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)
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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.

I adored this book! It's a read that takes a bit to fully rev into gear but then suddenly you're racing toward the finish line, clenching your fists (and jaw) and just desperate to know how it ends. I fell hard for David, Rhys, and Moira, and can't wait to read on in the series!

I DNF'd this early on because it was so boring. None of the characters drew me in, and the chemistry between all the characters gave nothing. I got through the first few chapters and nothing really stood out to me and made me want to keep reading.

I just finished Evocation by S.T. Gibson, and I have to say—it was an intense, beautifully crafted read that pulled me in from the very first page. The story follows a deeply complex relationship between two warlocks, Kent and Vivienne, set against a dark academia backdrop filled with magic, ambition, and obsession.

What I loved most about this book was how it explored power dynamics, love, and the consequences of magic in a world where every spell comes with a cost. Gibson’s prose is lush and evocative (pun intended), making the emotions between the characters feel raw and painfully real. The tension between Kent and Vivienne was palpable, both romantic and destructive in equal measure.

That being said, this isn’t a light read—it delves into themes of control, trauma, and sacrifice, which might not be for everyone. But if you enjoy morally gray characters, gothic atmosphere, and a story that doesn’t shy away from messy emotions, Evocation is worth picking up. It left me haunted in the best way.

This book captivated me straight from the beginning with strong witchy vibes, excellent tarot scenes and three dimensional characters with an unconventional dynamic between them that made for an interesting read. While there are darker topics in this book, it’s well balanced with more light hearted scenes. I flew through it and will definitely be reading the sequel.