I was really surprised with how much I liked Rhys in this book, because while I enjoyed him in Evocation, I didn't love him so much. I liked getting to know him more, and watch his character progress and come to realizations about himself and how he moves through the world and with the people in his life. There's one scene towards the beginning of the story that really made me feel for him, and feel connected to him on a personal level.

The addition of new characters was fun, especially for one in particular. I always enjoy a good conflict in a story because I like to see how it plays out amongst the characters and how they work through things, and this story had really great moments of that. (Loved the hints at content in future books to come in this series as well). I'd love to see more moments between Moira and David with their relationship.

The vibes/atmosphere/ aesthetic get an A+ from me. Really looking forward to book 3 already.

mother has delivered, yet again 🙂‍↕️

i honestly have little to say other than wow! wow! wow! please! give! me ! mORE!

reading this book, i was waiting the whole time for the trio scene and finally got it !! 😮‍💨 catholic guilt (sexy) is RIGHT

i know this was rhys’ book, but i just need to point out that david’s character has developed so beautifully from the start of the first book, dare i say, he may be my favourite of the trio now (sorry rhys & moira!)

i often complain about how sometimes, authors throw a lot of characters at you in the first book and just expect you to keep up with them all but they don’t actually give you much of each - this series, so far, is the BEST opposite of this; during evocation, we are focused on the main 3 characters, rhys, moira & david; by book 2, their characters are built upon further and we are getting more out of antoni etc etc! it was written SO well!

i honestly can’t wait for the rest of this series to keep coming out and will be an avid supporter of saint throughout this journey, i am simply a simp for her at this stage, chef’s kiss from me 😮‍💨🤌🏼

thank you as always to angry robot & net galley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review! <3

This was quite a good one from ST Gibson.

This story shows how power can corrupt a person and destroy relationships. Rhys goes through a somewhat addiction to such power that he loses sight of everything, his loved ones, his friends, his colleagues and most importantly himself, the demons that somewhat control him and offer him this power become almost like a drug to him and he becomes addicted to it so much he suffers withdrawals. The demons may offer him all of his heart content, but is it really worth it?

I love the growth of the relationship between Moira and David from the first book and the platonic (if not more) love they share for each other. The whole relationship between all three is just like any other relationship, not everything is perfect, there may be hardships and miss communication but by listening and working together you can make each other stronger. Plus Moira is all us book girlies.

Wonder what the next book will hold?

5-Star Review: Ascension by S.T. Gibson

S.T. Gibson’s Ascension, the second installment in The Summoner’s Circle series, delivers a mesmerizing blend of dark magic, complex relationships, and emotional depth. Picking up after Evocation, we follow Rhys McGowan as he navigates his new role as High Priest of Boston’s secret society, balancing his ambitions with the intricacies of his relationships with his witch wife, Moira, and psychic partner, David . 

Gibson masterfully delves into themes of power, desire, and the human psyche. Rhys’s journey is both compelling and cautionary, showcasing the perils of unchecked ambition. The narrative is enriched by the vivid portrayal of Boston’s occult underworld and the intricate dynamics between characters. The magic system is both imaginative and grounded, adding layers to the story’s allure . 

What sets Ascension apart is its character-driven storytelling. The relationships are portrayed with authenticity, capturing the complexities of love, trust, and ambition. Gibson’s prose is both lyrical and evocative, immersing readers in a world where every choice carries weight.

For fans of urban fantasy with rich character development and atmospheric storytelling, Ascension is a must-read. It not only builds upon the foundation laid in Evocation but elevates the series to new heights. 

Thank you Angry Robot and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange of an honest opinion.
I actually started reading The Summoner's Circle series by S.T. Gibson when I got approved for this ARC. It had been on my radar for quite some time, and I figured, now that I had early access to the second book, it was time to give it a go. I thoroughly enjoyed the first book, which I already reviewed.
Unfortunately... Ascension didn't do it for me. In my personal opinion, it felt like a carbon copy of the first book: character gets in trouble, needs help from his friends and partners, their relationship changes based on their decisions, all is well in the end. Of course, the dynammics should have changed, given that Evocation focuses on David, while Ascension's got Rhys as the focus. But... they really didn't. We get a glimpse of Rhys' personality and upbringing, his contradictory self, greedy for power and praise but also for care and true affection, but it doesn't add much to what we already knew.
The polyamory aspect of the story gets shaken up a bit by introducing a new secondary character, but they really don't do much in terms of the trouple we already know and love: at least I didn't feel it, also given that the prose and lyricism I found in the first book are somewhat diluted in this one.
Also, let's talk about Moira, the straight wife and witch, the little goddess, the cunning astrologist: all well said and done, too bad she acts as a plot device for the entire story. She does the networking, she draws little circles on people's skin when they get anxious, she meets someone at a club who I'm sure will be a new character introduced in the third book of the saga, which should focus on her, and that's it. Throughout the book, whenever it was time for her POV, all I could think about was "Girl, dump these two and start anew, you deserve better": from being the sustainer, the trustworthy sage you can always rely on, I feel like she's become a beautiful and powerful trashcan for other people's problems and toxicity, with very little left to herself.
I am... disappointed and sad. I really looked forward to this book after finishing Evocation.
I'll end this by saying that it's not a bad book, but it could have been so much more.

***Review contains mild spoilers***

Book two centers around Rhys and the growth of his character all throughout.

This was a much better novel than book one since everything that needed to be set up and established so now more focus can be done.

This novel quickly sets up what is at store, while David dealt with the his family demons in book one. Rhys deals with his own in a different way.

While I enjoyed the side characters, I was not a fan of Max. The way he was plopped right into the novel and then just essentially used as a scapegoat to tying up loose threads to help the author out of a right corner.

I love my throuple so much.
Ascension picks up where we left off in Evocation but the story follows Rhys as the High Priest and all the demons and bureaucracy that comes with that. I adored this book, it is low stakes and I definitely loved that Moira was able to shine more and I can't wait for her book. ST Gibson is one my favorite authors and if you are looking for a character driven low stakes urban fantasy, PICK THIS UP!!!

No notes, utter perfection. Spectacular, give me 14 of them right now.

Do Rhys, David and Moira want a fourth?

Genius! This book is a great addition to this series. I feel as though I have been along for the ride as these characters have grown, changed and "become"...what? I'm not spoiling anything. I love the representation of a polyamorous relationship that is written in such a way as to feel quite authentic. The main characters are fascinating... they're all so different and yet they work together. Moira is one of the best female characters I have read in a very long time. She is strong, independent, loving and fierce and an absolute joy to "get to know".

The magic in the book is delightful. It's clear the author has put a great deal of thought into every aspect of the magic that is practised in the series. Great job! Will definitely recommend this entire series. I think this is my favourite book in the series as well.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 rounded up
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

Rhys, Moira, David and the rest of Boston occult community are back in book 2 of the Summoner's Circle. Rhys is now High Priest of their secret society and with his wife and his boyfriend by his side, he's on track to become the most powerful High Priest ever. However, alongside all his responsibilities Rhys' unquenchable ambition may just be his undoing. 

"But why is it that every time we hang out someone is on the brink of death? Let's just, like, go to the movies next time."

The anxiety in this book (Or my anxiety reading this book)! This is book 2 of the Summoner's Circle series (so read Evocation first). Ascension very much centers Rhys and his dark night of the soul journey is his quest for power and tangling with more demons than recommended. Give this series a read if you enjoy: 
- The occult and secret societies 
- Demons and magic
- Polyamory
- Power struggles (internal and external)
- Constantine (if you squint) set in Boston, but with more of a squad and less hunting/more summoning

Thank you to Angry Robot Books for an ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. This book will be published on 7/8/25. I'll be posting to Instagram closer to publication.

I loved this book, I really liked the first book; I LOVED THIS BOOK. There were some very frustrating moments, and I couldn’t believe how oblivious everyone was to how far gone Rhys was, but Gibson wrapped it up really well.

I never trusted Max, but I don’t think he was totally bad. I had a feeling he was setting Rhys up, and targeting David to rile Rhys up and make him act out. I only seem to be partially correct, but I was correct.

David is still my favorite, and I loved seeing Moira in her own unique power. Amazing. I want the next book now, but I know that isn’t how it works.

I’m not sure if it was a glitch in the file, but I did see some typos, and some words seemed to be off (like knot instead of not.) that’s really my only qualm.

Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot for this ARC!

“Ascension” is the second book in the Summoner’s Circle series, following Evocation, which was released May of last year. This review may contain spoilers for book one, so be warned.

Following Evocation, Rhys has achieved some of his loftiest goals and created harmony in his personal relationships. But as pressure mounts, and he sets ever higher expectations for himself and others, things begin to shift…

This book was just as fantastic as book one. Whenever I pick up a new series I worry a little that book two, which is often the weakest, won’t stick the landing, but I certainly need not have worried here. Despite bringing up completely new conflicts, nothing felt ripped out of thin air and the pacing was magnificent, really holding on to your attention the entire way through.

Something that did change in comparison to book one though was the number of different spiritualities and belief systems that were given attention. While I can’t boast any personal experience with any of the spiritualities mentioned here, lifelong Catholicism aside, I would say they all felt well-researched and while obviously some had to be given more attention than others, I still really liked all the glimpses we got.

I also enjoyed how Gibson explored the relationship between Moira, Rhys and David in this one. While reading book one I admit I had some concerns regarding how David’s being gay would be handled in regards to their relationship dynamic, and while the majority of my worries was settled in book one, I think this one did an even better job of showing a relationship that is far from the norm, but works out beautifully, both inside and outside the bounds of sexual desire or romantic love.

In general I thought this book did a wonderful job of allowing us to really get to know not only our main three, but also the other people in their lives who they cherish. Characters I wouldn’t have described as intensely memorable in book one really grew on me here, and I cannot wait to follow along their journeys as well. Many of the characters in this book fuck up at times, do things that are less than perfect or even outright bad, but they are always treated as human being who deserve compassion and forgiveness, if it is earned. While, at times, some of them might seem too good to be true, Gibson always finds a way to humanise them.

Also, and I’m saying this as someone who does Not enjoy sex scenes, and usually skips them… I will admit I read these ones, because one must simply applaud the author for her skill. I’d describe the scenes as beautifully written and steamy, not so overly graphic that they would put someone like me off but descriptive enough to be enjoyable for those who are of other minds.

If you enjoyed book one you will certainly enjoy this, and if you haven’t read book one yet… What the hell are you doing? You’re missing out on one of the best pieces of urban fantasy out there right now!

Ascension leans hard into character-driven storytelling, exploring the fallout of ambition, faith, and polyamorous love with a moody, slow-burning intensity. Rhys takes center stage this time, and while his insecurities and hunger for power add emotional weight, the pacing drags and the central mystery feels more like background noise. Despite a softer plot, the book still shines when it comes to the messy, tender dynamics between Rhys, David, and Moira—especially for readers who love introspective, flawed characters navigating both magic and their feelings. It’s a strong sequel for fans of the first, though the slower pace and Rhys-heavy focus might not hit for everyone. Still, S.T. Gibson’s lush writing and sharp character work carry it through.

I loved Evocation and Ascension takes up right after Evocation ends. Rhys is now High Priest with David his second in command and Moira by both of their sides.

Rhys lets his ambition take over and spreads himself thin, to the detriment of his relationships, friendships and the Society itself. Throw in an unknown person doing a very public ritual that put an unwanted spotlight on all of them and an old acquaintance of David's making a reappearance in Boston, well Rhys isn't handling things too well.

I won't lie, David was and still is my absolute favorite and I'm on his side throughout the story, which may bias me a little. I found the dynamics of their polyamorous relationship well written, I was a little worried about this at the end of Evocation. I will say I did overall find that David tended to get the short end of the stick whenever shit hit the fan but the story did overall handle this in a satisfying way.

It was nice getting more insight into Rhys, the poor guy really needs better self esteem. He did so much to not only raise his own status but try and help those he cared about and everything seemed to backfire on him. He has some wonderful character development in this story.

I also love the world St Gibson has written for these characters. The spaces they inhabit and their circle of friends etc make this book well fleshed out. The story and my love of the characters made it hard to put this book down until I was done.

This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025 and it didn't disappoint. Thank you NetGalley and Angry Robot for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

S. T. Gibson knocked it out of the park once again with Ascension, which further develops the relationship between Moira, Rhys, and David. Now that David is no longer in the grips of a family curse, the death knell of the secret society David and Rhys belong to is ringing loud and clear. It’s up to Rhys to lead the society into a new generation - which might prove to be more than he can handle when an occult scandal sweeps through Boston.

Ascension is witty, funny, sexy, and cozy. The triple POV is skillfully deployed, bouncing between the perspectives of the three characters at the core of the story. S. T. Gibson is a master at playing the reader’s emotions and I fall into it every single time. I love Rhys - he is dutiful, loyal, sunny, and burdened by his ambitions.

I am so incredibly grateful to Angry Robot and NetGalley for the e-ARC! All thoughts are my own.

Ascension was a great follow up to Evocation, wonderful team of characters! I loved seeing into Rhys' head a bit more, but I felt like there was a lack of plot because of it. This was a very character driven book, and I was waiting for a bit more plot to the story.

I loved seeing how the relationship between David and Moira grew in the first book, but was left wanting more in this story. Most of this book was about Rhys and his struggles, it left me wanting much more of Moira. I feel like she got pushed into the back.

I did love seeing more of Leda, David's sister. She was a great relief from the seriousness of the Rhys storyline.

Over all I really enjoyed this book! I love the gorgeous atmospheric writing style of St Gibson, and I feel like she's so talented in making me actually invested in this group of characters. I felt Rhys was very relatable, as a bisexual person who grew up in the Catholic church. I could very much relate to his struggles and his inner dialog about his religious guilt and trauma that never really leaves you.

I really hope the next book focuses on Moira and her story line. I'd love to see her in a Sapphic relationship (but I may be biased on that LOL) I'd also love to see more about her southern roots!

Thanks to Angry Robot, Netgalley, and St Gibson for this ARC!

Okay, so that was a lot.

Picking up after the events of the first book, ‘Ascension’ is Rhys’ story and I was so ready for it. As I said in my review of ‘Evocation’, I felt like he was the character I knew least and I was ready to have that rectified.

<b>Spoilers ahead, mostly for ‘Evocation’.</b>

Rhys is now High Priest. He’s got his wife and his boyfriend. He has everything he ever wanted. But… surely he could have more?

At its core, this is a story about one man and his relentless quest for power, knowledge, and infamy. This is usually a plot I struggle with, because I very rarely empathise with the character and/or don’t really understand their reasons. Rhys, however, is the exception. A man so driven, so desperate to prove his worth, I was fully under his spell (pun intended). And it was heartbreaking to watch him slowly fall apart. Honestly, the epitome of ‘heavy is the head’ and all that. The thing about Rhys is that he is so tragically human that you just want to protect him, to shake him, and tell him to stop being so dumb and just be happy with his lot. But you also understand why he is so compelled to seek more.

I think Saint’s character work is just incredible. Rhys really came to life in this book and I fell in love with him a little bit (okay, maybe a lot). But, as usual, I have to talk about my best baby boy David and my witch queen Moira. These two just keep getting better, baby. David’s growth from the previous book continues and being on his journey is just so great. I simply love him. I love my bitchy man who is just trying to be a Good Person but also acknowledges that it’s quite hard and oftentimes not in his nature, but he has LOVE in his life now and my soft boy is opening up more and more.

And Moira. If David is becoming a little softer, Moira is the opposite. She is stronger, more sure of herself, and beginning to embrace her full self and power more in this book, and I honestly love that for her. I’m so bloody excited for her book next, because there’s just a well of untapped power in this woman that I cannot wait to see come to fruition.

The relationships between the three of them continue to be wonderful, if a little strained with the events of the book, but watching them all fall further and deeper in love with every facet of the other is just so damn beautiful. Rhys and David’s relationship specifically in this book captured my heart, because they both want so badly to make it work and not to repeat the mistakes of the past, and the love they have for each other is enormous. Long live the polycule!

Lastly, the secondary characters in this book were just great. Antoni is my baby boy, Nathan and Kitty continue to be too cool to ever be my friends, and Leda was a force to be reckoned with. The introduction of Max definitely stirred things up in an… interesting way. But I won’t say anymore on that. You’ll have to make your own mind up as to whether that’s a positive or negative thing.

All in all, it was just the best time. Stellar character work, an engaging and well-paced plot, with scrumptious writing and a whole lot of magic. An amazing second instalment and honestly all I can say is: bring on Book Three!

5/5 🌟

e-arc provided by Netgalley

I didn't love this one as much as the first in the series. I spent a good portion of this book being annoyed by Rhys which made it hard to root for him. The ending was good but it took a lot to get there and there is still another book to go in the trilogy. Also a sad lack of "Little Goddess" in this one.

I loved this book! I was hooked on this series with Evocation and Ascension has not let the story down! I love Rhys, Moira and David, and I was fully sympathising with Moira and David over Rhys’s obsession for power, it was super frustrating! I love the entire witch craft and occult theme, and that we had some plots happening where you didn’t know if you could trust people! I honestly don’t know what else to say about how much I loved this book other than people need to go and get it pre-ordered!

I loved the first book in this series so I was really excited to read the sequel. I really wanted to see the development of the relationship between Moira, Rhys and David and this book didn't disappoint. Although I did find Rhys incredibly annoying for a lot of this book. He was very woe is me, why aren't I amazing etc - but I think this is sort of supposed to be a reflection of his catholic upbringing maybe?
Overall the story was good, the characters were great and that ending!