Evocation is a book that follows the relationship of David Aristarkhov, a Boston attorney, his ex Rhys McGowan and Rhys's wife Moira as they try to solve a spiritual sickness in the world of the occult. Rhys and David are brothers in a occult secret society where they summon spirits on a regular basis but one night David feels a spirit inside him that he did not invite in. David enlists the help of Rhys and his wife Moira to help solve the mystery of what is inside him. They find that the rumor of the Aristarkhov's deal with the Devil may have some truth behind it.

I enjoyed this book. It is definitely a character driven book with a slower plot pace. I wish this book delved a little deeper into the occult side of things and had a little more resolution at the end but overall, it was an interesting read. I've enjoyed S.T. Gibson's publications and I plan to continue to read whatever they publish.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher who provided a free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4.5/5 Stars

I loved this book! This one wasn't too heavy on plot - a lot of the book was more the characters navigating a paranormal problem in the mix of figuring out their own issues and relationships with each other. However, I felt the story of navigating old love and friendship, fighting your own demons, and exploring new relationships was enough a story on its own with just some cool dark demon background story to add some mystery. I love the characters so much, and the relationship between David and Moira felt so special and heartwarming. At first, I thought there was no way Rhys or Moira were going to warm up to David, and I was also not a huge fan. However, I think the author does a good job of helping the reader understand his faults and the good in him, and David really does make an effort to be a good friend.

Overall, the thing that stuck with me most was that I just love the vibes and relationship between David and Moira so very much and want to just read more about them. Great book!

Think Masters of Death meets Ninth House. If Masters of Death were less overworked but maintained its tongue-in-cheek writing style. If the good old boys from the Ninth House version of Skull and Bones founded a continuing society in Boston after graduation. If Ninth House were written by Olivie Blake’s twin from the multiverse.

In this book we follow two rivals in a secret society that’s basically Ninth House Skull and Bones for grownups. Boston’s filthy rich men meet weekly for supernatural rituals and some good old hobnobbing and networking. Richer-than-sin David fits right in among the old money elite, His good looks and his excellent magical aptitude have given him the world on a silver platter, and so naturally he assumes he will be the first and only choice to succeed the society’s High Priest.

But David is his own worst enemy. Used to moving through life easily, he can’t help but engage in self-destructive behaviors. Most notably, he can’t leave his college ex-boyfriend, Rhys, alone.

Unlike David, Rhys didn’t come from money, and he’s joined the upper echelons of Boston society through determination and hard work. He’s married to the enigmatic Moira, and it seems he may finally be on the cusp of achieving all of his dreams.

But Rhys can’t stay away from David either. And a little thing like Rhys’s marriage vows won’t stand in the way.

I knew going in that this was about an open marriage, so I am not going to let that affect my rating, but I will say I did not like how the open relationship was handled. Moira (bless her) was a saint; seeing Rhys’s attraction and unresolved romantic tension with David, she encouraged her husband to explore his feelings for David. She initiated conversations with Rhys about polyamory. She even bought Rhys a book on Polyamory 101.

But I didn’t like how she was the one who had to initiate every conversation, when Rhys was the one going outside of their marriage. I did not like how Rhys pledged himself in marriage to Moira while still harboring love and lust for David and being willing to act on those emotions. I would have much preferred Rhys to broach the ménage topic with Moira rather than just kissing David and then waiting for Moira to start a conversation about it. Basically, I just didn’t see the open communication I would look for in reading a romance between more than two people.

I also found the world building a bit lacking. We are to understand that David and Moira have thriving occult businesses, yet these are not mentioned after the first chapter. We are to understand that the occult society means everything to its members, and yet I had to rely on my recollections of Ninth House to try to understand how these men spent every Thursday night. Beyond general mentions of “scrying” and “calling spirits”, we have absolutely no idea what the society gets up to. Is it dangerous? What are the results of the rituals? What do the rituals entail? Does the average Joe Schmo on the street know that his city’s elites are calling forth demons?

Despite these (pretty big) flaws, I enjoyed my reading experience. I greatly admire S.T. Gibson’s narrative range and her ability to employ different writing styles in each of her novels. I am looking forward to seeing more of her writing in the future.

Gibson has a way of writing characters that is so compelling, you will inevitably end up loving them and rooting for them. I loved everything in this:
The magic, the romance, the darkness, the stakes

S.T. Gibson's writing is so addictive and I find her character so compelling. David, Rhys, and Moira had such a complicated and raw dynamic and I was rooting for them from the very beginning. This book doesn't shy away from messy feelings and how we can hurt the ones we love the most. I wish the fantasy element had been a little more present throughout the story, but I was overall happy for it to take a backseat to the character development. I would also be THRILLED if a follow-up novel/novella would give us a peek at what happens next!

Thank you NetGalley and Angry Robot Books for sending me this ARC!

S.T. Gibson is a phenomenal writer. This book was insanely good. It kept me hooked the entire time, and I didn’t want to put it down! The witchy spooky vibes were immaculate, and the plot was insane!

The characters - They were so beautifully different but woven together in such a fitting way. I loved all of the characters and was continuously rooting for them individually and together as I read through each perilous setback to their characters and relationships.

The plot - I can’t even begin to describe the plot. It was developed extremely well, and the layout was phenomenal. Every word written felt necessary to the plot, and the conflicts scattered throughout the book that culminated into one epic climax was exquisitely done.

I am so extremely excited to see what comes next in this series.

It will be officially published on May 28th, so get your preorders in!!

David Aristarkhov is handsome, well-rounded and very successful in his career, a coveted heir to a famous occultists family and one of the most powerful mediums in the Boston area.
But not everything that glitters is gold, right? And it's no surprise that the book's cover has the Hanged Man's tarot card in it. It is a sign for major reassessment, a card that points out that if you don't make an effort to solve your issues, the Universe will do it for you, and it won't make it easy.

And that's exactly what I found here in this book.
One fine day, after a disastrous experience in a medium session, David ends up discovering that all his privileges in life come with hefty price: for fame, charm and power, an ancestor of his sold the soul of the family's firstborn son to the devil.
And now the devil has come for David.

To free himself from this ancestral curse, our protagonist will have to go after Rhys, his ex-boyfriend, a dedicated occult researcher and the only person he still trusts to help him. But between the two there is Moira, Rhys's wife, and David needs to convince them both to join forces to undo this evil that haunts him.
The universe, of course, has other plans for this trio. The proximity awakens old and new feelings alike, and if they don't find out what's happening to David soon, they won't have time to learn what this could mean for them.

Urban fantasy with a touch of romance is my guilty pleasure, and Evocation exceeded my expectations on that part. I was attracted by the magic, but I finished the book involved in the romance, and that's rare to happen, so applause to Saint Gibson, who writes in an engaging way and has already made me interested in her other books. I was not expecting such fascinating characters, with genuine problems and qualities, good dynamics and relationships that feel very real and organic.
The storyline was also very interesting, with secret societies, all kinds of magic, and I am eager to see what comes next. The only thing that disappointed me in this book was the end, I have to say. It felt a little rush and disjointed - was expecting something big and was a tad frustrated, but lets see how the second book will solve this.

Thank you @angryrobotbooks for the chance to read early - Evocation will be released in May 2024 in international markets, so keep an eye out!!

Yet again, Gibson delivers a sumptuous and atmospheric world to fall into. The magic is compelling, the characters are delightfully messy (affectionate) and interesting, and I can't wait to have this on my shelf.

Everything I have ever wanted and more. This book is immensely character driven. The plot you expect almost takes a back seat to the characters and development. I love this for a foundation of any book.

Evocation veers a bit from Gibsons usual prose and explores the incredibly complicated workings of the three main characters. I can’t wait to see where the story will take us next.

WOW! I was not expecting to love this as much as I did by the end of this book. Consider me an S.T. Gibson fan from now on!
So, um…where do I even begin… Evocation is a contemporary paranormal novel steeped in a gothic atmosphere of generational curses, supernatural forces, secret organizations, and complex characters. Within its pages, love blossoms amidst unlikely circumstances, in other words …this was chef’s kiss!

The dynamics of Rhys, Moira and David was fun to read, and I genuinely had a great time seeing their relationship play out. The way the characters handled their situation and to see how things played out was so endearing and mature to read. I absolutely loved how well each character communicated as to avoid the miscommunication trope.
This was more of a character driven book where most of the plot happens in the last section of the book. But honestly, I think this was done in a way that gave me a chance to know the characters inside and out and totally builds up the hype for book 2 cause I JUST CANNOT WITH THAT ENDING!

Thank you NetGalley and Angry Robot - for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

ST GIBSON DESERVES THE WORLD.
The only fault of this book, once again, is that is not A dowry of blood, which is a masterpiece.
But that said, I LOVED Evocation

We follow David during one of his seances. It goes terribly wrong because he ends up summoning a demon. He has to get in touch with his ex, Rhys, even thou they are not on speaking terms because David is an asshole and Rhys moved on with his life. But through Moira, Rhys wife, an excellent tarot reader (the best in town). The three of them will make an awkward bunch, that needs to work together to find a solution to what David has done, but at the same time something will shift between the three of them.

A gothic paranormal novel, full of magic, secret societies, tarot readings, astrology. It was both fun to read because it’s quick and entertaining and at the same time extremely profound and the dialogues are so well executed.
The paranormal setting is a tool for the characters to develop their relationship(s) in many ways. Two ambitious men, certainly entertaining, but I loved Moira. She’s a rock and a rockstar.
Totally recommended for many many reasons. Excellent discussions around lgbt+ topics and about many aspects of relationships and addictions.

I love genre-bending books and this is an exquisite combo of a fast-paced occult fantasy and a polyamorous enemies-to-lovers/second chance romance. Plenty of action (both types 🙃), enough rituals and spells to satisfy you for a year, friendship born of necessity, and love rekindled and used to save.

Gibson just has this WAY of writing that makes you get emotionally invested immediately, and as the plot unfolds, you’re shocked, delighted, afraid, and relieved at every turn. While I didn’t have much eyeball reading time this week, I feel like I flew through this thrilling and beautiful ride.

I'd probably rate this book 3.75 if it was possible, but I'm rounding it up as it was definitely more of a 4 star book than a 3 star.

Overall I enjoyed this book. I did experience a little slump in the middie of the book where it started to drag for me, but it was only short lived, and it quickly picked up!

I thought the plot was fascinating, and I loved the world that was created. I like the magic system, It was great to see the different abilities characters did and didn't have, and I loved the secret soceity aspect. What brought the book down for me was Moria, I felt she was an underdeveloped character at times, especially next to David and Rhys who felt like complex multi-dimensional characters. This wasn't always the case, but it felt like she didn't have as much care and attention. Also, at times the relationship/love between Rhys and Moira felt quite shallow and weak. Despite feeling this, I loved the communication the characters had throughout, and showing the conflicting feelings that can arise in these situations.

I definitely want to know what happens next, and I'm excited to potentially learn more about the world. I especially loved some of the side characters - I thought Kitty was absolutely fascinating and hilarious, and I'd love to see more their society friends. I didn't really know what I was expecting going in and I was pleasantly surprised!

Thank you for the ARC NetGalley and Angry Robot!

I was SO hyped for this book and so was estatic when I received this arc!

I really loved David's character and his relationships with other characters. I love the magic system in this book too.
I feel like this is how atlas six should have been written in order for me to have enjoyed it, as this was far more enjoyable but along the same lines

Gibson has a prose like no other. It pulls you into the story with force and will not let you go until it's over. This was sublime and I need more

Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot for giving me access to an eARC of this book.

I’m not sure if I missed something but this feels like book 2 in a series, not 1.

After reading this book I just feel extremely confused. We barely got anything regarding David and Rhys backstory, barely any information regarding that little occult society they are in and almost nothing regarding anything that is not moving the story forward. That made me sad.

Also, the relationships feels so rushed for no reason now that we know that this is a series. Why start off with everything being perfect in the first book? Spoiler, it’s not perfect but you know what I mean. Ugh.

The beginning of the book felt boring and I didn’t have it in me to finish it off but after 40% it started to get better and I could finish the rest in one sitting. Won’t read it again but I’m certain that someone will absolutely LOVE this book, it’s just not me.

S.T. Gibson's "A Dowry of Blood" is one of my favourite gothic horror reads, so I'm already invested in this author's work. I didn't enjoy her previous novel quite as much as Dowry, but I was holding out hope that this this most recent one. with a description as intriguing as it gets, would wow me once again.

And it certainly did. I had such a great time with "Evocation" and I'm sure many more will love it. Just do not go into this expecting much of a plot - this is very much a character focused novel with the relationship(s) between our main trio - psychic David, his ex-boyfriend and sorcerer Rhys and Rhy's new wife, witch and tarot reader Moira. I honestly sometimes forgot about the plot because I was too invested in how their complex threeway relationship developed. I love all of the characters, they're deep and layered and complicated and so are their feelings for each other. It's also one of the only polyamorous relationships in fiction I actually enoyed because I thought it was written very well - with lots of communication about it, ensuring consent and wellbeing at all times, especially between Rhys and Moira.
There are important themes woven into the narrative, be it on gender, sexuality, religion or conservative values versus modern and more liberal ones. One of the characters is also a recovering alcoholic and victim of child abuse. Gibson approaches all of these at times hard to swallow topics with care.

The plot that is there - a mysterious ancestral deal that slowly takes David's life and that he needs Rhys and Moira's help with - is interesting and well-crafted too. I did feel like the book sadly botched its landing with a very rushed, suddenly incredibly action-focused ending. Things were happening really fast all of a sudden and then it was just kind of over and done with, and it felt really anticlimactic.

This is also basically the big reason this gorgously written, otherwise well-crafted novel with it's complex characters only gets 4 stars from me. Had it stuck its landing this would probably have been a 5 star read.

It's official - if S.T. Gibson writes it, I'm going to love it!

Honestly, I'm so glad that this isn't a standalone novel because before I was even halfway through it, I knew I was going to give this 5 stars and want even more time with these characters. This is definitely a character driven novel (which is personally what I prefer over plot focused) and David, Rhys, and Moira are all wonderful. I cannot wait to see what Gibson has in store for the trio in the next book - especially since we didn't fully resolve the demon plot with this one!

Evocation by ST Gibson - spoiler free review

4.75 ⭐️
2 🌶️

First of all thank you so much @stgibsonauthor, @netgalley and @angryrobotbooks for giving me the opportunity to read this masterpiece as an e-arc before the release.

When I heard that @stgibsonauthor was releasing two books this year my excitement couldn’t be any less. After reading a dowry of blood, gibson has definitely become an autobuy author for me ❤️

And she did it again. Evocation infuses an immaculate occult dark academic atmosphere on every page. This again has the amazing gothic vibes that you can also find in a dowry of blood, however, I think this book is a bit easier to get into the aesthetic. The writing is again amazing, but a little less whimsical and poetic, than her other books. Nonetheless still the writing is very beautiful and gripping.

But what is the top of the cake of is … the characters. THESE CHARACTERS 🥹. The main character are David (serious, nepotism baby and Resident Medium), Rhys (David’s ambitious Sorcerer ex boyfriend) and Moira (Rhys’ charming Astrologer wife). Who are trying to solve the illness of David while also struggling with the ongoing rivalry within the society. And there dynamics and interactions are just 🤌🏻

The communication between them is just so pure, honest and open. It just shows the hardships but also the trust and acceptance of each other.

“I love Moira all the way to hell and back. I love her more than money, more than my own pride and ambition. That woman is my home, and I am more than willing to prioritize her - vehemently, if need be. If she tells me she needs something to feel safe, she gets it. End of story.”

Overall, it was again such an amazing read and ST Gibson has definitely done it again. I am so sad that it is going to take at least a year for the sequel to be released, because I want more of these characters.

And lastly I am literally internal screaming: Rhys calls Moira “little godess” like OMG THAT IS JUST SO PERFECT 🥹🤩

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.