Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot Books for providing me with an e-ARC for review.

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Evocation is the first entry in an enticing new gothic fantasy series from S.T. Gibson, and I was immediately drawn in by the cover and the description. I got MAJOR John Constantine (of DC's Hellblazer) vibes from this title, and I knew I had to give it a try. The description that spoke of a Boston filled with secret mediums, psychics, and occult societies set the stage perfectly for this foray into the lives of Davis, Rhys, and Moira.

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David Aristarkhov, the supernaturally charming and powerful medium workaholic, who lives his solitary life to the fullest and busiest, has a problem. Working as an attorney by day and a well-regarded member of a secret gentlemen's club by night, he surely isn't haunted by the ghosts of his past. He controls ghosts, spirits, and the dead, not the other way around. But when something begins to take hold and choke the very life out of him with slow, cold menace, he has nowhere to turn but...

Rhys McGowan, who doesn't have a lick of psychic clairvoyance to speak of, but has clawed his way up through the channels to become David's rival at the club, wants nothing to do with his ex-boyfriend. They haven't ever really seen eye to eye, even when they were dating, and David's history is a dark stain on an already muddied relationship. But when David turns to him for help regarding a supposed instance of demonic possession, Rhys can't refuse. Not even with the stress of the upcoming inclusion in the selection of a new high priest for their brotherhood, which he desperately desires to be chosen for. He agrees to help David, with the assistance of...

Moira Delacroix, the best natal chart mapper and a damn good psychic, too, is willing to go along with her husband to support David Aristarkhov, but it's going to come with boundaries. She knows how poorly things ended between them, even without all the messy details, and she's worried about Rhys getting hurt again. But David is a compelling person, underneath all that charm and sarcasm and deflection. And he's hurting too, beyond the pain and sickness that the demonic entity is allegedly forcing onto him, making him more and more ill. So she's determined to do whatever she can to help--- teaching him to shield himself, getting him in touch with his psychic mental health, and even providing him a friendship that she never expected to blossom...

These three members of Boston's secret underworld occult are tied together on this hunt for David's demon, racing against the clock to discover the cause for his failing health before it's too late. And with tensions high, the high priest election knocking on both men's doors, and uncharted emotional territory all around, feelings begin to blossom forth once again; unbidden, unwanted, and unwilling to die.

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Wow, what a truly fantastic start to a series. I'm hoping for at least two more books to come. I have loved Gibson's writing before and this was no exception. It's a different tone for her compared to A Dowry of Blood and An Education In Malice, more modern, funnier, a sense of witty charm. I was spot on about the John Constantine vibes, he and David Aristarkhov should NEVER be allowed in a room together. Or within fifty miles of each other. I'll lay down some key facets of the work below.

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Plot: While this is a largely character driven work, I must say that the underlying dread following David's declining health was compelling and I was truly worried about his livelihood. I enjoyed the mystery hunt through the Aristarkhov mansion, especially the library scenes. Hopefully in the sequels we will see more of this antagonist and learn more of the motivations there, but a very solid start.

Writing: Fantastic, truly. I couldn't put this down and finished it in less than 24 hours. The writing flows very smoothly, it still feels unique in tone and execution but it's not flowery or purple like Gibson's previous work. Each character has a distinct voice in their POV's and felt really fleshed out and three-dimensional. The magic system, while soft, felt well explored and explained when it needed to be. And the descriptions of the world, both above and below Boston, were truly magical.

Characters: I loved all three of these characters so much. Gibson might have actually managed to cure some of my intense hatred towards the name David. Rhys is a major disaster bisexual, perfectly written in my opinion. But my favourite by far was Moira. She shines especially as a pinnacle of goodness and charity. She is a strong, well-defined woman who consistently makes her own choices and is rewarded with positive outcomes, and I love that about her

Romance: Again, fantastic. The utterly enchanting, easy, and genuine love between spouses Moira and Rhys. The tattered and frayed feelings between Rhys and David. And the platonic, supportive love you so rarely see highlighted between David and Moira. This was a very positive depiction of open marriage, though I don't think I would call it "why choose." Whatever "why choose" means in its many applications doesn't really fit this, in my opinion, since so much of the romance in this work does rely on making important choices. But really, a fantastic romantic plot in this one.

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Overall; Really, what an absolute banger. Knocked it out of the park. I'm so hyped for this to come out so that I can yell about it to friends and recommend it to everyone in the fantasy section. I think it's going to be a huge hit.

I really enjoyed this. Watching the relationship blossom between our three characters was beautiful. It was so wonderfully done. I love Gibsons’ writing and all the characters felt fleshed out and real. I can’t wait to read more of this series.

I'm in the minority here, but I just could not get into this one. I was intrigued by the concept and delighted when I was granted a wish copy, but despite multiple attempts I simply could not get into the story or engage with the characters in a way sufficient to keep my interest. The writing style was very descriptive, with chunks and chunks of pages going by with nothing happening. The relationships felt dysfunctional and overly complicated also, which didn't help. This one just wasn't for me...

I wanted to love this book so much! A Dowry of Blood is one of my all time favorite books and I have read everything ST Gibson has written since. Although I did enjoy Evocation, I did not love it as I did ADoB.

David finds himself in a dangerous situation - his work in the occult has landed him with more than he bargained for, and his days are numbered. In desperation, he reaches out to ex-boyfriend Rhys and Rhys's wife Moira, both of whom had gifts that can help David before he runs out of time.

The setting and the magical world that ST creates is wonderful, pulling the reader in to its crisp, ancient atmosphere. This is where she excels in Evocation, and in contrast, it is the relationships where I found the writing lacking.

Rhys and Moira love each other deeply, and while both start off being wary of David due to past conflict, I found that my main complaint with the book is that Moira's feelings change a little too easily, her fears and uncertainty swept aside a little too neatly when her husband's ex comes back into their lives.

Aside from that, I enjoyed Evocation and am wondering what the next book in The Summoner's Circle will bring.

The Devil knows your name, David Aristarkhov.
As a teen, David Aristarkhov was a psychic prodigy, operating under the shadow of his oppressive occultist father. Now, years after his father's death and rapidly approaching his thirtieth birthday, he is content with the high-powered life he's curated as a Boston attorney, moonlighting as a powerful medium for his secret society. But with power comes a price, and the Devil has come to collect on an ancestral deal.
Themes At first Glance:
*The Occult
*Polyamorous Relationship
*Witty Characters
Getting a ARC of this book was an absolute delight. I absolutely adore everything I have read from S T Gibson and she is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.
I can honestly say, with each book I read from her, I become more of a fan. This book for sure was a character driven story with ties to the occult and it was one hell of a ride. I found myself sympathizing with these characters, and really invested in their story. I honestly can’t wait to see what the rest of this series goes. Gibson has hit it out of the park once again. Highly recommend this book.



Thanks to the folks at Netgalley for an ARC of this book. My review is a honest reflection of my feelings towards this book.

5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot for my digital review copy

ST Gibson has done it once again. Absolutely enthralled me with her characters.

This book was very character driven, which I know may not be for everyone, but I absolutely adored it.

The book focusses on David and his ex boyfriend Rhys, and Moira (Rhys' wife). It was so fun to read about their dynamics and how it changes and I loved the relationship that developed between Moira and David so much.

I loved the descriptions of Moira's outfits so much and I'd love to see them recreated.

This book does also deal with heavy topics (abuse, addiction), so I would recommend checking content warnings first.

An urban gothic fantasy romance staged around the occult that features a polyamorous romance with plenty of mystery. I adore S.T. Gibson as an author and love her writing style. I really wanted to love this, but overall, I found it to be extremely disappointing. The character development is nonexistent; there is no growth or development of any of the characters from beginning to end. The characters themselves felt very two-dimensional, and none of the relationships between the characters felt real. The polyamorous relationship is really Rhys just cheating on his wife. There is zero chemistry between the characters. The world-building and magic system are lacking. The readers are told they are in the occult or they performed the ritual, but nothing is actually shown. The way David's alcoholism is portrayed and how he is treated during the relapse is disturbing and honestly disgusting. The ending is rushed and anticlimactic.

This is the 3rd book by ST Gibson I've read and by far the most enjoyable one! There's an actual story and progression of characters - more please! A married couple, Rhys and Moira and Rhys' ex-boyfriend David are all magical practitioners. When it becomes clear that a legendary curse has befallen David they must all find a way to work together to remove it. I liked the interplay between the 3 main characters, I felt that all their behaviours were realistic and in keeping with their personalities. There is quite a lot of mention and progression to polyamory in the book, I'm interested to see where the next book in the series will take this - it's believable that Rhys and David have unfinished business after a messy breakup but as to if Moira would be fine with them recoupling I'm needing a bit more convincing. The magic was well mixed in with the relationship drama.

A fun setting and an easy escapist read that I ultimately wished either had more character or more plot. While David and Moira felt incredibly well developed, Rhys felt more like a linchpin than a person in his own right and for a book so clearly meant to be heavy on character, that left a sagging middle that the plot didn't feel built to carry. I'll happily keep going with this series and I have hopes that all the elements will deepen over time, but I wanted a little more messy electricity based on the marketing.

David Aristarkhov is fiercely ambitious in multiple arenas: his career as a Boston attorney, his moonlighting gig as a powerful medium, his desire to be named high priest of his occult fraternity. He is shaken out of his confident pursuits by the realization that he is becoming possessed by a demon, and turns to his ex-boyfriend and now rival, Rhys. He must first win over Rhys's new wife, Moira, a powerful witch in her own right who is deeply suspicious of the man who put her husband through so much emotional turmoil. The three characters are increasingly drawn to each other as they try to solve the mystery of how to save David's soul.

This book had so many elements that captivated me: the luxurious dark academia vibe, the polyamorous relationship exploration and dynamics, the secret occult society, the mysterious mansion complete with library full of priceless rare books. The plot was almost incidental; this was very much a character-driven book. I was smitten with Moira; I would love to see a sequel revolving around more of her story.

Thank you so much to Angry Robot and Netgalley for this ARC to review!

4.5 stars, rounded up.

I really enjoyed this, but did not end up liking it as much as I hoped I would. The prose is, as always, fantastic, the worldbuilding is fascinating and the premise really cool (I'm always a sucker for any type of "deal with the supernatural stories").

However, while I did like the characters and enjoyed reading their dynamics, there is a bit too much telling and not enough showing - we're constantly told that they're powerful, sharp, composed... but we have very few occasions to see them demonstrate those qualities. Moreover, they're the only magic users we really see in action, so it's hard to believe that they're extraordinary when we don't have anything to compare them to.

Overall, definitely recommended, particularly if you've enjoyed the author's other books, and I really look forward to the next book in the series!

David is an Aristarkhov. His family is incredibly wealthy and are well known in the occult world. He doesn’t like to ask for help, and he definitely doesn’t like to show any signs of weakness.

Rhys is an academic. He was introduced to the Society by David. All Rhys wants is to be named High Priest of the Society. David and Rhys have a complicated history which makes Society meetings awkward.

Moira is a witch. Her mother, and grandmother were witches too. She runs a business reading palms and laying out tarot decks. Moira and Rhys are married, and Moira does not like David.

David and Rhys haven’t spoken in 6 months. However, when David runs into trouble, he doesn’t know who else to turn to but Rhys, and by association, Moira.

This book has my whole heart, I am absolutely in love with how it was written. I love that it is written from 3 points of view.

The way the story progresses is just perfect, I felt so invested throughout the book. I can’t recommend this book enough!

Thank you NetGalley and Angry Robot for granting me access to this E-arc in exchange for an honest review.

ST Gibson can do no wrong. I live for her writing style. It’s lush and sensual and eloquent. I’ll read anything she writes.

I love messy relationships. I’m straight as can be, but I love her queer romances.

I’m so excited that we’re getting special editions of this book and I will put them on my shelf with pride.

Thank you to the publisher for the arc!!

Where to even start! I fell in love with Gibson's writing with her first novel, then absolutely loved her most recent one, An Education in Malice. There was no surprise at all that I loved this as well.

First, the writing is just as phenomenal, and the book interested me immediately. All the characters have a certain depth that made me incredibly interested in them throughout the novel, especially David and Rhys. I found the plot extraordinarily enticing and fell into the world of magic and spirits just as quickly as the characters have done. Gibson did a grand job creating an atmosphere that very well sucks you into its fantastic insanity, as well as creating a relationship between the two main characters that had me obsessed with how their story would play out the more I read.

Not one part of this book was lacking in any department, and I adore Gibson for truly mastering the art of storytelling. After finishing this, I am already patiently waiting for the next one bc I am S.T. Gibson's biggest fan!

Sadly this book wasn't for me. When I was 30% in and there still was not plot, I realized the story was a bit like Atlas Six - purely driven by the interactions of characters. Atlas Six also didn't work for me for the same reasons: I did not care about the characters at all, and so I kept hoping an interesting plot would kick in. Same here.
David was okay, with Rhys there was not enough 'there' there, and Moira... I don't know. I get the feeling that the female characters in Gibson's book are written as if they had an agenda, when really they are just being done dirty by men.

If you care for the characters and their relationships, I'm sure you'd like this book. The writing style is engaging enough.

For me it's 3/5 stars.

I'm very grateful to Netgalley and Angry Robot to have granted me the wish for the eARC.

Thank you to Angry Robot and NetGalley for the ARC for an honest review.

Going to start with, S. T. Gibson did it again!
I am head over heels for this book. The kind of good where I dreaded finishing it because I just wanted it to drag out a little longer. S. T. Gibson develops her characters so incredibly well and this is no exception. David has stolen a little soft place in my heart and deserves a safe space and all the love!

So I’m starting to think that S.T. Gibson is kinda sneaky as a writer. She gives you these unique and original dark academic supernatural stories but underneath that they are really stories about great relationships and amazing characters. This one is no different. We meet David, (a cocky and sarcastic wealthy lawyer who also moonlights as a medium for a secret society), Rhys (his rival and ex-boyfriend), and Moira (Rhys’ wife and the balancing force for them both). This love triangle was impossible not to get swept up in. The gothic atmosphere of this book was in line with Gibson’s other popular works like Dowry of Blood and Education in Malice and while the beginning of the book starts slightly slow once I got into the story I couldn’t stop. Gibson is very quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.

Thank you Angry Robot and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Evocation is actually the first book by S.T. Gibson that I've read. Dowery of Blood and An Education in Malice have both been on my radar, but I haven't had the chance to read either yet. After Evocation, I will definitely be moving both higher on my priority list because I am absolutely enamored!

Evocation starts by introducing us to the three main characters: David, Rhys, and Moira. All three are quickly compelling characters and there is some (initially unexplained) conflict between them that had me hooked early.

In the first few chapters, we learn that Rhys and Moira are happily married, Rhys and David are bitter exes (friends to lovers to enemies to ???), and David and Moira have had a relationship of distrust.

A paranormal mystery brings the married couple back into contact with David. Then, the plot gets started and builds to some amazing character and relationship growth.

Evocation is largely a character-based urban fantasy. All three main characters are magicians (David is a medium, Moira is a witch, and Rhys is a sorcerer) and two of them are part of a magical secret society but the world feels very grounded in reality. The plot largely serves as a catalyst for character and relationship development but it was engaging and I loved the gothic horror elements involved.

The true strength of the novel really lies in the characters and the relationships. The characters are diverse and complicated, and all three main characters have growth arcs that I thought were incredibly well done. There's also a small cast of supporting characters that add a lot to the story (including even more diversity).

I highly recommend this book and I'm really looking forward to future releases in this series. I truly can't wait to see more of these three characters and this world that S.T. Gibson has created!

Thank you Netgalley for the e-arc of this upcoming release! I want to start this by saying honesty is the best policy. Also, opinions are something everyone is entitled to.
Going into this book, my excitement couldn’t have been higher. This is one of those authors where I would read anything and everything they put out. Though this book is messy in the best way, it is not in the same caliber as her other work. It’s written plainly, which isn’t bad, but very different from the authors past work.
So please, give this a chance. Espérate the artist from the art, and take this story at face value.

Evocation exceeded every expectation I had and some I didn't know I even had, too!

Prior to reading this amazing story, I had read several of the reviews since I'd recently lost a close family friend and was attempting to avoid certain topics. (And incase you're wondering, any deaths happened in the past and off-page.)

I was a bit surprisesd at seeing few of the reviews commenting on the lack of explaination into David's past and the ending of his relationship with Rhys. Now, I'm not one to take reviews as gospel, but it was surprising as their interactions eluded to their past and eventually everything was explained by David and Rhys.

While I loved Rhys+Moira and Moira+David, I wasn't exactly a fan of past Rhys and his various hang-ups when it came to his relationship with David. But without their past, there couldn't be a present or a future...

While David does have some internal hiccups and personal hurtles to overcome, I'll be interested to see how Rhys evolves to become the supportive partner David clearly needs.