This is a character focused book and you get the points of view of the 3 main characters; David, Rhys, and Moira. There is not much action but I enjoyed the character development. I would definitely recommended, if you've enjoyed the author's other books. I will be sure to look forward to book 2! I can't wait to pick up a physical copy of this.

Thank you to Angry Robot Books and NetGalley for e-arc of "Evocation" in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 stars

dnf @ 70%

Having read Odd Spirits (Evocation’s little sister) back in 2022 and enjoyed it, I was very surprised when I neglected to enjoy Evocation. In fact, I’m sorry to say that I disliked this book so much that I couldn’t even finish it. I cannot believe this is supposedly the first book in a trilogy, because what else is there to talk about when the narrative is so bland and character relationships so unnatural?

I have a bone to pick with Moira’s behavior. Readers pointed out how in Odd Spirits Moira was displaying biphobia towards her husband, which turns into complete understanding of Rhys and David still being in love with each other and kissing years after their breakup. S.T. Gibson might have been trying to right her wrongs and rid Moira of her initial biphobia, but this completely dulls her and renders her a side chick in her own marriage. I don’t know if this is a common dynamic in poly relationships, but it seemed wrong that Moira should be the odd one out and get cheated on. This poorly written Black woman goes from one stereotype to another: first, in Odd Spirits, she does not legitimize her husband’s bisexuality, then, in Evocation, she is supposed to accept and stand by while her husband gets it on with his ex??? Moira’s characterization infuriated me, to say the least. I should point out that Odd Spirits is getting re-published later this year, and I think S.T. Gibson will have fixed the issues from the original novella.

It goes without saying that the polyamorous romance skews drastically towards Rhys and David, whose connection isn’t really fleshed out either. We are more so told that they had a two-year relationship, and strong feelings linger even now that Rhys is married to Moira. Other than that, there is no way of actually seeing why Rhys and David are drawn to each other, or why Rhys married Moira. It all feels so fabricated with zero chemistry.

Another point that drove me mad was how poor the worldbuilding was. I was very excited to read about the occult community in Boston (a place I lived in for 4 years, where I was introduced to tarot, etc.), but it was lacking detail. I wanted to learn more about the characters’ special practices, more about the rituals, just more than what we ended up getting. I didn’t care much for the relationship drama that, unfortunately, occupied most of the story.

I have so much more to say, but I do not wish to bash this book before publication, even though it was a huge disappointment. I’m starting to believe that S.T. Gibson no longer writes for my taste.

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

Sadly this book did not work for me and the main reason why is because I couldn't connect with any of the main characters.

Out of our three mains we have David who is dreadfully unlikable, Rhys who has no personality beyond being annoyed at David, and Moira who was an absolute goddess but wasn't strong enough to carry the story on her own. As a result the plot just seemed to drag since it's a massively character driven book.

Speaking of the sparse story that itself was kind of boring. The main intrigue is the curse David is suffering with but there was no urgency there. Nothing happens with that for what feels like a large portion of the book. Instead we're drawn into lackluster world building that's really just a lesson in certain occult happenings.

Then there's the writing. I loved the bleak, gothic world that ST. Gibson painted in A Dowry of Blood but I didn't think her writing suited this more modern setting. I found my eyes skipping over a lot of the descriptions because they weren't evoking any particularly strong feelings from me.

I have no doubt there are people out there who would love this book but unfortunately it wasn't for me.

I've seen nothing but negative early reviews of this book so I had very low expectations going into it. I understood why people might not like it from page 1. Both MMCs are the worst kind of narcissistic men. That, strangely didn't bother me as much as I expected it to and I was enjoying the story for about the first half.

I can't believe I'm going to say this, but I think I would have loved this book if ST Gibson just cut out the romance entirely. I have no issues at all with polyamory its just THIS romance. I don't understand why these people are attracted to each other, I get some of it. Moria has a "I'll fix him" complex so she's attracted to David and David sees Moria as a mother figure + someone he cant have so he wants her. Why anyone is attracted to Rhys is beyond me.

The mystery aspect I loved, it kept me going. Though, in hindsight, the mystery of this curse was super obvious and these characters are supposed to be super smart and should have figured it out earlier. Apparently that didn't bother me while I was reading. I was too annoyed by the romance.

The ending wasn't my favorite but it definitely could have been worse. I don't think I'll be continuing this series.

Absolutely loved it! You can never go wrong with an S T Gibson book! I love how we got multiple different occults being represented in the book. The characters are beautifully written and I loved the relationship dynamics between the characters! It was an extremely enjoyable book!

Thank you Netgalley, Angry Robot snd S T Gibson for the eArc of Evocation.

This is the first one Ive read of ST Gibson's books ( Ive recently picked up Dowry of Blood which Im also keen to read now!) and it did not disappoint. Pitched as general adult fiction with science fiction/romance themes, I was drawn straight away to the whole witches, mediums side of the plot.

I love the dynamics between the main characters. David, a high powered Attorney who is a medium. Rhys, his ex boyfriend in which is has a now, very volatile friendship with. And Rhys wife, Moira. They must work together, with their powers to undo a deal, this occult Father best-oded own David.

The plot line, the pace and the themes dealt within the narrative, were pretty much spot in. It gripped me from the start and sent me on a 2 sitting read that sent me on a rollercoaster of emotions. I can't wait to see if there is a number 2 ( or more ) in this series of The Summoners Circle Books.

4.5 rounded to 5 for Netgalley

🔮 EVOCATION BY S. T. Gibson 🔮
(Spoiler free review!)

Evocation is an urban fantasy centred around 3 main characters: David, Rhys, and Moira. We follow the dynamics between these three characters against a wider plot backdrop involving a deal with the Devil. Think magic, astrology, witchy vibes, and characters with A LOT of baggage and messy history 🖤

I did enjoy a lot of the vibes of this book - I listened to Stevie Nicks and really got into a witchy state of mind. Gibson is so good at writing tension and I did find myself hinging on every slight interaction between the characters. The book also has a really refreshing tone which I enjoyed - I did laugh out loud a couple of times. As always, Gibson handles challenging themes with tact and grace.

I definitely found myself wanting to know more about the characters. David was 100% a favourite in this book, but I was disappointed in Moira’s characterisation. On paper she should have been right up my street but I just found her portrayal a little weak. I also hated a lot of the modern /real-world references (e.g. Grindr and IKEA) - this is largely personal preference but it just really took me out of the story!

No one is more sad to not rave about this than me. A Dowry of Blood is and will remain one of my favourite books of all time, and I have read all of Gibson’s other published works. I think this book would have benefited from being slightly longer to flesh out these characters more, and to have Moira feel like less of an accessory in the book. I also would have liked to see the overarching plot have a bit more substance.

I still think this is worth picking up if you love witchy vibes and want an urban fantasy with queer rep 🖤🔮

Thanks so much to Netgalley and Angry Robot for the ARC of this book.

4.5⭐️

S.T. Gibson's new adult novel is an excellent read! I didn't quite know what to expect from it, other than the author's beautiful writing style, but I was SO pleasantly surprised by the intriguing plot and captivating characters-dynamics.

Evocation is a triple-POV story of occult powers, curses, love and desire. David, as powerful as unable to give himself any free time, finds himself at odds with a mysterious force that overtakes him at increasingly frequent intervals. Begrudgingly, he asks for help from his ex Rhys, another prominent member of their occultism society, and his wife Moira, a witch with more power than she lets on. The plot develops quite slowly for a while, giving the reader time to get to know the characters individually and in relation to one another, but then it suddenly ramps up and keeps you on edge until the end! S.T. Gibson's beautiful, atmospheric writing style feeds right into this - ensuring everything her characters feel is palpable, including the dangers, the magic, the longing.

The dynamics between the three protagonists is exceptionally well written and the absolute highlight of the book for me - there are so many layers to uncover and so many turning points that take everyone by surprise (except perhaps Moira 👀). The three go through so many phases of their relationship, from strains, to friendship and... well, I can't say more! Generally, each character is very well fleshed out and interesting, but it is definitely Moira who stood out to me. A powerful, take-no-shit black woman who learnt/inherited her powers from her family, always stands her ground and loves so deeply and protectively. She is a new addition to my favourite FMCs of all time! Also - Rhys' adoration of his wife and his absolute devotion to her are just delightful! I loved reading of all the ways he made her feel loved and put first at all times. Alongside the new poly situation that simmers throughout the book, of course 🤫

What to expect?
🖤 occultism
🕯 demons and haunted houses
🩸 family curses
🏳️‍🌈 queer rep (and poly developments!)
🫶 exceptional FMC

Thank you to Netgalley and Angry Robot for giving me the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Okay, I'll admit I have mixed feelings about this book. My biggest problem is how I wish Moira had developed better and given more voice. Although, my favorite relationship in the book was her friendship with David. Actually, for most of the book, I wish both of them runway in adventures as friends and left annoying Rhys behind. Moira's marriage with Rhys is full of words of affirmation and "devotion" but we are only told that. All the time. Like they were trying to convince themselves and the readers because we don't see this. Maybe I'm being unfair because they already started as a committed couple but I felt that the romantic focus was on Rhys and Dvid's relationship. There was much more tension to work with there.
Also, I thought David would be the character who was an acquired taste, but that was Rhys. I couldn't handle how much he complained about David like he was some kind of monster and how he made David's alcoholism about himself. At the same time, he was crazy to be with the guy.
Overall, I liked the vibes and the relationships, especially Moira's and David's and I think the series has a lot of potential.

Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot for providing an ARC for this book.

As someone who has loved S.T. Gibson’s other books, I was curious about how their style would reflect in something more modern and less gothic as part of why I loved her writing has been her style. However, I found that she adapted and created her writing to really fit the genre well, taking a different approach to character voices that allowed more detailed and character orientated world building.

Taking a three POV approach meant that we were able to explore the same situations from the perspectives of David, Moira and Rhys. I felt like each chapter I gained insight on why each character acted or felt a certain way, and the switches felt distinguishable and natural, each person having their own voice.

The way this book approaches polyamory and the feelings of love and trust in a relationship felt like it was approached sensitively and I love how it was handled in this book. The feelings between all the characters made sense and it didn’t feel forced, it felt like the most logical approach and I loved the change in relationship especially between David and Moira and how they grew to trust and understand one another.

4 🌟 This was such a different kind of book from the S.T. Gibson books I’ve read so far but really enjoyed it! I loved the occult and astrology components and felt like they were really well done (I wouldn’t personally know but it seemed that way). Each character was so unique and the romantic and platonic relationships explored brought so much to the book. I can’t wait for book two to continue following these characters!!

Many thanks to Angry Robot for the advanced early copy!!

I absolutely loved this one and I think those who adore character-driven stories would (hopefully) agree. I personally love a combination of plot + characters, maybe even a bit heavier on the plot, but felt in this case that S.T Gibson's characters and their dynamic took over the story for me. David and Moira's relationship, specifically, was surprisingly my favorite part of the whole thing. I can't say I've read anything like it..

I think I may have been a little frustrated in the plot because there was a conflict/issue that seemed very obvious to the reader. I'm actually a bit taken back that the characters didn't reach the conclusion sooner, to be honest. HOWEVER, because the characters again were so dang enjoyable I didn't mind it too much in hindsight. David and Rhys' banter had me laughing out loud. Rhys' relationship with Moira was also so swoony (he calls her little goddess 😮‍💨). Not sure if this book is going to be an interconnected series, but I'll definitely be in line to read it!

Beautifully written characters with some John Constantine vibes going on. Love the way the relationships are developed and am hoping for a sequel.

Evocation is the first in a new series from S.T. Gibson, author of A Dowry of Blood and An Education in Malice (among others). It’s a queer urban fantasy with a perfect balance of character relationships, romance, and supernatural suspense.

Evocation’s plot was fantastic but my favorite part was the development not only of each character, but of the relationships between Moira, Rhys, and David. Rhys and Moira’s love for each other is sweet, and so deep, it actually gave me butterflies. David is a snarky jerk who is used to getting what he wants, when he wants it, but underneath his tough guy exterior is a vulnerable man who is terrified of the ancient curse placed upon his family. At the beginning of the book, Rhys and Moira are at odds with David, and he’s not too happy with them either, but as the story progresses, their feelings change in a way that feels natural and evenly-paced. The proximity is forced, but the slow-burn to the conclusion isn’t!

As for the story itself, it wasn’t until I hit about 10% of the book that I knew it was absolutely for me. I wouldn’t say the first bit was confusing, but there was some setup and I honestly didn’t know exactly where it was going. But once I got there, I was all in. I was truly engrossed as the trio attempted to break the curse threatening David’s life. I never would have guessed how everything came to a head! The ending was a great surprise, one that made me both excited for a sequel and beyond depressed that I’ll probably have to wait a long time for it.

This book really has it all: a spell-binding plot that leaves you excited for the next installment, unforgettable characters that defy initial impressions and surprise you with their depth, and a MMC who calls the FMC “little goddess.”

Evocation is a character-driven story featuring complicated protagonists. The focus of the novel is the characters’ complex (and messy) relationships with one another. The pace of the story is slow, and the underlying plot drags until later in the book.

There were moments that shined throughout the story, but I was a little bored at certain points. Perhaps, I was expecting higher stakes or more immediate danger.

Overall, I think this was a good story. Plot-driven readers be warned, this book definitely focuses more on the characters and their relationships.
My rating: 3.5⭐️

Thank you @NetGalley and @AngryRobot for the arc. Opinions are my own.

Absolutely incredible book, but then again, what else was anyone expecting from S.T. Gibson.

Definitely for fans of Leigh Bardugo (specifically more along the Ninth House route) but stands so well on it's own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book. Highly enjoyed!

"Evocation" is the first installment of "The Summoner's Circle", an adult fantasy series written by S.T. Gibson and currently in progress. More specifically, the book is a contemporary fantasy set in present-day Boston amid occultism, divination and secret societies.

I loved "An Education in Malice", the previous title by the author, and jumped enthusiastically on this her new book, convinced that it would win me over. But it did not. Right from the start I sensed a general lack of passion, of pathos, which prevented me from bonding with the story and especially with the characters. I found everything extremely vague, confusing, and superficial, and this left me rather disappointed. First of all, the system related to the occult, divination and secret societies serves as a mere backdrop to the interactions between the characters. Yes, it is present, there are scenes here and there and explanations with specific terms thrown in a bit randomly, but nothing is explored in depth, almost as if the notions are taken for granted. And sure, that may be okay being a strongly character driven story, but it felt to me like a really wasted opportunity. However, this is not what disappointed me. No, the main problem for me are the characters, the central focus of the book, around whom the whole story develops. David, Rhys, and Moira are the three protagonists of the novel, all with their respective third person povs. I found them to be extremely shallow, detached, and devoid of sentiment. A situation that in my opinion affects the relationship between David, Rhys and Moira in a negative way, making it appear rigid and cold. On the general plot level then reigns a certain lack of interest, with the mystery related to David's problem often forgotten and left out, until a sudden enlightenment comes from heaven. David, Rhys and Moira spend months doing research without discovering anything, conveniently forgetting about the threat, until someone puts the solution under their noses. This seemed absurd to me because okay, the book is character driven, but this is a danger that directly threatens one of them. And none of them really seem to care.

The bewitching, elegant and evocative prose and the seductively sinister atmosphere are the only elements I enjoyed so much! I love the author's prose, the settings she manages to create, and for that very reason I don't feel like giving it less than three stars. Despite the disappointment I plan to read the sequel, hoping for an improvement!

Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is not really what I expected but I really enjoyed it! Gibson is the queen of polyamorous books and this one is such a fun ride. The only thing I can complain about is that I expecter much more of supernatural action but it's fine. Defenetly you don't want to miss this book.

HIGHLIGHTS
~when you get brunch in the divorce and your ex shows up anyway
~many magics, pulled from real-world occult
~characters Actually Talking about their feelings!
~some people are just too wealthy
~what’s a deal with a devil you didn’t sign?

I’m not immediately sure what to say about Evocation beyond the fact that I enjoyed the hell out of it. A slightly slow start belied the emotional whirlwind Gibson swept her characters (and me!) up in, and I do think that’s where Evocation really shines – in its emotions, and its characters. This is a much more character-driven book than it is plot-driven – there is plot, but most of it doesn’t begin to feel very urgent until quite close to the end.

In other words, Evocation is for those of us who want the aesthetic, the vibes, and the delicious, meaty emotions tangling our morally-grey characters together.

Bon appétit!

>The minutes crawled by on bruised hands and knees.<

Not quite as decadent as Dowry of Blood, Evocation comes very close, and the contemporary setting might be more to some readers’ tastes than the historical one of Dowry. There’s an interesting contrast between the familiar everyday concerns of rush hour traffic and brunch, and the world of the occult lying just a breath away from them. The male-only Society David and Rhys both belong to was actually the least interesting aspect of this for me – it was a nice surprise to see that trans men can join, but I admit to having little patience for or interest in this kind of ‘old boys club’, especially in a modern setting, and the Society’s obvious High/Ceremonial Magic influences were actively boring. (Though I am not at all surprised at Gibson’s appreciation for the aesthetic or practice – it fits the interests she’s been very open about to a t!) Maybe Gibson realised that most readers aren’t going to be enthralled by descriptions of Ceremonial Magic rituals, because we actually see very little of it – if I remember correctly, we never get a full ritual on-page.

Much more interesting were the other magical players in this secret world – David’s chaos magician half-sister, for example, who I hope we see more of in future books; and of course Moira, who works with astrology and, like David, can see ghosts and spirits. I actually wish we’d gotten more astrological theory – a lot of the magic is sort of just presented to the reader, when digging into the hows of it all could have been fun. I’m a nerd for this sort of thing, though, so I don’t know if that’ll bother other readers.

(I do feel like Evocation expects readers to already be familiar, at least somewhat, with real-world occult practices and branches – if I didn’t already know how Ceremonial Magic worked, what it was, I really wouldn’t understand what the Society was on about, or how different what they do is from what David’s sister and Moira do. And that…not messiness, but mix of magical traditions, might be why the ending really didn’t work for me – it was all about magic, but what kind? How/why did it work like it did? Gah!)

>David had never been in a college frat, but he had been in a men’s acapella group at Williams, and that was basically the same thing.<

None of this matters that much, though. The magic is really just backdrop against which the characters shine. Even the struggle over the succession of the Society is really just an excuse to throw David and Rhys together (seriously, we never even see any attempt at campaigning or politicking from either of them), as is the mysterious curse on David growing stronger as his 30th birthday approaches. It all just serves as a great big mixing spoon to stir David, Rhys, and Moira together!

>she wanted nothing between them but darkness and devotion.<

Polyamory is difficult to write well, I think – maybe nearly as tricky as it is to live it! – but Gibson does a really excellent job in Evocation (unsurprisingly, since she’s written it excellently before). David and Rhys used to be a couple, but that was over a long time ago; now Rhys is married to Moira, who is hands down my favourite of the three. In trying to figure out David’s curse, Rhys starts catching feelings for David again (although did they ever go away, really?), and watching him and Moira talk about that and feel their feelings about it was just superb. Rhys feels guilty! Moira is unsure and upset, but open and honest about it with Rhys and with herself! David is a MessTM and also terrified of wrecking things between Rhys and Moira – and of wrecking his own relationships with them both! There are delicious, messy Feels everywhere, but paired with Actual Communication, which like a fine wine complementing a wonderful meal, raises the whole experience to another level.

(And I don’t even like wine!!!)

In a twist that I find kind of hilarious, my favourite line in this triangle of Feels is the one between David and Moira. Slight spoiler under the cut: One of my only real gripes about this book is that David and Moira’s relationship is platonic; I thought they had so much more chemistry than any other combination of these characters! But it is only a minor gripe, because at the same time, I really love their friendship, how slowly but genuinely it develops and how strong it is by the end of the book. And it’s nice to see polyamory where not everyone is in romantic love with every other person involved (which is usually the case in fiction, at least the fiction I read); metamours are a thing, and even if the word is never used in Evocation, it’s good to showcase them – and to showcase that the relationship between metamours can, ideally is, just as strong and important as any romantic and/or sexual connection.

I will say that I thought Rhys was the weakest of our three protagonists: Moira feels like a complete character, and David started strong and got better as he underwent emotional development over the course of the book – but Rhys…didn’t have a whole lot of personality, to me. I think we were told about him much more than we actually saw him being the things we were told; for example, we get this beautiful passage from Moira’s pov;

>She knew exactly what Rhys was when she married him, down to the darkest corners of his insatiable heart. She adored him like this, selfish ambition laid bare by his love for her. Truth be told, Rhys could be a bit of a monster when it came to getting what he wanted, but he was her monster, and what he wanted was her happiness.<

but we never actually see Rhys being ‘a bit of a monster’. (Which is a shame, because those kind of characters are often fascinating, and I feel like Gibson could nail it if she’d gone for show-not-tell.) Maybe because, if we did, we wouldn’t like him very much? I don’t know, because I have no idea what level of monster we’re talking about here. But I was left a bit sceptical that both David and Moira could love this man, because he just…left no impression on me. I wasn’t seeing what they were seeing!

>two men who had once been as close to each other as blood and breath<

The deus ex machina ending – the climax of David’s curse, basically – I loved all the Feels that went into it, but I didn’t love the magic, the actual ‘solution’, of it. I haven’t been able to stop turning it over and over in my brain since I finished reading the book, because it just doesn’t make sense to me. Mild spoiler: And the thing is, the groundwork could have been laid for that ‘solution’ so easily! If our resident chaos magician had suggested it, for example. But I find it really difficult to believe a) a Ceremonial magician would even think of it, especially last-second and in the heat of the moment, and b) could get it to work. It is stuck in my craw and I don’t like it.

BUT! None of of my nitpicking – about Rhys’ character, or the ending – changes the fact that I had a great time with Evocation. I said earlier that this book is for those of us who love the vibes, the aesthetic, and the emotions, and if you’re good with a low-plot, high-character development novel, with gorgeous prose and some truly glorious Feels?

Then you’ll have a great time with this one too.

4 stars

Loved how the characters were portrayed and how the plot was just so easily created. Gibson is always a guarantee, I love her writing style and how she is able to create a magical world building!