First and foremost I’d like thank NetGalley & Angry Robot for the amazing opportunity to read an ARC of this book. I’m a little late for my review but better late than never I say!
What happens when the promise of power and darkness seduces one of our 3 main characters? Bringing him closer to the point of no return then he has ever been…
This book was one of my most anticipated books of this year. I love S T Gibson’s writing and her ability to bring representation of the LGBTQUIA+ to the forefront of her novels. With this book we see the main focus of a polyamorous relationship that i absolutly adore.
Rhys, David and Moira are such an iconic trio that i absolutely loved seeing their relationship tested and coming out stronger.
I will say tho that this book dragged a lot and a part of me was like, let’s get to the point yall!
Overall this book was a solid sequel and 4 star read. Not as good as book 1 but solid.

Despite how much I loved Evocation and Odd Spirits, for some reason I wasn’t vibing with this book as much. I didn’t feel the same connection to the characters this time around, or their relationship. I didn’t really like Rhys character, and I do understand this book follows him specifically, but this book made me not like him at all.

UGH what a read! The drama an atmosphere of ST Gibson's writing is something that I will always come back for more of every single time I read one of their books. I loved so many things about reading this one be it the characters, the plot, and the drama I was not slowing down in the slightest. I found the pacing to be really well down and the overall book was a fast read. If you read Evocation I think there is a chance like me that you might possibly like this one even a little bit more. I found the ending to be very satisfying and I am now not sure what do with myself now that I have finished this one and there being at least a year until book 3. I totally recommend this series to anyone that is look for a fresh take on urban fantasy and loves a romance with s0me grit. A big plus for me with this one was the fact that it was a little more spicy than book 1 and I was eating it up. There was literally nothing about this book that I did not like it was a 10/10 for me.

Now the High Priest of Boston’s secretive and storied Society, Rhys McGowan has power, prestige, and a destiny – with his witch wife Moira at his side and his psychic boyfriend David back in his life. Together, they could make Rhys the most formidable High Priest in history.

But ambition always comes with a price… and Rhys’s hunger for more might be his greatest downfall.

The second instalment in the bestselling Summoner’s Circle series is a dark, magnetic return to a world of layered magic systems, occult practices, and complex entanglements – all rendered with S.T. Gibson’s signature care and depth. Against a vividly atmospheric Boston backdrop, the bonds between Rhys, Moira, and David are as captivating as the magic they wield, with tender, intimate moments woven between the shadows of intrigue and danger.

Moira remains an undeniable scene-stealer, while side characters like Leda, Nathan, Kitty, and Antoni each get moments that enrich the world further. This is a spellbinding continuation – steeped in ambition, desire, and the delicate balance between love and power.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

Our favorite trio is back with the focus on Rhys this time as he tries to navigate his new role as High Priest of the secrety society. After having read both Evocation and Ascension I'm having a hard time pinpointing the genre of these books. Cozy-adjecent? Magical slice-of-life? Because while there are relatively high stakes, the events are small and the progression relatively slow. We're offered a unique peek into the characters' lives that doesn't necessarily progress the plot. But it's still very entertaining and satisfying to read.

The Good:
- I continue to love David and Moira and their growing relationship. They pretty much stole every scene they were in and I keep craving for more.
- The vibes match so well from scene to scene. Even though Gibson doesn't overly describe settings, you instantly get a good feel for them.
- Rhys' panic attacks felt too real. My own heart beat started pumping whenever he was spiraling.
- I know this shouldn't matter... but these covers are so gorgeous!

The Could be better:
- Rhys is my least favorite character of the trio because of his self-righteousness. A lot needs to happen before he sees his mis-steps. I get that he's flawed, but even though Rhys and David both have egos, I'm feeling a lot more sympathy for David.
- The "reveals" were a bit weak.

The Bad:
- Nothing in particular! I really liked this book.

So all in all I'm staying at a sweet 4 out of 5 stars, just like the first book. I think I like the first one a tad better because it was mostly from David's POV. The next one should be from Moira's POV so I'm really looking forward to that and the rest of their relationship progression.

Thanks to NetGalley and Angry Robot for providing me with an ARC. All opinions are my own.

Rhys has everything he has ever wanted. except, has always wanted more and more and more. He is convinced of his on worthlessness while being unyieldingly ambitious to a point of needless greed. This book explores the even the best parts of us can be poisoned.

This book includes:
- Witches, wizards and all all other magic practitioners galore
- angels and demons
- queer rep and a polycule
- Religion, specifically catholic iconography and cults
- intense rivalries
- detrimental ambition
- curses and betrayal

maturity: 18+

I love all of S.T. Gibson's work. She does a fantastic job of both invoking and evoking catholic imagery that drags me into all of her books. Her characters are almost excruciatingly complex and messy. They behave (refreshingly) like the human beings, so even when I am frustrated with their decision making, I still love them. Their motivations are sound, and honest - if flawed. I love these characters and I am so excited to continue to dive deeper into their mystical world.

I received this eBook as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, S.T. Gibson, and Angry Robot for the opportunity to review this book. This review has been posted to GoodReads check out my profile https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/62314863 and it will be posted to my bookstagram account https://www.instagram.com/tinynightingales/ and booktok https://www.tiktok.com/@tinynightingales?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

4.5 stars

I will always love all of S.T. Gibson's books. I adored Evocation and I was so looking forward to Ascension!
I don't love Rhys as much as David and Moira, but I was still very happy with this book around him, especially when his lovers were involved. I just adore the dynamic between the main trio and I love how it keeps evolving.
I absolutely cannot wait for Divination!

WOW is all I can say about this book!! I finished reading it recently and I was even more amazed by this one than I was by book one (also incredible).

I loved the mystery and conflict surrounding the characters and really loved seeing the relationship between Rhys, Moira and David developing beautifully-and Moira's my favourite character so far, so I loved seeing her come into her own and become more confident in her powers.

The book is absolutely fantastic and if you liked book one (Evocation), or you were a fan of the author's other work, you NEED to check this one out!

And for anyone unfamiliar to the series, this is an incredible urban fantasy with secret societies and all sorts of conjurors and psychics. The paranormal aspect of the book lies in demon summoning and other arcane practices and makes for a really gripping tale.

I'm not always the best at describing books but I thoroughly enjoyed this and think others will too!

In Ascension by S.T. Gibson, the story is complex and magical. The second book in the Summoner’s Circle series, the novel drops the reader into the story right after the events of the first book after David and Rhys have reunited and Rhys has become High Priest of their secret society. One of the elements I loved in the first book and in this one as well, is the viewpoint alternating between Rhys, David and Moira so we get to see the complexity of their relationships and the communication between all three. I love that even though David is not sexually interested in Moira, he deeply cares and respects her. The three personalities in the story are very strong and I love how their relationship is a dance, a navigation between all three of them.
I like that Rhys makes mistakes, learns and changes. Much of the story, while delving into the magical world around them, is focused on love and communication, learning the trust your partners, and learning in some important ways how to submit to that trust, to see matters in new and different perspectives. I love the magical world building but it is the relationship between Rhys, Moira and David that keeps me engaged.
If you like powerful stories about magic and loving relationships that involve trust and communication, this novel is for you. While there is conflict between all three, they ultimately navigate those difficulties using communication, trust and love and I find that a heady combination that is complex and magical. I also like that we get a great and happy ending for all three. I can’t wait to see more of this world and these characters.

[3.5/5] ASCENSION by S.T. Gibson is the second installment of The Summoner's Circle. This time the main point of view is that of Rhys. Rhys is now High Priest of the Society and to ensure he can live up to the expectations, he summons a horde of demons to be at his beck and call. As he manages the strain of controlling his literal and figurative demons, a mysterious public occult display makes headlines. This sends Rhys into frenetic damage control mode, threatening his marriage, friendships, and life in the process.

ASCENSION by S.T. Gibson is not exactly a follow up on how to rid Rhys of the demon blood curse he took on from David. Instead, it's a character study on how anxiety and self worth may drive someone to make poor decisions. In Rhys's case, this may be due to insecurities from being raised Catholic, hiding his sexuality and polyamory from his parents, and a natural inclincation toward perfection to compensate. Honestly, Rhys was insufferable and I didn't find the first 50% or so of the book all that entertaining. Had I known this is a slice-of-life in the head of a high-strung individual, I may have passed as historically these aren't my favorite kinds of stories to read. The time spent in Rhys's head also made the reading experience feel slow. Only when the figurative pin dropped did I become more interested in the resolution.

However, Gibson continues to deliver character growth and delicious character dynamics. As with EVOCATION, David's and Moira's interactions are a delight to read. They continue to be my favorites of the three main characters. Rhys and Moira care deeply about each other and I loved Moira's fierce protectiveness when events call for it. This book also normalizes polyamory. The trio have a set up that they all agreed upon, signaling the importance of communication. Unfortunately, Rhys still doesn't fully internalize the importance of this until he finds himself in mortal danger. For those who need to know, there is an open door scene with the trio.

Gibson also incorporates various sects of occultism into the text. This is not something I know anything about. Thankfully, conversation or inner dialogue more or less defines them for the average reader. (It also helps to have access to the dictionary via e-book.) I had no idea how many different sects there are, so that was somewhat eye opening. There is a particular kind of "magic" introduced that I found fascinating and hope to see more of it over the rest of the series.

Overall, ASCENSION by S.T. Gibson is great for anyone who likes to get into an insecure character's head and psychoanalyze their decisions. However, readers who hope for a more plot-driven story might not derive as much satisfaction from this installment.

Finally, we return to The Summoner's Circle series which began with Evocation -- introducing us to Gibson's leads, David, Rhys, and Moira. A tantalising series opener, that left me wanting more immediately, and the wait was so utterly worth it. Where Evocation began, Ascension continues with a strength dashing any fears of second book syndrome. Without spoiling the first book, Ascension takes off running from where it left off and does not let up.

Rhys is an undeniably fascinating character to focus on in this chapter of the series, as he steps up into the role of High Priest and struggles to balance his desire for power with his responsibilities as a husband, boyfriend, and friend. He is flawed and self-flagellating, he swings from self-assured to self-conscious. Any reservations I may have had of him as a character in Book 1 (fleeting reservations, as I find each lead so interesting) were quickly silenced. He is so interesting, for his complexities are so conflicting. He makes deals with demons and yet believes so strongly in God, he loves so deeply and fears that he is unworthy of that love in return. He is selfish and caring, he can be cruel but so compassionate too. Ascension is a testament to S.T. Gibson's strengths as a writer, presenting these contradictions as they should be presented. Rhys is a whole person, as are David and Moira. They are as interesting separately as they are together. There is tension in this book, there is angst and each of our leads grapples with the past and the present, they fear the future's uncertainty too.

Also, I'm in love with Leda. The ways in which I am so thirsty for her book cannot be articulated. I love a chaos magician, I love a rock star. I love the fact that she's BOTH. The exploration of the side characters was so exciting, Antoni, Kitty, and Nathan especially grabbed me. The tension there was handled with a lot of care, focusing too on the ways in which Rhys struggles extended beyond romantic turmoil and his own decline in health. We also need more Dion expeditiously (I am certain S.T. will deliver, as she always does).

The sensuality and tenderness in this book also took my breath away. We are currently in a climate that sexualises much but there is also a profound sexlessness to so much media. The Summoner's Circle seems the dream opposition to that, a deliberately earnest and delicious approach to polyamory, in all its beautiful and diverse forms. I cannot emphasise how much I love the David/Rhys/Moira of it all, how much I ADORE the David and Moira dynamic and Rhys and David dynamic. They all love each other so fiercely it's amazing. Gibson writes intimacy in a way that warms me from inside out and I cannot wait for the next book, which I know will also be worth the wait. I feel like this series is literally the Parks and Rec meme, "Hi I'm David, this is my boyfriend Rhys and his wife Moira" in the best possible way. Cannot wait to see how they progress as the series does because phew. The way this book ends (excluding the epilogue) was all I've ever wanted from a trio. That's all I'll say lmfao.

I ended up DNFing this one but I will try again in the future to give it another chance and better process my thoughts. I was so looking forward to this, but everytime I picked it up I simply could not get myself to get past a few pages. I love ST Gibson's other work so this could very much be a case of right book wrong time. I don't want to leave yall on my shelf void but to clarify this is simply where I am right now but I hope it changes soon!

3.5 stars
Ascension felt a bit like a filler book. like not a ton happened plot-wise, but the vibes were great! I din't really like the religious tension, but the gothic feel and slow-burn romance really pulled me in, even if the story itself dragged a bit... Idk I just wanted more development in some places but I was still invested. Overall, it didn’t blow me away, but I was definitely vibing with it.

something about these characters speak to me. i think about evocation often, even though i was not a huge fan of a dowry of blood and dnfed an education in malice. these characters breathe such a life into the story and it grips me from page one. it does queer representation and explanation of different kinds of loves so well.

Thanks netgalley and S.T Gibson for the Arc
I really enjoyed this book
The storyline and each character were so interesting

I will never NOT request a ST Gibson book. I enjoyed this book, but the beginning felt like a bit of a slow start, which hasn't been typical of her previous works for me. I still loved seeing what David, Moira, and Rhys were up to, and I felt that the pace did pick up as the story progressed. I do recognize that sometimes the second book in a series has a lot of plot points being set up which can feel a bit slow, so I still can't wait for the next installment in this series!

I love this series and the magical world within it! Getting to see more of Rhys was so heartwarming, especially now that he and Moira and David are working together to make their relationship work. This book encapsulates their relationship in a way that doesn't perpetuate stereotypes of a throuple that usually end in a love triangle. This triangle is a solid and supported group and I loved watching them learn to navigate life together!

S.T Gibson hit it out of the park again, and I cannot WAIT for the next book. Catholic guilt abound, Rhys finally has something go wrong for him, and Moira and Lettie can do no wrong in my eyes

The brilliant follow up book to the brilliant Evocation 🙌🏼 I absolutely love this series and every single character in it. After saving David at the end of book 1 it's now Rhys' turn to be in some paranormal trouble.

I really like how you get to see a darker side to Rhys and likewise how the other characters change around him.

This book not only had more demons but also more spice! 🌶️🌶️🌶️ I absolutely loved the new relationship dynamics that took place and how it was an integral part of the story not just thrown in for fun.

I can't rate these books enough, magical in every sense

I'm a big fan of this series now. I can confidently say I will read every single book this author publishes from now on. She has a gift for writing the most atmospheric settings and situations, with a flush and vivid writing style. The whole thing is very evocative (no pun intended), reminding me of Lovecraft and Stoker's writing style. Utterly obssessed.

Overall rating: 3.5 stars (rounded up)
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Pub Date Jul 08 2025

Thank you to the author, Angry Robot and NetGalley for giving me the chance to read an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.