📚 review 📚
odd spirits - st gibson

it’s official - the summoner’s circle by st gibson is my new favourite series. odd spirits is the prequel to evocation, the first book in the series which focuses on a casual bit of demonic possession and everyone’s favourite magical thruple. odd spirits focuses on rhys and moira in the early days of their marriage and though i don’t think it matters which order you read
books 0 and 1, i found odd spirits really enriched my experience of this world - obviously, i don’t want to give too much away so i’ll keep this short:
read this if you want beautiful writing, a power thruple, magic and not so secret societies.
both odd spirits and evocation are perfect for spooky season and both are out now, so grab your copies now!


thanks to @netgalley for the early copy.

This book was a delight to read!

I already loved Evocation and absolutely needed to read the prequel novella, Odd Spirits. And S. T. Gibson delivered again. I love the setting, I love the characters, I love all the different kinds of magic that are incorporated in the book. I really liked the flow and the pacing of the story and the back-and-forth between present and past events.

I know, basically no reader likes the miscommunication trope but in this case I didn't mind because I knew that it was necessary for the story to make sense and because it was just for the duration of a novella and not a 300+ page book.

The only thing I had trouble connecting to was the degree to which Moira (and to a degree Rhys) were angry at David for pointing out that the supernatural occurence in their house had been created by the (communication) problems in their marriage. Yes, I get that this is a senstivie and shameful topic and their dynamic was an important factor as well as the situation and tone but none of that was explicitly explained on-page. It's just what I gathered from the subtext of the rest of the book. I would have liked those aspects to be fleshed out a little more. Because in the end, David was absolutely correct and I somehow would have wanted Rhys and Moira to acknowledge that in a conversation with David but that neither happened in Odd Spirits nor in Evocation.

Overall though, I really enjoyed the novella and in no way do I think that it's a fault of the book that it got me thinking and reflecting on the story. Anybody who liked Evocation absolutely has to read Odd Spirits. I will definitely get myself a physical of the book.

This is a prequel novella to Evocation in which we follow Rhys and Moira dealing with their first disagreements as newlyweds and how they deal with everything they decide not to say to each other for fear of breaking what they have. It’s an entertaining short story that, although it doesn’t contribute anything new to the series, offers the reader the opportunity to glimpse the beginnings of their relationship, as well as why at the beginning of Evocation they don’t want to have contact with David (although now that I have read said event, it seems to me that the couple was quite unfair to the medium).

Odd Spirits by S.T. Gibson gave me the look into Moira, Rhys, and David’s past that Evocation left me craving. Thanks to Angry Robot and Netgalley, I was able to devour this novella.

PROS:
🪴Kitchen witchery
📖Scholarly wizards
🪴Midnight tarot
📖Crossroads dirt
🪴Salt and pepper protection circles

CONS:
📖Bottled up emotions coming out in unexpected ways
🪴Miscommunication
📖Moira’s abrasive personality can be a lot
🪴The complaints about David being rude to Moira seem more like the couple looking for an issue outside their own marriage when they are actually the problem.

🔮🔮🔮🔮🔮 out of five Crystal balls stashed in desk drawers

Chefs kiss!

I adored these two in Evocation and I was not disappointed by this novella. I really enjoy S T Gibson's writing, there hasn't been a book I have given less than 5 stars.

I'll be waiting of book 2 to come out now

S.T. Gibson is one of those ‘can do no wrong and I will not accept criticism of any kind’ kinds of authors for me. I was so excited to receive a copy of Odd Spirits in exchange for an honest review. Evocation continues to be one of my favorite new fantasy books, so I really loved getting a novella giving more depth to the beginnings of Moira and Rhy’s marriage. Honestly there were so many parallels to my own marriage that I felt a little under the microscope: just without the magic. Relationships are hard! The brief whirlwind scene with David was everything he is as a character : over the top, hilarious and tragic. I loved the sprinkling relationship foreshadowing and I cannot wait for Ascension.

A short and interesting story in the Evocation universe.

I loved Evocation and enjoyed this insight into what Rhys and Moira’s relationship looked like before that story, and how it began.

The plot was simple but engaging, and provided an interesting concept for the wider world.

I look forward to seeing how the story progresses in the next book!

This was such a perfect novella prequel for Evocation. I loved the early look into the relationship of the main couple, and the backstory of David and Rhys. I also loved the deeper dive into the magic system of this world. I need book 2 in this series ASAP.

Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Thank you to Angry Robot and NetGalley for the e-ARC!

After reading Evocation, I really wanted to know what happened between David, Rhys and Moira to cause such tension, and this novella answered it perfectly. I really enjoyed the premise and thought the pacing was just right to have me flying through the book, wanting to find out what was haunting them. The thoughtform was an intriguing nemesis, even if the end was a little cheesy!
David is easily my favourite character, and I do wish we'd seen a little more of him, though the story is very much about Rhys and Moira, who are unfortunately infuriating throughout. Whilst they do have a breakthrough in their relationship, it was agonising reading them make the same mistakes and not communicating with each other, but their journey is of course integral to the story.
Overall a touching character exploration, and gives some much needed context to the Evocation characters' dynamics.

A delicious fall read, with such a unique and wonderful writing style.
Magic, spirits and so much more! Just awesome.

In this novella we follow the story of two characters:
Rhys, a sorcerer, and Moira, a witch. They are married, but lately their relationship is a bit conflictual and weird stuff is happening in their house.

The story focuses on their relationship issues (miscommunication trope).

There are flashback chapters to when they first met. It was a bit confusing because it's not explicitly written at the beginning and sometimes it happens in the middle of a chapter.

It was a bit stressful, but addictive, to follow the investigation about what is happening in the house, and it was also a bit scary (I'm easily scared though).

I did not get all the references, but it's probably all explained in Evocation.

I liked discovering those characters, and it was an enjoyable quick read.

This was my first read of S.T Gibson works. Evocation is on my shelves and I'm glad I could read this first, so I was introduced to David (can't wait to read more of him!).

This book was first independently published in 2018. It was republished this year on the 8th of October in hardback, matching the pretty Evocation edition!

The designs in the book were pretty: there's a tarot card at the beginning of every chapter, it's different for each character.
There are also some beautiful illustrations throughout the book.

The perfect prequel to evocation, giving the beautiful story of how Rhys and Moira first met and their struggles with early marriage. Giving more insight to characters I already love, seeing what they went through and how it affected them was perfect.

This was a nice little intro into the Summoner’s Circle series & it’s MCs. It’s a perfect read for this time of year & I am looking forward to starting Evocation now

Odd Spirits by S.T. Gibson – A Mixed Bag with a Strong Atmosphere

"Odd Spirits" by S.T. Gibson is an intriguing precursor to The Summoner's Circle series, providing a closer insight into the characters that fans may have become familiar with from Evocation, but I have yet to read it. Set against the backdrop of a marriage between two modern-day magic practitioners, the novella delves into issues of love, trust, and the problems that come when mystical forces are involved. While the mood and mystical setting were well-rendered, I struggled to connect with the protagonists, Moira and Rhys, leaving me conflicted about the plot.

Odd Spirits ♦ S.T. Gibson - A Review

Opinion

The novella's strength is its atmosphere. Gibson creates a world steeped in ancient mystery, where every shadow in Moira and Rhys's home appears to carry a secret, and the air is rich with magic. Their ritual descriptions—Moira's tarot readings and Rhys' ceremonial magic—are rich and engrossing, drawing you into their elaborate practices. The tension that builds as the malignant thing begins to meddle with their life creates a gratifying sense of discomfort. Gibson clearly has the ability to create an environment that feels both magical and scary, as if the supernatural is just around the corner.

However, while the location drew me in, the people did not have the same impact. Moira and Rhys are an unusual couple—a tarot witch and a ceremonial magician with vastly different approaches to their art, which creates an engrossing dynamic on paper. However, in practice, their friendship lacked depth. Moira's portrayal, in particular, was problematic for me. Throughout the novel, she exudes openness and tolerance, establishing herself as someone willing to accept Rhys' uniqueness. But as the story progresses, particularly near the climax, it becomes evident that she has deeper fears and a reluctance to be vulnerable herself.

This lack of candor is particularly disheartening given her character's initial promise. Moira's reluctance to accept her own weaknesses destroys the balance between her and Rhys, making their relationship appear one-sided. Rhys, meantime, is torn between his feelings for Moira and the ghosts of his past—literally, with the arrival of a psychic ex and his involvement with a secret organization. His hardships were more relatable, but his restrained demeanor made it difficult to fully appreciate his point of view.

The interaction of their opposing magical styles—Moira's intuitive, fluid approach and Rhys' organized, ritualistic methods—had the potential to generate additional tension and complexity. Instead, it felt unexplored, overshadowed by the malignant entity's outward conflicts. The story hinted at deeper flaws in their relationship, but it never went deep enough to be fulfilling.

Conclusion

Overall, "Odd Spirits" is a decent prequel that catches the creepy, mystical atmosphere of The Summoner's Circle series, but it lacks character development. Moira and Rhys' troubles with their relationship and the supernatural components had a lot of potential, but it missed the emotional depth I was searching for. Fans of S.T. Gibson's prior work may appreciate the additional context provided by this novella, but it felt to me like a plot that never really delivered on its promise.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is a novella following the marriage of Rhys and Moira. This is a prequel novella which wasn’t a long read at all and was well written. I enjoyed this story and seeing the love between these two form. The pacing was fast and the story was just overall great. You get to learn a bit more of the characters and I feel like it’s a great starting point to the series. This edition is also very pretty with embossing and foiling. There’s character art and pretty endpapers. Get this book and read it before starting book 1.

*this book was sent to me by the publishers to give an honest review in return*

3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you so much to Angry Robot Books and NetGalley for an e-arc of this book.

This was a nice little novella/story about the characters, and to get to see their backstory.

It was really cool to see the beginnings of Rhys and Moira in this, and how David and the Society fit into their lives. I think this look at their foundation really makes Evocation a lot more powerful! Love a good prequel novella.

I think i could never love a book where Moira and David hate each other but HERE I AM! I l loved Evocation, and now it all acquires a more subtle and layered meaning. Moira is really my favorite charachter, she's so great!

This cute novella was a fun little addition to the summoner's circle universe. This series has magic, tarot, ghosts, secret societies, and a slow burn love triangle that I just can not wait to see how it pans out!!
Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot Books for the ARC <3

My God! First of all thank you for letting me have a look at this ARC! I did not even dare put this down at all, their dynamic had me in a grasp from the first page on. Did I immediately want to grab Evocation and read it in the same breath? Yes, yes I did.

Careful spoiler:

The paranormal being a manifestation of their struggles and the wall they build between them was an incredible way to show the struggles of a married couple that is unsure of how they can manage to work through the tensions in their home. Love love love!