Evocation is my new obsession.

This is S.T. Gibson at her best. This new adult urban fantasy is meticulously crafted and explores its three main characters deeply. I rejoiced in getting to know the three POVs of this story and fell especially hard for David, my new protegé.

This book was a delicious reminder of different things I loved, the character-driven stories of Maggie Stiefvater; the complexity and quirkiness of Olivie Blake’s Masters of Death; the tortured hero (in this case Darlington) of Leigh Bardugo’s Ninth House as well as the occult practices present in the book. In sum, Evocation was a feast for my soul.

After my experience with An Education in Malice I confess I was a bit adamant with another S.T.Gibson, but boy did she deliver. This is everything I could have asked for and more. I was mesmerized once again by how Saint’s writing feels intricately woven, I love reading it and getting lost in the cadence and feel of the words that each feels like it was purposefully selected. I particularly had a hell of a time with the three narrators of this gorgeous and lush magical fantasy, all of them with their unique personalities, fears, and characteristics. I particularly adore reading books where we learn a lot by reading one’s POV, but also learn a great deal more by seeing a character through another character's eyes, and there was plenty of that here. I was enthralled by their dynamic, and enjoying every step of the way, including when things were particularly full of thorns. Complicated relationships make for great character dynamics.

As I mentioned before, David was my personal favorite. He has all the qualities of a character quick to win me over, he demands so much of himself, he never asks for help, incredibly gorgeous and a pain in the ass in equal measure, and he feels and acts like he is above everybody else…. In sum, he is a little bit of a problematic one maybe? I don’t care, he looks like a cinnamon roll and is actually a cinnamon roll and I rest my case. I adored following his rekindling path to his relationship with Rhys, and his developing friendship with Moira. This book was perfect in actually showing us things and not just telling us them, which is one of the hardest things to do in fiction, but when done properly, as is the case here, it elevates the level and quality of the whole so much.

This book is pretty much character-driven, so don’t go in expecting too much plot happening. This isn’t to say that this isn’t going to give us something, particularly a thread in which to follow on the subsequent books. I am beyond excited to see what the author will come up with next, and I am utterly emotionally invested in these characters which to me is the greatest feat of all when it comes to *Evocation* it makes you care deeply for its protagonists and root for them, and to me there is nothing better than that. I cannot recommend this book enough!

'Evocation' by S.T. Gibson is an engaging story set in a real-world, enriched with a mysterious curse and compelling characters working to solve it. The narrative is centered around David Aristarkhov, a psychic prodigy turned Boston attorney and medium, who faces a ticking clock as the Devil comes to collect on an ancestral deal. Forced to seek help from his ex-boyfriend and Society rival, Rhys, David navigates a complex web of emotions with Rhys and his wife, Moira.

One of the standout elements of the book is the emphasis on character development, particularly David's journey of overcoming past trauma. The stakes continually rise, adding an exciting urgency to the story. However, the relationship dynamics, a focal point of the plot, sometimes feel forced and unconvincing. The intimacy between David, Rhys, and Moira progresses too suddenly, with their grudges often seeming childish and unjustified. This detracts from the otherwise mature portrayal of their characters (at least Moira and Rhys).

While the heavy focus on romance may disappoint those seeking a more traditional urban fantasy, the magic elements, though underexplained, add an intriguing layer to the story. Overall, 'Evocation' is a fun read with a captivating mystery and well-drawn characters, though the romantic aspects could be more nuanced. I’d rate it 3.5 out of 5.

Romance overshadowed the occult aspects in Evocation by S.T. Gibson. Eye rolling every time Rhys and Moira said that their love and relationship came first. The ending of the demon possessing David felt like a cop out. The first chapters of the book felt easy to read but the middle felt like a chore and the ending was not very satisfying for me. ARC was provided by Angry Robot Books via NetGalley. I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Evocation was everything I desired after reading the book description. It was easy to read and kept you wanting to know more.

I thought S.T. Gibson did a wonderful job of gently introducing a complicated (but a very modern) relationship between the three main characters. I was immediately immersed into their feelings for each other and couldn’t wait to see where this story was leading me.
The fact that the book is written from different perspectives added so much more depth to learning the progression of their relationships. You get to experience three different lives and three different personalities that somehow fit in a very unique way.

I was also pleasantly surprised to see the author spend a proper amount of time not only on the character’s relationships, but also on the occult experiences and new age practices. It was a delight to not only connect to their personalities, but also to envision a world full of divination, seances, spirit summoning, astrology, tarot readings and so much more.

Although I only see one way this story could progress, I’ll be very curious to read what the author has in store for the next title.

Moira is a ball of bright light and Southern charm, raised to be polite until wronged. She is full of healing energy and has magic that’s been passed down for generations of powerful women. She is a born intuitive that reads people’s emotions and has built a successful (but fair) business specializing in divination, reading stars, and birth charts. Moira is married to Rhys who calls her his “goddess” and his “home”.

Rhys is a member of a secret society that values discretion. What used to be a powerhouse filled with elite members is now its shadow resembling an occult fraternity. A demon-summoning social club that is still hanging on to the hope of the “better days and new money” to come. Rhys has no inherent supernatural abilities, but has a well-established reputation in the occult community due to his obsessive scholarly focus and an undying interest in everything occult. This combination earned him a consideration in the title of a High Priest.

David comes from an extremely wealthy family of immigrants from Russia and is an obvious choice for a successor. The rumor is, his ancestor made a deal with The Devil which would explain their wealth and the supernatural knack for persuasion. Being a workaholic and a prosecutor in Boston, David has no time to believe in such things. Earning the trust of the elderly society members who are stuck in their ways and the younger members who are looking for a change takes a lot of energy, but will be worth it if he earns this title. David will not bow down to anyone, especially Rhys.

Until one day David is faced with a supernatural problem that he cannot explain and has no choice but to ask Rhys and Moira for help in the only way he knows - by offering them both a deal they cannot refuse.

I also requested the alc and ended up reading the audio format, but I really enjoyed this book! It was short and spooky and I loved the characters!

I was very excited to receive this ARC because I loved a previous novel from this author. A Dowry of Blood was perfect. Unfortunately Evocation was missing something. I couldn't get attached to the characters. The story was just not that interesting. It seemed like the word choices and descriptions were trying to evoke a similar feeling, but it generally fell flat.

I adore everything S T Gibson has written so far, since Dowry I have picked up everything they have written and consumed it instantly. The lyrical way in which each book is written is incredible but the characters are what hook me every time and Evocation was no different.

Moira is possibly my favourite female protagonist that I have read so far this year. Her strength and confidence to say and do what she wants and also guide others to what they want was glorious to read. She is an absolute badass and I cannot wait to keep reading about her relationship with both Rhys and David. Rhys and David are also incredible protagonists. You can feel the yearning and longing through every sentence, each word imbued with their love for each other. I would happily read a prequel about how they met and their original relationship although I know it would be heartbreaking.

In case it isn’t obvious I adored this book and cannot wait for future instalments.

Evocation by ST Gibson
✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨

This is a contemporary, somewhat-gothic, novel about secret societies, generational wealth & blood curses, magic, & complex relationships between characters.

The story follows David Aristarkhov, highly successful Boston attorney by day, moonlighting as a very powerful medium to a secret occult society by night. But with power comes a price, and the Devil has come to collect on an ancestral deal. With David’s days numbered & death at his doorstep, he reluctantly reaches out for help to the only person he’s ever trusted: Rhys, his ex-boyfriend & secret-society rival. However, the only way to get to Rhys is through his wife, Moira, a powerful astrologer and medium herself. Thrust into each other’s care, emotions once buried deep resurface, and the trio race to figure out their feelings for one another before the Devil steals David away for good…

This is the first book in the series, and what a great start truly. I enjoyed all of the characters individually, particularly David because of how relatable he was with so much of his trauma & past. The author doesn’t shy away from showing it, nor displaying the toxicity of his previous relationship with Rhys & how foul they were to one another. Evocation navigates through many themes, such as fidelity, childhood abuse, marriage in trouble, alcoholism, & CSC. I recommend you keep this in mind before diving in! I was hesitant when I saw this was going to be a 3-way relationship, mainly because I thought it wouldn’t be done right. But the author delivered, boundaries are set and lots of communication happens later on in the book, there’s nothing immature or vile about the relationships. The astrology and tarot parts were written INCREDIBLY well & were quite accurate, which I appreciated. I think the most satisfying thing to me though was observing David’s character arc develop through the story, and especially his blossoming friendship with Moira.

The Boston occultist underground of psychics, mediums, witches, sorcerers, occultists, & more was especially fascinating and one of my favourite things about the story! I loved how David, Moira, and Rhys fit into the story, individually I loved their backgrounds & personalities, they are all very different from one another (the rich asshole, the sunshine character, and the nerdy character) but together they also had a lovely dynamic amongst each other. Rhys & Moira had lots of communication going on and boundaries were set, which I liked to see. Rhys & David were VERY intense, but it was obvious they cared for one another. David & Moira were adorable together seeing them go from complete enemies to best friends was great 😊 I’m sure it’s already obvious by how I’m describing it, but if you’re a reader who’s more plot-driven you may not enjoy this as much, because while there is a good plot, this story is completely character-driven.

Overall, this was a really fun read & I enjoyed every moment! It’s officially my favourite book by ST Gibson. Thank you Angry Robot Books and Netgalley for the e-ARC, I loved it so so much.

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Blog post goes live May 28th
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TL;DR: Not for everyone but definitely for me. A Dark Academia lite story about curses, families, and love
Source: NetGalley, and I purchased my own copy on finishing it! Thank you to the publisher!!

Plot: David begins to experience troubling symptoms that are linked to an old family curse. He goes to an old flame and his new wife for help - it gets very relationship heavy and messy.
Characters: My favorite part of this was the characters because none of them were particularly nice or people I’d like to be around, but I found them fascinating to read about.
Setting: The setting wasn’t the strongest but it captured the location and vibes enough that it didn’t feel too lacking or flawed.
Magic: Very traditional ‘real life’ style paranormal fantasy with rituals, circles, spells, etc.

Thoughts:
Evocation by S.T. Gibson is very much going to NOT be for some folks. I’m more than willing to tell you the flaws on this one, but I enjoyed it all the same. The story is simple enough, David is trying to break a curse set down on him generations in the past and ends up asking for his ex and his ex’s wife’s help. The story is very Dark Academia but make it almost the diet version, and the characters are messy and unlikable to an extent as well.
As I stated, the flaws are obvious in this. The ‘fix’ to the problem is very handwaving away. They band-aid it and clearly set it up for a second book. The story also keeps it very tightly focused on the relationship between the characters as opposed to putting a lot of effort into the story itself. If you’ve picked up the author’s latest work before this, An Education in Malice, it’s very similar in feel.
That aside this just worked for me. If you go in the expectation that you’re following the characters and their interpersonal issues closer than any curse or larger issue you’ll do great. Also if you enjoyed An Education… I think this would be one you enjoy. I enjoyed it enough that I’ve ordered my own copy and will most definitely continue the series.

4.5 out of 5 Haunted Mansions

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review and boy oh boy I’m so happy I had the chance!
The best way to describe this book is as a mix of The Raven Cycle and Legend (the sequel to Hollow) by Karina Halle. The end of the book was so spicy!!! Can’t wait to read book 2.

I so SO wanted to love this, I utterly adored a dowry in blood so I went in with very high hopes…so I guess that’s on me!

Evocation follows our three main POV characters, Rhys, Moira and David who are all entangled in the occult in some way. When what appears to be a demon is possessing David he reaches out to the last people he thought he would, his ex boyfriend Rhys and his witchy wife Moira.

I loved the nods to tarot and mysticism in this book but that’s kind of where my enjoyment ended? I found the relationships really flat and forced so it kinda of took me out the story. Like I could have cared less about who was wanting to kiss who, in general the plot just kind of just meandered about - basically it could have been so much more.

I think others could LOVE this one, it just wasn’t for me.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest reviewing

An occult dark academia atmosphere permeates every page of this book. This is my first book by the author - S.T. Gibson and I can't wait to read and discover more of her books.

As a teenager, David Aristarkhov was a psychic prodigy under his oppressive occultist father. Now, approaching his thirtieth birthday, he thrives as a Boston attorney and powerful medium for his secret society. However, an ancestral deal means the Devil has come to collect, and David's days are numbered.

Desperate, he reaches out to his ex-boyfriend and secret society rival, Rhys, but must go through Rhys' wife, Moira. Thrust together, old emotions resurface, and the trio races to understand their feelings and save David before the Devil claims him.

The dynamic between the three main characters is deliciously complex: David, the resident Medium; Rhys, David's Sorcerer ex-boyfriend; and Moira, Rhys' Astrologer wife.

They find themselves entangled in a family curse and secret society rivalry.

Watching them attempt to work together while navigating their intricate relationships and communication needs had me enthralled.

The drama felt impressively heightened, diverging from grand fantasy epics with world-saving plots to focus on a more intimate group and their struggles. It felt deeply personal, drawing you into the chaos of their lives. With such compelling characters, it's impossible not to become invested.

Thank you so much to the author - S.T. Gibson as well as Stephen and the team at Black Crow PR and the team at Angry Robot Books for running this book tour!

3.5 rounded up.

Evocation is an urban fantasy that deals in the occult, a secret society, and demons!

I have been a fan of S.T. Gibson's for a few years now and absolutely devoured A Dowry of Blood and An Education in Malice. I was SO excited to dive into another of their offerings.

S.T. Gibson does characters so well and this is on display on this very character driven novel. You can't help but empathize and understand the struggles they are going through even with otherworldly issues. As well, the atmosphere was PALPABLE. You open this book and become fully immersed in the story every time.

Although I thought the secret society was interestingly fleshed out, and I did really enjoy the characters and their interactions. The only thing I didn't like was the polyamorous relationship. Not the polyamory itself, but the fact that it read as David and Rhys' love story that Moira has to step aside for. I thought she deserved a lot better! And I wanted to explore her friendship with David more - they were really great together.

Overall, this seems to be a series (I think? will there be a book 2??) and I do look forward to what will happen next. It was an extremely compelling read and I loved the lore we learned as the book went on. It would be great to expand upon the world, the relationships and see how the secret society adapts to all the change!

Evocation follows David, a powerful medium in a secret society, as he approaches his 30th birthday and the curse that comes with it.

I have read both of S. T. Gibson's previous books and this has the same writing style as the others, which is very character focused. We're mainly following David, his ex-boyfriend Rhys, and Rhys' wife, as the three of them work together to figure out what's happening to David. There's lots of history, some rivalry and also some attraction going on, leading to a complex relationship dynamic between the group which I found very unique and interesting to follow along with. I like how the characters aren't perfect and it makes them seem so much more realistic.

I'm looking forward to reading Odd Spirits later this year.

Thank you to Angry Robot and Netgalley for this early copy.

It hurts me to write this review of Evocation by S.T. Gibson because I fell in love with this author when I read “Dowry of Blood”. That book changed my life, crushed my soul, and then brought it back to life. The two I have read since that book have left me feeling….adrift, and disappointed.

A brief synopsis from the publisher:

“As a teen, David Aristarkhov was a psychic prodigy, operating under the shadow of his oppressive occultist father. Now, years after his father’s death and rapidly approaching his thirtieth birthday, he is content with the high-powered life he’s curated as a Boston attorney, moonlighting as a powerful medium for his secret society.

But with power comes a price, and the Devil has come to collect on an ancestral deal. David’s days are numbered, and death looms at his door.

Reluctantly, he reaches out to the only person he’s ever trusted, his ex-boyfriend and secret Society rival Rhys, for help. However, the only way to get to Rhys is through his wife, Moira. Thrust into each other’s care, emotions once buried deep resurface, and the trio race to figure out their feelings for one another before the Devil steals David away for good…”

Sigh.

This story felt like fanfiction, with characters as doppelgangers for others and the mystical vibes merely decorative, as if a throuple walked through a new age shop and got incense smoke on their clothing.

The dark themes needed more oomph - I craved that heavy, soul-crushing feeling like in A Dowry of Blood. But alas, it felt like someone put a "YA Lite" filter on it. Disappointing!

I signed up for magic and demons, not a poly relationship seminar. While Moira's astrology and mediumship were well-researched, the dark magic was as shallow as a kiddie pool. Where was the deep dive into lore?

Demon possession? More like demon boredom. David's curse felt like a case of "magic covid" rather than a centuries-old demonic haunting. Let's get some real demon drama, people!

Moira seemed stuck playing relationship referee for two man-children. Her character was done dirty. I did not like the way she was handled.

The Rhys-David drama was so over-the-top, I found myself shipping David-Moira's platonic bond instead. Rhys? Meh. More like a lukewarm love interest.

And the sequel? Nah, I'm good. But wait - there's a prequel?! Talk about burying the lead! Not cool.

If contemporary, so-called poly romance with a fantasy sprinkle is your jam, dive in. Otherwise, give this one a pass.

Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot for granting my wish and allowing me the opportunity to read this ARC.

Fun fact about me... if a book even remotely mentions tarot... I will want to read it. I've been excited for this book from the moment I saw the cover. I had no idea what it was about until I got my hands on it.
It starts with a bang. David is a medium and is experiencing some new and alarming kind of sickness and seeks the help of his ex, who is the most likely to know what might be going on. The ex's wife (also a medium) tags along. Ever so slowly the story shifts to focus on the relationship between the three before finally circling back to David's illness near the end. The tarot, generational curse, and secret society aspect definitely took a back seat to the unfolding love story but it was so well written that I didn't even notice.
I listened to the audiobook, while following along with the ebook. It is the same narrator throughout and they do a good job at differing the tone and pitch for each character. There are, however, periods of time where gasps are heard before starting a sentence and the voice of Rhys reminded me of Batman. Still highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley & Angry Robot for providing me with this ARC in return for my honest opinion.

David Aristarkhov, a prosecutor who moonlights as a psychic/medium, uses his powers in persuasion to manipulate his clients.

After he has a strange encounter with a spirit & believes himself to be possessed, he immediately slides into his ex boyfriend’s DM’s (we’ve all been there, amirite?) for his help, and ends up becoming, uhh, well-acquainted with his ex and his ex’s wife.

After reading the blurb, I thought this was going to be a dark fantasy/horror and I was incredibly intruiged; however this was largely character-driven, with the plot seemingly added in the background to keep things moving. It felt more like a contemporary poly romance with a sprinkle of the occult on the side. I didn’t really connect with any of the characters as they fell a little flat for me and I couldn’t feel any of the emotions or the sincerity in what they were saying, which lead me to be a little bored while reading.

Evocation was well written and I enjoyed the prose, but unfortunately this particular book wasn’t for me, though I can see why others would enjoy it. I’ll be checking out S.T. Gibson’s other work to see if that suits my taste better!

Evocation was one of my most highly anticipated reads and unfortunately I was left quite disappointed. While, there were a lot of elements I enjoyed, the pacing and story development were just very slow.

There are three main characters, David, Moira and Rhys, and they each have their own POVs throughout the story, which I really enjoyed.

There were also some great tropes like, forced proximity, a polyamorous relationship, exes to rivals to lovers, and dark academia. I would recommend though, checking the content warnings before reading just in case.

The overall premise was very intriguing with all the occult and supernatural elements. I loved the secret society and mystery behind the ancestral deal/blood curse. There were some very dark and interesting moments as well.

However, the biggest issue for me was that unfortunately nothing really happened plot-wise. The pacing of the story was just very slow and the mystery behind the curse and figuring out how to break it was more of a subplot/afterthought. The story centered more on the relationships and dynamic between the characters instead of figuring out the curse.

I will say though, I definitely loved David most out of all the characters. His outlook, abilities and personality were just amazing. Rhys and Moira did have their moments but I just didn’t really care for them unfortunately.

The dynamic between all of them was very complex though. They each had their own issues and worked with one another differently. I did enjoy how they each bonded and connected with each other.

The polyamorous relationship was a bit different than what I was expecting. David and Moira were not romantically involved, so the romance centered more on David and Rhys. While, I understand that there are various types of polyamorous relationships for me personally, it just felt like there were two separate relationships happening, David and Rhys and Rhys and Moira.

The last few chapters was where all the action occurred but everything was resolved very quickly. The buildup to breaking the curse felt very underwhelming as well. While, this is the first book in The Summoner’s Circle series it thankfully does not leave off on a cliffhanger.

Overall, this was an okay read I was just expecting more.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

WE SAY YES TO POLYAMORY

Damn I didn’t think I’ll love this book that much ! The dark academia, occult and witchy ambiance was so well done.

The characters were amazing, I particularly loved David, he was an intriguing character with a really good evolution. In the beginning he seems cold, arrogant, full of himself and a bit mean but the more we go in the story the more we realize it’s just a facade and years of trauma.

I enjoyed the construction of the relationship with Moïra, we can see their barriers and their preconceived ideas of each other’s melting into a real friendship and a deep connection. The way David rely on Moïra, physically was so cute. I really loved their relationship. Also Moïra is an amazing character, she’s strong and fearless, she knows was she wants and keep an open mind ! The way they complete each other’s magic (David, Moïra and Rhys) is also a great aspect.

I had an harder time understanding Rhys but I loved the complexity of his feelings and the duality between ambition and humility.

The plot was really interesting, I usually don’t like multiple point of view but it was really helpful to understand fully the story. I was hooked since the beginning with the demon cursed, the search for a way undo it and the magic system !

I really loved how the author described the polyamorous relationship, how it started, the mixed feelings, the communication, dilemmas, doubts, guilts etc, it was really realistic !

I’ve been a big fan of S.T. Gibson’s books since I first read The Dowry of Blood, and I’ve been eagerly anticipating Evocation’s release from the minute I heard about it. I really liked it and am happy to say it met all my expectations, along with introducing me to three instant favourite characters.

David, Rhys, and Moria are all brilliant. They’re complicated and honest, flawed and passionate, and I really enjoyed each of their perspectives. Their relationship dynamics, both as a group and in pairs, are so interwoven that it’s difficult to predict exactly which direction they’re heading in. I found myself rooting for them all at different times, both romantically and platonically, and that just shows how attached I was. I have a huge soft spot for David and Rhys in particular, and I can’t wait to see where the future takes them.

Evocation is quite dark in parts, and the overall atmosphere always has a black cloud hanging over it. I was constantly on edge while reading, wondering what was going on and who would be most affected — invoking spirits and magic is never a lighthearted pastime, and the serious consequences of meddling with such things are always remembered here.

Evocation is a character driven story that sets a middling pace early on; it weaves its well written magic instantly, and is never afraid to realistically depict the unusual lives of its protagonists. It’s a slow build of a story, more an indie film than a cinematic blockbuster, but it successfully leaves its mark. I’m already looking forward to the upcoming sequel and prequel, and I truly can’t wait to be reunited with David, Rhys, and Moira.