I love genre-bending books and this is an exquisite combo of a fast-paced occult fantasy and a polyamorous enemies-to-lovers/second chance romance. Plenty of action (both types 🙃), enough rituals and spells to satisfy you for a year, friendship born of necessity, and love rekindled and used to save.

Gibson just has this WAY of writing that makes you get emotionally invested immediately, and as the plot unfolds, you’re shocked, delighted, afraid, and relieved at every turn. While I didn’t have much eyeball reading time this week, I feel like I flew through this thrilling and beautiful ride.

I'd probably rate this book 3.75 if it was possible, but I'm rounding it up as it was definitely more of a 4 star book than a 3 star.

Overall I enjoyed this book. I did experience a little slump in the middie of the book where it started to drag for me, but it was only short lived, and it quickly picked up!

I thought the plot was fascinating, and I loved the world that was created. I like the magic system, It was great to see the different abilities characters did and didn't have, and I loved the secret soceity aspect. What brought the book down for me was Moria, I felt she was an underdeveloped character at times, especially next to David and Rhys who felt like complex multi-dimensional characters. This wasn't always the case, but it felt like she didn't have as much care and attention. Also, at times the relationship/love between Rhys and Moira felt quite shallow and weak. Despite feeling this, I loved the communication the characters had throughout, and showing the conflicting feelings that can arise in these situations.

I definitely want to know what happens next, and I'm excited to potentially learn more about the world. I especially loved some of the side characters - I thought Kitty was absolutely fascinating and hilarious, and I'd love to see more their society friends. I didn't really know what I was expecting going in and I was pleasantly surprised!

Thank you for the ARC NetGalley and Angry Robot!

I was SO hyped for this book and so was estatic when I received this arc!

I really loved David's character and his relationships with other characters. I love the magic system in this book too.
I feel like this is how atlas six should have been written in order for me to have enjoyed it, as this was far more enjoyable but along the same lines

Gibson has a prose like no other. It pulls you into the story with force and will not let you go until it's over. This was sublime and I need more

Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot for giving me access to an eARC of this book.

I’m not sure if I missed something but this feels like book 2 in a series, not 1.

After reading this book I just feel extremely confused. We barely got anything regarding David and Rhys backstory, barely any information regarding that little occult society they are in and almost nothing regarding anything that is not moving the story forward. That made me sad.

Also, the relationships feels so rushed for no reason now that we know that this is a series. Why start off with everything being perfect in the first book? Spoiler, it’s not perfect but you know what I mean. Ugh.

The beginning of the book felt boring and I didn’t have it in me to finish it off but after 40% it started to get better and I could finish the rest in one sitting. Won’t read it again but I’m certain that someone will absolutely LOVE this book, it’s just not me.

S.T. Gibson's "A Dowry of Blood" is one of my favourite gothic horror reads, so I'm already invested in this author's work. I didn't enjoy her previous novel quite as much as Dowry, but I was holding out hope that this this most recent one. with a description as intriguing as it gets, would wow me once again.

And it certainly did. I had such a great time with "Evocation" and I'm sure many more will love it. Just do not go into this expecting much of a plot - this is very much a character focused novel with the relationship(s) between our main trio - psychic David, his ex-boyfriend and sorcerer Rhys and Rhy's new wife, witch and tarot reader Moira. I honestly sometimes forgot about the plot because I was too invested in how their complex threeway relationship developed. I love all of the characters, they're deep and layered and complicated and so are their feelings for each other. It's also one of the only polyamorous relationships in fiction I actually enoyed because I thought it was written very well - with lots of communication about it, ensuring consent and wellbeing at all times, especially between Rhys and Moira.
There are important themes woven into the narrative, be it on gender, sexuality, religion or conservative values versus modern and more liberal ones. One of the characters is also a recovering alcoholic and victim of child abuse. Gibson approaches all of these at times hard to swallow topics with care.

The plot that is there - a mysterious ancestral deal that slowly takes David's life and that he needs Rhys and Moira's help with - is interesting and well-crafted too. I did feel like the book sadly botched its landing with a very rushed, suddenly incredibly action-focused ending. Things were happening really fast all of a sudden and then it was just kind of over and done with, and it felt really anticlimactic.

This is also basically the big reason this gorgously written, otherwise well-crafted novel with it's complex characters only gets 4 stars from me. Had it stuck its landing this would probably have been a 5 star read.

It's official - if S.T. Gibson writes it, I'm going to love it!

Honestly, I'm so glad that this isn't a standalone novel because before I was even halfway through it, I knew I was going to give this 5 stars and want even more time with these characters. This is definitely a character driven novel (which is personally what I prefer over plot focused) and David, Rhys, and Moira are all wonderful. I cannot wait to see what Gibson has in store for the trio in the next book - especially since we didn't fully resolve the demon plot with this one!

Evocation by ST Gibson - spoiler free review

4.75 ⭐️
2 🌶️

First of all thank you so much @stgibsonauthor, @netgalley and @angryrobotbooks for giving me the opportunity to read this masterpiece as an e-arc before the release.

When I heard that @stgibsonauthor was releasing two books this year my excitement couldn’t be any less. After reading a dowry of blood, gibson has definitely become an autobuy author for me ❤️

And she did it again. Evocation infuses an immaculate occult dark academic atmosphere on every page. This again has the amazing gothic vibes that you can also find in a dowry of blood, however, I think this book is a bit easier to get into the aesthetic. The writing is again amazing, but a little less whimsical and poetic, than her other books. Nonetheless still the writing is very beautiful and gripping.

But what is the top of the cake of is … the characters. THESE CHARACTERS 🥹. The main character are David (serious, nepotism baby and Resident Medium), Rhys (David’s ambitious Sorcerer ex boyfriend) and Moira (Rhys’ charming Astrologer wife). Who are trying to solve the illness of David while also struggling with the ongoing rivalry within the society. And there dynamics and interactions are just 🤌🏻

The communication between them is just so pure, honest and open. It just shows the hardships but also the trust and acceptance of each other.

“I love Moira all the way to hell and back. I love her more than money, more than my own pride and ambition. That woman is my home, and I am more than willing to prioritize her - vehemently, if need be. If she tells me she needs something to feel safe, she gets it. End of story.”

Overall, it was again such an amazing read and ST Gibson has definitely done it again. I am so sad that it is going to take at least a year for the sequel to be released, because I want more of these characters.

And lastly I am literally internal screaming: Rhys calls Moira “little godess” like OMG THAT IS JUST SO PERFECT 🥹🤩

Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot Books for providing me with an e-ARC for review.

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Evocation is the first entry in an enticing new gothic fantasy series from S.T. Gibson, and I was immediately drawn in by the cover and the description. I got MAJOR John Constantine (of DC's Hellblazer) vibes from this title, and I knew I had to give it a try. The description that spoke of a Boston filled with secret mediums, psychics, and occult societies set the stage perfectly for this foray into the lives of Davis, Rhys, and Moira.

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David Aristarkhov, the supernaturally charming and powerful medium workaholic, who lives his solitary life to the fullest and busiest, has a problem. Working as an attorney by day and a well-regarded member of a secret gentlemen's club by night, he surely isn't haunted by the ghosts of his past. He controls ghosts, spirits, and the dead, not the other way around. But when something begins to take hold and choke the very life out of him with slow, cold menace, he has nowhere to turn but...

Rhys McGowan, who doesn't have a lick of psychic clairvoyance to speak of, but has clawed his way up through the channels to become David's rival at the club, wants nothing to do with his ex-boyfriend. They haven't ever really seen eye to eye, even when they were dating, and David's history is a dark stain on an already muddied relationship. But when David turns to him for help regarding a supposed instance of demonic possession, Rhys can't refuse. Not even with the stress of the upcoming inclusion in the selection of a new high priest for their brotherhood, which he desperately desires to be chosen for. He agrees to help David, with the assistance of...

Moira Delacroix, the best natal chart mapper and a damn good psychic, too, is willing to go along with her husband to support David Aristarkhov, but it's going to come with boundaries. She knows how poorly things ended between them, even without all the messy details, and she's worried about Rhys getting hurt again. But David is a compelling person, underneath all that charm and sarcasm and deflection. And he's hurting too, beyond the pain and sickness that the demonic entity is allegedly forcing onto him, making him more and more ill. So she's determined to do whatever she can to help--- teaching him to shield himself, getting him in touch with his psychic mental health, and even providing him a friendship that she never expected to blossom...

These three members of Boston's secret underworld occult are tied together on this hunt for David's demon, racing against the clock to discover the cause for his failing health before it's too late. And with tensions high, the high priest election knocking on both men's doors, and uncharted emotional territory all around, feelings begin to blossom forth once again; unbidden, unwanted, and unwilling to die.

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Wow, what a truly fantastic start to a series. I'm hoping for at least two more books to come. I have loved Gibson's writing before and this was no exception. It's a different tone for her compared to A Dowry of Blood and An Education In Malice, more modern, funnier, a sense of witty charm. I was spot on about the John Constantine vibes, he and David Aristarkhov should NEVER be allowed in a room together. Or within fifty miles of each other. I'll lay down some key facets of the work below.

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Plot: While this is a largely character driven work, I must say that the underlying dread following David's declining health was compelling and I was truly worried about his livelihood. I enjoyed the mystery hunt through the Aristarkhov mansion, especially the library scenes. Hopefully in the sequels we will see more of this antagonist and learn more of the motivations there, but a very solid start.

Writing: Fantastic, truly. I couldn't put this down and finished it in less than 24 hours. The writing flows very smoothly, it still feels unique in tone and execution but it's not flowery or purple like Gibson's previous work. Each character has a distinct voice in their POV's and felt really fleshed out and three-dimensional. The magic system, while soft, felt well explored and explained when it needed to be. And the descriptions of the world, both above and below Boston, were truly magical.

Characters: I loved all three of these characters so much. Gibson might have actually managed to cure some of my intense hatred towards the name David. Rhys is a major disaster bisexual, perfectly written in my opinion. But my favourite by far was Moira. She shines especially as a pinnacle of goodness and charity. She is a strong, well-defined woman who consistently makes her own choices and is rewarded with positive outcomes, and I love that about her

Romance: Again, fantastic. The utterly enchanting, easy, and genuine love between spouses Moira and Rhys. The tattered and frayed feelings between Rhys and David. And the platonic, supportive love you so rarely see highlighted between David and Moira. This was a very positive depiction of open marriage, though I don't think I would call it "why choose." Whatever "why choose" means in its many applications doesn't really fit this, in my opinion, since so much of the romance in this work does rely on making important choices. But really, a fantastic romantic plot in this one.

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Overall; Really, what an absolute banger. Knocked it out of the park. I'm so hyped for this to come out so that I can yell about it to friends and recommend it to everyone in the fantasy section. I think it's going to be a huge hit.

I really enjoyed this. Watching the relationship blossom between our three characters was beautiful. It was so wonderfully done. I love Gibsons’ writing and all the characters felt fleshed out and real. I can’t wait to read more of this series.

I'm in the minority here, but I just could not get into this one. I was intrigued by the concept and delighted when I was granted a wish copy, but despite multiple attempts I simply could not get into the story or engage with the characters in a way sufficient to keep my interest. The writing style was very descriptive, with chunks and chunks of pages going by with nothing happening. The relationships felt dysfunctional and overly complicated also, which didn't help. This one just wasn't for me...

I wanted to love this book so much! A Dowry of Blood is one of my all time favorite books and I have read everything ST Gibson has written since. Although I did enjoy Evocation, I did not love it as I did ADoB.

David finds himself in a dangerous situation - his work in the occult has landed him with more than he bargained for, and his days are numbered. In desperation, he reaches out to ex-boyfriend Rhys and Rhys's wife Moira, both of whom had gifts that can help David before he runs out of time.

The setting and the magical world that ST creates is wonderful, pulling the reader in to its crisp, ancient atmosphere. This is where she excels in Evocation, and in contrast, it is the relationships where I found the writing lacking.

Rhys and Moira love each other deeply, and while both start off being wary of David due to past conflict, I found that my main complaint with the book is that Moira's feelings change a little too easily, her fears and uncertainty swept aside a little too neatly when her husband's ex comes back into their lives.

Aside from that, I enjoyed Evocation and am wondering what the next book in The Summoner's Circle will bring.

The Devil knows your name, David Aristarkhov.
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.
Themes At first Glance:
*The Occult
*Polyamorous Relationship
*Witty Characters
Getting a ARC of this book was an absolute delight. I absolutely adore everything I have read from S T Gibson and she is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.
I can honestly say, with each book I read from her, I become more of a fan. This book for sure was a character driven story with ties to the occult and it was one hell of a ride. I found myself sympathizing with these characters, and really invested in their story. I honestly can’t wait to see what the rest of this series goes. Gibson has hit it out of the park once again. Highly recommend this book.



Thanks to the folks at Netgalley for an ARC of this book. My review is a honest reflection of my feelings towards this book.

5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot for my digital review copy

ST Gibson has done it once again. Absolutely enthralled me with her characters.

This book was very character driven, which I know may not be for everyone, but I absolutely adored it.

The book focusses on David and his ex boyfriend Rhys, and Moira (Rhys' wife). It was so fun to read about their dynamics and how it changes and I loved the relationship that developed between Moira and David so much.

I loved the descriptions of Moira's outfits so much and I'd love to see them recreated.

This book does also deal with heavy topics (abuse, addiction), so I would recommend checking content warnings first.

An urban gothic fantasy romance staged around the occult that features a polyamorous romance with plenty of mystery. I adore S.T. Gibson as an author and love her writing style. I really wanted to love this, but overall, I found it to be extremely disappointing. The character development is nonexistent; there is no growth or development of any of the characters from beginning to end. The characters themselves felt very two-dimensional, and none of the relationships between the characters felt real. The polyamorous relationship is really Rhys just cheating on his wife. There is zero chemistry between the characters. The world-building and magic system are lacking. The readers are told they are in the occult or they performed the ritual, but nothing is actually shown. The way David's alcoholism is portrayed and how he is treated during the relapse is disturbing and honestly disgusting. The ending is rushed and anticlimactic.

This is the 3rd book by ST Gibson I've read and by far the most enjoyable one! There's an actual story and progression of characters - more please! A married couple, Rhys and Moira and Rhys' ex-boyfriend David are all magical practitioners. When it becomes clear that a legendary curse has befallen David they must all find a way to work together to remove it. I liked the interplay between the 3 main characters, I felt that all their behaviours were realistic and in keeping with their personalities. There is quite a lot of mention and progression to polyamory in the book, I'm interested to see where the next book in the series will take this - it's believable that Rhys and David have unfinished business after a messy breakup but as to if Moira would be fine with them recoupling I'm needing a bit more convincing. The magic was well mixed in with the relationship drama.

A fun setting and an easy escapist read that I ultimately wished either had more character or more plot. While David and Moira felt incredibly well developed, Rhys felt more like a linchpin than a person in his own right and for a book so clearly meant to be heavy on character, that left a sagging middle that the plot didn't feel built to carry. I'll happily keep going with this series and I have hopes that all the elements will deepen over time, but I wanted a little more messy electricity based on the marketing.

David Aristarkhov is fiercely ambitious in multiple arenas: his career as a Boston attorney, his moonlighting gig as a powerful medium, his desire to be named high priest of his occult fraternity. He is shaken out of his confident pursuits by the realization that he is becoming possessed by a demon, and turns to his ex-boyfriend and now rival, Rhys. He must first win over Rhys's new wife, Moira, a powerful witch in her own right who is deeply suspicious of the man who put her husband through so much emotional turmoil. The three characters are increasingly drawn to each other as they try to solve the mystery of how to save David's soul.

This book had so many elements that captivated me: the luxurious dark academia vibe, the polyamorous relationship exploration and dynamics, the secret occult society, the mysterious mansion complete with library full of priceless rare books. The plot was almost incidental; this was very much a character-driven book. I was smitten with Moira; I would love to see a sequel revolving around more of her story.

Thank you so much to Angry Robot and Netgalley for this ARC to review!

4.5 stars, rounded up.

I really enjoyed this, but did not end up liking it as much as I hoped I would. The prose is, as always, fantastic, the worldbuilding is fascinating and the premise really cool (I'm always a sucker for any type of "deal with the supernatural stories").

However, while I did like the characters and enjoyed reading their dynamics, there is a bit too much telling and not enough showing - we're constantly told that they're powerful, sharp, composed... but we have very few occasions to see them demonstrate those qualities. Moreover, they're the only magic users we really see in action, so it's hard to believe that they're extraordinary when we don't have anything to compare them to.

Overall, definitely recommended, particularly if you've enjoyed the author's other books, and I really look forward to the next book in the series!

David is an Aristarkhov. His family is incredibly wealthy and are well known in the occult world. He doesn’t like to ask for help, and he definitely doesn’t like to show any signs of weakness.

Rhys is an academic. He was introduced to the Society by David. All Rhys wants is to be named High Priest of the Society. David and Rhys have a complicated history which makes Society meetings awkward.

Moira is a witch. Her mother, and grandmother were witches too. She runs a business reading palms and laying out tarot decks. Moira and Rhys are married, and Moira does not like David.

David and Rhys haven’t spoken in 6 months. However, when David runs into trouble, he doesn’t know who else to turn to but Rhys, and by association, Moira.

This book has my whole heart, I am absolutely in love with how it was written. I love that it is written from 3 points of view.

The way the story progresses is just perfect, I felt so invested throughout the book. I can’t recommend this book enough!

Thank you NetGalley and Angry Robot for granting me access to this E-arc in exchange for an honest review.