S.T. Gibson never disappoints. Such a good story. Ascension is another masterpiece from this genious! I rated this book 5 stars... and I totally recommend everyone to read this book as fast as they can.

Ascension, the second book in The Summoner’s Circle series, is a dark, engaging sequel that deepens both the magic and the messiness of its characters’ lives. Rhys’s struggle to balance power, love, and the creeping shadow of his own ambition is compelling, and the occult world S.T. Gibson has built feels rich and immersive. The blend of ritual magic, interpersonal drama, and looming supernatural threats keeps the tension high, though the pacing does stumble at times—particularly when character introspection slows the plot. Some secondary characters deserved more attention, but overall, this is a strong, addictive continuation that delivers on the promise of the first book while leaving plenty to look forward to.

ARC review- 4⭐️
The second book in the series! I have been waiting to see how this dynamic was going to continue. David continues to be my favorite character (tho I do still adore Rhys and Moira in their own ways). I am very curious how the Society is going to evolve in the series with the ending. Eagerly awaiting book 3!!🧡

I loved Evocation but I think Ascension tops it for me. Rhys is just such a brilliant multi facetted character and I adored watching his story develop.

I love the main relationship in this book. David/Rhys/Moira shouldn't work but they absolutely do and it was just a total joy to read.

If you're looking for an urban fantasy romance series that feels fresh and unique, I would highly recommend picking up these books. They are a huge breath of fresh air in the genre.

A brilliant brilliant sequel!

Full review coming on my tiktok later today.

Fantastic sequel by the equally fantastic ST Gibson. I loved the first book and this one didn’t disappoint. Packed with mystery and magic and all things great that should be in a book.

Ascension was filled with the same dark occult aesthetic I love so much in Evocation. This time around we got to follow the ambitious perfectionist, Rhys as he spirals out of control. I also really enjoyed the further development of Moira and David's relationship, especially the emphasis on their relationship outside of their relationships with Rhys. They have such an open and wholesome dynamic, in contrast to the darkness and tension throughout the rest of the book.

Ascension by S.T. Gibson brings us back to the intriguing world of The Summoner’s Circle, and while returning to these characters was comforting, the book left me conflicted. There were moments I genuinely enjoyed—especially the deeper exploration of Rhys’s struggles as High Priest and the continued development of the polyamorous dynamic between him, Moira, and David. However, much of the story felt like a retread of old conflicts, particularly the recurring communication issues that never seem to fully resolve. Just as the relationships take a step forward, they stumble back, making the emotional payoff feel uneven.

The plot itself had potential—I appreciated the societal tensions and the mystery of the summoning circle—but it often took a backseat to the characters’ internal dramas. While I understand the appeal of character-driven stories, this one leaned too heavily into repetitive relationship struggles without enough forward momentum to keep me fully engaged. Moira, in particular, felt underutilized; her role often reduced to soothing everyone else’s problems rather than getting her own meaningful arc.

That said, Gibson’s writing remains engaging, and there were still sweet, tender moments that reminded me why I loved the first book. Fans of slow-burn, emotionally messy relationships might enjoy this more than I did, but if you’re hoping for significant plot progression or fresh dynamics, Ascension might leave you wanting. I’ll keep reading the series—there’s enough here to stay curious—but I hope the next installment takes bigger risks.

This was lovely. I relate to Rhys so bad - his anxieties, his obsession with having his name remembered in the history of sorcerers. David was as hot as ever and Moira as lovely as in the first book.
There’s not particularly a lot of plot But if you like character driven stories with the backdrop of secret magical societies this one is for you.

I have been loving the Summoner’s Circle series so far, so needless to say Ascension was one of my most anticipated reads of the year.

While Evocation felt like Rhys, Moira, and David were fighting against a ticking time bomb, the conflicts in Ascension felt much more personal and highly intertwined with Rhys’s beliefs and motivations. Not to say there wasn’t any tension! Considering Rhys causes plenty of problems in this book that he’s forced to clean up. Rhys’s actions will probably make you want to throttle him multiple times, but anyone who has ever felt like the weight of the world was crashing down on them could at least sympathize with him.

Also, I love the development of the trio’s relationship. We see them go through rough patches that test their bond and also see how they navigate the openness of the polycule. Rhys and Moira realize that they enjoy a certain dynamic that I am excited to see more of in Divination. And probably my favorite development is that we get to see more of Moira and David’s not-quite-platonic-but-not-quite-romantic love, which I absolutely adore. Love is such a complex feeling, so I’m glad that this series includes a bond that doesn’t neatly fit into box.

All this is to say that I loved Ascension and highly recommend it and the previous two books in the series. I am very excited to see where Divination takes us—and hopefully we get watch Moira release all of her rage and burn Boston to the ground <3

Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot for the ARC!

I'm thrilled to have the second part of this series by S.T. Gibson. Evocation - the first - was an incredibly fun read, and while Ascension is (somehow??) darker in tone, it's just as gripping and enjoyable to get through.

The first followed David, and took it's time to establish the magic system alongside some light worldbuilding. However, the bulk of Gibson's attention and plot development centered around the love triangle / developing polyamorous relationship between the core three main characters: David, his ex Rhys and Rhys's wife Moira. In this follow-up - which doesn't have to be read back to back with the first since we mostly have a different plot altogether - we center on Rhys, who grapples with overwhelming power, self doubt, and jealousy. We also get tastier worldbuilding with the kick-off Plot Problem of a rogue (? possibly!) sorcerer who's public display draws attention to the world of the occult. As the leader of the Society, Rhys grapples with the issue of navigating his new leadership role with his desire to remain private since he's not "out" (as bisexual or a sorcerer) to his normie parents.

Rhys was so fun to follow. He's ridiculously relatable and thoughtfully flawed, but his hunger and ambition drive the plot forward. (he's not as immediately lovable as billionaire playboy philanthropist David, but his prickly nature and industriousness are just, ugh, so endearing sdkljf he tries so hard!!!!!! he does so well!!!!!! ish) David and Moira get their own time to shine - though, disappointingly, I found Moira less present in this one than in the first novel (confusingly, since she's Rhys's wife and soulmate. The bulk of Gibson's romance drama centers around David and Rhys, so I hope the third in this series really allows Moira to step forward, as I'm curious for what her story will unfold to be.)

Wonderful. Wicked fun. Cozy and suspenseful and delicious.

S.T. Gibson has done it again this book made me fall more and more in love with the Summoner's Circle charcters. This book specifically gave me vibes that reminded me of Talk to Me and gave a perfect little gen-z horror movie vibe towards the end. The perfect amount of spice and emotional struggles. Loved seeing the insight of more of the charcters the last books briefly introduced. I loved every minute of reading this book and was so glad to be able to read the ARC of if.

Thank you to Netgalley and Angry Robot for sending me this ARC!

I was thrilled to receive this ARC, as I adore S.T. Gibson's prose, and Evocation was one of my favourite books last year! The first 20% of Ascension had a slower pace than anticipated, but it quickly picked up, and as expected, it did not disappoint.

Rhys is my poor tortured soul, and seeing how his anxieties and insecurities both broke me and resonated. It was hard to watch him crumble over inherited pressure and self-imposed pressure, and I’m so glad he managed to pull himself back together.

I loved the exploration of the poly relationship between our beloved trio, and how, despite some lingering jealousy, there were no hard feelings when David started something up with Maximillian. Speaking of Max, I feel like there is still something there that could come into play in future books. Also, the hints that Moira may have another love interest have left me wanting more!

It was also interesting to see Rhys invoke the power of the Archangel, and I look forward to seeing how that will manifest.

Some of my favourite quotes:
'Love, for Rhys, was a practice, very much like prayer, something to be done every day, with quiet consistency and attention to detail'

'Sometimes, things need to fall apart to come back together again.'

'When everything else failed him, books did not'

'As Rhys sat there in his kitchen watching Moira and David gossip over the food he had prepared for them, Moira's brown eyes alight with interest, David's mouth curving into a smile, Rhys felt that this might be a glimmer of the thing he had been ceaselessly searching for. He felt, perhaps for the first time in his life, holy.'

I love being back with all these characters, it’s always such a comfort to return to this world. That said, I think I may have misunderstood the direction the story was taking. I expected each new book to gradually deepen and strengthen the relationships between everyone, but with Rhys’ book, it felt like some of the same issues from earlier stories resurfaced, especially the ongoing communication problems he has with Moira and David.
At times, that repetition frustrated me, as it felt like the characters were retreading old ground. Just when the relationship seemed to be moving forward, it would suddenly take five steps back. That said, the sweet, affectionate moments really worked for me, and by the end, I did feel like there was some meaningful progress. I hope the author continues to build on that.

I also really enjoyed the plot overall, especially seeing more focus on supporting characters like Antoni (I truly felt for him). It was great to see them getting more attention.

Despite its flaws, I genuinely enjoy this series and am excited to see where it goes next.

3.5/5

A magical read for lovers of traditional urban fantasy where beloved characters return for a new dark and enthralling adventure. Rhys McGowan takes centre stage and steps into his new role as High Priest while learning to face the greatest demon of all: his own insatiable hunger. An emotional and gripping ride through the consequences of power and grief and the repercussions from the previous book play out nicely here. A perfect read for fantasy lovers and over achievers alike.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐲 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐯𝐢𝐚 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐓𝐰𝐨, 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐫’𝐬 𝐂𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐥𝐞) 𝐛𝐲 𝐒. 𝐓. 𝐆𝐢𝐛𝐬𝐨𝐧

There’s something deeply unsettling and honest about the emotional terrain in Ascension. It doesn’t just pick up where the first book left off — it sinks deeper into the consequences of power, grief, and personal mythology. Rhys is unraveling in slow motion, and even when I found myself questioning his decisions, I understood the emotional logic behind them. That kind of character work — intimate, flawed, sometimes painful — goes a long way for me.

The writing is confident and immersive, atmospheric without being overwrought. There’s a weight to the prose that mirrors the story’s emotional gravity. Some of the relationship threads didn’t fully resonate with me, particularly in the way certain romantic entanglements are handled — not because they’re controversial, but because they felt more chaotic than cohesive at times. Still, the emotional tension in those dynamics felt intentional, and added to the sense of unease that permeates the book.

Pacing-wise, it’s occasionally uneven. A few major emotional beats didn’t quite land as powerfully as they were meant to, and there were stretches where the momentum stalled. But the impact of the story lingered with me longer than I expected — and that tends to matter more than perfect plot structure.

It’s a bold, moody, and emotionally thoughtful book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Thank you, Net Galley & Angry Robot books, for an E-arc in exchange for an honest review

📚 Ascension
🔮 Fantasy
📖 323 pages
📖 40 Chapters
📖 Book 3 of 5
✅️ The story grips you from the start
❌️ Nothing everything was perfect
✅ Would recommend
✅ Would read it again
⭐ Rating: 5

It’s no secret that S.T. Gibson is one of my auto-buy authors, so when I was approved for this e-ARC, I was thrilled to dive back into this world.

Having read the first book in the series last year, I was a little worried I’d spend the first half trying to remember what had happened and feeling confused. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case. I was instantly drawn back in and completely lost in the pages as if some kind of evocation had been cast to pull me back into the story.

I adore the characters in this book (well, most of them) and enjoyed seeing them developed further in this sequel. While each of the three main characters has their own arc, this book centres on Rhys. I was a bit concerned it might turn into the kind of book where you start to hate him, and while he doesn’t make the best decisions, his storyline was by far my favourite. The way he clings to power and spirals into doing anything to keep it reminded me of Willow’s magic addiction in season six of Buffy. Rhys’s descent into obsession and hunger for more was gripping to read.

I also really love the magic system. It’s rooted in everyday occultism and feels just on the edge of possibility, which helps ground the story. The magic never feels overused or far-fetched.

One of the strongest aspects of this book is how realistic the relationships feel. The flaws and complexities of the characters are what make the story so compelling. I especially adore Rhys and Moira’s relationship and how they deal with the challenges they face together.

I absolutely can’t wait for the next book. With book one focusing on David and book two on Rhys, I’m hoping the next one shines a light on Moira. She’s such a fascinating character, and I have a feeling she’s far more powerful than we’ve seen so far.

4.5 stars on StoryGraph.


I’ve got to say, Ascension takes the world of Evocation and does a fantastic job of improving on it! I liked this book more than the first.

The first book had some great character moments and world building, but now that the rules of the world are established, we get even more into the minds of our main trio and get to see more of the extended cast as well. Our supporting cast of characters really shine in this book, pretty much everyone gets a memorable moment to endear you to them.

Our main trio really goes through it in this book though. Rhys takes center stage in this book and does some challenging things. There were times that I wanted to just shake him and yell at him for being crazy, but thankfully the book would switch POV before I went mad over Rhys’s decisions. Of course, there’s a reason for why everything happens, you’ll just have to wait for the book and see! (Shout out to David and Moira for continuing to be my favorite characters.)

A great sequel, and one that makes me eagerly look forward to the next book!

3.5* - A big thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot for providing me with this advance copy in exchange for an honest review!

"Ascension" is the second book in the Summoner’s Circle series, following "Evocation," which was released last May.

After the events in "Evocation," Rhys seems to have achieved a lot and has built good relationships with those around him. However, as the pressure increases and he sets higher goals for himself and others, things start to change...

I really liked the writing in "Evocation." It felt a bit different from other fantasy books, and the tension in the story was what kept me hooked. In the first book, David wasn’t the most relatable character; we mostly saw him struggling with his issues and relying on Rhys and Moira. However, in "Ascension," I felt like I really got to know these characters better, and I grew to love them! I could relate to Rhys, especially as the oldest sibling, since I understand the pressure of trying to meet high expectations and do what’s best for everyone. Even David came across as more relatable this time. As always, S.T. Gibson did an amazing job of portraying a beautiful polygamous relationship that actually worked in the context of the story, even if I’m still processing it!

That said, I felt like this book played it a bit safe. Aside from the arguments between Rhys, Moira, Nathan, and David, not much happened, and I didn’t find it very entertaining. It could just be that I had high hopes going in!

ST Gibson is an automatic read for me, but the Summoner’s Circle holds a special place in my heart.

The love that I feel for Moira, David, Rhys, and Leda goes beyond the pages of the book and seeing them grow and face and struggle with the human and magical parts of themselves feels transcendent.

It’s clear that Gibson loves these characters, too, but doesn’t shy from the rough and raw edges of one’s humanity as she weaves her stories, and it’s the juxtaposition of dark and light and the kaleidoscope of love that brings me back again and again.

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.