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!

I feel like this is a unique series in a world of very similar fantasy books that have similar tropes. This book not only has a fabulous magic system, but its characters are amazing, and now they are exploring polyamory. Their relationship is evolving, and they are learning as they go. This book concentrated more on Rhys (the last one focused on David, and I would assume the next will be Moira) and he is now the High Priest. I feel the characters are very relatable and realistic. This book was amazing, and I cannot wait for the next one!

The sequel to Evocation delivers another thrilling dive into the world of Rhys McGowan, this time as he steps into his powerful new role as High Priest. Summoner’s Circle builds on the strong foundations laid in the first book, delving deeper into Rhys’ internal and external battles—particularly the struggle between his personal desires and the dark forces surrounding him.

The magic, the rituals, and the occult community are richly detailed, and the tension between Rhys, his wife Moira, and his psychic rival-turned-lover David adds emotional depth to an already intense plot. It’s clear that this is a story about power and its consequences, as Rhys faces not just external threats, but his own ambition. The dynamic between characters is one of the highlights, as they grapple with love, trust, and the complexities of their magical lives.

However, while the story pulls you in with its dark charm and fast-paced twists, the character-driven drama might feel a bit too familiar at times, especially for fans of traditional urban fantasy. The stakes are high, and the stakes on Rhys’ emotional growth are equally engaging, but there’s a slight sense that the narrative could’ve pushed even further into more original or unexpected territory.

That said, it’s still a compelling and entertaining read for anyone who enjoys a good occult mystery, complex relationships, and magical world-building. Fans of the first book and lovers of urban fantasy with a darker edge will definitely want to check this one out.

Ascension is another brilliant instalment in The Summoner's Circle series - stepping into Gibson's character driven, urban fantasy world again was a delight. We pick up after the events of Evocation, following Rhys as he adapts and grows into his new role of High Priest - and drown alongside him in the trappings of his ever-reaching ambition.
At times it feels the plot is secondary, only a vehicle to the true magic that is the characters and their relationships: exploring their love, needs and identities in all the messy, utterly humanly, flawed ways. The interactions between our main trio had me kicking my feet in joy and giddiness at times - there's a true magnetic draw in the way Gibson writes the way they orbit each other. It was also nice to have some new faces, and fleshing out of some of the others, and see the trio interacting with them all in their ways.
A little more plot wouldn't go amiss in my opinion, but it continued the story well enough. The overhanging curse is mentioned, but not addressed as much as I thought it would have - so I continue to look forward to it's conclusion. I would rate it 4.5 only for this reason, but I adore the characters so much it's still getting a 5 from me.

Another beautifully written, enchanting story blending magic and humanity, absolutely cannot wait for the third instalment.

5 star read!

Ascension, book 2 in The Summoner’s Circle series, lives up to all the hype!! This time we follow Rhys, after he gained the role of High Priest. This book did a great job of continuing on from what happened in Evocation, I really enjoyed seeing things from Rhys POV and I definitely can’t wait for Moira’s book!!!!

ANTONI IS MY NEW FAVE AS WELL and I’m so excited to see what else S.T Gibson comes up with for Moira (even if the trigger warnings in the beginning scared me a little haha)

Ascension continues the story about The Society with Rhys now at its helm as High Priest, fighting against potential iconoclastic backlash against all magic, when a summoning circle mysteriously appears very publicly with a paper-mache human in the middle.

I think S.T. Gibson does a good job portraying realistic conflicts that running a semi-secret society in today's day and age would entail--how do you recruit people The Society when it might be viewed as an out-dated boys club of yesteryear? How do you keep funding in the positive instead of hemorrhaging money? Who is set a summoning circle out in public and what were their motivations? How do you handle the backlash from the public viewing all magic wielders as bloodthirsty satanists?

However, I think you would enjoy this story more than I did if you are more into character-driven stories, whereas me, I was just waiting for more momentum in the plot to propel us forward. If you loved the characters from book 1, then book 2 is your chance to explore their dynamics further--how do Rhys, Moira, and David navigate being a throuple? What happens if David wants to see other people in addition? If you're looking for a story that features (in the end) a healthy way to navigate polygamy (with its bumps along the road) and with characters ranging from mid-twenties - 40 y.o. (i.e. not trembling 18 y.o. virgin), then you might like this story.

I think I found myself bored because this story was too banal, too character-driven, and too realistic (even with the demon-summoning), too much of Rhys cloistering himself alone with this own demons, when I wanted to be amped up--it was actually veering close to "cozy fantasy" territory in certain aspects. But I think this book has its audience, it just doesn't happen to be me.

I have been absolutely loving this this series and was so excited to get approved for an eArc of this book!


This book focuses on Rhys and his new role as High Priest in the society. I found the direction the story went in this book to be really great and a fantastic example of how to do a “middle book” of a series. It picks up where the first book leaves off but it’s is own complete story line and actually helps drive the narrative forward and isn’t just there to be an extra book.

I really like the new characters introduced in this book and made for some really interesting conflict. I think S.T. Gibson does a really excellent job writing some powerful female characters. We all know who is wearing the pants in this relationship.

Would highly recommend this series if you’re looking for something a little bit different in your urban fantasies. I can’t wait for Moira’s book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author/publisher for an eArc of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

5*

It's always an absolute pleasure to read anything that ST Gibson puts forth, and this was no exception. After absolutely devouring Evocation last year, I was counting down the seconds before I was able to read this and I wasn't disappointed.

Rhys brings a levity and tragedy to the story that sits alongside but opposite David's own history, and Moira and Leda are a delight to have back within the pages.

Gibson has a way of balancing strong emotions and real life drama against the magical and mystical so that the story feels at once deeply human and entirely unsettling.

I guess the countdown is back on for the next one!

I'm torn. If I loved the first book of the series while reading it (it was addictive), my hype dwindled with time. Still, I wanted to read the second book, especially because I was curious to see how Rhys was going to evolve. My expectations were met, and I don't know if I am glad they were.

Rhys is the kind of character with quite a lot of ego and pride, with the other side of the coin : lots and lots of insecurities. It is realistic. 'Ascension' follow his journey as High Priest (it doesn't go well, as should have been expected). Franlky, he annoyed me a lot. Moira did, too, in her own way. Not that they are bad or badly written, or not even because they are incoherent, but because I just couldn't grasp at something I liked enough about them while reading. Even David, who is a more classic annoying guy, ended up annoying me with his decisions. Or rather, how he made his decision.

As for the romance, it works. Was I invested? Not really, not even with David's new exploration. I dont' know why I wasn't really taken this time. Maybe because miscommunication and pride were so much the centrepiece of the trouble, and I don't deal well with it. Again, it's realistic, but it only brings bitterness in me, when a character refuses to get help and isolate themselves. It does say more about me than anything else.
I do think, though, that the reward after the pain wasn't great enough to compensate, and it played it my feeling at the end of the book.

Like the first book, the story is more about the characters' journey and less about plot. It is the kind of story I like better usually, when the plot still carries a bit of the story. Here, it doesn't. Don't get me wrong, it's still a good story, in it's own way. Simply, I don't think it is my kind of story at the moment. The world the intrigue is set in is ours, but with various kind of beliefs and powers. Yet, I can't really see how it all play together, how it fits with the mundane world or anything. Is it bad? Again, no, not for the right reader.

'Ascension' will, I think, please readers who loved the first book and appreciated Rhys's character, as well as everybody's flaws. It is a quick and flowing read, with quite a lot of thought put into the characters' journey, and only for that, I can respect it.

Darkly seductive and emotionally explosive—Ascension is urban fantasy at its most addictive.

S.T. Gibson delivers pure magic in Ascension, the electrifying sequel to Evocation and a masterclass in how to raise both the stakes and the pulse. With Rhys McGowan now stepping into the role of High Priest, this book pulls you deep into a richly conjured world of secret societies, demon pacts, and dangerously complicated love.

Rhys is a mesmerizing protagonist—equal parts ambition and vulnerability—and watching him navigate power, polyamory, and personal demons (both literal and figurative) is nothing short of thrilling. The emotional tension crackles on every page, and Gibson’s prose is as lush and lyrical as ever, weaving dark magic with human frailty in a way that feels almost alchemical.

This isn’t just a supernatural mystery—it’s a brutally honest exploration of love, ambition, and identity. The relationships are messy, the stakes are apocalyptic, and every character feels like they’ve been carved from starlight and blood.

S.T. Gibson proves again why they are one of the most compelling voices in urban fantasy. Ascension doesn’t just expand the world of The Summoner’s Circle—it deepens it, darkens it, and dares you to look away. Spoiler: you won’t be able to.

S.T. Gibson delivers pure magic in Ascension, the electrifying sequel to Evocation and a masterclass in how to raise both the stakes and the pulse. With Rhys now stepping into the role of High Priest, this book pulls you deep into a richly conjured world of secret societies, demon pacts, and dangerously complicated love.

Rhys is a mesmerizing protagonist—equal parts ambition and vulnerability—and watching him navigate power, polyamory, and personal demons (both literal and figurative) is nothing short of thrilling. The emotional tension crackles on every page, and Gibson’s prose is as lush and lyrical as ever, weaving dark magic with human frailty in a way that feels almost alchemical.

This isn’t just a supernatural mystery—it’s a brutally honest exploration of love, ambition, and identity. The relationships are messy, the stakes are apocalyptic, and every character feels like they’ve been carved from starlight and blood.

S.T. Gibson proves again why they are one of the most compelling voices in urban fantasy. Ascension doesn’t just expand the world of The Summoner’s Circle—it deepens it, darkens it, and dares you to look away. Spoiler: you won’t be able to.

ST Gibson can write heartfelt, realistic relationships and complex, complicated people.
In this sense, I would say if you like books by Olivie Blake, you should try ST Gibson!

A polyamorous relationship, the occult, secret societies, and demons - both literal and internal.

<b>If Rhys felt like diving into the ocean, wrapping herself up in enveloping, luscious depth and regulating calm, David felt more like the summer sun beating down on her while she sunbathed topless. He got her drunk on optimism and made feel like the winter would never come, like she could live bold and brazen and free forever.
</b>
This book is more about Rhys and his development as a character. He is someone who craves perfection. He is ambitious and craves control. Now he has achieved the position of High Priest, how much further can he push himself with summoning, running and expanding the society, and managing the balance of a threesome.

<b>He hadn't asked to be born with all this ambition inside him, just in the same way he hadn't asked to be born bisexual, or born with anxiety that flared up at the slightest provocation.
Even as a small child, he had devoted hours to studying the rules of checkers and hopscotch to ensure he could become the best player possible, then dissolved into infuriated tears when other children broke the rules. By twelve, he was a straight-A student with his eye on a select handful of elite colleges, reading at an eleventh-grade level and often lying awake worrying that his science project wasn't up to par. By fifteen, he was the most dedicated altar boy at his parish, not to mention a budding occultist who spent nights reading Agrippa under the covers with flashlight until his eyes stung.</b>

Moira, per usual, is a badass. She has the patience of a saint, but at the same time she won’t let other people run over her. I hope one of the next books focuses on her.

David gets entangled with someone from his past and whilst he is doing better with dealing with his familiar trauma, he must sort out his entangled emotions.

We didn’t get much on the whole passed-on curse which was the plot of book one so this felt slightly filler.
There were more spicy scenes in this one which were more descriptive.

This is set to be a four book series with the novella, Odd Spirits, a bonus!

Physical arc gifted by Angry Robot.

Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot for the arc!

🌟🌟🌟✨/5

I can't say I didn't have fun with this because I'm really attached to the characters and love David and Moira (Rhys, not so much) with every fibre of my being but this did feel a lot like a filler. The second installment in S. T. Gibson's Summoner's Circle series follows Rhys and his ambitions after he took up the mantle of High Priest in Evocation.

As always, I appreciate Gibson for putting the trigger warnings in the beginning (she's brilliant, I love her, but her books are not for everyone). As with Evocation, Ascension features a wide array of magic systems and occult practices written with respect and sensitivity. I loved reading about them against the backdrop of Boston. Gibson is a master at writing complex relationships and it shows in every book of hers. It reflects not only in prominent romantic scenes but also in tiny gestures of affection and caring between our magical trio. Moira, as always, stole the show. Side characters like Leda, Nathan and Kitty, and Antoni had their moments to shine (I already love Leda so much and I'm very excited for her to be the main focus of book 4!).

Here's where the book let me down: There was a lot less drama and angst in this one. Except for the final two chapters, the relationship between the three doesn't progress anywhere. We do get to see lots of lovely moments of friendship between David and Moira. The plot, too, is a bit uneventful. I don't love or care for Rhys as much as David and Moira so while I could understand his ambitions and thirst for power and his longing to be seen, I couldn't completely resonate with it or feels for him in his moments of despair. It's just a me thing though, and I'm sure there are lots of Rhys fans who'd love this a lot more than I did.

While I enjoyed this a bit less than Evocation, I have high hopes for the next two books! Book 3 follows Moira (my absolute favorite character) and I can't wait to get my hands on it.

Just as good as book 1
Loving this series it’s spooky witchy and all types of adventures if you love a good witchy vibe book this series is for you