This audiobook was perfectly preformed. The narrator did a fantastic job giving each character a voice. It was clear and easy to listen to. The story was complex and enjoyable. I specifically enjoyed David and Moira’s relationship and bond. I would reread and recommend!

Unquestionably beautiful! S.T. Gibson never disappoints with their stellar romance and amazing character dynamics. I've never seen an author do such an outstanding job at crafting captivating and intricate relationships with diverse dynamics. This book features polyamorous relationships, and that is one of the best examples of polyamory in fiction. The characters are not perfect, and how to work towards the relationships.
Call through the main characters feature meaningful character traits and backstories. I really connected with David as we see how his upbringing and trauma led him to be the man he is today. He had a very difficult life, and we see that reflected in the way he treats others and himself. His development throughout the story is profound and meaningful. He doesn't have change for the sake of the plot; you see actual growth in his actions, especially towards Rhys. I love that the characters meant that they were bad for each other and needed this growth and time to be able to come back to each other.
So excited for more books in this world. I NEED to know what happens next!

I was very excited to get the audio arc of this work after reading the description, but I quickly realized I had been delusional about liking this book. The premise seemed great, but David's occult practice and his dilemma with the devil is really not what this book is about. The focus of this book is the developing and adjusting to a thrupple for David, Moira, and Rhys. Normally, I would be all about the topic, but that isn't what I was expecting, and it just left a weird effect.

The narrator was fantastic, and I can see the appeal for many other readers especially if they know the focus is not the paranormal but the romance.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the audio arc in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the story and the chemistry between the characters. I'm so excited to continue the series. As always, there's just something about S.T. Gibson's writing that keeps you enthralled the entire time. By the end of the book, you feel so much for these characters and I'm so interested to see where their relationships go and how they address the big issue that is still hanging over their head. Highly recommend this book, and highly recommend the audiobook - the narrator does an amazing job.

"Evocation," the first installment of S.T. Gibson's new fantasy series, offers a darkly atmospheric and character-focused narrative that both intrigues and frustrates. As a fan of Gibson's previous works, I had high expectations for this book. While it didn't fully meet them, it still delivered on several fronts.

The story centers around David Aristarkhov, a former psychic prodigy turned Boston attorney who moonlights as a powerful medium for his secret society. With his thirtieth birthday approaching, David's life takes a dark turn as the Devil comes to collect on an ancestral deal. Desperate, David reaches out to his ex-boyfriend and secret society rival Rhys for help. However, to get to Rhys, he must first navigate his relationship with Rhys's wife, Moira. As they are thrust together, buried emotions resurface, and the trio must sort through their complicated feelings before the Devil claims David for good.

Initially, I found the slow start and occasionally awkward character dynamics to be detracting. The plot, while intriguing in premise, was rather weak and didn't become a central focus until the final chapters. This pacing made the beginning feel sluggish and less engaging than I had hoped.

However, as the story progressed, the characters' relationships began to develop more fully. Gibson's signature gothic atmosphere, dynamic characters, and complex romances are present throughout, which helped to draw me back in. Despite the slow build, the emotional depth and interactions between David, Rhys, and Moira eventually became the heart of the story, making it a more character-centered narrative than a plot-driven one.

The narrator, Oscar Reyes, did a good job of portraying the characters of David and Moira, but when it came to Rhys' dialogue I was always thrown for a loop due to the deep register he uses. It almost sounded like The Dark Knight's Batman at times, causing me to lose focus on what the character was saying.

While "Evocation" might not have lived up to the high bar set by Gibson's previous works, and a narrator who explored some interesting vocal choices for one of the main characters, it still has plenty to offer fans of gothic fantasy. The character development and rich atmosphere kept me invested, and I'm looking forward to seeing how the story evolves in the next installment. S.T. Gibson remains one of my favorite authors, and I'll eagerly follow her wherever her storytelling takes me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this audiobook.

Oscar Reyes does an incredible job narrating this book. His silky voice perfectly fits all three POVs that we follow in this book and makes for an audiobook that is really hard to pull yourself away from.

Gibson has written an incredible tale as we follow the lives of David, Rhys, and Moira and see the ways that their lives are intertwined with one another as well as following a through line of complicated generational trauma. This book does a really good job of both setting-up a world that will only acquire more depth as it goes on as well as working well as a standalone story. I am excited that we will be getting a lot more from the world of the Summoner's Circle in the future but feel content in what we have for now.

This was a unique take on magic. I haven't read a lot that involved mediums so this was a different dive into the magical realm. I loved the narrator on this one and his accents- even the southern accent was fairly on point, which is rare! I'm not sure if this one really needs to be a series, I think it was set up just fine to end where it ended, even with some items hanging over our trio, but overall I enjoyed this read!

Thanks to NetGalley for this audiobook!

I haven't been this quickly enraptured by a book in a LONG time! This is the first book I've read by S.T. Gibson, but I'll definitely be checking out more of her works. The story moves fluidly through different POVs, but I never got lost in the narratives or timelines. I loved how diverse each character was, and I always found myself looking forward to Rhys' and David's chapters, wanting to know their thoughts on the conflict.

ST Gibson is the queen! I am new to her writing, but have loved everything she has released.

This a great start to a series with political intrigue, creepy spirits, and characters you can relate to and be annoyed by. I love the bi rep in this book, as often I think the bisexuality is often ignored or portrayed poorly. I was hooked listening to this book the entire time. I cannot wait for book 2.

Thank you netgalley for the audio ARC!

"Evocation" by S.T. Gibson hooked me from the start. The story moves between three timelines, adding depth without confusion. The characters are fantastic. David, a lawyer and medium, has a complicated past with his ex-boyfriend Rhys, while Rhys' wife Moira is strong and independent. Their interactions, mixed with the occult elements, made the book hard to put down.

This was my first S.T. Gibson book, and it didn’t disappoint. Themes of addiction, trauma, and complex relationships were handled thoughtfully. Moira was my favorite; her strength and maturity were inspiring. Oscar Reyes did a great job narrating, bringing the characters to life.

"Evocation" isn't just about magic; it deeply explores relationships and personal growth. The slower start was worth it for the rich character development. The blend of dark themes with modern occult society made for an immersive read. I'm excited for the sequel and highly recommend it.

Evocation is definitely a book driven by characters and their relationships. I greatly appreciated the concepts here.

The representation on a demon inside of David felt like a metaphor for his traumatic childhood that wouldn’t let him move forward. He couldn’t outrun his birthright and his terrible father’s actions that led him to push away love and find solace in drinking. This story reflects the steps the character takes to claim his life for his own. It is slow in pacing but rife with realism in tackling trauma. There is a beautiful character arc that truly imagines how love can conquer one’s demons. ST Gibson is a must buy author for me and every single book of hers has me under a spell.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an audio arc of this book!

An interesting if predictable first part of a paranormal romance series. The three leads are likable and the dark forces are suitably intense. Brings in a bunch of different aspects of the supernatural and the differing viewpoints are compelling.

[3.75]

I am a big fan of A Dowry of Blood and I enjoyed An Education in Malice so needless to say, I was very hyped for this release. It was pretty good! Except, it is very different than what i expected, not in a bad way, just... different.

Gibson's previous work, especially Dowry, are very atmospheric and that's one of my favorite aspects of those books, so when I heard occult I was expecting the atmosphere to deliver but it's just not really there. We have some occult stuff happen at the very beginning, and at the very end but a good 75% of the book doesn't really deal much with the occult or anything else. It very much just read like a contemporary book with a touch of fantasy here and there (in my humble opinion). The plot is pretty much non-existent as well so if you want a proper fantasy with a goal, you are not going to get it here. The big plot point comes out near the end of the book so, for the majority of it, we don't feel any stakes at all, and when they come, you don't feel any urgency or worry cause it simply just wasn't built up.

Evocation is very much a character-driven story, it focuses on our 3 main characters, and their feelings towards each other, and their complex relationships between one another. If you don't fancy reading 400 pages of that, then this book is not for you. I personally enjoyed David as a character a lot, and his relationship with Moira was my favorite part of the book. Rhys, on the other hand, was such a bore.

While the lack of atmosphere and plot disappointed me greatly, I still enjoyed the book. I just like Gibson's writing and her characters, I find it so easy to go through. I went thru 85% of this book today and that almost never happens, i'm not the type who binges a book in a day. I don't think I will continue with the series, but I enjoyed it as a standalone well enough!

Thank you RB Media and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Loved the mythology and the world. Found it very interesting that there was a throuple and very progressive that the woman wanted them to be a throuple.

The plotline starts with such an interesting character and bit by bit all the other characters are introduced to the readers and omg it just gets more and more amazing 🤌
The plotline swings from present to past and again present, well there are three timelines but the author has clearly included in all these timelines in the plot that the difference doesn't disturb the plot instead it just adds more depth to this book.
The characters 🤌 chef kiss 😘 I loved all the three leading characters 🤌 now I am eagerly waiting to read more from this author.

I came across this author thanks to my buddy read group when we read "A Dowry of Blood." The writing felt so different from anything I had been reading; it felt like poetry, and I loved it. When I read the first line on the blurb of Evocation, "The Devil knows your name, David Aristarkhov," I immediately knew I needed to read it. This book does not disappoint.

As a teen, David Aristarkhov was a psychic prodigy under the oppressive influence of his occultist father. Now, approaching his thirtieth birthday, he enjoys a high-powered life as a Boston attorney and moonlights as a powerful medium for his secret society. However, the Devil has come to collect on an ancestral deal, and with his days numbered, David reluctantly seeks help from his ex-boyfriend and secret society rival, Rhys. To reach Rhys, he must navigate through Rhys's wife, Moira. Thrust into each other's care, the trio confront buried emotions and race against time to resolve their feelings before the Devil claims David for good.

This book reminded me of the TV Show The Sinner, where the thrill behind the narration kept me on my feet and not wanting to stop to know what would happen; it's dark and mysterious and I love it.

I really liked that the book delves into a polyamorous relationship within a realistic setting, which is truly beautiful, and I couldn't help to fall in love along the way as our characters did; I think it was the perfect balance for the occult that was happening in the background.

Lorena Vargas captured the Latin American Bruja and her dedication to Santería and La Santa Muerte. Thank you for providing authentic representation.

I enjoyed the narration, but I wished Moira had a female narrator. I believe it would give it that extra kick that this southern goddess deserves.

This book delves deeper into alcoholism and parental abuse, so be sure to check your trigger warnings before reading.

Thank you, Tantor Audio, for sending this audiobook my way in exchange for my honest opinion. I loved it.

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

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.

This book is narrated by Oscar Reyes, a new narrator for me. I found his voice suited this book and expressed the individual characters excellently with melodic ease. I did however listen at 1.5 speed as this seems the right speed for me. I shall be looking for more books narrated by him.

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

I loved the vibes of this book but I wish it would've gone a bit deeper in all aspects. Also, the synopsis kind of spoils the whole plot.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for and honest review.

Thank you, NetGalley, for an advanced audio copy of “Evocation” in exchange for a review.

I was able to experience this book both with my physical copy (shoutout Aardvark book club) and with the audio. In this case, the audio made it more difficult for me to engage with the story (which hardly happens to me). I think following 3 main characters and 1 narrating voice was my big complaint.

Other than that, I enjoyed this one. I’m excited to see what happens in Book #2 and beyond!

Thank you NetGalley and Tantor Audio for an audio copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.

I was excited for this book because the cover is gorgeous and the premise sounded super promising. I haven't experienced any of S. T. Gibson's other works but have heard many good things so I was looking forward to this story. Alas, I was thoroughly disappointed.

The positive: the audiobook narrator was great - he had distinct voices for each of the characters and it flowed well. I normally have some issues with fully engaging in audiobooks but the narrator made it easier for me with how he paces the scenes and utilised his voice.

The negatives: everything else. The whole demon plotline was abandoned after the first few chapters lol - when it was reintroduced again near the end of the book, it was rushed and messy. Nothing made sense and it sort of left off on a cliffhanger, albeit a bland one. Another major issue I had with this book is the whole relationship between the three main leads. I am no expert in poly relationships but I felt so sorry for the main female lead since she's gotten the short stick of this whole situation. The entire relationship basically revolved around the two main male leads being toxic towards one another and then the female lead is just there. There was no genuine connection or development in regards to each individual relationship - I was not invested in any of them at all.

Would not listen/read again.

Overall rating: 1.25/5