Evocation is the first book in a series called The Summoner’s Circle. It’s messy and dramatic with occult themes.

David is an attorney who also has a private practice as a psychic and is working with a secret society. He needs help but unfortunately he has to get it from Rhys and Moira. Rhys is his ex boyfriend and also his rival. Moira is Rhys’s wife who is incredibly talented with tarot and astrology. The men haven’t spoken in months but desperate times call for desperate measures! Navigating the relationship between these three characters was so interesting and so entertaining. The plot existed but I was so tuned into what the characters were going through that and how they were interacting that the plot was just an extra treat-I love witchy things! This is my second book by this author and I will read anything they write. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

This audiobook was narrated by Oscar Reyes. This was completely enjoyable as an audiobook with this narrator! The characters were distinguishable and came through perfectly.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, S.T. Gibson, and Tantor Audio for providing this free ARC. This is my honest review! This will publish on May 28th.

I have posted my review on Goodreads, in my Facebook book club, and will post a Tiktok review within the week before it releases.

DNF - I am so sorry, but this narrator did nothing for me and as such I couldn't stand David or Rhys. The narrator also made the women characters sound too breathy and it came across as mocking. On that note, I could never get past David's initial character introduction where he discusses his wealth in such a tacky way - I think this is an issue with the writing, solidifying my previous idea that S.T. Gibson's works - despite the concepts - are not for me.

I also felt like this book wanted to be more series and gothic than it was - which was just throuple drama and a dash of spooky/occult vibes.

From the audio narrator, there was no delivery in the dramatic actions as everything the narrator said came off entitled and over the top. I think the story with a different narrator would have been more palatable.

Thank you to Tantor Audio and NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for an honest review!

Evocation has solidified that S.T Gibson is a favorite author for me. Something about her writing is so beautiful and easy to read. I loved that each character was well developed and had a distinct personality. While I think Evocation is more character focused, there was still a good plot that I can't wait to follow into future books. If I could read it all now, I absolutely would! As a first book in a series, it wrapped up nicely but definitely left me wanting so much more. I could follow these characters forever! And as a dabbler in the occult myself, I loved that this book touched on so many different esoteric practices and concepts without feeling overwhelming or infodumping. It was so magical in a modern way and I loved every minute of it.

I would highly recommend the audio for those who like to read via audiobook. The narrator did a wonderful job at giving each character their own voice.

Thank you Netgalleu and RB media for an audio arc of Evocation in exchange for my honest review!

This is a heavily character driven story. The occult themes are secondary with the plot, as the story moves forward through multiple POVs where character development and relationship dynamics take the forefront.

Personally I’m not sure the pacing would have kept my attention had I read it, so listening worked for me. I didn’t like Rhys’ narration, he sounded like Batman 😂 +his character must have said “David” 250 times. Moira is an emotionally mature woman and absolute queen of communication, and the story needed her.

I wish this had more magic to it. The men are in a prestigious boys club where they perform rituals, but they didn’t actually do much of that. It felt more “tell” than “show” with magic coming in mostly the form or tarot or auras.

This story has big polyamory, little but some spice, and platonic love (which was very sweet). It is set up for a second book. The contract was easy to figure out which is silly considering they are intelligent professionals at their craft. The ending left me satisfied with characters, but not the plot.
This could have been one book, but is set up for a second, which I’m indifferent to.

2.75 - 3 ⭐️

The narration was good... sadly, the story just didn't grab me the was I wished it would.
Despite the high stakes.. Devil comes for his due! I just never really felt invested in what was going on with David. Is he possessed, is he pining for his ex-boyfriend, does he have a little crush growing on said ex's new wife... I just didn't care... and I really should have.
Maybe if Moira had been the MC instead of being relegated to cleaning up the messes the two boys kept creating I would have felt a little more invested, but alas that was not the story we had. She was an interesting character.

Thank you to NetGalley for an E-audioARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book surprised me, I went into it expecting it would likely be 3⭐️ read for me as it’s not the kind of fantasy I typically go for. But I wanted to branch out and I’m so glad I did as I actually really enjoyed this.

Evocation is more character driven than plot, this would normally make me less interested but I found myself invested in the main characters relationship growing and changing. There is a sprinkling of occult references, a haunted house with a library full of historic texts, rituals and readings - enough which kept me interested in the fantasy element but relatively light touch.

I received the audio copy of this book and I really enjoyed the narration. The narrators accents were good for me as this is something I can be quite picky on. I don’t think I’d have rated the book as highly had I read the physical copy first as I likely would have struggled with the character focus over plot, but for audio this was brilliant for me and I found myself looking for any opportunity to listen.

A full review is on Goodreads and I’ve also posted one on my instagram.

Thanks NetGalley. This book is written very well, but the pace is slow. Some of the relationships work well but the “triangle” didn’t work well. This is a starter book with lots of details of the characters and their background. With complicated history to tie together. If you like other books by the author you will enjoy this one.

I really enjoyed the story but the narrator didn't hit right for me. It wasn't bad but it didn't feel like the narrator really fit the vibes of the story. Duet narration could have been a better option, but I understand that is quite expensive and doesn't always add value to the material.

Audio-arc provided by netgalley

I loved this just like I've loved everything else by S.T Gibson, the prose in this is beautiful and while the magic system could be flushed out a bit more I was much more interested in the characters

Thank you Net Galley for an audio ARC of Evocation.

The narrator, Oscar Reyes, performed the 3 main characters with flawless effort. A man voicing for a woman can be hard sometimes, but his was enjoyable, even with a honeyed southern drawl! Rhys had a deep silky voice and David on a more modern, slightly pouty character.

S.T. Gibson quickly became a loved author I've happily added to my library. Her ability to conjure up beautiful descriptions of characters and settings is addicting and so enjoyable. Each story she creates gives such perfect and cohesive feelings to really set the tone and the focus on her expertise, character growth/conflict/you name it, is up for full attention.

I really enjoyed this story. I was immediately hooked with the anticipation of demons and haunts with some banter in the world of energy, magic talk and auras. While this may simply be the background canvas of the book, it was an enjoyable driving force for the characters to interact over. With it being known the book is about relationships, Gibson clearly does not play the red tape game and I'm thankful for her forward thinking. This may be a book about magic, ritualistic practices and sultry relationships past, but there's a bit of representation here that I found thoughtful and really loved. I don't want to give away any big character growth elements, but what was brought to the front, discussed and explored was done really well in my opinion. Again, I really admire Gibson's ability to create characters and their flow with who they are and what they represent and how they cause actions or reactions with the other characters. David is true to his nature expressed in the summary provided on the book, a storm of high cost living with no want of boundaries. Rhys craves control, growth and things that scare him. Moira is simply a goddess. She's powerful in her work and the most open hearted character I've ever experienced.

I will, with great excitement, continue to look forward to and read from S.T. Gibson as she stands out to me among so many with her exceptional writing style.

Evocation by S.T Gibson follows a medium who begins to have strange symptoms after a summoning ritual, he enlists the help of his ex boyfriend and his wife to try save him from a centuries old family deal with a demon. It delves into deep conversations of polyamory and its dynamic within a marriage. The author beautifully explores the complexities of relationships, including LGBTQ+ representation, specifically poly, gay, bi, and trans individuals. The connections between the characters, both past and present, are beautifully written, and I found myself becoming emotionally invested in their stories. One thing I really appreciated about this book was the easy-to-understand magic system. It added an extra layer of intrigue and excitement to the story without being overly complicated. And the best part is, this book sets up the perfect foundation for more books to come.

Loved this story a LOT. I heard lots of good things about Evocation, so when I got approved for the audiobook I was really excited!! The story definitely lived up to the impressions, and while the audiobook narrator is clearly good at his job, I found the voice acting to be not quite for me. That doesn't mean it is bad by any means, in the contrary, I think this will appeal to a lot of different people, but it wasn't quite fitting for me and my tastes! Still loved it nonetheless, hence the 4 stars!

A character-driven romance with dark academic vibes that misses the magic spark.

We're following David, a probably possessed member of a secret occult society, who asks his ex-boyfriend and his new wife for help with his possible possession. The book promises a poly romance, secret societies and occult magic, but doesn't fully deliver on them.

I loved A Dowry of Blood, and it was great to see the dark academic, library-core, secret occult society vibes back in this. I also like the tender and respectful way that the book details with fidelity, alcohol addiction and childhood trauma.

This is a character-driven romance, but the character's don't have much charisma or a reason to feel strongly towards any of them. The plot is light, which is fine, but the stakes are so low that I'm not invested in the outcome of the relationships between our three main characters. Overall, I was hoping for more from this story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for the ALC.

This wasn't for me at all. I liked the description of the book but the book, but the book was less about the curse and centered more on the previous relationship the men had and their still wanting each other. I quit around the 50 percent mark because I was so disinterested. There was no depth to the characters. It seemed like fan fiction.

Just not for me. Was hoping for more focus on the magic being done but really that felt like a vehicle for the relationship. Basically I was expecting more demons and spells and less tropes being checked off.

Narration is great though, keep Oscar Reyes in the rotation of narrators.

3.5 stars. This is apparently the first in a new series by the author of A Dowry of Blood. David is a Boston attorney who also happens to be a powerful medium. After a reading goes wrong w/ a client (basically David is possessed by something he definitely didn't invite), he knows he is in desperate need of psychic help. He turns to his ex-boyfriend, Rhys and his wife, Moira. They come to find out that there is a curse on David where his soul will be devoured by his 30th birthday. Which, of course, is imminent.
This quickly becomes a throuple-type situation. While I love Rhys and Moira's dynamic, it annoyed me that they just let David back in the mix. And there is a completely unnecessary (IMO) sex scene between David and Rhys almost at the very end of the book. Kind of like Gibson had to get that in somewhere. And even though Moira and David have a connection, I cannot imagine a strong, powerful Black woman allowing her husband to just do whatever he wants with his ex. Anyway, I'm interested to see where this story goes.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for this audio e-arc.*

5 Stars!!

This was so much fun.

I was given early access to the audiobook narrated by Oscar Reyes in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Netgalley and RB Media for early access. I also tantum read it with the physical copy.

Evocation revolves around David, a former child prodigy sorcerer and lawyer, his ex-boyfriend Rhys, and Rhys' amazing wife, Moira. Together they begin to untangle a generational curse, as well as their own messy feelings for each other.

I really enjoyed the somewhat lower stakes. Stories like this are somewhat hard to find in the fantasy realm. However, I do hope Gibson explores more of the secret society machinations in the sequel.

I would like to thank NetGalley for giving me an audio-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I think S.T. Gibson has become a new favorite author of mine. So far, everything they've written has been a hit with me and Evocation was no exception.

We follow David as he deals with an old family curse/deal with a demon, and he calls his ex boyfriend, Rhys, to help him. What follows is more of a romance between magicians/a polyamorous throuple that's well developed and sweet. Though, i thinkI love David and Moira's dynamic the most. And the struggle the three of them go through to help David was heartbreaking. I loved this and the magic that was developed in this world.

I honestly can't wait for the next book. And the audiobook was so good. The narrator did an amazing job.

Actual rating: 4.5 stars

I went in thinking this was a fantasy book and sure, it has some of that, but there was no complicated world building nor a “must save everyone plot” 😂 It is very character driven and I loved it for that 🙌🏼 Looking forward to reading the next book for sure.

I wish they would have done a duet narration for this book but overall, it was pretty good.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the gifted audio ARC. @netgalley ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Publication date: 05/28/2024

What to expect:

🌙 Modern day world
🌙 Exes to Rivals to Lovers
🌙 Polyamory
🌙 Astrology/Magic/Sorcery
🌙 Secret Societies

As always, please check content warnings ⚠️

#evocation #netgalley #audiobook #stgibson

Paranormal romance is not a genre I generally read, but the book synopsis and cover art were so intriguing I couldn’t resist. The high point for me was Oscar Reyes’s outstanding narration. His voice was perfectly suited to this dark, somewhat campy novel. His performance kept me engaged throughout the book.

While the story was not for me, I appreciate the author’s creativity and ability to craft a story rich in symbolism. She represents the dark arts with the right mixture of mystery and irreverence. The relationship component was the least interesting part of the book for me, and I was slightly disappointed in Moira’s character development.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.