Despite how much I was excited for this book, I will be DNF’ing this at the 61% mark. While billed as a polyamorous novel surrounding the plot of one character being haunted by the Devil for a deal his ancestors made - neither of these things are main points in the novel. In fact, the magic and the literal demonic possession are mostly background noise and only ever brought up when one of the main characters - Rhys and David (Moira is a cardboard cutout of a black woman) - needs it.

Despite being married to Moira, all of hers and Rhys’ interactions felt flat and uninspired. Every conversation between the two made me wonder why they were even together, and his constant referral to her as “little goddess” felt off and the way you would talk to someone you put on a pedestal - and not your wife who you consider to be a partner. Bring in his contemptuous relationship with David, of whom we only ever hear about how badly it affected Rhys but with no consideration of David’s emotional well-being. And yet, every interaction Rhys had with David felt like it had more chemistry than with the woman he is literally married to, and who he insists he’d do anything for.

Moira is only a character in this novel because she forcibly has to insert herself into the book. Multiple times Rhys himself tries to force her out of what is going on, and if he had his way she’d be a 5 line character in this book so everyone - including himself - forgets her existence. Not to mention that the main “magic” Moira has is said to be ancestral and rootwork, but all we see is just generic astrology “the planets affect your personality" nonsense. But we’re constantly told how powerful a witch she is and how she can cast spells and curses on anyone who crosses her. And yet we only see her do things that any grifter with a planetary chart can do. Sure. But we see Rhys and David summon demons and do possessions while Moira is - once again - left to the wayside.

Not to mention that Rhys and David are members of a literal “boy’s club” of cult members, and while the sexism of this is casually brought up it's absolutely never addressed properly. The most we get is Moira insisting that it’s fine because she wouldn’t want to be a part of it anyway - ignoring the extremely problematic fact that her husband is completely fine being a part of a literal group that refuses to allow women entrance.

I finally had to quit when we got to a scene where David relapses with his drinking - something that he had been able to stop doing for 3 entire years. And yet, even before the relapse, not once does Rhys even tell David that that’s an impressive feat - instead, we only hear about how badly his drinking had affected him, Rhys, the only important person in his life.

Anyway, the relapse scene made me so incredibly mad that I decided to quit now. David is expecting an accomplishment that instead goes to Rhys - but despite both him and Rhys making up, and Moira becoming friendly with him - no one thinks to tell David ahead of time so he can accept it in a private location. No. Instead, both of the people who he decides to trust completely blindside him with this and Rhys only finds David after he’s been drinking. And Rhys not only cheats on Moira with David (who is hurting and under the influence), when Rhys realizes that David has been drinking he blames David for it and goes on and on about how this affects him, Rhys, and even places the blame of him cheating on his wife on David.

And I’m supposed to believe these two are the romantic connection in this novel? Not to mention that, ironically, the two characters who had the most chemistry were Moira and David - the straight woman and the gay man. Maybe because - without Rhys there to force everyone around him to play second fiddle - both of them could actually become characters with their own thoughts and motivations, and not paper cutouts intended to prop up Rhys.

Moira isn’t a character and is instead a black woman who is a third-wheel in her own marriage and is expected to be the bigger person about everything. To the point that her “forgiveness” is one of her most well-known traits. And Rhys is a self-centered cheater who hurts everyone around him and then blames his own mistakes on everyone else, never taking responsibility, and makes David’s struggles all about himself. And David is a rich self-obsessed asshole who thinks he’s better than everyone else.

This isn’t a book about magic or demonic deals, it’s a drama surrounding the most insufferable people on the planet helped with a nice dose of anti-black racism and biphobia.

Thank you to Netgalley and Angry Robot for providing me this e-ARC.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for blessing me with an ARC!

3.5 Stars!

I sat on this review for a bit because I wasn't sure how I was going to rate this book immediately. While I did genuinely enjoy it, there where a few things that I just couldn't get past enough for me to rate it higher that just a 3 stars. I think a 3.5 though feels more accurate however.

This book had my attention pretty much right from the start. I was immediately intrigued by the mentions of the society and by all the paranormal/occult things as well. However, it was the characters that actually kept my attention, particularly David, and the relationships that we were introduced to. I was not surprised by this in the slightest, as I've always found this to be Gibson's greatest strength in her writing. She just knows how to write complex relationships! She makes them so juicy and intriguing, and no matter how toxic or forbidden they seem, you just want more! And so that's what kept me wanting to know more and more about the story and to see how the relationships would end up playing out. I will admit, I wasn't completely satisfied with how the relationships ended up and I was expecting something very different, however, I still did enjoy it and had a good time with it.

The things I had the most issues with however, and why I just couldn't rate it higher than I wanted to were the characterization of Moira, the female POV, and Rhys and Moira's marriage. Moira, unfortunately, was not written very well and she felt like a caricature of a WOC from the South. She was a flawless character, who could do absolutely nothing wrong, who had the perfect thing to say every time one of the male characters needed coddling, and who's only purpose in the book was to help the two male character's rekindle their relationship. At one point I just started to refer to her as Mama Moira because she was just was playing mother to two grown men who couldn't communicate with one another! The marriage was another issue for me, because again, we are told that Moira and Rhys have gone through a rough patch, but all we get to see is how perfect their relationship is now. And that's all we see, perfect communication, perfect home balance, no judgment for actions that normally would upset a person in a committed relationship... Again, it feels not realistic and almost performative. Now, add the Poly aspect of the story to this, and it just doesn't add up or make sense to me.

I know that there are other issues too with the story, like how minimal the world building is and how the society isn't explained very well, but I truly was so engrossed with the characters and the romance aspect that I didn't pay it much attention. This book is heavily character driven, so if plot driven is more your style, this might not be your cup of tea. I love character driven books though, and Gibson's books almost always are, so I knew I'd enjoy it! I'm looking forward to seeing what the next book will be about!

Rating is rounded. This was so close to being a DNF for me. Very disappointed as I ADORE A Dowry Of Blood and enjoyed An Education In Malice. This is just not it. From the prose, to the dialogue, to the plot and the romances. I was expecting a polyamorous relationship with magic and the devil and I got a cheating storyline, flat characters and very poor executed resolution. Maybe I’ll still give the second one a chance and see if this series improves.

I unfortunately did not enjoy this, the throuple situation was forced and it really undermined the characters.

I had to DNF it. Just not for me unfortunately. The writing was great but the story just wasn’t it for me. I’m sure someone else will love this story and the characters.

7Manoek (manoeksbooknook)
My Books

I absolutely loved this. These characters are my family now 🫶🏻

David is a medium and is suddenly finding himself tackled by an ancient curse. The person he turns to for help is his ex boyfriend Rhys, a sorcerer and Rhys's wife Moira who's an astrologer. The dynamic between these three was messy but oh so wonderful. The way they all loved each other so so deeply made me feel so many emotions. Because yes they slowly develop into a throuple and probably not in the way you expect. The intense deep platonic love and friendship that forms between Moira and David was unexpected and probably my favorite. It was just so incredibly tender and raw and real.

The three of them work together to figure out how to lift this curse and it's full of magic, libraries filled with ancient books and grimoires, secret magical societies, big mansions filled with ghosts,power, love, trauma and so much more. It has this incredible dark academia vibe with great atmosphere and exciting plot but at the forefront is truly the three main characters and their dynamic.

I have a special place in my heart for them now and I can't wait for the sequel!!!

Thanks to angryrobotbooks for the ARC !!

I'm so so late reviewing this but with the sequel coming out soon I finally got to it and I wish I had read it sooner.
I loved A Dowry of Blood and this sounded just UK my alley. I love the concept, the execution, the writing. These characters feel so dear for me, I need to read more. I kinda love Moira even though I wasn't sure about it at first and Rhys is just a sweetheart. I can't wait to read the sequel now.

St Gibson is a must read author

This was a great short book which is easy to read in one sitting and a great series aswell!!! And I mean look at the cover it’s absoutley stunning! This is another one is a must buy to live on my shelf forever

My love affair with ST Gibson's work started with A Dowry of Blood (which remains one of my favourite books), and while Evocation is totally different in plot, characters, and even aesthetic vibes, it still captures the same gothic magic as Dowry. The prose is lush and beautiful as ever. This is a book you can really fall into. The characters are compelling and meaningful on their own, and becoming even more interesting as the twisted and complex relationship webs are woven. One book with David, Rhys, and Moira is absolutely not enough, and I can't wait to see what comes next in this series and from the author.

This book had so much potential, but it didn’t quite hit the mark for me. The concept? Incredible—secret societies, demonic possession, and a tangled web of polyamorous relationships. The execution? A bit uneven.

✨ Occult academia vibes 💀 Generational curses & dark magic 📚 Messy, complicated relationships.

While the atmosphere was rich and immersive, the pacing felt off, and the emotional depth didn’t always land. I wanted more tension, more stakes, and a stronger connection to the characters. Still, if you love A Dowry of Blood and Ninth House, this might be worth a read!

I loved this book! S.T. Gibson has a way of balancing so many different themes in one novel and I enjoyed the characters so much! I really loved the progression we see as their relationships flourish while they all work together to save David's life. While the focus was mostly on character development and romance, the magical secret society they reside in was also fascinating. I'm interested in seeing where these characters go as individuals and partners, as well as their involvement in the secret society.

5/5 stars! I'll be honest; I picked up this book purely based on vibes and the cover. I am so glad I did. I've always been interested in astrology and the way it was handled in this book made me feel like this was really happening. I got shivers at a couple points. I just love this book and the representation was awesome.

Interesting concept that is very well written and pulled off. Definitely a solid start to this series

Messy people, Faustian bargains, ambition tempered by attempts at empathy - there's a lot to draw you in to Evocation, and the highlight for me was the people.

Yes, magical society and its annoyingly old white man patriarchal rules, but while the demons drive the story, we don't actually get much of them. For character drive readers who enjoy the dark-academia adjacent vibes (and if you're here for attractive, intelligent people in *very* messy relationships), this will be your cup of tea.

As I cracked open the pages of “Evocation,” I was ready to be swept away by poetic prose and magic. But alas, the execution left me yearning for more. Here’s what I learned:

Unfocused Plot: Deviating from the central narrative of the familial curse, the plot became captivated by the polyamorous relationship between Rhys/Moria/David, leaving the intended storyline adrift like a lost spirit. The Aristarkhov curse, occult magic, and secret magical society hung off in the shadows, mere plot devices and underdeveloped.

Rushed Longings: Gibson's attempt at a second chance romance between David and Rhys, complicated by Rhys' marriage and David's friendship with Moria, felt exhausting and unclear. With more development and diverse experiences, this polyamorous relationship could have worked. But rushing the story to a happy ending did the characters an injustice.

Weak Characterizations: I couldn't identify clear arcs for any of the three protagonists. By the end of the book, they felt much the same as they did at the start. Even with their backstories, none of them felt fully developed and instead read more like archetypes.

march 2025:

another one on my top 10 of 2024 list! i ended up with like three copies of this book because i adore it so much. this series is for the people who love reading about queer people being PEOPLE. not angelic paragons of virtue. this is for us.

the characterisation of the main trio in this novel is literally masterful. the way their relationships develop throughout the novel made the ending SO satisfying. the magic system is fun and intriguing, while actually being dangerous to partake in. it makes the plot so tense and juicy.

i met saint last year during their tour for this book, and i informed them that yes, i would indeed build an altar to a jar of dirt. they laughed.



june 2024:
saint gibson could give me a jar of dirt and i’d build an altar to it

I had the pleasure of interviewing S.T. Gibson for the release of Evocation, and received an ARC to prep the questions. Bearing that in mind, I hugely enjoyed this very character-driven read: it was rare and wonderful to see a romance like this unfolding on the page, and I particularly loved watching David and Moira's dynamic develop. The characters are lovably flawed, believably contradictory, intense, and compelling. I eagerly await the next book in the series, and can't wait to get my hands on the prequel, Odd Spirits.

This had an interesting start but ended up setting the book down for now. Night try this again in the future

i'm gonna be honest, this whole poly relationship fell so incredibly flat for me. the way moira was written lack any depth, and it was clear the author cared way more for the two male characters and their romance, which is incredibly disappointing. also did not like the way david's addiction was handled.

Okay so I have loved ST Gibsons past books and to an extent this one was no different. I do however have a couple thoughts. The romance between David, Moira, and Rhys felt a little bit unequal. It was less about a romance between all of them and more so Rhys’ romance with Moira and Rhys’ romance with David. It didn’t really feel like Moira’s choice more like something she was agreeing to because she loved Rhys. Also the synopsis reveals a really huge plot twist which I feel like is better left out of the blurb because as I was reading it as the reader I knew what was going on and the characters didn’t? And they didn’t for about 70% of the story.