3.75 rounded up. I still really enjoyed this, it just wasn’t as dark as I’d hope. There are dark topics but it’s written in a more fun(?) and snarky way. I did really like the main character David and liked getting to know Moira. I know nothing of tarot or astrology but it was very present in this book and makes me want to learn more about both. While not my favorite of all of their works, I still enjoyed the writing. I flew through this book quickly and had a good time. Looking forward to continuing the series.

This was so much fun to read. Just picking up the book was a joy. I did mostly want to read it because of the cover, but I ended up really enjoying it. The vibes were probably the best part of this story. I’ve always really loved reading about anything occult, so this was a serious hit for me. There’s an all-male secret society, different occult powers, demon possession and a polyamorous relationship between our three mains(David, Rhys & Moira).

I was hooked from the beginning. I loved the three different POVs for our main characters. They all felt very developed and different from each other. The first sign of the demon gave me chills and I couldn’t wait to see how it was dealt with. The relationship between the three characters felt so natural. I’d have to say Moira was my favorite! For being a shorter book, I got attached to the characters and can’t wait to read the next one!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Angry Robot for the ARC. A strong 4 stars from me.

Just not for me. Was hoping for more focus on the magic being done but really that felt like a vehicle for the relationship. Basically I was expecting more demons and spells and less tropes being checked off.

3.5 stars. This is apparently the first in a new series by the author of A Dowry of Blood. David is a Boston attorney who also happens to be a powerful medium. After a reading goes wrong w/ a client (basically David is possessed by something he definitely didn't invite), he knows he is in desperate need of psychic help. He turns to his ex-boyfriend, Rhys and his wife, Moira. They come to find out that there is a curse on David where his soul will be devoured by his 30th birthday. Which, of course, is imminent.
This quickly becomes a throuple-type situation. While I love Rhys and Moira's dynamic, it annoyed me that they just let David back in the mix. And there is a completely unnecessary (IMO) sex scene between David and Rhys almost at the very end of the book. Kind of like Gibson had to get that in somewhere. And even though Moira and David have a connection, I cannot imagine a strong, powerful Black woman allowing her husband to just do whatever he wants with his ex. Anyway, I'm interested to see where this story goes.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Angry Robot for this e-arc.*

I will post a more full review to socials in due course once I have had chance to sit with the Book a little more.

This is an urban fantasy romance, a genre which I am not normally drawn to – but with a brilliant cover and some peer recommendations I thought I’d check it out.

Delightfully queer, there’s a lot to enjoy in this book. The worldbuilding is nice and could be easily used in future books set in this world. My only qualm is with the actual characters, I found it difficult to like their actions – which isn’t a prerequisite, obviously, but when you are being asked to invest in a complicated romantic situation rooting for one or two of the three people involved would be a good idea ,

I thoroughly enjoyed the style and vibe of this, and look forward to the next novel – perhaps with some different characters!

This read differently to Gibsons other works, but still had that excellent character driven plot I've come to love. The characters here are a cacophony of chaos, they are far from perfect people but that's what makes them wonderful. You grow to love them and their flaws, and you really want the best for them.
~~~~~
when the Devil comes to collect on a deal David's ancestor made, he reluctantly reaches out to his ex-boyfriend Rhys for help. However, to get to Rhys, David will have to befriend Moira, Rhys's wife. The trio gets a little too close for comfort as they combine their powers to unravel the century-old curse, and if they don't break the curse by David's thirtieth birthday, he won't live long enough for everyone to figure out their feelings for each other.
~~~~~
Watching the characters figure out the world of curses and their feelings towards each other, and the politics of secret societies all at once is enticing and dynamic and made for excellent reading! The queer and polyamorous rep throughout was also an excellent addition and read so naturally it was a joy.
I'd highly recommend whether you're new to Gibsons work or an old fan! It's a beautiful plot and world, wrapped up in the just right amount of chaos

5 -⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"I'd move heaven and hell for you...Tell me you know that."
"I don't want hell...I just want you."

Evocation is the first novel in the adult gothic paranormal romance series, The Summoner's Circle. The story centers around David, a high power attorney by day and a psychic prodigy by night. Yet as it looms closers to his thirtieth birthday, he begins to experience strange phenomena that harken back to an old rumour about his family...a deal with the devil that appears to be counting down. Not knowing where to turn to he finds himself calling to an ex-lover and sorcerer, Rhys. Their relationship ended tumultuously and David finds the only way to get through to Rhys is through his wife, Moira. As they work to uncover what is happening to David and how to stop it emotions rise between the three and they soon realize in order to save David they need to figure everything out soon...because the devil waits for no one.

Moira, David, and Rhys were a trio I could not get enough of! David has is demons...figuratively and literally. He is talented but his drive can be his undoing. I appreciated his self reflection and the realistic approach the was to his recovering for alcoholism. He is so use to pushing people away there were times I wanted to shake him but when he learns he can be quite endearing.

Rhys is a fun character with a whole lot of guilt around his feelings for Rhys. He never truly forgot David but his love for Moira is powerful and I adored his relationship with her. His honestly to her balanced his struggle to come to grips of the emotions he never fully processed with David. He is determined and can become quite involved in his work but his heart is in the right place.

The star of the show is Moira, though. She is powerful in a more subtle way I like how she got to explore that more with David. Her capacity for love is strong and I loved seeing how she navigated the relationship she saw unfolding while also forging one herself. I feel without her Rhys and David could never fully realize their connection.

This novel does contain spice - I would say 2 spicy peppers out of 5 spicy peppers. This novel has an established couple from the beginning but there is also polyamory and LGBTQ representation. The spice happens in the second half of the novel and focuses on the two relationships - the one already established and the one being re-explored. I felt it was well written and the lead up of their connections was well done and made the spice rewarding.

Both David and Moira were so close, close enough that Rhys could smell the vesitages of oat soap clinging to Moira's skin and see the details of the fine stitching on David's cuff. It would be very easy to kiss them both, if he wanted to.

The story itself is character driven with an overlying plot around what is happening to David and the inner workings of the occult Society. I enjoyed the characters and the relationships - the connections, the banter, and support had me smiling and feeling so much for them. I feel this introduced the world but I still have a lot of questions and felt some aspects were not fully investigated. There is a lot more to this setting that we didn't get to see. We get to explore family trauma, alcoholism, demonic summonings, rivalry for coveted positions, and just a hint of forbidden romance. The ending is a happily ever after for now which was such a relief.

Overall, I had no idea what I was expecting when I started this but I am so happy I got the opportunity to dive into it! S.T. Gibson has a way of weaving powerful character relationships into an eerie world that draw you in. I cannot wait to see what comes next!

Thank you Angry Robot for this arc!

I’m obsessed. S.T. Gibson Is an automatic buy for me from now on. It was a lil campy, a lil dark and super hot. “Yes High Priest” at this point it was indeed a 5 star read for me. S.T. Gibson gets it!


Thanks for the arc NetGalley

I thought this was a decent book. Dark academia is not my usual thing so it probably will appeal more to others than it does to me but overall, it was still a good read with interesting characters.

I'll definitely pick up books by S.T. Gibson again,

This review is for Evocation by S.T. Gibson which releases in the UK on the 28th May! Thanks so much to Netgalley and AngryRobot books for giving me an eArc copy for this book in exchange for my honest review.

I’ve read a lot of S.T. Gibson’s work now, and I think I can say for sure this is my favourite so far! I loved the wide range of diverse characters, and the unique world built in the novel. It’s set in Boston, specifically in the underground occultist networks featured in both high and low society. It features a wide range of magic users such as occultists, sorcerers, witches, mediums, and more. It’s overall super gritty and real, and I was obsessed. It was super easy to read, but does lack a little storyline. I felt it could have been so much more than what it was. The cover artwork is also super beautiful and can’t wait to have this on my shelf.

As I said, it features a wide range of diverse and LGBTQ+ characters and does explore a lot of the characters sexuality which was super interesting. Moira was obviously my favourite, and I hope they do come out with another book so I can see more of the main three characters dynamic. She is an incredible woman and I immediately loved her resilience and openness to the craziness they fall into. She is so different to the two male main characters David and Rhys, who are so ambitious and driven. The tension between all three of them is great, and came to the perfect ending in my opinion.

My only negative was the storyline, it just felt a little empty and felt like it could have been built up so much more to raise the stakes as it fell a little flat and felt a bit anticlimactic. However I did love it all the same, and hope there’s more after this book! Would highly recommend this to any fantasy readers out there.

Evocation is partly a psychic vs. demon fantasy-mystery, but mostly it is a polyamory ‘vee’ romance story, with David and Moira as the ‘metamours’ and Rhys as the ‘hinge’ that holds them together.

Which is slightly ironic as it is the David/Moira relationship that is most engaging here. Their enemies to loving friends journey feels like the most natural and healthy developing bond in the book, while Moira and Rhys feel like complicated couple goals, and Rhys and David are far too unhealthily co-dependent to be in a relationship with each other despite the feels.

The worldbuilding is interesting, taking a detailed and scientific approach to spiritualist practices such as tarot, tea leaves, palmistry and astrology, but also introducing spirit-calling, compulsion/charm magic and summoning of demons as more of a fantasy element. But all of this forms the background to the human tale of familial/child abuse, addiction, ambition and supportive, accepting love. This isn’t a story about saving the world – it’s about trying to save one troubled, difficult man (I do like David!). And how to balance work, family, friends, love and duty along the way, which is very relatable.

Expect a lot of angst, self-doubt and emotional struggle, with an incidental demon possession problem on the side (which felt analogous to either addiction or a wasting disease/chronic degenerating illness in the way it is portrayed).

There is a plot hook at the end to avoid any neat resolution to the story and lead the reader towards the next book in the series, which I hope will contain more of the occult mystery and magical worldbuilding, now that the characters have been introduced and developed into something of a working unit!

Vivid, gothic, twisted. A darkly delightful exploration of complicated relationships - set to the backdrop of an occult magical society and the threat of a mysterious, deadly curse.
Strong, stubborn and struggling David Aristarkhov reaches out to his ex, Rhys McGowan, when a routine psychic spirit summoning ends in possession. Little does David know the true extent of the problem... Meanwhile, Moira Delacroix - Rhys' wife - is determined to put aside past hurts to help both men, and together they race to find a solution that won't end in death (and/or heartbreak).
I loved the rich descriptions and that ST Gibson does not shy away from deep heartfelt emotions. The pacing felt natural and unrushed. I look forward to learning more about the three powerful main characters and their relationship with one another in the next Summoner's Circle book. This is a must-read for fans of Tamsyn Muir, C.L. Clarke, Veronica Roth and Olivie Blake.
Thank you to the publisher Angry Robot for providing me an ARC of this book via NetGalley! All opinions are my own.

This is far from what I was expecting, but I loved it!
While the "occult" is definitely a theme that wraps around this story tightly, this is at heart a love story.
Mind me, I do not use the term love story lightly - this is not the typical romance book you find everywhere.
This is a story that feels real (not the occult part, but the relationship between the characters), even when uncomfortable.
A story that explores all the actual mess that can come around when deep, meaningful feelings are at play.
A story that conveys how liberating it can be to simply live your life, regardless of what others may think of you.
This is IMHO the best representation I ever read about polyamory , with a wonderful gloomy yet cozy background of dark magic in the shadowy city of Boston.
I am looking forward to the next book, thank you S.T. Gibson for opening a door into a world that - although not mine - always fascinated me deeply.

I really loved this one, and I think it’s probably my favourite S.T. Gibson book to date. I felt totally immersed in this compelling urban fantasy and while I enjoyed the historical settings of A Dowry of Blood and An Education in Malice, Gibson’s writing soars in a more modern (but still magical) setting like Boston.

David was particularly charming but his vulnerability is really what struck a chord. Rhys is the perfect academic rival, and I very much enjoyed Moira’s strength. As always with S.T. Gibson’s novels queer identity, polyamory and sexuality were explored in a realistic way rather than relying on stock characterisation, and I can’t wait to see what happens to this trio next.

<i>I would like to thank NetGalley and Angry Robot for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.</i>

Okkkk I'm going to get this out of the way first and foremost, because my feelings about this particular point was so vicious at times that I refuse to blame myself. Brace yourself.

Straight up this whole poly thing was a mess. For me, the relationship stuff read so flat that I could not have cared less who kissed who. So no, imo this book did not need a throuple with constipated energy and no sex appeal. Stop it. Daphne, Velma and Fred had more chemistry. I'm very much hoping that Book 2 will eradicate this nonsense and it will read like either Book 1 never happened, or just like a flashback of an "experimental college experience" that <i>RhysDavidMoira</i> don't talk about anymore but remained friends despite/because of it all. Ok I'm done thinking about this now.

But also...

<b>...here are some OTHER things I was uncool about:</b>

1 thinking someone is a "deity" because they wear shimmer in their makeup, can plot a star chart, read tarot and give great hugs is...an interesting take. Especially when the book is literally about a pact with an <b>"i'm coming for your soul-your body/brain is an inconsequential happy meal"</b> demon, and additionally features a haunted house that actively hates David and wants to kill him. That's the story I came for.

But stg throughout 75% of this book I was hoping a rift would open up at Beacon Hill and claim them all just so I wouldn't have to read the word <b>"goddess"</b> ever again. Moira reads tarot with some zodiac sparkle, wields crystals and cries when she sees dead people. Calm down. That kid from Sixth Sense was more put together than this caricature of a southern "daddy raised me right/meemaw" gal.

It was a lot.

For me.

And I'm a yoga-crystal-meditation-stevie nicks fan.

Yes, I white saged after this.

Moving on.

2 <b>The Tone:</b> There's a Secret Society that evokes both Victorian-occultist sentimentality and regular, ritualistic summoning of netherworld denizens (with a side of cigar and sexism), a demon possessed workaholic lawyer/<i>spirit medium & psychic intuitive</i> under thirty, a mansion with its own agenda, a surname in demon Collections...sounds marvelous yeah? Now slap some lidocaine on that, imagine making conversation with an upper echelon "Kitty" while wearing off-the-rack Target and recalibrate your mouth dreams to yearn for a pistachio latte from Tatte (Charles St. location in Beacon Hill). Everything will taste like ash in your mouth after that.

There's academia, there's library-core, there's prosecuting, there's childhood trauma.

But all of this landed like a derivative, <i>"dark academia meets bougie Boston"</i> pinterest board and I'm sort of mad about that. Because there was just sooooo much potential here. And though this wasn't the greatest read for me, I still really enjoyed the ending! And I definitely liked David Aristarkhov!

So I'm very much hoping S.T. Gibson will take the bones of Book 1 and do the opposite of what a series typically does and magic a 5 star Book 2, with or without the help of any and all demons or divine light beings or whatever (cringe) goddess is on call for bestselling authors these days! Definitely curious to read the prequel, <b>Odd Spirits</b>, and to see where this series goes next! There's still a demon to vanquish after all, and I'm weirdly invested in Gibson's secret Society occultists leveling up, and bringing some hellfire in the next installment to make up for everything that led to this less than sparkling review.

First of all, this cover is ART. The colors and the Hanged Man card are chef's kiss. I am going to need a physical copy of this book because the pictures I've seen have made me swoon and I can only imagine it's even better in person.
Evocation is my favorite S.T. Gibson book by far. It has three equally compelling (read: MESSY) characters who I care about deeply. Gibson does such a good job of fleshing them out, of making them deeply flawed, of giving them hopes, dreams, fears, and ambitions. I love Rhys, David, and Moria so much as individuals, but also together in every combination. Their relationship is the real magic of this book.
The characters are the true driving force of the story, but I like the machinations of the society and the small glimpses we get into the magical worlds of Boston. I'm usually not a fan of urban fantasy or magic set in the real world, but this book does it so flawlessly I didn't even notice. Evocation is more grounded than Gibson's other books and because of this, the stakes feel higher, the characters more real.
I can't wait to read what happens next.

Gibson has once again written an incredible story full of magic and intrigue and just a dash of spice. I really enjoyed the way that David, Rhys, and Moira are all kind of imperfect characters and we enter their story with a lot of baggage and history between them. The relationship dynamic of this book was so compelling as it enabled the reader to have beautiful scenes of domesticity with an established couple (something that I really don't think readers get treated to enough!) as well as feeling the burn and intrigue of relationships in their early days of blossoming. The fact that things didn't always feel linear and easy created a story that was incredibly engaging as well as feeling truthful.

I make no secret that I am somewhat partial to a vampire story so it really comes as a surprise to me that Evocation is my favourite Gibson story that I have read to date. This is not to say that I didn't enjoy A Dowry of Blood and An Education in Malice, I think they are both incredible stories, it just really feels as though Evocation is where Gibson has really found their stride.

I love the unique magic systems that are at play in this story and the deep lore that it feels as though we are only beginning to scratch the surface of, leaving the reader excited for more stories to come in the Summoner's Circle series.

I think this is a book that will have wide appeal with sizzling character dynamics and a magical mystery are the core.

"Evocation," the first installment of S.T. Gibson's new fantasy series, offers a darkly atmospheric and character-focused narrative that both intrigues and frustrates. As a fan of Gibson's previous works, I had high expectations for this book. While it didn't fully meet them, it still delivered on several fronts.

The story centers around David Aristarkhov, a former psychic prodigy turned Boston attorney who moonlights as a powerful medium for his secret society. With his thirtieth birthday approaching, David's life takes a dark turn as the Devil comes to collect on an ancestral deal. Desperate, David reaches out to his ex-boyfriend and secret society rival Rhys for help. However, to get to Rhys, he must first navigate his relationship with Rhys's wife, Moira. As they are thrust together, buried emotions resurface, and the trio must sort through their complicated feelings before the Devil claims David for good.

Initially, I found the slow start and occasionally awkward character dynamics to be detracting. The plot, while intriguing in premise, was rather weak and didn't become a central focus until the final chapters. This pacing made the beginning feel sluggish and less engaging than I had hoped.

However, as the story progressed, the characters' relationships began to develop more fully. Gibson's signature gothic atmosphere, dynamic characters, and complex romances are present throughout, which helped to draw me back in. Despite the slow build, the emotional depth and interactions between David, Rhys, and Moira eventually became the heart of the story, making it a more character-centered narrative than a plot-driven one.

While "Evocation" might not have lived up to the high bar set by Gibson's previous works, it still has plenty to offer fans of gothic fantasy. The character development and rich atmosphere kept me invested, and I'm looking forward to seeing how the story evolves in the next installment. S.T. Gibson remains one of my favorite authors, and I'll eagerly follow her wherever her storytelling takes me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.

ST Gibson is the queen! I am new to her writing, but have loved everything she has released.

This a great start to a series with political intrigue, creepy spirits, and characters you can relate to and be annoyed by. I love the bi rep in this book, as often I think the bisexuality is often ignored or portrayed poorly. I was hooked listening to this book the entire time. I cannot wait for book 2.

Thank you netgalley for the audio ARC!

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an arc.

This was my first time reading S.T Gibsons work and it definitely will not be my last. The writing was well done and the plot was fully formed and flushed out, there was no point where I felt lost in the world building (which is hard to accomplish in fantasy). David was such an interesting character and such a well traumatized character, having the burden of being a terrible mans son, basically alone in the world because of his family's actions. Very unique love triangle of a married couple but the husband has a boyfriend and the wife is kind of into it, I really liked how it was done as neither of the characters in the marriage really felt threatened by David's presence (well towards the middle/end). There are so many books where there is a deal with the devil and usually they fall into a repetitive plot all the time, this felt more like a generational curse than a simple deal to get out of a one time conflict.

I will say the ending did feel a little rushed, especially since it seems like there is going to be a follow up book? Either way I appreciated the writing and a well written story!