dark, little slice of bayou weirdness.
Henry Lemarchand is a young boy who grew up in Philadelphia but is sent back for the summer to his uncle and cousin in the back bayous of Louisiana. Henry soon discovers that his family history has a bit of a supernatural bent to it all tied to the practice of "rootcraft" - which uses animal teeth to imbue the wielder with the abilities of said animal. Henry discovers this as he unravels the mystery surrounding his "dead" father and the "bestiary" his dad bequeathed him (i.e. a big ol bag of teeth).
The lore building in the novel is nice and unique (Cajun and hoodoo strangeness abounds). The plot feels a little rushed at times but that's more a function of the target demographic. But a couple decent twists and reveals make this an enjoyable YA diversion.
Henry Lemarchand is a young boy who grew up in Philadelphia but is sent back for the summer to his uncle and cousin in the back bayous of Louisiana. Henry soon discovers that his family history has a bit of a supernatural bent to it all tied to the practice of "rootcraft" - which uses animal teeth to imbue the wielder with the abilities of said animal. Henry discovers this as he unravels the mystery surrounding his "dead" father and the "bestiary" his dad bequeathed him (i.e. a big ol bag of teeth).
The lore building in the novel is nice and unique (Cajun and hoodoo strangeness abounds). The plot feels a little rushed at times but that's more a function of the target demographic. But a couple decent twists and reveals make this an enjoyable YA diversion.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 215 reviews