This novel surpasses *The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek* while maintaining a similar narrative style. It exemplifies India Hayford's talent as an author capable of multi-dimensional storytelling. This was the most impressive NetGalley read for me this year, and I anticipate it will perform exceptionally well upon its release. I extend my gratitude to NetGalley for the opportunity to review an advance copy and share my insights.
Genevieve possesses the unique ability to communicate with spirits, not in a conventional manner associated with ghost stories. Additionally, she has a remarkable talent for handling snakes. Misunderstood during her youth, Genevieve returns to Arkansas, where she encounters Mercer in an unexpected location. They establish a platonic household together.
While this constitutes the straightforward plotline, the more intricate aspect revolves around the Preacher and his family, all of whom maintain connections with Genevieve. The question arises whether Genevieve can covertly influence salvation and retribution within this family without necessitating another departure. Note: I listened to an audio version of this book and the narration is outstanding!

This story had some parts that really held my attention, but others that seemed to drag on a little too long or seemed repetitive. Overall, a unique, interesting book.

4.5⭐️

Oh dear. Nothing could have prepared me for how brutal this would be. This book explores a number of themes, but the ones that stood out to me the most were religion and the abuse of power. It felt truly depressing to read, like something horrible was happening on every single page. If you're someone who doesn’t like to feel that way while reading, you might want to steer clear of this one. But sometimes, I appreciate when books take me to those dark places to serve as a reminder of the raw, hard truths about the evil that exists in our world.

This is a historical fiction novel with major historical elements, but it also weaves in magical realism to further explore its themes like PTSD, for example. There are many POVs, and I’ll be honest at first, I was still wondering what kind of story this was supposed to be, even after reading the blurb. But as it went on, and especially by the end, it all came together beautifully.

Every single character in this book (and I mean every single one) was written with such intention. Their strengths, their flaws, the hurt they’ve endured, and the hurt they’ve inflicted. There’s just so much to unpack. Honestly, I could talk about each of them for hours. My heart goes out to every single one… except, of course, the truly evil ones.

The writing style was a bit different for me, but still this is such a powerful debut. I’m so glad I read this in 2025 and in my lifetime. And to anyone who finds pieces of themselves in the pain within these pages, my heart goes out to you.

This book is about Genevieve who is in need of much healing. She is alone in the world and after suffering from abuse at the hands of someone she should have been able to trust, she leaves and takes on a new identity. After awhile, she ends up back where she grew up and learns that others have suffered from the Sam abuse she has. And now she is determined to bring about justice.

This was a good book but a hard story! A lot of mention of domestic violence and sexual assault and grooming. And unfortunately all of this abuse happens at the hands of religious men. I think the representation of this is a very small percentage of what actually happens. This is an example of an extreme religious community. I would not agree that this is accurate of your average church going person. This representation rubbed me the wrong way but I can understand that for some this is reality. I was intrigued with the idea of Genevieve being able to communicate with ghosts but I felt that the author didn’t follow through with this very well. I was a bit let down. I felt that the narrators did a pretty good job with this. There were moments where I was confused about which POV I was listening to but I think that was because the two female narrators voices were similar. Overall, this was a good book.

Thabk you to Netgalley for allowing me to listen to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

5 Stars – Lyrical, Lush, and Absolutely Enchanting

The Song of the Blue Bottle Tree is a hauntingly beautiful tale that weaves folklore, magic, and emotion into a story that lingers long after the last page. The writing is pure poetry—lush, sensory, and full of soul. Every sentence feels deliberate, painting a world that’s both earthy and otherworldly.

At its heart, this book is about memory, healing, and the deep-rooted pull of ancestry and place. The characters feel lived-in and real, especially the protagonist, whose journey through grief and transformation is handled with depth and grace.

The magical realism is subtle yet potent—more felt than explained—and the use of the blue bottle tree as a central symbol is powerful and unforgettable.

Bottom line: The Song of the Blue Bottle Tree is a masterfully told story that sings with myth and meaning. A must-read for fans of literary fantasy, Southern Gothic, or stories that feel like spells.

This has to be the heaviest book I've ever read. It checks all the trigger warning boxes. And yet...the writing was haunting. Fitting the genre of southern historical fiction, it has elements of magical realism throughout. If you are a fan of Barbara Kingslover's "The Poisonwood Bible", this is similar, only MUCH more intense.

Genevieve Charbonneau talks to ghosts from her childhood home in 1967 Arkansas. Strolling through the graveyard of her ancestors after escaping a mental hospital in Alabama, she meets Vietnam vet, Mercer Ives. She had only intended to visit briefly, but Mercer and Genevieve realize that they are family. Their union suddenly becomes a catalyst for change when she is awakened to the severe abuse endured in Mercer's family at the hands of the local Pentacostal preacher. Genevieve begins to see him for the predator he is, and with the help of ghosts, finds the courage to help Mercer's family step into bravery.

This story still holds power over me. I am actually ready to finish writing about it because it literally haunts me. I could barely make it through and almost DNFed it because of the intensity of the abuse. As a preference, I found the ending to fall flat. I felt cheated, in fact. I think I even said out loud, "You've got to be kidding me". It was hard for me to reckon with abuse present in EVERY single chapter.

The voice actors, Zura Johnson, Matt Godfrey, and Laura Jennings, were stunning at creating characters and moments that gripped me. They fully lifted this story off the page into reality. Their brilliant acting choices kept me hooked in the moment. All three have brilliance in accents, focus, and characterization.

Thank you India Hayford, RBmedia, and NetGalley for this haunting audio ARC that will live on in my nightmares in exchange for an honest review.

This book is beautifully written but emotionally heavy. So heavy, in fact, that the magical realism and ghost story hinted at in the synopsis often feel buried beneath the weight of repeated trauma and abuse. While the Southern gothic setting and supernatural elements are rich with potential, they take a distant backseat to the book’s frequent depictions of sexual assault, including disturbing accounts involving minors.

The main character, Genevieve, is compelling and unconventional. Her connection to the spiritual world and her history of resilience had all the makings of a haunting, powerful narrative. But as the story unfolds, it becomes increasingly difficult to stay grounded in anything but the violence and suffering that dominate so many pages. The author clearly has something meaningful to say about religion, justice, healing, and female empowerment, but the constant barrage of graphic content makes it hard to engage with the deeper themes.

There’s value in stories that confront dark realities, but readers should be prepared for just how dark this one gets. I appreciated some of the symbolism, especially the explanation of the blue bottle tree tradition at the end but overall, this wasn’t quite the atmospheric ghost story I expected.

THE SONG OF THE BLUE BOTTLE TREE
by India Hayford

Narration by, Zura Johnson, Matt Godfrey, and Laura Jennings was very good.

3.5 stars
A haunting Southern gothic story with sprinkles of magical realism, that takes place in rural Arkansas in 1967. Genevieve, at a young age has lost her mother, father and grandmother and after suffering abuse from trusted family, decides she must find her way in life on her own. She returns back to her childhood home where she discovers that her own need for healing is part of a larger tapestry of suffering.

Exploring themes of family, loss, fundamentalist religion, the resilience of women, and folk magic. I like reading Southern gothic stories and with the magical realism thrown in made this debut a good read. At times I didn’t understand the reasoning and choices some women chose, but after reading an article of how the author created her story, helped me to understand. Her writing is good and I look forward to reading more from her.

Thanks to NetGalley and RBmedia for the ALC of this.

Genevieve Charbonneau is a complex, strong, and interesting FMC. This multi-POV story needs to come with some major TW's but is worth the discomfort.

I don't typically read historic fictions, but a dose of magic and the FMC description drew me in. If you're someone who is disturbed by sexual abuse, domestic abuse, violence, murder, child abuse, and religious abuse, you might want to skip this one. However, this powerful story is one of justice and strength with a dash of magic. This book was disturbing to read at times. The TW's were definitely what made these characters so complex and interesting. However, I did find myself cringing a lot. Would I recommend it to my book club? Maybe? I think that the reader should really consider the TW's and their comfort level with reading about those things. They are prevalent and graphic. It made my heart hurt. Regardless, it was a fantastic story, well written, and interesting to the very end.

I always enjoy a good work of historical fiction, and this audiobook was no exception. The narrators, Zura Johnson, Matt Godfrey, and Laura Jennings did an excellent job of telling this story and representing the different characters throughout. The flow was easy to listen to and follow, and the different perspectives of the characters keeps you engaged and wanting to know what comes next.

This book touches on many topics, such as abuse, loss, and religious trauma. Despite these themes, the overall story doesn't drag you down, but lifts you up and shows that you can find the light on the other side. The addition of two MCs being able to see ghosts (one a bunch, and the other just one) was a nice addition to the plot, and definitely made things interesting. I real enjoyed the ending, though I won't spoil it for anyone reading this.

If you like historical fiction with a touch of paranormal mixed in, I highly recommend this book.

I just finished a great audiobook. The Song of the Blue Bottle Tree by India Hayford was amazing and is available soon.

Thank you NetGalley! A very good debut! Genevieve, a stolen name, is a woman whose life has been filled with loss and survival. When she meets Mercer, a Vietnam vet dealing with his own demons, they attempt to try and normalize their lives. Both are haunted (literally) by their pasts. John Luther, his father, is an over zealous church preacher who has many dark secrets but feels self-entitled and hides his dark deeds behind his faith. Mercer’s mother and sisters suffer until Genevieve determines enough is enough and vows to safeguard her newly rediscovered cousins. Felt the audio narration was ok. Genevieve’s reader was very good but felt the male’s voice didn’t fit into the story as well. Still, very good debut.

Unfortunately I couldn’t get into the narration. I would love to give this a try as a physical read!

The Song of the Blue Bottle Tree follows Genevieve Charbonneau, a name taken from a tombstone through very difficult times. She returns to her hometown just for one quick look but finds companionship in a recently returned Vietnam vet. She attempts to help him through very difficult times as well as his family. But there is so much more going on behind those closed doors.

Trigger Warnings: abuse, sexual abuse, domestic violence, murder, inappropriate use of religion

I listened to the ALC and the narrators do a phenomenal job portraying the characters.

The Song of the Blue Bottle Tree is a stunning and emotionally charged journey. Set in the South, it tackles some of the most difficult themes-religious abuse, sexual and physical trauma, and the long-lasting effects of the Vietnam War. The pacing is perfect, keeping you on edge while the writing itself is lyrical and haunting.
At times, it was incredibly hard to read, but that’s a testament to how deeply the author dives into the pain and resilience of the characters. While emotionally draining, this book is an unforgettable experience.

Thank you NetGalley and RBmedia for the chance to listen to this book in exchange for my honest review.

Under the disguise of a time and a new name harvested from a gravestone, Genevieve Charbonneau visits her grandmother's home in rural Arkansas. In the hopes of discovering some answers to old questions, she meets her cousin, a Vietnam veteran and through his friendship, she meets many of her former family members, including a hypocritical, abusive, snake-handling preacher. She inspires his wife and daughters to shake off the chains of abuse and become empowered, independent women.

The engaging plot is beautifully executed. One cannot empathize and cheer for the strong female main character as she finds her way alone through the difficult 1960s when women in the South were to "be seen and not heard". One of the best books I have read in awhile. I would strongly recommend it.

Gorgeous - beautifully written and well paced. Flawed but beautiful characters. Hard to read in places (but worth it.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a free audio-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very frustrating but amazing book. The story takes place in the 1960s with the main character Genevieve, who has a unique personality and talks to ghosts. She's traveling around the south with a circus escaping issues from her past and meets a Vietnam vet also struggling with his past, and he takes her into his home to provide a place of safety.

She then meets a family whose father is a preacher, and we find that the family has been suffering abuse at the hands of the preacher. The book is written so well. It reminded me in a way of Where the Crawdads Sing. The author combined the magical realism of the ghosts well with the story, and the abuse that these poor characters endure throughout the story elicit such a strong response you feel for them and want to get justice for them.

I definitely recommend this book. It came out on March 25th, so add it to your April TBR if you're in for an emotional ride!

Wow can't believe all of that was in there without any warnings.

Other than the abuse. It was a very interesting story