I read An Education in Malice earlier this year and found it to be just okay; however, I thought S.T. Gibson's writing skill was so strong that I wanted to give them another try. I'm so glad I did, because I really enjoyed Evocation. I loved following the complexity and familiarity of David, Rhys, and Moira as they navigate a whole lot of past feelings and sexual tension! (Side note- I just want to be BFFs with Moira, what a delight!)

This book expertly combined dark academia in the modern day, a magical realism story, and a poly romance with great communication. I really enjoyed it and am now invigorated to read more by the author! I'm so grateful to Angry Robot Books for the Advanced Reader Copy!

This was such a delight of a book. My favorite books are really deep character studies with interesting characters and lots of romance and this really is all of those things wrapped in a delightful paranormal package. I'm not sure who is my favorite. Rhys, Moira and David are all fascinating and lovely, but as this is David's book I think he was my favorite. He was just so deliciously broken while also being a charming little shit and I am so excited to get to spend more time with him. I thought Gibson did a really good job balancing everyone's feelings and a particular favorite for me was watching the relationship between David and Moira develop. All three of them bring out each other's strengths and I had so much fun experiencing the push and pull of all of them.

There is a plot in this book and it had me invested until the very end. I was so rooting for David and for all of them to work together and this book really delivered.

At this point I will read anything by S.T. Gibson. Every thing that I have read so far has been lyrical and atmospheric while also having delicious characters with flaws I want to live in. I am so excited for more in this world.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Angry Robot Books for sending me an E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In Evocation, David Aristarkhov finds himself the victim of a demonic possession. Unable to find answers, he finds himself turning to the only person he can trust, his ex lover Rhys and by extension Rhy’s new wife, Moira. The trio struggle to find answers to David’s dilemma while processing their feelings for each other, both old and new.

Let’s start with what I liked. I’m a sucker for damaged/morally grey characters which David very much fit the bill. And I thought the budding friendship between Moira and David was great. It was honestly my favorite part of the story.

And now for what did not work for me. First, I felt that the story was all over the place. We start out with a case of demonic possession which immediately caught my attention, but then meander towards Rhys and David’s personal problems only going back to the demonic possession at the end of the book. Gibson’s books tend to be character driven, but her evocative style was missing in this book and this felt more like a sneak peak into someone’s life rather than a fleshed out story. Another thing that did not work for me in Evocation was that Rhys and David were completely unlikeable for about the first third of the book. I had to force myself to keep reading and hope for character development. All three main characters do get fleshed out and I grew to like Moira and David although I never warmed to Rhys. And lastly, while I liked that St. drew from real world practices, I would have liked more of an explanation of how the magic systems actually works worked.

Ultimately, I felt that I liked the concept of the book more than the actual book itself. That said the ending had me curious so I am currently on the fence regarding whether or not I will be picking up book 2

Evocation was an interesting read, I felt i didn't really get into it until around the 20% mark. The pacing then for me picked up and I was immersed into the storyline.
The story has lavish descriptions that build the world well, the characters have a great development creating a sense of realism that lends well to the plotline. The plot is well thought-out and I really enjoyed how it unravelled.

With how much I adored A Dowry of Blood, I was so so so excited for ST Gibson’s next venture. What I got instead, however, was a complete letdown.

Of the main trio, David, Moira, and Rhys, only David really felt like a fleshed-out character. Rhys gets a little bit as a by-product of him being in David’s flashbacks, but not much else. Moira, tragically, really gets no development beyond Wholesome Feminine Magic User and who occasionally spouts lines a Tiktok witch would say. Naturally, the fallout from this means that the chemistry between these three is close to non-existent (except for David and Rhys), especially between Rhys and Moira who are supposed to be married!

The story, frankly, wasn’t much better. This is very much one of those ‘vibes over substance’ stories. There are several moving parts, David and Rhys’ romance of course, but also the demon haunting David’s family, David and Rhys’ rivalry for who will inherit the leadership to their Secret Magic Society, a small side plot of David and Moira learning to get along. All of which sound interesting, but almost none are well-developed!! The Secret Magic Society and the importance of being chosen as the next leader are never expanded on, which means that this bitter rivalry David and Rhys have over this just holds no weight. David and Moira learning to get along fell laughably flat for the reasons above.

David and Rhys’s romance was probably the only thing saving this book. Their banter was surprisingly fun at times and it’s abundantly clear this was the relationship the author really wanted to write. Which, given that Evocation was advertised as a poly-trio, poor Moira’s been side-lined in her own book. For readers who do care, Moira and David do not get together. They share Rhys and become friends and confidants by the end of the book, but David is explicitly gay and only has romantic feelings for Rhys. Whether that still meets the definition of a poly-trio, I’m not exactly sure, but relationships here and M/M and M/F, not M/M/F.

Finally, Evocation commits one of my book cardinal sins: where a competent main character and a plotline built around said character’s competencies are established, only for the resolution to never invoke said character’s competencies, but instead be solved with bullshit (in this case, the power of love and friendship) instead. Just, why?? It just feels like lazy writing.

Overall, I rate this book a 2/5. I was coming straight in with my love for Dowry filling my heart, but this book was a bucket of cold water. Vibes over substance, poor character development and relationship chemistry, and a mediocre plot. There’s a good story in here somewhere, but not in its current edition.

4.5 stars. I love S.T. Gibson and this is yet another great book. I saw another reviewer post that if you’re a Leigh Bardugo/Ninth House fan then you’ll love this book and I can’t agree more.

Loved the character dynamics and the tarot and astrology aspects were intriguing to me (as someone who knows very little about both).

Overall this book was exactly the vibe I look for in fantasy books and it was truly such a fun and exciting read.

This is my first book from the author and I have to admit it took me awhile to get into the writing style. I felt like it was trying too hard. However, once I got into the story- I was hooked.

I enjoyed all of the occult aspects but what I really loved was how the relationships grew. And while the story is on the shorter side, I still felt like there was a great amount of growth between the three.

Is there anything S.T. Gibson can't write? Evocation proves her exemplary storytelling skills and writing prowess. Being a fan of Gibson since A Dowry of Blood, I am biased but Evocation was such a delight to read that I can't help but sing its praise; an amazing first book in a new Fantasy series.

Teen psychic prodigy, now renowned Boston attorney, David Aristarkhov lives the life he's always wanted, finally free from his abusive, occultist father. Or so he thought. The Devil does not like those who skip on their debts and now he's returned to collect the Aristarkhov ancestral debt right from David. With reluctance, he calls his ex-boyfriend and Society rival, Rhys, for help, but the only way is through his wife, Moira. As both now live in each other's care, one wonders what fate has in store for them.

I absolutely fell in love with the plot; the mystery, the Gothic aspect that makes you look to find the Devil hiding behind every corner. Gibson has such a unique ability to write heavy subjects with such delicacy and sincerity that there isn't any maliciousness behind her words. Rather, there is a space for learning and understanding the situations of each character and what forced them there.

The world-building was amazing, with a clear and atmospheric world that seemed both real and mythical at the same time. It pulls you in and almost lets you roam around her world in your imagination.

But what I loved the most was the character building; each character felt unique with no overlapping with the others that made them feel bland or predictable. Each one was a delight to read and see them develop as characters; they wear their virtues and faults like armour and don't shy away from them being a part of themselves.

S.T. Gibson's Evocation was a deliciously Gothic, Dark Academia beginning to a series that should be on everyone's shelves. I thoroughly recommend the novel to any Dark Academia fans, those who adore Dark Fantasy and any fans of Leigh Bardugo's Alex Stern series, Naomi Novik's The Scholomacers series or Jay Kristoff's Nevernight Chronicles.

Thank you, NetGalley and Angry Robot for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I think I expected something similar to An Education in Malice and of course this wasn’t that at all so I ended up being a little disappointed. This is still an amazing story, with immaculate gothic vibes and ST Gibson’s incredible relationships they always seem to write. Evocation has more of an occult magic system and I really enjoyed it, even if it didn’t invent anything new, it worked well with what it had and succeeded at depicting a magical world that felt real. I think ST Gibson’s strength is in the way they write about relationships/situationships and all the nuances in between: the love triangle was great because it was an actual love triangle and not a corner which I love that we’re getting more of those. A great book even if I was a little disappointed because I expected something a little more like their previous book which I absolutely adored. 3.5 stars

4.5 stars

I loved A Dowry of Blood but was quite disappointed by An Education in Malice, so I wasn't sure what to expect going into this book. I'm so glad that I read this because I truly enjoyed it.

This book is very much a character study, so if you don't like the characters, you probably won't enjoy this book. I really liked the characters and connected with them.

This book is all about what happens when you had an extremely toxic relationship with someone in your youth (Rhys and David) but have matured and still have to interact with one another (in their magical society) at least on a professional basis. And one of you (Rhys) has gotten married (to Moira) and is working on strengthening that relationship, which has been rocky. And then something really bad (intentionally vague to stay away from spoilers) is happening to David and he needs the help of Rhys and Moira to figure it out. But Rhys and David feel drawn to each other again and Moira and David develop their own friendship. Can they move past their toxic history and develop a new relationship moving forward?

I have to say that there was one path that they could have taken to solve David's problem and I was thinking that if the author chose that path, I would be absolutely out and might not read more by the author. (It just felt like both too easy of a path and also something that wouldn't have fit the character dynamics.) Fortunately, there wasn't even a hint that the characters/book were going down that path. Instead, I was quite satisfied by the ending.

Evocation is my new obsession.

This is S.T. Gibson at her best. This new adult urban fantasy is meticulously crafted and explores its three main characters deeply. I rejoiced in getting to know the three POVs of this story and fell especially hard for David, my new protegé.

This book was a delicious reminder of different things I loved, the character-driven stories of Maggie Stiefvater; the complexity and quirkiness of Olivie Blake’s Masters of Death; the tortured hero (in this case Darlington) of Leigh Bardugo’s Ninth House as well as the occult practices present in the book. In sum, Evocation was a feast for my soul.

After my experience with An Education in Malice I confess I was a bit adamant with another S.T.Gibson, but boy did she deliver. This is everything I could have asked for and more. I was mesmerized once again by how Saint’s writing feels intricately woven, I love reading it and getting lost in the cadence and feel of the words that each feels like it was purposefully selected. I particularly had a hell of a time with the three narrators of this gorgeous and lush magical fantasy, all of them with their unique personalities, fears, and characteristics. I particularly adore reading books where we learn a lot by reading one’s POV, but also learn a great deal more by seeing a character through another character's eyes, and there was plenty of that here. I was enthralled by their dynamic, and enjoying every step of the way, including when things were particularly full of thorns. Complicated relationships make for great character dynamics.

As I mentioned before, David was my personal favorite. He has all the qualities of a character quick to win me over, he demands so much of himself, he never asks for help, incredibly gorgeous and a pain in the ass in equal measure, and he feels and acts like he is above everybody else…. In sum, he is a little bit of a problematic one maybe? I don’t care, he looks like a cinnamon roll and is actually a cinnamon roll and I rest my case. I adored following his rekindling path to his relationship with Rhys, and his developing friendship with Moira. This book was perfect in actually showing us things and not just telling us them, which is one of the hardest things to do in fiction, but when done properly, as is the case here, it elevates the level and quality of the whole so much.

This book is pretty much character-driven, so don’t go in expecting too much plot happening. This isn’t to say that this isn’t going to give us something, particularly a thread in which to follow on the subsequent books. I am beyond excited to see what the author will come up with next, and I am utterly emotionally invested in these characters which to me is the greatest feat of all when it comes to *Evocation* it makes you care deeply for its protagonists and root for them, and to me there is nothing better than that. I cannot recommend this book enough!

'Evocation' by S.T. Gibson is an engaging story set in a real-world, enriched with a mysterious curse and compelling characters working to solve it. The narrative is centered around David Aristarkhov, a psychic prodigy turned Boston attorney and medium, who faces a ticking clock as the Devil comes to collect on an ancestral deal. Forced to seek help from his ex-boyfriend and Society rival, Rhys, David navigates a complex web of emotions with Rhys and his wife, Moira.

One of the standout elements of the book is the emphasis on character development, particularly David's journey of overcoming past trauma. The stakes continually rise, adding an exciting urgency to the story. However, the relationship dynamics, a focal point of the plot, sometimes feel forced and unconvincing. The intimacy between David, Rhys, and Moira progresses too suddenly, with their grudges often seeming childish and unjustified. This detracts from the otherwise mature portrayal of their characters (at least Moira and Rhys).

While the heavy focus on romance may disappoint those seeking a more traditional urban fantasy, the magic elements, though underexplained, add an intriguing layer to the story. Overall, 'Evocation' is a fun read with a captivating mystery and well-drawn characters, though the romantic aspects could be more nuanced. I’d rate it 3.5 out of 5.

Romance overshadowed the occult aspects in Evocation by S.T. Gibson. Eye rolling every time Rhys and Moira said that their love and relationship came first. The ending of the demon possessing David felt like a cop out. The first chapters of the book felt easy to read but the middle felt like a chore and the ending was not very satisfying for me. ARC was provided by Angry Robot Books via NetGalley. I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Evocation was everything I desired after reading the book description. It was easy to read and kept you wanting to know more.

I thought S.T. Gibson did a wonderful job of gently introducing a complicated (but a very modern) relationship between the three main characters. I was immediately immersed into their feelings for each other and couldn’t wait to see where this story was leading me.
The fact that the book is written from different perspectives added so much more depth to learning the progression of their relationships. You get to experience three different lives and three different personalities that somehow fit in a very unique way.

I was also pleasantly surprised to see the author spend a proper amount of time not only on the character’s relationships, but also on the occult experiences and new age practices. It was a delight to not only connect to their personalities, but also to envision a world full of divination, seances, spirit summoning, astrology, tarot readings and so much more.

Although I only see one way this story could progress, I’ll be very curious to read what the author has in store for the next title.

Moira is a ball of bright light and Southern charm, raised to be polite until wronged. She is full of healing energy and has magic that’s been passed down for generations of powerful women. She is a born intuitive that reads people’s emotions and has built a successful (but fair) business specializing in divination, reading stars, and birth charts. Moira is married to Rhys who calls her his “goddess” and his “home”.

Rhys is a member of a secret society that values discretion. What used to be a powerhouse filled with elite members is now its shadow resembling an occult fraternity. A demon-summoning social club that is still hanging on to the hope of the “better days and new money” to come. Rhys has no inherent supernatural abilities, but has a well-established reputation in the occult community due to his obsessive scholarly focus and an undying interest in everything occult. This combination earned him a consideration in the title of a High Priest.

David comes from an extremely wealthy family of immigrants from Russia and is an obvious choice for a successor. The rumor is, his ancestor made a deal with The Devil which would explain their wealth and the supernatural knack for persuasion. Being a workaholic and a prosecutor in Boston, David has no time to believe in such things. Earning the trust of the elderly society members who are stuck in their ways and the younger members who are looking for a change takes a lot of energy, but will be worth it if he earns this title. David will not bow down to anyone, especially Rhys.

Until one day David is faced with a supernatural problem that he cannot explain and has no choice but to ask Rhys and Moira for help in the only way he knows - by offering them both a deal they cannot refuse.

I also requested the alc and ended up reading the audio format, but I really enjoyed this book! It was short and spooky and I loved the characters!

I was very excited to receive this ARC because I loved a previous novel from this author. A Dowry of Blood was perfect. Unfortunately Evocation was missing something. I couldn't get attached to the characters. The story was just not that interesting. It seemed like the word choices and descriptions were trying to evoke a similar feeling, but it generally fell flat.

I adore everything S T Gibson has written so far, since Dowry I have picked up everything they have written and consumed it instantly. The lyrical way in which each book is written is incredible but the characters are what hook me every time and Evocation was no different.

Moira is possibly my favourite female protagonist that I have read so far this year. Her strength and confidence to say and do what she wants and also guide others to what they want was glorious to read. She is an absolute badass and I cannot wait to keep reading about her relationship with both Rhys and David. Rhys and David are also incredible protagonists. You can feel the yearning and longing through every sentence, each word imbued with their love for each other. I would happily read a prequel about how they met and their original relationship although I know it would be heartbreaking.

In case it isn’t obvious I adored this book and cannot wait for future instalments.

Evocation by ST Gibson
✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨

This is a contemporary, somewhat-gothic, novel about secret societies, generational wealth & blood curses, magic, & complex relationships between characters.

The story follows David Aristarkhov, highly successful Boston attorney by day, moonlighting as a very powerful medium to a secret occult society by night. But with power comes a price, and the Devil has come to collect on an ancestral deal. With David’s days numbered & death at his doorstep, he reluctantly reaches out for help to the only person he’s ever trusted: Rhys, his ex-boyfriend & secret-society rival. However, the only way to get to Rhys is through his wife, Moira, a powerful astrologer and medium herself. Thrust into each other’s care, emotions once buried deep resurface, and the trio race to figure out their feelings for one another before the Devil steals David away for good…

This is the first book in the series, and what a great start truly. I enjoyed all of the characters individually, particularly David because of how relatable he was with so much of his trauma & past. The author doesn’t shy away from showing it, nor displaying the toxicity of his previous relationship with Rhys & how foul they were to one another. Evocation navigates through many themes, such as fidelity, childhood abuse, marriage in trouble, alcoholism, & CSC. I recommend you keep this in mind before diving in! I was hesitant when I saw this was going to be a 3-way relationship, mainly because I thought it wouldn’t be done right. But the author delivered, boundaries are set and lots of communication happens later on in the book, there’s nothing immature or vile about the relationships. The astrology and tarot parts were written INCREDIBLY well & were quite accurate, which I appreciated. I think the most satisfying thing to me though was observing David’s character arc develop through the story, and especially his blossoming friendship with Moira.

The Boston occultist underground of psychics, mediums, witches, sorcerers, occultists, & more was especially fascinating and one of my favourite things about the story! I loved how David, Moira, and Rhys fit into the story, individually I loved their backgrounds & personalities, they are all very different from one another (the rich asshole, the sunshine character, and the nerdy character) but together they also had a lovely dynamic amongst each other. Rhys & Moira had lots of communication going on and boundaries were set, which I liked to see. Rhys & David were VERY intense, but it was obvious they cared for one another. David & Moira were adorable together seeing them go from complete enemies to best friends was great 😊 I’m sure it’s already obvious by how I’m describing it, but if you’re a reader who’s more plot-driven you may not enjoy this as much, because while there is a good plot, this story is completely character-driven.

Overall, this was a really fun read & I enjoyed every moment! It’s officially my favourite book by ST Gibson. Thank you Angry Robot Books and Netgalley for the e-ARC, I loved it so so much.

Imgur link goes to Instagram photo scheduled for May 28th
Blog post goes live May 28th
Will be discussed on Youtube in May wrapup


TL;DR: Not for everyone but definitely for me. A Dark Academia lite story about curses, families, and love
Source: NetGalley, and I purchased my own copy on finishing it! Thank you to the publisher!!

Plot: David begins to experience troubling symptoms that are linked to an old family curse. He goes to an old flame and his new wife for help - it gets very relationship heavy and messy.
Characters: My favorite part of this was the characters because none of them were particularly nice or people I’d like to be around, but I found them fascinating to read about.
Setting: The setting wasn’t the strongest but it captured the location and vibes enough that it didn’t feel too lacking or flawed.
Magic: Very traditional ‘real life’ style paranormal fantasy with rituals, circles, spells, etc.

Thoughts:
Evocation by S.T. Gibson is very much going to NOT be for some folks. I’m more than willing to tell you the flaws on this one, but I enjoyed it all the same. The story is simple enough, David is trying to break a curse set down on him generations in the past and ends up asking for his ex and his ex’s wife’s help. The story is very Dark Academia but make it almost the diet version, and the characters are messy and unlikable to an extent as well.
As I stated, the flaws are obvious in this. The ‘fix’ to the problem is very handwaving away. They band-aid it and clearly set it up for a second book. The story also keeps it very tightly focused on the relationship between the characters as opposed to putting a lot of effort into the story itself. If you’ve picked up the author’s latest work before this, An Education in Malice, it’s very similar in feel.
That aside this just worked for me. If you go in the expectation that you’re following the characters and their interpersonal issues closer than any curse or larger issue you’ll do great. Also if you enjoyed An Education… I think this would be one you enjoy. I enjoyed it enough that I’ve ordered my own copy and will most definitely continue the series.

4.5 out of 5 Haunted Mansions

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review and boy oh boy I’m so happy I had the chance!
The best way to describe this book is as a mix of The Raven Cycle and Legend (the sequel to Hollow) by Karina Halle. The end of the book was so spicy!!! Can’t wait to read book 2.