Share your thoughts in a quick Shelf Talk!
The River Has Teeth by Erica Waters
"In a river town steeped in rumor and shadow, two girls—one fueled by grief, the other bound to the wild—strike a dangerous bargain to uncover a disappearance. Magic coils through the trees, secrets sink like stones, and the water remembers everything. The River Has Teeth is a dark, lyrical tale of fury, love, and what the forest takes back."
Have you read this book? Share what you liked (or didn’t), and we’ll use your answers to recommend your next favorite read!
Love The River Has Teeth but not sure what to read next?
These picks are popular with readers who enjoyed this book. Complete a quick Shelf Talk to get recommendations made just for you! Warning: possible spoilers for The River Has Teeth below.
In The River Has Teeth, did you enjoy ...
... a queer, paranormal missing-persons mystery where two girls dig into a town’s rot?
The Dead and the Dark by Courtney Gould
If what hooked you was Natasha and Della joining forces to track Rose through the cursed woods, you’ll love how Logan and Ashley pick apart Snakebite’s secrets in The Dead and the Dark. Like the pact in The River Has Teeth—where suspicion turns to reluctant trust as they chase a monster born of the marsh—this pairs a tense investigation with hauntings, lies, and a sapphic spark. The revelations hit with the same mix of grief, danger, and catharsis.
... dangerous, hungry magic that preys on girls—and the risky power it takes to fight it?
Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrand
If Della’s swampcraft and her mother’s monstrous transformation gripped you—the sense that the land itself has teeth—Sawkill Girls brings a similarly feral darkness. As with Della’s willingness to use perilous magic to protect her family and help Natasha, the girls on Sawkill Island confront a predatory force and wield frightening power of their own. It’s brutal, witchy, and charged with the same moral edge that made the marsh scenes unforgettable.
... dual (and more) perspectives untangling a town’s legacy and a monster in the woods?
The Devouring Gray by Christine Lynn Herman
If you liked slipping between Natasha’s and Della’s heads—one skeptical and grieving, the other steeped in old magic—The Devouring Gray layers multiple POVs to unravel a creature-haunted small town. The way secrets and family legacies surface echoes the Marsh family’s burdens and the town’s fear of the wild places. It captures that same dread of the woods and the thrill of piecing together what’s been buried.
... enemies-to-allies-to-lovers tension forged through dangerous bargains and witchcraft?
The Dark Tide by Alicia Jasinska
If you were drawn to how Natasha and Della go from accusatory standoffs to protective, tender allies, The Dark Tide hits that pulse. Like Della’s risky bargains with the marsh and the fierce devotion that grows as they hunt for Rose, this spins a high-stakes bond between a sea-witch queen and a girl pulled into a sacrificial ritual—sparks, sharp banter, and sacrifice included.
... witchcraft entwined with climate and a landscape that fights back?
The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin
If the poisoned river, the encroaching refinery, and the marsh’s fury stayed with you—how the setting in The River Has Teeth isn’t just backdrop but an injured, vengeful force—The Nature of Witches channels that environmental heartbeat. Its magic is inseparable from weather and climate, mirroring the way Della’s power rises from the land itself, and it pairs that with tender, hard-won hope.
Unlock your personalized book recommendations! Just take a quick Shelf Talk for The River Has Teeth by Erica Waters. It’s only a few questions and takes less than a minute.