I thought this book was interesting! I loved seeing the ins and outs of the Society. LOVED seeing Rhys’ descent into madness. However, I know this is an arc but there were so many typos that it threw me out of the story every time. I trust these will be fixed for the official release. Those aside, I’m very excited to see what is next for these three!

Thank you, NetGalley and Angry Robot, for providing access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I want to start by saying that I have grown incredibly attached to Moira, David, and Rhys. I adore them as a found family, especially the first two, finding their connection and love singular and beautiful. The way their magic-infused intimacy was explored surprised me and showcased the unique way in which this poly relationship is supposed to happen.

However, Rhys was the main focus of this book, representing both the best and the worst parts of the overall journey. His greed and ambition were undeniable, selfish, and all-consuming, to the point where I would not be surprised if many people would decide to DNF the book around the halfway point. I can totaly see a great divide between the readers, having some relate to him deeply and appreciate his growth, and some that might still have problems with him after finishing the book, despite the well-rounded ending that focused on his retribution. As it stands, I'm a bit torn, as I cannot understand hurting everyone he loved as a direct result of his overwhelming ambition, but I can still appreciate his evolution.

Now, let's discuss Max. I kind of really liked him and David. Even when it all went down (and let's face it, we knew they were not meant to last based on the book's marketing), I kind of don't see his proposals and own ambitions to be anywhere near as bad as Rhys'. He treated David beautifully, and then got discarded like a wet rat.

Still, as I said, I love the found family aspect too much to rate this book lower. S.T. Gibson's writing remains phenomenal, and while this series might not reach the same cult-like following as A Dowry of Blood (which remains one of my favourite books of all time), it's still got a clear audience, and I'm glad I managed to carve the time to give this series another go so soon after finishing Evocation.

This story follows the aftermath of book 1, but follows Rhys as the high priestess. I was nervous to start this book because if I’m being honest, I completely forgot about the magic system and purpose of book 1, but Gibson did an amazing job with going over the story. I didn’t feel lost and was invested in the storyline. I liked the conflicts throughout the book for both Rhys himself and in his relationship. Gibson’s writing style is also very well done with well structured storyline, pacing, setting, and just overall storytelling. This book is told from all Rhys, Moira, and David’s pov.

Rhys is our main lead and I enjoyed his character in this book. He develops a lot especially with everything that is going on his life. Then we have Moira and David. For some reason, I just didn’t feel their povs was needed as side characters. This just felt mainly like it would be Rhys’ perspective, as I assume book three would be Moira. It would be enjoyable at times, but some chapters just didn’t flow. This book is the same romance as book 1 (relationship wise) but I just couldn’t really feel the chemistry this round like in book 1.

The ending was well done and overall, it was a great book. I am excited for book 3 and can’t wait to see where the story goes next. If you haven’t read book 0.5, you should read that before this one just to learn more about the characters. I recommend checking this story out.

*this arc was sent to me by the publisher to give an honest review in return*

3.5⭐️ but could be subject to change.

I started this series as I recieved an e-ARC of this book. I enjoyed Evocation, I really liked it but this one didn’t quite do it for me as much as book 1.

Whilst I did find it easy to read and follow (still managed to finish it in one day) I just didn’t enjoy it as much as I hoped, it felt a bit too similar to book 1 and I was hoping for something a little different.

That said, I really like this authors writing style. It’s so easy to read and follow and it’s definitely a page turner.

Ascension opens with Rhys working as the new High Priest and thriving in his relationships with Moira and David. Things start going awry, however, when Rhys's ambition leads him down a dark path.

Like Evocation, this largely focuses on the characters and relationships, with the plot serving as a backdrop to further those. Rhys, in particular, has some truly great growth in this; I finished the book loving him more than ever! Since Rhys is the main focus, David and Moira's scenes are largely about him and their relationships with him, but they are still amazing characters who both have great moments. Leda and Antoni, supporting characters in the first book, have larger roles in this book and quickly became new favorites for me. Kitty and Nathan are also great supporting characters who get a little more focus.

Rhys's relationships with both Moira and David have some rocky patches in this book. Rhys makes a series of bad decisions that temporarily strain his relationships, but there are still many great moments for both pairings and for them as a throuple. Moira and David also have some really nice moments together. There's one scene early in the book where they discuss what they should refer to each other as, which is one of my favorite scenes of the entire series so far; it's light and playful and is a good reflection of what I love most about the two. The book is also spicier than the first, with one scene near the end being the steamiest yet. 

As I mentioned earlier, the plot is largely in service to the character and relationship stories, but there is an expansion of the magic system that I found to be very interesting. There's a heavy focus on the Society, too, so if you liked the minor Dark Academia vibes in the first book, you should enjoy this one.

Ascension is a fantastic follow-up to Evocation. It takes some interesting turns and has a lot of character and relationship development. It left me very excited to read the next book in the series, which will be called Divination and will focus on Moira!




My Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗 (4.5/5 stars).
Pages: 400 (Kindle Edition)
Tropes/Tags: Urban Fantasy, Polyamory, Queer, Magic, Romantasy, Dark Academia
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5. There are multiple spicy scenes, and some are descriptive.
Content Warnings: Self-harm, Blood, Alcoholism

Accension is a thrilling and satisfying sequel that expands the world of the Summoner’s Circle in all the best ways. Rhys’s rise to High Priest is as compelling as it is fraught with danger, and the tension between his lofty ambitions and the fragile bonds with Moira and David kept me turning pages late into the night. The mix of urban fantasy and emotional stakes is perfectly balanced, and while a few plot threads felt a bit rushed, the story’s dark allure and the return of beloved characters more than make up for it. A must-read for fans of magical intrigue and complex relationships.

After being completely blown away by Evocation and Odd Spirits last year (seriously, top tier reads!), getting my hands on Ascension had me literally vibrating with excitement 🤩 thank you so much @angryrobots , I am forever in your debt.

This time we dive deep into Rhys's journey as he embraces his role as High Priest, and wow - @stgibson has outdone themselves again! The character development is absolutely chef's kiss - you can't help but fall in love with these complex characters and cheer them on through every twist and turn, and believe me, there are definitely a lot of those.

Honestly? I think I loved this one even more than Evocation (and that's saying something!). The way Gibson weaves together character dynamics within this rich occult world is pure magic ✨ This series is all about the characters rather than heavy plot, which I adored as it’s right up my alley.

If you haven't stepped into The Summoner's Circle universe yet, what are you waiting for?! This series will grab you from page one and refuse to let go. Trust me on this one 💫

Ascension is about the monster of ambition. It's about wringing ourselves dry to believe that we have to do everything we can. That greatness is the goal. Gibson explores the thrill of magic, of pushing ourselves, and of ambition. When we see through multiple characters, we also are able to witness the ways in which this ambition consumes. Rhys feels very much like he lacks this natural talent. He doesn't have wealth or status, so he's constantly trying to prove himself. It's this balance of pride, money, and reputation. And what will he do to tip the scales?

Gripping Continuation of the Summoner's Circle Series

This review contains spoilers for book 1, so don't read if you've not yet caught up!

Rhys, David and Moira have finally figured out their polycule and Rhys is getting used to his new role as High Priest of the Society. But then a scandal rips through the magical community, threatening to expose them all and someone from David's past re-enters the picture, trying very hard to make up for lost time..

S.T. Gibson's second novel in this series, Ascension, picks up pretty much where Evocation left off. Her writing is very strong, her cast diverse and with lots of depth but her plotting drags, again, in the first half of the book. Nevertheless, the second half makes up for the lack of pace by being incredibly gripping. There was a lack of furthering the open strands from the last book where the family curse is concerned (my main reason to pick this up) but the story of this book is still a suspenseful read and it was nice to learn more about the diverse magical community the Society only represents a tiny fraction of.

I found some of the new characters a little too predictable - but being a pattern seeker, this happens all the time and usually is fine for your average reader. S.T. Gibson still managed to surprise me, even if it felt a little flat compared to the twist I had imagined. Still, rounding up to 5 from a 4.5 rating feels about right.

Ascension does not conclude the series, so it will be a treat to find out how Rhys and David's (and Moira's) story continues in the next installment.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

If there's one thing S.T. Gibson is gonna do and do well it's write the most chaotic polyamorous fantasy relationship of your life.

This is a solid sequel book 1, Evocation. I liked that Rhys, Moira, and David's relationship is explored in a newer context of an established relationship, and I think Rhys' character arc is a natural continuation from what we saw of him in book 1. Similar to Evocation I still wish the magic/occult element played a bit of a stronger role in the overall story. We learn a little more about different organizations and theologies and rituals in this book but none are developed too deeply which is a shame.

If you liked book 1 I would definitely recommend reading Ascension. Praying that the next book is centered around Moira because I love her.

4.5 stars

Oh how I love these polyamorous demon summoners. I love the dynamic between David, Rhys, and Moira. There’s so much love and trust between them but they’re also messy, imperfect people. Their relationship feels very real and authentic and is really enjoyable.
In this book Rhys is struggling with Doing Too Much. He has too many responsibilities and way too many demons and it all starts to take a toll on him. He makes a lot of mistakes and i really liked how the people in his life supported him throughout and helped him but also didn’t let him get away with anything they held him accountable for his actions and pushed him to change.
I also really liked how we get more of a David and Moira storyline in this book. In the first book it seemed like maybe they wouldn’t get along but they got so much closer and really connected in this one. They both balance out Rhys so well and have a really great friendship.
This book had demon summoning, a doorway to hell, cults, betrayal and so much more. This was such a fun read and I can’t wait to read more about these characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot for the ARC!

Ascension is either a brilliant, character-driven story or a book about an insufferable twenty-something being his own worst enemy except with magic rather than the typical routes. Maybe both. If you enjoyed Evocation, you’ll likely enjoy this one too with some caveats.

After the book Evocation focused on physic prodigy and playboy heir David, the next book in the Summoner’s Circle is about Rhys, another character from Evocation. Unlike Evocation, which has more of a traditional antagonist set-up, Ascension really slows down to focus on the characters. We find out early on that the curse that was such a focal point of Evocation has been waved away as a problem for another day– a very odd choice given the book is focused on Rhys. Instead, we see Rhys actively destroy everything he’s worked for while even seemingly minor characters get plumbed to their depths (we find out, for example, the reasons each of Rhys’s little sisters adore Moira, that Kitty has a pet cat named Moomin, that Antoni is a wizard with cocktails, that Moira has many beautiful and vintage inspired outfits, that David is really concerned about his macros, and so on). Each scene is chock full of these details, which build up a charming painting of this psychic but yuppie underbelly of Boston– but it’s at the cost of momentum.

And it’s becoming clear that the plan is for each (major?) character to have their own book. Other reviewers indicate Moira is the star for number three and Leda will follow. I think it’s a neat idea in theory, but it creates some odd tension as so many potential main characters vie for attention. And in Moira’s case, play second fiddle to several dumb young men for two books. (That lady puts up with a lot, and I will happily read a novel focused on her.)

So, as a book in a series, I think this does the job of fleshing out more characters who will be featured later. For a middle novel, that’s not a bad purpose. I wish I could feel like it elevated the stakes, but I don’t think it really did. But I will seek out the third one, especially if Moira is the focus.

This was so, so good! I loved watching Rhys, Moira, and David back at it. Their struggles are so real, so human, but the magical element makes it so much more fun. We have some new characters in this one, and a bit of a mystery to solve. Putting together the pieces with this was a lot of fun, and there were some really well placed twists in here!

The dynamics between Rhys, Moira, and David are a delicate balance, much like anything in life. Balancing of personal and professional, too, and what can go wrong when that balance gets skewed was really well done here. The spicy bit at the end sneaks up on you but holy wow!

Unfortunately I DNF’d this book, not because of anything to do with the book but because I’m in a reading slump.

While there was something about the pacing that seemed a bit off for me at the beginning especially, I ultimately just had a pretty good time reading once I got into it and I'm excited to see where things go in the next book.

Getting back together with our favorite summoners for even more demons, angels and treachery.

Book Stats:
📖: 400 pages
Genre: Occult Fantasy
Publisher: Angry Robot
Format: Ebook
Series: 2/2 The Summoners Circle

Themes:
💫: Corruption of power
💫: Accepting Help from others
💫: The power of love and trust

Representation:
🪽: bisexual MMC/gay MMC
🪽: polyamorous relationship

Tropes:
💗: secret society
💗: trust no one

🥵: Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Potential Triggers: **check authors page/socials for full list.

Short Synopsis:
Having newly ascended to high priest, Rhys is discovering that leadership may not be as cut and dry as he previously anticipated. The delicate balance of social life, evocation, and personal life violently tipping out of alignment. Can he bring things back to harmony before they all come crashing down?

General Thoughts:
This book picks up fairly close to where the previous novel, Evocation, left off. The suspense and tension following Rhys starts immediately and definitely grasps the readers attention. David and Moira take a bit of a backseat role, which I was a little disappointed about. The three of them as main characters is what solidified me in the first book as a fan.

I feel like the side characters are really shining through. Even though they are mostly underdeveloped plot movers, they give me "trust no one" vibes. They are doing what is intended to be done within the novel, even being a little one-dimensional. They're only heightening my interest in the book by creating mystery, making it hard to put down.

This book gets a little heavy on religious aspects, including Catholicism and the church. It didn't really come across as preachy, even though it is framed in a positive light.

Disclaimer: I read this book as a ebook from Angry Robot and NetGalley. All opinions are my own. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Ok wow. This one was a much better book than the first. The characters were more interactive with each other and they have created an amazing story.

A solid follow-up to Evocation, the first book in the Summoner's Circle series. And yes, you need to read that before attempting this because the characters are all tangled up together and you need a baseline to start from.
This book focuses more on Rhys and his role as High Priest in Boston's secret Society. With the help of his adoring witch wife, Moira, and his newly rekindled relationship with psychic boyfriend, David, Rhys is destined to become the most powerful High Priest ever. However, Rhys's insatiable ambition may be his undoing...

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Angry Robot for this digital e-arc.*

After finishing Evocation I knew I had to Start Ascension immediately, the characters lefts such a deep impression on me and they just wanted me to know their story.

I know a book or a series I good when the characters stay with me after I've finished the book.
I loved this so much, the writing, the characters, the story, I was just enchanted by it all.

I love the occult elements, all the magic, the summonings, tarot, etc. The whole atmosphere was so realistic and immersive 8 had a hard time stopping.

I love all the growth Rhys had in this one and David and Moira are the BEST

I can't wait to read the rest.

I was a huge fan of book one on this series and it was one of my few five star reads last year. While I didn't enjoy it at much as book one, I still had an amazing time. I enjoyed the continued character development as well as the introduction to new world building to those outside of Boston