A huge thank you to @netgalley and @angryrobotbooks for gifting me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Let me preface this review by saying that this was my first book by Gibson and it hasn’t deterred me from her other works.

Gibson’s character work is incredible and her ability to create realistic dynamics is an incredible gift. David was my favourite character because I am nothing if not a sucker for a sarcastic asshole with a hidden vulnerability.

I just didn’t feel overly thrilled by this, but I wasn’t overly bored. The writing style and slower pace just didn’t work for me and I felt the plot to be rather lacklustre, opting to concentrate more on the romance aspect of the book. If the characters had been weak I’d have DNF’ed very quickly.

An incredible example of incredible character work which has me intrigued enough to venture into Gibson’s other work, I might revisit this once I’ve explored the rest!

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

still not sure how i felt about this one. i honestly think i have to go back and give it a reread because i don't think i fully understood what was going on. i enjoyed the dark, gothic vibes and the writing was well done. but i think i just wasn't grasping the entire story.

This story follows David as he tries to reconnect with his ex-boyfriend Rhys, when strange things start happening. Rhys is now married to Moira and they are all trying to get past something that happened six months prior in order to save David's life. The reader goes through a secret society, tarot reading and unexpected bonds.
I didn’t find this as intense as the author’s other books, but it was captivating all the same.

This was an okay book, I was expecting more but I didn’t love the way it was written, it felt a bit juvenile.

This was a brilliant read. A gorgeously written love-triangle with a "why choose?" twist. I adored the relationships, the characters, the world. This was an easy 5/5 for me and I'll be suggesting it to our book club ASAP!

"Evocation" by S.T. Gibson is a spellbinding entry into the "Summoner's Circle" series, drawing readers into a world where magic, love, and danger intertwine. The story centers on David Aristarkhov, a psychic medium and lawyer who finds himself cursed and facing demonic possession. To save himself, David reaches out to his ex-boyfriend Rhys, a secret society rival, and Rhys's wife, Moira. Their journey to break the curse is as much about rekindling old emotions and navigating complex relationships as it is about battling dark forces.

What sets this book apart is its character-driven narrative. David is a flawed yet compelling protagonist whose growth and vulnerability are explored in depth. His interactions with Rhys and Moira add layers of emotional complexity, making their evolving relationships both captivating and authentic. Moira, in particular, stands out with her strength and influence over the dynamic, becoming a linchpin for the trio.

The setting—a blend of dark academia and arcane mysticism—adds to the book’s allure, creating a rich, atmospheric backdrop that enhances the tension and stakes of the plot. Gibson’s love for the occult is evident, and it lends a genuine, immersive quality to the story.

While the plot may take a backseat to character development at times, this doesn't detract from the overall experience. The slow-burn romance and the exploration of polyamory are handled with sensitivity and depth, making the emotional journey just as gripping as the supernatural elements. The book’s conclusion is a bit rushed, leaving some threads untied, but it sets the stage for future installments and leaves readers eager for more.

In summary, "Evocation" is a dark, engaging tale that masterfully blends magic, romance, and complex human relationships. It’s a must-read for fans of character-focused narratives with a touch of the supernatural.

I am normally an ST Gibson stan but this was not it for me. Perhaps my expectations were too high or I misunderstood what the book was trying to do but I struggled my way through this one.

First things first, this is a romance novel. It is set in a slightly fantastical world but I would not call this a fantasy novel. I think readers need to know that before going in and adjust their expectations accordingly.

I say this because I started this story excited for a demon-filled urban fantasy with a side of polyam romance and Gibson’s character work that I typically love. Instead, the characters spent the majority of the story sitting in a room reading books angsting over each other and blushing.

There were so many opportunities for this book to soar but it never got off the ground. The base structure of the world-building was fascinating but we barely scratched the surface in the end. The characters are all extremely powerful in their own right but you never see them use their power. The big bad demon antagonist does nothing except give our boy a fever. And the polyam romance reads a little misguided and a whole lot of toxic.

This book was all vibes and so little sustenance. I will read the follow-up because I have so much faith that ST Gibson will be able to pull it off the ground but as it stands now, Evocation was a slow read that fizzled when it could have sparked.

Evocation is a gothic tale of magic, curses, polyamory and deals with the devil. The book follows David, an attorney and medium, Rhys, his ex-boyfriend and secret society rival, and Moira, Rhys’ powerful wife, as their lives get intertwined when a century-old curse awakens. Evocation is a witty, paranormal novel filled to the brim with magic, secret societies, and relationship drama. The messy dynamic between the three main characters is the driving force of the book and is what kept me hooked throughout. My only wish is that the book was longer, but it is set to be a series, so I am eagerly awaiting the next instalment. I would recommend Evocation to anyone wanting a funny, queer, magical story.

*Thank you to the publisher for sending me an early copy in exchange for an honest review*

Okay, so I have mixed feelings about this one, I gotta admit. Not my favorite S. T. Gibson unfortunately!

In S.T. Gibson we trust.

Having read A Dowry of Blood and An Education in Malice, reading an S.T. Gibson book set in modern day was a big shift. I wasn't sure if I would like it as much, as I love me some historical romantic gothic vibes. But I shouldn't have doubted her for a second. She was still able to lace that gothic atmosphere into Evocation with ease.
This was my first book with poly rep and I enjoyed it! I will say I think the focus was much more on the relationship between David and Rhys, and Moira wasn't given quite the same treatment that I would have enjoyed. I also think some of the plot took a backseat to the poly romance, which is fine, except that I'm not as much a fan of romance as I am of fantasy. So maybe that's just a personal preference thing.
I loved how the author clearly did her research into the occult and different kinds of magic. The secret society stuff was some of my favourite parts to read. I'm excited to see where things go in book 2, and to read the prequel this fall!
Overall this was a really good book, not my favourite by Gibson but still good. I will be talking it up to customers at work who are regulars of the paranormal romance genre, and who want some fantasy but aren't as into a historical setting.

First of all, I'm not gonna lie, the cover was what caught my eye at first. It's gorgeous, stunning and perfect.
I've read An Education in Malice by S. T. Gibson and while I've really enjoyed the writing style and atmosphere, it wasn't my favorite. I didn't get to A Dowry of Blood yet, and I was a bit hesitant to get to Evocation but I gave it a try.

Evocation is a contemporary paranormal story in which we follow David, who gets entangled in an occult problem he might need help with. That makes him renew contact with his ex boyfriend, Rhys (and Moira, who's a wife of Rhys).

I'm not gonna lie, the plot became secondary to me as I was reading. I've thoroughly enjoyed the relationships between our characters though and that was the thing in the forefront for me. I don't think I've read a story with polyamory in it before, at least not in a long time, and from what I can tell (not having such experiences in my life), it was portrayed in a very thoughtful way. I've loved the communication and respect between the characters and that's usually what makes or breaks the romance in the books for me. I feel like I've became invested in the lives of David, Rhys and Moira really quickly.

The setting was interesting, the action takes place in a contemporary Boston and I'll admit, I prefer fantastical locations to real ones in books that have magic. That being said, I've really liked the exploration of a secret society.

I really admire the author for the portrayal of different sexual orientations, complex relationships, alcoholism (that seemed really respectful too) and many other themes. To be honest, I've felt a bit as if it was written by a different person than An Education in Malice, as, interestingly, my view on strong points of the book shifted a lot in comparison.

Overall, this book was ⭐⭐⭐⭐ for me! I'll for sure read Odd Spirits, a prequel novela that will be released this year.

✨ Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for granting me access to an e arc and I'm honestly sorry for the delayed review. 💜

Not my favorite by S.T Gibson but still liked it.
**I def recommend reading the prequel novella for some background on the characters**

Even with the prequel, there was a lot of setup of the characters which I'm sure will make future books in the series more enjoyable. The characters are defined, Gibson takes a lot of care with them as well as doing the research into different spiritual practices and presenting them in a quotidian manner.
I quite enjoyed the mystery/problem, I might already see a solution down for it down the road, but for now I will enjoy watching David, Moira and Rhys navigate and figure out their relationship and places in their world.

I am a big fan of S.T. Gibson's prose ever since I read A Dowry of Blood, and this one didn't disappoint. While not comparable to ADOB, Evocation handles this unique triangle between the characters with the utmost respect and care; the occult lore was super well researched; the characters were flawed and adorable and fascinating. I would love to read more stories set in this world!

P.S. Thank you to the publisher for offering me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The author made it seem initially like this book would be equal parts good supernatural plot and poly romance, but instead it was 90% cheating (physically and emotionally), 5% white men embarrassing a Black woman through their behavior and poor communication skills, and 5% lackluster plot that made very little sense.

I absolutely LOVED this book. I've been hooked on S.T. Gibson's writing every since I read A Dowry of Blood and have yet to be disappointed. She has such a mastery of creating rich, spellbinding settings and crafting complex, messy characters and relationships, and Evocation proves to be just the same. Evocation is perfect for those looking for a character-driven story steeped in the occult, complete with a healthy dose of flawed characters and a dark academia atmosphere.

Continuing the discussion of messy, flawed characters, I adored all three of our main characters in this book. David was by far my favorite with his self-confident, cocky attitude, while really being a lonely, sad boy on the inside who just wants to be loved. His character development was really well done, and it was interesting to see how Rhys and (especially) Moira helped him accept himself for who he is. The platonic love between him and Moira was really refreshing to see, as I feel like that sort of love is not depicted very often in the media. Moira herself would have to be my next favorite character. I loved that she wouldn't take anyone's crap and consistently stood up for herself and what she wanted. I feel like her maturity and candor were really an integral part in the success of the polyamorous relationship in this book. Rhys comes last on my list of favorites, as I feel like there is still a lot we don't know about him on a personal level. However, I do love his aesthetic and his moody, obsessive academic personality. It was interesting reading about his and Moira's relationship as well. I'm definitely interested in learning more about him and his past (and future) with both David and Moira.

As for the occult aspect of this book, I wasn't sure if I would like the urban magic focus in this versus some of S.T. Gibson's other works, but I found that I actually really enjoyed it! It's clear that Gibson has experience in the occult and the magic system was executed in a very real, believable sense. And even though you could tell that all of the MCs were experts in their specific areas, the way things were explained to the reader made it easy to follow and understand. I also enjoyed the secret society aspect in this book. I liked that it was a larger, well-established society that you could really see the inner workings of. I look forward to seeing more of the magic system and following each MC's occult journey, as well as the exploration of their new roles within the secret society!

I didn't think it was possible, but I honestly feel like I ended up loving Evocation more than I did A Dowry of Blood and I can't wait to read more about this world and its characters. I can safely say that S.T. Gibson has become one of my favorite authors, and I am so thankful that I was able to get an arc for this!

Thank you NetGalley and Angry Robot for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review.

***3.0 Stars***

Overall,
This is the third book by S.T. Gibson that I have read. Out of those three I’d say this is my least favorite. The story was fine, the characters were fine but I felt quite bored for the majority of the book. The world building was missing, I still don’t quite understand the time period or how the magic is integrated into society. The relationship between the characters was sweet.

David Aristarkhov, Boston attorney by day, powerful medium of a secret society by night.

As much as David wants to forget about his dead, abusive father, the debt from an ancestral deal is owed, and as his thirtieth birthday gets ever closer, that debt is due.

Seeing no choice but to turn to his ex-boyfriend Rhys, a member of the secret society they’re both a part of, David is sure Rhys can help him. Except, Rhys is married now, and to get Rhys’s help requires getting Moira’s help too, making a deal of their own in the process. Unaware of the dangers ahead, emotions become as tangled as the three of them, but the devil waits for no one and the devil has come for David.

When I say this was a book I needed, I mean it. Magic, a secret society, LGBTQIA+ characters, and a deal with the devil, it was everything I wanted and more.

Told through the multiple POV’s of David, Rhys, and Moira, there’s a great, well rounded sense of each character, giving the three of them their own voices as they try to figure out not just the curse, but each other and the new dynamic that begins to form between the three of them.

It felt like a quick read, and it didn’t take me long to get through it, and as a character driven story, I’m keen to see how the next book plays out, and if it’ll be more balanced between characters and plot. With that ending, too, I need the sequel ASAP.

Did I like the book? Yes!

Did I love it? Yes! More than I knew I would.

Would I recommend it? Yes! With LGBTQIA+ characters, a very messy character in dire need of help, and a deal with the devil, it’s a great, quick read.

I loved A Dowry of Blood, and did enjoy An Education in Malice, and so I was looking forward to reading S.T. Gibson’s next book, Evocation. Unfortunately, I ended up a bit disappointed. The world-building felt quite underdeveloped — I don’t think the magic system (what exactly it is and how its rules work, who has access to it, what the society does, who knows about it etc etc) was fleshed out enough, which then meant that I struggled to understand or truly care about the rituals that took place. The relationships also felt a bit rushed, and I wasn’t ultimately convinced by the trio’s situation by the end of the book.
Gibson’s writing itself continues to be deftly crafted, but sadly this one didn’t quite work for me.

5 TAROT STARS!!!

The throuple I never knew I needed, honestly. I also love the dynamic of this throuple—that not all of them are intimately involved in /that/ manner. I felt for all of them, especially with all their struggles. An ex who was so self-destructive that they’d never ask for help, but you love them so much you can’t leave them alone. A significant other with said ex and you can see how the worry is wearing them down ragged. An ex of yours that is finally living a happy life and you don’t want to get in the way of that, but you’re bitter as hell that it was never with you. God, how can we not all relate??

Them slowly opening up and finding what works in their dynamic was such a treat! I really love this book and honestly, I wish I could read it for the first time all over again.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this book!! This was my first book by S. T. Gibson and it was SO good!!

Set in Boston, David comes from a long line of successful, rich men entrenched in the secret underground world of magic users. David himself was a teenage psychic prodigy and has some major baggage when it comes to his Dad and his family tree. He’s living his best life (although a lonely one) until suddenly he hears an uninvited voice in his head and realizes that something’s very, very wrong and it’s only going to get worse if he doesn’t get some help. Rhys is in the same secret society as David, his ex, and quite possibly the only person that can help David. Unfortunately things ended badly between them and Rhys is now married to a woman, Moira, who has some of the same psychic abilities as David. David realizes that he’ll need both of them to help him if he’s going to survive.

The sexual tension btw David and Rhys and the complexity of their shared past was the driving force behind this book, but I also really really loved the deep platonic relationship that develops between David and Moira too. And of course Rhys treats his wife like a literal goddess which is so sweet, when he’s not caught up in his work. Moira was a BAMF and I want more of this universe because she’s the best. The pacing was a bit slow in the beginning, but the last stretch of this book was so intense as the clock ticked down and the way the ending came together was so satisfying. I want to know more about the Society and what they do. I really liked the way the author brought magic into the Boston area and the side characters like Kitty, Nathan and Antoni were well-written. I loved how David, Rhys and Moira all showed character growth. Although the ending was more than satisfying I would love to see these characters again and return to this world!! Fantastic book!!