Ascension is a gorgeous and dark urban fantasy!

This is the second in the Summoners circle series and was one of my mostly highly anticipated books this year and it did not disappoint. S.T. Gibson writes complex character relationships so well and uses these to hook you into the story.

What I loved in particular:
-Rhys very believable transition from using demonic assistance to help him manage adult life to getting in over his head.
- David and Moira friendship was the real heart of the story. I loved that he wants to hang out with her all the time, buy her Prada and kill anyone who makes her cry! ❤️
- I love that a team effort was required to save and keep Rhys from the brink, it’s nice to have more than one hero.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Angry Robot for this ARC.

I’m always excited to read S.T. Gibson’s new work, but this isn’t the first time I’ve found her books difficult to review. On one hand, I continue to enjoy the overarching premise of the series and the direction the story is taking when it comes to the supernatural. On the other, this installment brings back some of the frustrations I had with the first book and adds a few new ones along the way.

The concept of a secret occultist society operating in plain sight in Boston remains a strong and compelling foundation for the narrative. I especially appreciate the focus on occultism, sorcery, and the supernatural - areas where the author clearly has both interest and expertise, lending the story a sense of depth and authenticity. You can genuinely learn a lot about religions and cults through the book, which adds a nice layer to the reading experience.

That said, the series is heavily character-driven, and this volume is no exception. Much of the focus is on Rhys, whose inner life and responsibilities as the Society’s High Priest take center stage. Gibson does a good job balancing work-related, bureaucratic challenges with heavier themes such as overambition, Catholic guilt, and biphobia. I generally enjoy character-driven narratives, and this installment delivers in that regard—even if Rhys isn’t my favorite character. What was a bit disappointing, though, was the lack of a strong external conflict. Unlike the first book, which paired character development with high stakes, this sequel lacks a central quest or pressing threat, which slows the pacing and, at times, makes the plot feel like filler.

The polyamorous relationship between the three main characters is explored more deeply in this installment, and I have to admit—it works better now as an established dynamic than it did when first introduced. That said, I’m still somewhat conflicted about it. I can’t quite shake the feeling that the relationship didn’t evolve organically from the characters’ individual arcs and still functions more as a plot device than something fully earned through emotional development.
Everyone treats the love triangle arrangement as a given, but the emotional groundwork that would make it feel truly convincing still feels thin. In fact, there are moments in this book that suggest this dynamic might not be exactly what these characters need—especially in David’s case. It doesn’t ruin my overall enjoyment of the series, but I did find myself occasionally resisting the characters’ happiness, which isn’t ideal.

Speaking of David - he remains my favorite character, and his chapters were by far the most compelling, even though they largely center on relationship drama. That said, I’m not entirely sure how I feel about the way his arc wraps up here. I won’t go into detail to avoid spoilers, but once again, it ties back to the “love triangle as imperative” issue—and everything else seems orchestrated to reinforce that point.

Still, if you enjoyed the emotional and interpersonal dynamics in the first book, you’ll likely find more of the same here. I’ll definitely continue with the series—especially since the third book is supposed to focus on Moira. I have high hopes, particularly because in this installment she mostly served as a point of reference for Rhys, rather than as an independent character with her own arc.

Thank you to the publisher for yet another great arc from S.T. Gibson, I just can’t get enough of her writing and I can always count on her to deliver a great story. I adored the first book and novella, and this was everything I could have asked for in a sequel.
After the way the first book ended I thought this one would just be a repeat of it, but this plot went in a different direction than I expected which was great. We got to see a new depth to the characters and how they navigate their relationship with such emotional intelligence. I also loved how the author expanded upon the different occult beliefs and styles and how they can even coincide with Catholicism which was rather shocking to me. There is a very big detail left unanswered, though, about a certain curse that I hope we get to read about at some point. But the ending wrapped things up in a happy bow so maybe the author leaves it up to our interpretation. Either way, as always I’m excited to keep reading anything this author has to throw at us.

The second novel of The Summoner's Circle starts off by putting leadership power in the hands of a power-hungry, self-centered, demon-magnate...that sounds like something that doesn't have any potential for trouble, right? So Rhys's ascension is the seed of this brew, but add some leftover financial troubles, and some unwanted media attention to spice up the blend for their secret society, stir in a few new characters especially one with a strong power of his own and history with one of the main characters and this distillation is on its way to a powder keg. On a personal front the dynamic of the trio is also affected by the stirrings. As with Evocation, this is a character-driven story and these characters certainly create drama at every turn. There is a good balance between story telling and spicy scenes for anyone who likes some plot in their romantasy. And the story has a gratifying ending. (3.5/5)
I received access to this eARC thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Angry Robot) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

this book felt mostly like filler to me in terms of how the plot moved forward and all the contrivances that come with that. however, the characterization as with other s.t. gibson novels is what i'm reading for anyway so i don't mind. rhys specifically grows so much in ascension from flashbacks of him not feeling good enough in comparison to his peers who grew up rich to his current role as the high priest, which includes both the highs and the lows. i loved how gibson wrote his mental health journey especially in terms of how his actions affect others and how relationships are rebuilt in the aftermath. i'm still excited to read the last book and will absolutely read anything gibson writes in the future.

Found this such a compelling read. Moira, David and Rhys are such fascinating characters with a wonderfully intricate dynamic.

I will say, I’m not sure I’ve completely got my head around how all the magic works, but I didn’t find that detracted from the story.

It was pretty hard to read Rhys’ journey, but also captivating. The way he gradually fell into self destruction made it hard to like him for much of the novel. Just wanted to shake him and be like what the hell are you doing!? However, I did, on the whole, love how it ultimately resolved.

There’s something about Gibson’s writing that really draws me in and makes me want to keep reading.

This is hands-down my favorite in-progress series right now! I was immediately hooked after reading Evocation, more so after reading Odd Spirits, and now even more after completing Ascension. I absolutely adore these characters and am totally invested in their storylines. Within this book, specifically, I fell even more in love with the characters and the deep relationships and bonds they have with each other. There were so many times while reading that I found myself forgetting to breathe because I was too busy eating up every word of what was happening in the book. I cannot wait for the rest of the books in the series, as I am on the edge of my seat to see how certain things play out.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest rating and review.