In Evocation by S.T. Gibson, we follow David, a powerful medium part of an occultist society, as an ancient family curse - a fact previously unbeknownst to him - begins to rear its ugly head as he fast approaches his thirtieth birthday. He grudgingly realises he must ask the help of Rhys, a sorcerer, ambitious society rival and his ex-boyfriend. However, they’ve been no-contact for months and the only way David can get through to him is by reaching out to Rhys’s wife, Moira. Some fun little shenanigans ensue thereafter.

An aspect of the novel which worked quite well was the character-driven narrative the author weaved. I adored the dynamic between all three characters. The clear devotion Moira and Rhys have for one another (I melted when he referred to her as his little goddess), the palpable tension between David and Rhys, and the growing familial bond between Moira and David warmed my heart. I found the novel utterly captivating and difficult to put down each time I returned to it. I can’t wait for the next instalment in the series.

Really enjoyed reading this book but for some reason it was a little hard to follow the further it went. It also felt like a huge build up for not a big resolution. I really enjoyed the relationship growth was very interesting and moved very fast that it kinda felt off a little but other than that I really enjoyed this book!

This book seems more deeply personal than the two previous books I’ve read from Gibson. While I did enjoy this one it wasn’t my favorite – that crown goes to An Education in Malice. That being said, this book is a wildly different kind of book than her previous two. I am hoping that more of the magical side will be brought forward in the next book – it took a backseat to everything going on. David’s possession didn’t really feel as terrifying as I figured it would be and felt a little glossed over other than all of the research.

I honestly can’t recall a book where all three points of view are so, SO incredibly bull-headed. It was quite comical to read and Moira being the voice of reason while staying strong and true to herself was perfect. All of them have their own secrets and baggage but David definitely takes the cake. David and Rhys were interesting enough but I gravitated towards Moira – she definitely reminded me the most of myself.

"She was tired of averting her eyes and keeping herself small. She wanted to unfurl her wings and see how far she could fly."

I am excited to see where David, Rhys, and Moira’s story progresses from where the book ended. I can only imagine it gets progressively darker, more dangerous, and more delicious from here on. Especially now that the three have (mostly) worked the kinks out between them and everyone knows where they stand. I would like to thank Angry Robot Books and S.T. Gibson for the opportunity to read this one. I would definitely recommend this to those who love S.T.’s previous works, dark fantasy, LGBTQ+ characters, and the occult.

Ooooh I enjoyed the vibes of this. Had elements of dark academia, fantasy, horror, mystery and queer romance all mashed together. Very cool.

The writing was great, which made it so easy to visualise and get lost in. I loved the way the romantic and sexual tension was weaved in alongside all the action, lots of subtle looks, touches and inner longings! Big yes!

The main characters are all so fascinating, multi-layered and flawed. Whilst sometimes you want to shake them, the way their vulnerabilities were presented made any questionable actions make so much sense. Plus, it made it even more satisfying when they actually all communicated and connected in a more healthy way.

I connected with them all, but I think Moyra was my favourite. The way she is very caring and affectionate, but also doesn’t take any sh*t and tells it like it is, very much appealed to me. I’d have liked even more of her and her inner thoughts…guess I’ll have to wait for the next book.

In all honesty, I was way more invested in the characters’ relationships and dynamics than the possession and plot, but it all weaved together well. I’m so intrigued as to what’s next for these three and hope we get lots more of the side characters as well!

Thank you to Angry Robot books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this.

The book felt rushed in areas as she strove to tackle so much and became a little convoluted. the Magic and world building helped to bring this book up in my mind as well as David, who is by far one of my favorite characters.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC.
I have to say that I absolutely devoured this book. Evocation doesn't let you down. It grips you tight and doesn't let you go. S.T. Gibson is a genius.

I wasn't sure of this book at first, but once it grabbed me, I was sold. An atmospheric adventure that you will love every moment of.

Review: Review copy given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Novel Review: Evocation is not like any of S.T. Gibson’s other books. So, if you are picking this up with the expectation of it being similar to A Dowery of Blood or An Education in Malice, you are going to be let down so let go of that before you start this novel. I would say this book is for fans of S.T. Gibson who want to know more parts of her as an author.

It’s hard to define what this story is about. It’s a love story at it’s core. It reminds me of cozy, romantasy in a way but even that doesn’t feel quite what it is. Let me spout off a few things and see what comes out. It’s a slow burn possession story, it’s about the occult and origins of secret societies, its about family and belonging, identity and complicated relationships. It’s about so much. If you are going in expecting a plot heavy book, this won’t be it.

I feel the need to defend this book, just because of the expectations of S.T. Gibson has just been in the position of A Dowery of Blood. I want you to know what you’re getting into so that you don’t have unrealistic hopes.

Evocation may push your belief system about love and relationships. I really enjoyed the three main characters, we get the story told from three different people and how they are intertwined by magic and the occult. This book reminds me of Olivie Blake’s stories in some ways. We zoom in to a lot of small moments and interactions between the characters and really examine what it means to be human.

I really loved this book. I gave it 4.5 stars. Some small things are that at times it does feel a little slow in the middle and because of that a tiny bit repetitive. A little bit more adventures would have made it a 5 star or even a new favorite for me. That’s all personal preference. I will continue with this series and it’s a book I would love to read again.

David Aristarkhov is a man living with a foot in two worlds. On the one hand, he is a hotshot attorney, while on the other he is one of the most powerful psychics in Boston's occult scene. His wealth and success come not only from his abilities but also as a result of being the latest heir in a family that used its occult powers for generations to ensure that wealth and success for themselves. David is also arrogant, cynical, and tactless.

No one could attest to this more than David's old college boyfriend Rhys. Rhys would like nothing more than to keep as much distance between himself and David as possible. Unfortunately, they both belong to the same secret occult Society in Boston, so he's forced to see David at their meetings. Both of them are highly ambitious with their magic, and both would love nothing more than to replace the retiring Head Priest of the Society.

Complicating David and Rhys's tenuous tolerance for each other further is Rhys's wife Moira. More specifically, the fight David caused between Rhys and Moira which nearly ruined their marriage. Neither Rhys nor Moira ever want to see David again, and David is grudgingly abiding by the boundaries Rhys has set for their further acquaintance. That is, until David begins to experience what he can only call spirit sickness.

David has blackouts, he can't sleep, he can't channel spirits, and worst of all, he needs Rhys and Moira's help to find out why. Slowly, the three of them begin to patch things up between themselves while trying to find out what is slowly draining David's spirit. The answers they find may be more than they bargained for.

First of all, this book is primarily focused on relationships - romantic, familial, and platonic. David was raised by an abusive father who only saw him as a tool, a psychic prodigy, that would further his father's own standing within the Society and to secure business dealings. David was raised to be ambitious and seek success. His only friend growing up was his half-sister, who he maintains a relationship with through intermittent phone calls and lunch dates. David has never wanted for anything in his life save human connection.

Rhys, on the other hand, was raised in South Boston and has never known anything but want. He has clawed his way up into a day job he enjoys in academia, and he's done the same in the Society. His primary goal is to become the next High Priest, and David is his biggest rival. He relies on his wife Moira to keep him steady, and she forces him to remember to eat and take care of their relationship.

Meanwhile, Moira has a secret of her own. She is a witch with a client list that allows her to have her own success. However, like David, she's a psychic. She can see and channel spirits, but she's ignored that part of her life for years because her family raised her to believe it was evil. Thus, in David she sees someone being successful in ways she doesn't feel she can ever be. She also sees someone who has hurt Rhys and his relationship with her without seeming apologetic at all.

This is the dynamic at play as Rhys and Moira work to help David figure out what's wrong with him, and watching them all learn to trust each other and help each other was a large part of the story. Which, to be honest, I did really enjoy watching their relationship develop and grow. I just wish a story about a centuries old deal with the devil had spent more time with the magical side of things.

The Society and magic and the occult could have easily been swapped out with regular social gatherings or groups, and the story would have largely remained the same. For a book that was supposed to be steeped in magic, there just wasn't very much of it. To be fair, this is the first book in a planned series, so I'm hopeful there will be time to correct this issue with balancing the romance and the magic.

The story also touched on a few other issues, such as alcoholism and patriarchal societies, and I thought those were handled well, even if they weren't the main message being related. Also, I can tell S.T. Gibson spent a lot of time crafting this story. Compared to other books by Gibson I've read, the writing in Evocation was definitely a step up. Not that the writing in previous books were bad, but I can tell there's been a lot of growth with Gibson's craft in this book. I'm definitely looking forward to more from this series.

I gave Evocation by S.T. Gibson four out of five stars. I was going back and forth between three and four stars for this book just because of the few issues I had with it, but in the end, I decided to round up to four stars. This book is magically inclined, but it's mostly about relationships. The romance is definitely there as well, but you'll have to wait until the end for the pay off!

It is the year of S.T. Gibson!!! Having already read a copy of Odd Spirits when it was originally self-published, I was absolutely thrilled with Gibson announced this book. The characters, the setting, and the set up for the next book... I loved every second of it. Moira is a complete vibe, and I think if I were to complain about anything, it would be that I wish there was an entire book dedicated to just her character and story. I seriously think Gibson can do no wrong. I can't wait for the republication of Odd Spirits so we can get a deeper glimpse into David and Rhys' relationship.

This started off as an exciting read as we are thrown into the world of the supernatural and the occult. Summonings. Possession. Demons. Sorcerors. Ghosts. The opening line had me hooked. A haunted house? Oh yes bring it on!

A strong character driven read, this is the first in a series and is centred around David’s story. As well as his thriving sideline occult practice he is also a prosecutor for the City of Boston. His ex boyfriend Rhys and Rhys’ wife Moira are the other main characters and the story is told from the three POV’s. Quite a complicated relationship between the three with lingering feelings coming back to the surface. And plenty of spice. However my favourite character was Leda, David’s sister, a chaos magician. While the others are quite bland she is a jump off the page larger than life personality. ‘A bit of a hedonist’ as she describes herself.

David and Rhys are competing for the best position at their secret society and I would love to have read more details about what goes on at their weekly meetings.

When David hears a voice at a seance which appears to come from inside of him he is concerned he has accidentally let himself be possessed and reaches out to Rhys and Moira for help. Could it be the devil himself? Could the fabled family curse be real?

It is obvious the author is very interested in the occult, being a tarot reader, and has done a lot of research. I watched a very interesting interview on Instagram with Fairyloot I would recommend you watch if you are thinking of reading this book, or have already read it.

I would have really liked more focus on the plot and more of the supernatural rather than the relationships but that is just my preference. The plot took a back seat which is a shame as that’s what I was hoping to read. Perhaps book two will be more plot focussed.

A brand new series by S. T. Gibson called The Summoner’s Circle. It’s an urban gothic fantasy that shines light on a polyamrous relationship. We mainly follow 3 characters in Boston who are occult practitioners. So we have some dark academia and demonology, curses, supernatural elements in the story. It’s actually reminded me a lot of Ninth House but with it's own unique elements of course. Very secret society, some reviewers have mentioned it's slower paced, but with it came a really character driven story. Adored it!

I'm starting to thing that only A Dowry of Blood worked for me...

This book didn't really work for me. I hated the writing style, I felt really distant from the narrative and I couldn't really connect to any of the characters nor did I care about any of them. In regards to the relationship, I didn't really see any chemistry between them.

Thank you Netgalley, author, and publisher for the ARC.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I love S.T. Gibson books so much - they’re the perfect mix of the supernatural, dark academia vibes, and the best queer representation. Evocation was not at all what I was expecting, but somehow even better. I had such a good time in this world, and I’m hoping there is second story about the society coming.

David - powerful medium and a workaholic - has been good about leaving his ex alone. Until during a routine medium appointment, he’s possessed by a demon and can’t quite shake it. He then reaches out to his ex, Rhys. Rhys doesn’t want to, but eventually he and his wife - Moira - agree to help David get to the root of his sickness and banish his demons. What starts out as reluctant aid giving, grows to be deep love between David and Moira and a rekindling of love between David and Rhys.

This truly has it all - demons and ancient curses and patriarchal warlock associations and haunted houses and true platonic love and polyamory. The characterization of all three main characters - Rhys, David, and Moira - could have felt undone, but they’re all so distinct and unique and I loved them all so much. There’s also so much growth in what is a relatively short time frame. Rhys and David have a history, and when it’s brought up it doesn’t feel shoehorned in at all, instead a natural part of the story. Anyway this was fun, but also so heartfelt. Lots of TW including active sobriety and childhood abuse plus demon things, but definitely worth a read!!

For me, this book was very average. I enjoyed the occult themes and LGBTQ representation. However, this story just couldn't hold my interest for some reason. Sadly, I don't think this will be a memorable plot or characters for me this year.

This is a gripping and very entertaining read, a urban fantasy according to my heart mixing secret society, something that could have happended in the past, ghosts, past lovers and much more.
I loved all the characters and loved Moira. It kept me reading even the more steamiest part and I'm the Queen-of-Skipping-Steamy-Pages.
I can't wait to read the next novel, I bought the prequel to pass time.
Had a lot of fun and read it
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Boasting psychics, secret societies and a haunted mansion, Evocation is an emotional, queer romance that is character-driven and aesthetically pleasing.

The characters are wonderfully well-built individually. David, Moira, and Rhys all felt like fully fleshed-out real people to me. I found their relationships to not be quite as believable, however. With a throuple relationship, there’s a lot to unpack and convince readers of in only 300 pages. While highly ambitious, I don’t know if this quite hit the mark. I applaud the attempt, but I just needed a bit more of them together.

With the story so focused on character work, I found the plot rather slow and lacking. The basic storyline didn’t seem unique enough to really stand out at me.

Stylistically, I enjoyed the author’s diction and syntax. This appears that it’s going to be a series, and I’d like to give book two another chance.

Overall, it took me a little longer than usual to get through, but there were still aspects I definitely enjoyed.

If you’re looking for a moody, gothic, occult story that focuses mainly on romance and aesthetic, then this is just for you!

7 out of 10 / 3.5 stars

I loved this book! And hellloooo, finally some accurate divination! The characters were fabulous, and I am so invested in the story and relationships.

I can't wait for book two, such a strong start to this world.

Slow clap for a thruple!!!

I adored the romance in this book, I couldn’t get enough, I mean obviously I’m here for all of the occult aspects too, but I just can’t help loving love in a story, I did feel a touch disappointed with the end I have to say, but no spoilers here, if it was a bit better it would be 5 stars from me, but it’s a solid 4.5 from me

The vibes of this book are very similar to the Atlas Six. I hated that book. I hate this one. I could not grow to like the characters. There’s no plot. I was bored. Also, Moira deserved so much better. How can she be a side piece in her own marriage and be okay with that? No, thank you. This was such a disappointment.

Thank you NetGalley and Angry Robot for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!