I really enjoyed S.T. Gibson's other works (Dowery of Blood and Education in Malice) so I was very excited to receive this ARC! I found this book to be a bit harder to get interested in compared to the other two which had me hooked right away. I think I just struggled to connect with the characters. At about 30% of I way in I was shoked that I was so far into the story because it still all felt like set up and I was waiting for the plot to begin. The main premise of the story, that David has been possessed by a demon, was left on the back burner for so long. A more accurate synopsis would mention that the political aspect of running an occultist society is a main storyline. That said, I am glad that I kept listening and I did enjoy the story overall by the end. But if this wasn't an ARC, I'm not sure that I would have finished it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for providing an ARC of this audiobook.

4.75

Moira is mothering.

Rhys and David are mothering.

This entire world is MOTHERING.

Acacian is literally my queer fantasy dream, I loved all of the characters, the world building and also the romance.

I NEED THE PHYSICAL BOOK RIGHT NOW IN MY HANDS!!!

Damn.
After how OBSESSED I was with A Dowry of Blood and how GOOD An Education in Malice was, this one really fell flat. The pacing was poor, the characters were lackluster, the stakes were neglected... I'm struggling to find a positive, honestly. ((Even the narration on this audio ARC (thanks Netgalley!) wasn't very good-- granted I listen at 2x speed, but it should still be pretty smooth. This narrator sometimes added pauses where there weren't any (bc dumb me got a physical copy too) and at other times completely disregarded page breaks. There were also a few instances, closer to the start, where I could just tell it was edited-- a slight change in tone or volume that would throw me off. )) By the time I was finishing this up I was falling asleep and I didn't even care. Quite frankly, I needed more from this. I needed more backstory about David's relationship with his father and WAY more context for his relationship with Rhys. I didn't care at all about the stakes in this book because we spent about 70% pretending they didn't even exist and I can't even remember what we were doing in that time. In a Dowry of Blood I could really feel Costanza's turmoil. This book didn't make me feel anything.
Apologies if this is incoherent, I should've been asleep well over an hour ago but I'm just cranky about this and needed to stay up to rant.

This was so different from the other two books I have read by this author. There was an actual story, which I enjoyed. But the beautiful writing and sex scenes were definitely classic S.T. Gibson. I definitely wanted to see the poly relationship develop more, but I guess we will get that if there is a second book. Overall, it was a fun, magical story with some interesting characters.

Really didn’t care for this one!:

* The lush writing of Gibson’s previous book, A Dowry of Blood, has been replaced here by pedestrian prose. I’m not sure if this was somewhat intentional, with the shift in setting from medieval/Renaissance Europe to present-day America, or an effect of the audiobook narrator’s wooden delivery, or something else.

* Speaking of the audiobook narrator, he didn’t know how to pronounce many words (medicinal, chaise, etc.), and his Southern drawl for Moira (combined with Moira’s clichéd Southern belle dialogue) was just painful.

* The premise — that David is a medium who has been possessed by a demon thanks to an inherited curse, forcing him to seek out the assistance of his occultist ex-lover Rhys and Rhys’ wife Moira, who’s also a medium — promised an intriguing fantasy story. What we got was a heavy-handed setup for a polyamorous relationship and politicking over who’ll be the new head of the local occultist society, causing all three of our main characters to somehow forget about the pressing demonic possession issue for much of the book. The fantasy elements (being able to see spirits, the demon itself, etc.) were extremely light.

* Even with this bait and switch, we’re told a lot of information instead of shown it, especially with the occultist politicking subplot. This made it hard to get invested in the plot.

* David is 29 and enormously wealthy, as we’re told over and over again. He acts like petulant spoiled brat for much of the book and I simply couldn’t warm to him.

I just cannot connect with this book. I don't think it's the audiobook narrator but these characters all seem so flat. There is no chemistry between any of them. And on top of that I'm absolutely bored.

I'm giving it two stars because I think the theme is interesting and may appeal to some but it just didn't hit the way I expected it to.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this title. I received an audio ARC but I am leaving this review honestly and voluntarily.

I love S.T. Gibson and everything she does, and this was no exception! Sultry, intriguing, and character-driven, Evocation was a riveting story that I flew through. I really appreciated the focus on the character's backstories and connections to one another, and how much time was dedicated to letting their respective relationships evolve. At no point was I left with a gap in my understanding of their connection, and that detail excellently demonstrated the type of ongoing trust and slow building blocks necessary for a polyamorous relationship such as this.
While I am glad that the characters were the central focus of this novel, I did find myself wishing for more detail provided on the rituals, magic, and occult practices that the characters focused their lives around. They were so frequently performing rituals or using their magic, and I did not often find a strong description of what they were physically doing, what the goal of the ritual was, or how their magic differed from each other. The pieces we did get were excellent and I think helped to further characterize each lead MC, but I wanted more from that just to expand on one of the most interesting elements of the story.
In terms of Oscar Reyes' narration, I enjoyed his performance for David and Rhys, but found myself wishing for someone else to narrate Moira's chapters. I know that full-cast audiobook narration is not always feasible and I have been spoiled by it recently, but it felt off that a Southern Black woman's voice was being narrated by a non-Black person. Reyes' accent was great, it just felt like not the best choice for the character & book. I also find that I much prefer sex scenes from a female character's POV read by a female voice, and there was a disconnect with it read by a male voice.
Thank you to Netgalley, Angry Robot Books, and Tantor Media for the audio ARC!

I went into Evocations thinking it was going to be a dark and wickedly smart page turner. Sadly, as I got further into the pages, it became clear that every aspect of the tale was falling a bit flat for my taste. I never truly connected with any of the characters, they all felt like outlines of characters I could grow to care about, but the pages just didn't provide enough depth. I found the plot to be mildly engaging but I think this was meant to be a character driven story so in my opinion the world building and plot only slightly buoyed the overall package.

I have heard great things about this Author, perhaps Evocations wasn't a great starting point.

i loved the gothic/paranormal vibes in this book. it felt atmospheric and i liked the idea of Moira's character but i wish we got a little more of her because it felt as though the focus was on David/Rhys. Moira was supportive and intelligent yet she just seemed to be used as the device to get David and Rhys back together. the cheating part was not executed well in my opinion and Moira was done dirty there. had this book been just David/Rhys, would probably been a different review. i liked the writing style, (probably because i had it on audio) but i loved it in a dowry of blood and so my expectations were high. had i not been listening to the audiobook i don't know if i would have finished because as atmospheric as it was, i could not get through Moira being done so dirty.

Evocation by S.T. Gibson and narrated by Oscar Reyes is a deliciously opulent, gothic-esque novel revolving around the life of Boston Attorney David Aristarkhov by day, psychic, occultist and in an ancient pact with the Devil by night. Quite the dichotomy and a blinding premise to start off a new series, but what really set this book up was the interplay and relationships between David, Rhys and Moira

Oscar Reyes has the perfect timbre and range for this audiobook and capture the ambience with elegance and style

ST Gibson has a powerful narrative skill and as a series starter, this was perfect. Great character development and world building, action packed and witty, wry and endearing. I am excited to see where this series goes

Thank you to NetGalley, Tantor Audio, the author ST Gibson and the narrator Oscar Reyes for this brilliant ALC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

I had a hard time with the narrator’s voice. I did not enjoy his southern accent or his tone when he voiced Moira and the way he deepened his voice for David just did not sound natural. It made it very hard to get drawn into the book. There were also times that I suspect were added in after the fact because the voice did not match with the book up to that point.

Other than that, this book was amazing. The characters had such growth, and I found myself loving and wanting to know more about all of them. I typically lean towards reading books with a different brand of magic, so this was brand new for me. I do think in a different book I might find myself bored with the topic of the occult, but here everything just drew me in.

I am already hoping for more to read and can’t wait to read the prequel for Moira and Rhys's story.

From the moment Moira entered the scene, I was hooked on this book. She is the perfect divinator, and I love her character. This book is told from the perspective of three persons, David, Rhys, and Moira and it flows so well. The way the story switches perspective isn't jarring, especially in audiobook form, and holds a graceful continuity that leaves the reader wanting more. I found the characters loveable and cannot wait to see what happens to this little group once they settle into their new roles.

Thank you to Tantor Audio and NetGalley for a free advanced listener’s copy. I received this copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book was a delicious work of character fiction. While I’m very used to Gibson’s work being stand-alone, it wasn’t that hard for me to adjust to. This felt like a loving laying of the foundation for a very interesting series. More than the magic and the world, though, I’m in love with these characters as the relationships they build throughout this book. I’ve always thought character writing was one of Gibson’s strengths and she proves me right once again! In Evocation we see something we rarely see from polyamorous representation and that’s the hard beginnings. I loved the gentle balance that is slowly woven between the three lives of our main characters who, in their own rights, are complex individuals, they read flawed and human and you can see how their sharp edges will slowly slot together in the puzzle of their relationships.

I keep saying ‘I love’, I realize, but I can’t help myself. This book’s weaknesses, to me, really all lie in the fact that it’s the first in a series (books that usually end weak for me, because I’m not the biggest fan of cliffhangers). It leaves a lot of growth left to be grown which I’m so excited to see come to fruition throughout the rest of the series. Can’t wait for the journey to continue!

If you liked Dowry of Blood, An Education in Malice, or have a book hangover from the Infinity Alchemist by Kacen Callender, I’d recommend Evocation by S.T. Gibson.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.7/5

Evocation was another highly anticipated read of mine for this year, and when I saw the audiobook ALC pop up on Netgalley I jumped at the opportunity to review it. The premise had me intrigued, unfortunately, the execution left me wanting.

First off, Evocation is almost entirely character driven, so if you enjoy books that focus on plot, this might not be the book for you. The little plot we do get, however, was done well. I appreciate how the author added real world occult practices and organizations, even if just brief mentions, to add a more realistic feel to the story. Santeria, Freemasons, summonings, Lesser Key of Solomon-subjects I have been fascinated with for the longest time. These are all relatively dark themes, but the story just didn't deliver like I wanted it to in that context. This takes place in the underground occult community, and I'm certain reality is much more eerie than what we got from Evocation.

I also struggled with the male characters at certain times. Overall they lacked debth and the plot was solely there to advance and justify their relationship. Moira felt as if she was only written for the sake of taking the relationship from gay to polyamorous. And that is sad, because she was my favourite character. I love her spirit, positivity and caring nature.

This being an audio, I have to commend the narrator, Oscar Reyes, on an excellent job. His pronunciation is clear and the different voices are distinguishable enough that this can easily be listened to at a faster speed.

🌹Thank you to Netgalley and Tantor Audio for giving me the opportunity to review this book.

I love a queer found family; throw in some magic and I'll game. This book was super cute. I loved all three of the main characters and really enjoyed how much they love each other, despite there being a little love triangle drama. The story felt a little choppy, but the interpersonal relationships was worth the read.

Another beautiful and dark story from S.T. Gibson! After reading and loving A Dowry in Blood and An Education in Malice I knew I had to give Evocation a try. I was enthralled from the very first page. S.T. Gibson has a way of writing that just sucks you in and never lets you go. I loved the complex relationships that David, Rhys, and Moira formed together. The book explored deep themes such as child abuse, addiction, fidelity, and so much more. I enjoyed the unique magic and urban setting. This is definitely a must read for fans of dark and complex romance with demons, possession, and other dark themes.

Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book was 50% gothic paranormal fantasy about generational curses, secret societies, and magic. The other 50% of this book was a romance/fondness surrounding the relationships of David, Rhys, and Moira. I was here for 100% of it! Cannot wait for book 2!

Thank you to NetGalley, S.T. Gibson, and Tantor Audio for the opportunity to rate and review this Advanced Listener's Copy (ALC) in exchange for my honest opinion.

It was very slow for me to get into, very very slow. It was not written in the same way as a dowry of blood which was a bummer since I thought that was written so beautifully! However I liked the story and the characters, I am excited to see what happens in the rest of the series. Hopefully it will be faster since it’s the second one !

The journey of a magicial throupling navigating heartache, history, addiction, and a curse.

David is a repo baby sorceror who has a history of being a charming jerk who gets his way through being rich, quick witted, and a bit cursed. Soon he finds his family inheritance isn't just cash and a mansion. With no one to turn to, after shutting out everyone pretty much all the time, he crawls back to his ex, Rhys, who is happily married to Moira. The two resist his charms but soon find themselves unable to say no to helping David through his new predicament.

This story had a lot of potential. I missed the fact that there was not a lot of "magic" to be seen and the potential for some real relationship development through the throuple trope. I'd be interested in reading a second novel in this series. Especially if it includes more about his chaos witch sister and Moira's story. It could have been spookier, it had that vibe but didn't really follow through with it. I give it a solid 3.5 stars.

thank you so much to the publishers and Netgalley for this audiobook!

firstly, the narration itself was absolutely perfect and i think the narrator did a wonderful job with the storytelling and the accents. i really enjoyed the narrator's voice and it was actually quite soothing so i had a great time.

now onto the book itself: i thoroughly enjoyed the gothic atmosphere of this book. it was definitely there with the descriptions, the secret societies, magic, and generational curses. it was a really captivating read from beginning to end and i loved all of their povs, though David is my favourite (:
i think all three of them have a great dynamic, both between all three and in pairs. my favourite part was the character development and especially the friendship that bloomed between David and Moira like they made me so happy!!

i think my issue, which is not S.T. Gibson's fault AT ALL, was how character-focused it was. i was really into the plot and how the devil was bothering David, but it was quite slow paced in that aspect as the book was more centred around the characters and their development, which wasn't necessarily a bad thing bc (as i mentioned above) i loved seeing the development between David and Moira, but as a personal preference, i prefer more plot-driven books!

overall, this was a great book and would definitely recommend!