4.75

S. T. Gibson does it again! This is more than just an absolutely fantastic paranormal romance. This is about both the beauty and the mess of relationships, breaking generational curses and overcoming trauma, and standing by those you love in spite of everything.

Oscar Reyes does a great job bringing the characters to life. His voice especially works for Rhys. I'm personally a fan of different narrators for different POVs, but I still enjoyed the audio.

David has an unfortunate encounter with a demon and has to enlist the help of his ex-boyfriend, Rhys, who is now married to Moira, who seems to hate his guts. Things are further complicated when David and Rhys are both in the running for leadership of a secret magical society. Can they get along long enough for David to face and overcome his past?

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the audiobook arc! S.T Gibson's writing always flows so well and brings the characters to life. Interesting character driven story. I liked this one a lot more than An Education in Malice. One thing is that I think this book would have benefitted from more background on Rhys. Overall great read/listen and would recommend.

This is hard to rate between a 3 and a 4 because it's fun and well written but also just missing a lot? Like I read this book in 24 hours and I was so excited and giddy about the romance but also the plot was kinda hand wave-y and the was a lot of show not tell. For being a book about people with magic/psychic abilities we saw very little actual magic!!! But also I was enamored? This, to me, felt like a good romantic fantasy for a quick enjoyable read but with not a lot of plot but a lot of occult-adjacent symbolism.

Thank you to Tantor Audio and NetGalley for an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Evocation started a little slow but as the story moved along I found myself sucked into the world Gibson created. The world building is well thought out and interesting and I look forward to seeing how it develops in the next book. The characters are dynamic and interesting and they each feel distinct. Sometimes multiple narrators can be hard to keep track of these all felt like separate people telling their individual perspectives of events. I really enjoyed both the occult aspects of Evocation and the romance through line. The narration was also well done with great inflection and emphasis. Overall a solid start to series that I will definitely continue reading.

Thank you Netgalley and Tantor audio for giving me the chance to receive an advance copy of the audiobook for Evocation By S.T. Gibson
Tantor Audio & Oscar Reyes did an amazing job with this story. Each character voice was easily identifiable and well done each and every time. The story was incredibly easy to follow, and get into with the narrations. I always listen to audiobooks on at least 2.5 speed and there were no issues in the audio at my preferred speed like I have experienced in audiobooks previously.

S.T Gibson again writes a beautiful story and I was drawn in from the description the dynamic behind all the characters weaves into such an interesting story about a blood curse deal with a devil.

Evocation follows David's encounter with a family curse which leads him to seek help from his ex-boyfriend Rhys and Rhys' wife Moira. The three of them are at odds but only through using their own unique talents will they be able to battle the demonic forces that threaten David. There is mysticism, astrology, and secrets galore!

The story was engaging, and I loved the lore of this world. I enjoyed the characters of this work but there was something missing which prevented me from loving them fully. I enjoyed the slow build to the polyamory and found the characterization to be like S.T. Gibson's last work so fans of A Dowry of Blood will likely enjoy this one as well.

Overall, this was a fun listen to and I liked the audiobook narrator. I would broadly recommend to anyone who is interested by this story's premise.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for access to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

Another banger from Gibson! Set in the midst of modern-day Boston’s secret occult societies, Evocation follows the tumultuous relationships between David, his ex Rhys, and Rhys’s wife Moira as they come together to combat a centuries-old family curse.

I always love when a book feels like an author’s passion project, and it’s clear as day that Gibson loves talking occult and modern witchcraft. The world is lovingly fleshed out, drawing inspiration from various magic systems. Evocation is also a character study for the three main characters, all of them with their flaws and nuances that make their dynamics so engaging. Hats off to our narrator for portraying our characters perfectly.

Moira is my favorite though, vintage fashion icon and queen of my heart!

I would love to see other stories set in this world, and I eagerly await Odd Spirits so we can see more of this power trio!

This was exactly what I expected: a beautifully written fantasy novel that explores the perks and downs of being human.
Characters were lovely and I'll miss them, it has a little of an open ending but I don't know if it'll be a series, I hope so, however it stands perfectly on its own.
Having already read A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson, I can't wait to catch up with the last title I miss from her.
It's a four and not a five only because I would have loved more insight in the magical rituals and powers.

I enjoyed this book a lot. The 3 main characters were super unique and interesting. David was so interesting and his story was unique. I loved Rhys and David together and their history and future. Moira was awesome. So strong and there for both men. This book felt unique and was told in a beautiful way. The characters were able to build strong relationships all while fighting a demon inhabiting David.

I really enjoyed this on audio. The narration was really well done and I liked the voices for all three characters. They were unique and I could tell who was talking every time.

*Thank you so much netgalley and Tantor audio for an advanced listeners copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much to Tantor Audio and NetGalley for the audio arc. My opinion is my own.

Evocation is about a world where the occult is a part of daily life. David is a psychic prodigy, raised by his abusive, and influential, father in a mansion in Boston. He is known in this world as someone important, and works his day job as an attorney. After having more and more events, he contacts his ex Rhys, also in the occult world, for help on what is going on. Moira, Rhys's wife, is there to help.

I liked the story overall, but I did find the beginning fairly boring. The relationship between David and Rhys was a lot of pent up frustration and anger, and Moira was just kind of there? After some time they decide to have an open marriage, but it seems this is only for David's benefit. I did like the narrator for the men's voices, but he did not do a great job for the women's and I especially disliked Moira's accent. I didn't catch if she was supposed to have a southern accent but it seemed out of place.

DNF'ed on the 5th chapter. It's my fault, as I did a little research before I added this to my Goodreads shelf. Evocation had a prequel (I can't remember the name) and apparently it tackled the past relationship of the duo main characters in Evocation. One of them is married, and the wife allegedly Biphobic.

As a bi-person, this triggered negative emotions in me. I didn't read further reviews in fear I might hate this book even more, and I'm aware the Biphobia might have been addressed, but I'm not sitting and reading that book. I couldn't read about Moira without feeling sick about her in the previous book.

1.5 stars- Urban fantasy that focused on the formation of a boring throuple at the expense of developing the only interesting aspects of the story- the haunted house and demon. I love fantasy romance and I read a lot of it but this is one of those books where I was so bored by the romance that I would prefer it to be removed entirely.

This book wound up being very slow and character-driven rather than plot-driven and there’s a lot of fanfic-style extraneous detail which made it feel like the book was spinning its wheels. I did like the character of David, characters who are intense, manipulative, and prickly are often my favorites. On the other hand Rhys was a controlling and judgemental bore and Moira was a self-care cottagecore girly who felt out of place given the dark academia vibes.

CWs: off-page child abuse, alcoholic relapse, classism, sexism, toxic relationship

I was excited to get an audio arc via NetGalley after reading the synopsis of this one. My first ST Gibson novel, but definitely not my last, the writing here was absolutely beautiful. Each of the three MC's had distinct feels to them and were both likable and flawed. I loved the bits of magic we got throughout but would definitely have enjoyed delving into that more. My favorite part of the story is how the author handled the poly relationship here. It felt authentic and not like it was done to be taboo or as a shock value. The way David and Moira's bond slowly developed over the course of the story felt genuine and of course, I adored David and Rhys and their bickering. Rhys and Moira's love for each other shined through as well. The audiobook is narrated by Oscar Reyes, who is a new narrator for me, and I really enjoyed his voices and cadence. Definitely check this one out!

3.5 actual rating.

Overall it wasn’t a bad book at all, I just think the rating will be higher or lower depending on what you expect to get out of the reading experience.

When it throws you into a secret society, with an ancestral demon in the mix and problems with the dead, I pictured there would be more grit and a deeper dive into that aspect of the story. Instead it is very much more about the relationship between the three main characters and how to balance that.

I would almost put this in the realm of cozy fantasy because nothing particularly bad happens. So if you are interested in a very relationship focused book versus the occult secrets society/demon focus, I think you will very much enjoy this. But if you are the opposite, you will probably think it's an enjoyable read in-between some of your heavier books.

I really enjoyed Evocation. We had an occult, dark academia atmosphere with secret societies, demons, witches, and a generational curse to top it off.

I was immediately invested in David, Rhys and Moira. I loved their relationship progression and I'm also looking forward to reading the prequel novella to learn more about Rhys and Moira.

Despite how much I enjoyed this, I am rating it 4 stars because I did not find it a very plot driven novel. This story focuses on the characters and their journey, and while I was okay with it, I think it could have benefitted from a little more in the plot department. David's curse ended up more like... Psychic flu? and I feel there was a missed opportunity for some more demon possession.

As I received an audiobook ARC, some notes on the narration: Oscar Reyes did a great job in my opinion. I comfortably listened at 1.5x speed. His voice for Rhys was incredibly deep, sometimes I had to turn the volume up if there was a lot of Rhys dialogue.

Overall I enjoyed this and will eagerly await the next in the series, I hope it is a bit more plot driven but I am looking forward to seeing more of David, Rhys and Moira.

This one was so fun! Featuring mature themes of dark magic, psychics, complicated relationships & curses this one kept me engaged. I thought Oscar Reyes did a great job narrating this.
Evocation was an emotionally charged tale in an urban fantasy setting.
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this early audiobook.

happy release day to evocation @stgibsonauthor!

Evocation is the newest release from one of my favourite authors and also the first book in ST Gibson’s new series ‘The Summoner’s Circle”. The book really solidified ST Gibsons ranking of one of my all time favourite authors and is placed on my instant purchase list. Huge thank you to @stgibsonauthor, Angry Robot, Tantor Audio and @netgalley for an ARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review. Since I received both the audiobook and e-book I can easily say that Evocation can be experienced in multi formats and still be amazing (plus Oscar Reyes’ narration of the audiobook is fantastic!) Everyone needs to pick up this book to experience by baby girl David! Evocation should be your next read if you like:

🔮 triple POV
🔮the occult
🔮dark academia
🔮a messy threesome/polyamorous relationship
🔮paranormal
🔮character driven
🔮queer romance
🔮secret societies
🔮exes to rivals to lovers

tw: alcohol abuse, physical abuse, childhood trauma

synopsis - The Devil knows your name, David Aristarkhov.
 
As a teen, David Aristarkhov was a psychic prodigy, operating under the shadow of his oppressive occultist father. Now, years after his father’s death and rapidly approaching his thirtieth birthday, he is content with the high-powered life he’s curated as a Boston attorney, moonlighting as a powerful medium for his secret society.
 
But with power comes a price, and the Devil has come to collect on an ancestral deal. David’s days are numbered, and death looms at his door.
 
Reluctantly, he reaches out to the only person he’s ever trusted, his ex-boyfriend and secret Society rival Rhys, for help. However, the only way to get to Rhys is through his wife, Moira. Thrust into each other’s care, emotions once buried deep resurface, and the trio race to figure out their feelings for one another before the Devil steals David away for good…
 
The first book in a spellbinding and vibrant new series from The Sunday Times bestselling author of A Dowry of Blood.

A polyamorous witchery book from ST Gibson? I've been so stoked since I heard the premise and SO SO excited to get approved for an audio ARC of this!

I had a lot of fun reading this, and watching the relationships unfold. I love a good weird haunted house so that was a fun background aspect. I can't say this book blew my mind as intensely as Dowry did, but I did enjoy it a lot!

I’m currently stuck at 60% and am not sure I’ll finish. The storyline intrigued me and I was super excited to get into this book. The plot is falling flat for me. There’s little action and excitement. The beginning had potential but now that I’ve over the halfway mark, I expected much more.

The audio book in general is great! I love the narrator. He does a phenomenal job executing each character. That’s really the only reason I’m hanging on at this point.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

I really enjoyed the concept and plot of this book, but the narrator was a little cheesy for me!