Young Gareth Greyfin must find a way to save his father Samuel after he is bitten by a one-eyed snake. With little time before the venom will reach his father’s heart, Gareth follows his father’s instructions to bring him to a cabin in the swamps outside of Savannah, Georgia —the home of a witch with a fearsome reputation.

The witch sends the fearful young man on a quest for five ingredients for the potion that offers the elder Greyfin’s only hope. Accompanied by the witch’s raven as a guide, Gareth’s desperate journey leads to encounters with a cast of characters that defy imagination. The duo is joined by an old banjo player, and they learn that heroes come in unexpected forms.

Along the way, Gareth learns a family secret and a deception threatens to destroy his budding friendship with the Raven and possibly the life of his father. Will his bargain with Evangeline pay off or will Gareth be the one to pay the price?

“Spellbound Under the Spanish Moss tells us, ‘magic is channeling what you feel into something you can touch and see. First, you have to believe.’ I believe in Connor and Kevin Garrett and in the magic they have channeled into every glorious page of this pitch-perfect lowcountry fever dream of a hero’s quest. This novel is a welcome reminder of the transcendent power of family and that the aspects of ourselves which make us different also make us powerful. Spellbound is a gift, destined to be treasured and shared.”—Jonathan Haupt, executive director of the Pat Conroy Literary Center and co-editor of Our Prince of Scribes: Writers Remember Pat Conroy

Connor Judson Garrett