Thank you to NetGalley for this ALC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is the first book I have read of S.T. Gibson's and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. I went into it with very little knowledge and I was gripped from the get go. I found the story compelling and really enjoyed the character dynamics. I particularly enjoyed how the characters flaws and struggles were normalised. There wasn't a big neon sign highlighting them, they were just organically explored.

I enjoyed the narration of this. I think it's one of the reason why I was hooked almost straight away. I didn't think they dragged the story out, the pacing was just right for me.

I look forward to reading the next one.

Unfortunately this was a big ick for me. The romance dynamic made me uncomfortable at best because it didn't feel genuine it felt like Rhys was really not that into Moira and was just trying to reassure her.
Not for me for sure!

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

I enjoyed this one more than I expected! I loved the supernatural aspect, although I felt like there could have been a bit more to the resolution when it came to the possession. I would continue reading more with these characters! The narrator did a good job.

Gifted Audiobook provided by Tantor Audio.

If you are a DC comics fan then you will get the reference: this book had major John Constantine, Zatanna Zatara, and Nick Nicro vibes to it.

While the narrator for the audiobook wasn’t my favourite I did enjoy this book. I found it hard to pick a speed that sounded right for the narrator, no matter what speed I had it at the narrator simply sounded ‘off’.

But to the occult and the magic in this book, I loved it. It’s the perfect fall / spooky book. It’s also on the shorter side so it will be an easy one to get through.

I loved the multiple POV in this one and the tension between David and Rhys. I enjoyed the polyamorous aspect as well!

Overall a great book for the fall / winter season.

This wasn't quite what I thought it would be, focusing more on the romance and less on the magic. I was a bit disappointed, since I wanted to know more about exorcisms and demons. There are bits here and there, but we didn't get to see as much as I had hoped.

I'm here for polyamory, though in this case I don't know how much I support a relationship among these people. I think Moira deserves better and Rhys and David need to go their own ways and not be toxic together.

There were parts that I found exciting and interesting and I do like David on his own. If he did his own thing, I'd read more of him.

I listened to the audiobook of this and thought the narrator did a nice job with subtle differences in the character's voices.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Tantor Audio and NetGalley for the copy.

I received an e-arc and audioarc through Netgalley all opinions are my own.

Sadly this book was not for me. I did not enjoy the narrators different voices for the characters. I was able to get through the audiobook so that's a plus.

I didn't really like the characters or the story. I'm sad since I loved Dowry of Blood, but I also didn't like Education in Malice. What that says about me I dunno.

The book was boring and didn't grip me. I didn't like any of the relationships or dynamics in this book.

Gibson's take on magic through a messy trio was interesting even though the setup of their dynamic and their characterizations could've been better. The overall tension was lackluster, bogged down mostly by their interpersonal problems but most fan-fiction and urban fantasy lovers will love this

S.T. Gibson wants to (and does really well) explore relationship dynamics. I love that part her books including this one. I think my main issue with Evocation is that the setting of the story is super interesting - the supernatural element and the secret society - and I wanted more. I am however, for that reason, super excited to read the next one!

Thank you Tantor Audio and NetGalley for the advanced listener copy.

I was really excited to read this because it sounded great. The writing was good as always with S.T Gibson but the plot let it down. I was hoping for the demon possession to be more of a main focus but it wasn’t. The focal point was the relationships and I just didn’t enjoy them. The only relationship I actually liked was the platonic one between David and moira. Rhys was horrible and didn’t treat either of them well.

This book wasn't what I expected. I enjoyed the relationship and dynamics between the David, Rhys and Moira. There was a very sexy magic vibe throughout the book. I liked that it mentions tarot, astronomy and other areas of magic. However, I felt the magic itself was a bit lacking and there wasn't too much world building.

Evocation is S.T. Gibson’s latest work and the first entry to The Summoner’s Circle series. Set in contemporary Boston, it follows the perspectives of three mages as they (1) seek to escape from a deal with the Devil and (2) navigate the messy state of their relationships as ex-boyfriends/ a married couple/ acquaintances.

Gibson once again delivers it with her lush, evocative prose and complex character exploration. However, I cannot ditch the feeling that her prose does not mesh with the modern setting of Evocation. While it works well in scenes involving old home libraries or rituals, it can feel jarring during the more mundane scenes (e.g. going for coffee).

Despite this, I enjoyed the atmosphere and plot of Evocation. When it comes to the three PoVs, I would say I liked Moira’s the best and Rhys’s the least. Rhys is by no means a bad character, but I found the politics in his chapters not that engaging, and his inner dialogue lacked the spark that Moira’s, or even David’s, has. Nonetheless, all three main characters are great.

The audiobook narration was decent, but it did not enhance my reading experience. While the male voices were generally good, however the female voices were somewhat overperformed. For future entries, it would be nice if a second narrator was brought on board to perform Moira’s chapters.

Overall Evocation is a quick enjoyable read for those looking for an urban fantasy with witchy elements, flawed characters, and messy relationships.

Thank you very much to Tantor Audio and NetGalley for providing me an Audio-ARC!

I was disappointed in this book and didn't enjoy it as much as I had hoped. It was my first time reading this author's work, and while I didn't love this particular book, I am still open to exploring more of their writing in the future.

The cover of the book is absolutely beautiful, and it initially piqued my interest. I had high expectations, but unfortunately, the story didn't quite meet them. It felt like the narrative was trying to juggle too many things at once, and as a result, the overall balance and focus seemed off to me.

However, despite my disappointment with this book, I am optimistic about the author's other work. I'm especially intrigued by their book A Dowry of Blood, a retelling of Dracula. I'm looking forward to diving into that and hoping for a more satisfying reading experience.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for the audio ARC of this book.

Denial is a river in Egypt with this trio.

Alright, quick one for the audiobook. I enjoy the experience & it helps as reading companion for the book copy; there's only one narrator for a range of cast, so understandably, the attempt at varying the voice might strike off silly at times especially during Moira's lines. I also don't feel that Rhys would... have such deep, domineering voice in my head if I only read the book. But bravo to the narrator still. The pacing was just right.

Now onto the book & plot: the only thing I'm not sure I could keep up with was the fact that this would be a 4-books series? Aside of that. I wish I could learn more about David's family and the backstory of his haunting, the resolve felt a little too abrupt & stretching a little to achieve a conclusion. But THE polyamorous dynamic?? Top notch writing on that. The chemistry & interaction between the characters feels natural & flowing, it's very believable; they're unapologetic about who they are & what they desire, none of these character has loser arc or streak in them, yet the dynamic was still approached delicately. I'd give this a solid 9.5 out of 10. Waiting for the next installment, hoping it keeps up & won't disappoint (otherwise I'm totally okay with it being a standalone.. aha..)

I guess S.T. Gibson it's not for me. This is an overall 2.5

This is basically a typical story of a rich friend and a poor friend who is a prodigy (spider man much, y'all?). The only difference from spider man is that rather than fighting for 'mary jane', the object of all desire is the poor prodigy friend.

I found the throuple idea badly constructed. At what point did Moira fall in love with David? And the ages just don't make sense, while I was reading I was thinking ok based on everything that happened in their past these people are in their mid-30s, but turns out they are in their mid to late-20s.

I would like to thank NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

‘Evocation’ is the first part of the ‘Summoner’s Circle’ series. David is suffering from a curse and reluctantly has to get in touch with his ex-boyfriend and fellow secret society member, Rhys, in order to help him. Rhys has gotten married to Moira in the meantime, who seems more empathetic to David’s pleas than Rhys himself. But what this story is actually about, is the relationship between Moira, David, and Rhys or more like ‘how can David get in Rhys good graces again and make Moira be okay with it’. Before writing this review, I actually had to look up the plot or the ‘hook’ of this book again, because it does come secondary to the whole relationship dynamic.

I was dreading the set-up of this polyamorous relationship, because it just did not feel right to me. Especially Rhys and David’s interactions in the beginning and their obvious lack of closure bothered me, because I was constantly thinking of Moira, who had no clue about this dynamic. Don’t get me wrong, I actually like the ‘why choose’ trope, but how this relationship progressed just bothered me. It felt wrong that Rhys never told Moira about David, even though they are married. It also felt wrong that Rhys was still Davids go to person, even though they had broken up long ago and did not actually manage to have a healthy relationship or break-up. David and Moira have some quirks of their own, but Rhys just seemed like a bit of a limp fish. His behavior is cowardly, and I think he wouldn’t have taken any agency had Moira and David not pushed him into it. I also can't believe he is supposed to be 26. He seems like an old man and a kid at the same time. To top it all off, I felt no chemistry between any of the parings, I think this is in large parts due to Rhys character, which made it even more dreadful to read about this constellation.

Apart from this relationship dynamic there was very little plot, world building, or anything else going on, so I have a very hard time picturing what else could happen in any future parts of this series. Unless something very drastic happens, I will probably not be along for the ride, although I am usually the last person to quit a series.

Overall, this book had very little plot while mainly focusing on a toxic relationship without the yearning or the chemistry.

I listened to the audiobook and found that the narrator was a bit hard to understand at higher speeds, because he seemed to be whispering. I liked the other aspects of his narration, but this part really bothered me. We have three different POVs in this book and, I think, the audiobook could have profited from a cast narration rather than one single narrator.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for gifting me this ALC of the audiobook to review. All opinions are my own. I was not paid to leave this review.

I wanted to loved this book so much.. I loved their last book, but I was bored. I found myself just tuning out as I listened. Even as I write this I can barely remember what happened,

First of all, I'm not gonna lie, the cover was what caught my eye at first. It's gorgeous, stunning and perfect.
I've read An Education in Malice by S. T. Gibson and while I've really enjoyed the writing style and atmosphere, it wasn't my favorite. I didn't get to A Dowry of Blood yet, and I was a bit hesitant to get to Evocation but I gave it a try.

Evocation is a contemporary paranormal story in which we follow David, who gets entangled in an occult problem he might need help with. That makes him renew contact with his ex boyfriend, Rhys (and Moira, who's a wife of Rhys).

I'm not gonna lie, the plot became secondary to me as I was reading. I've thoroughly enjoyed the relationships between our characters though and that was the thing in the forefront for me. I don't think I've read a story with polyamory in it before, at least not in a long time, and from what I can tell (not having such experiences in my life), it was portrayed in a very thoughtful way. I've loved the communication and respect between the characters and that's usually what makes or breaks the romance in the books for me. I feel like I've became invested in the lives of David, Rhys and Moira really quickly.

The setting was interesting, the action takes place in a contemporary Boston and I'll admit, I prefer fantastical locations to real ones in books that have magic. That being said, I've really liked the exploration of a secret society.

I really admire the author for the portrayal of different sexual orientations, complex relationships, alcoholism (that seemed really respectful too) and many other themes. To be honest, I've felt a bit as if it was written by a different person than An Education in Malice, as, interestingly, my view on strong points of the book shifted a lot in comparison.

Overall, this book was ⭐⭐⭐⭐ for me! I'll for sure read Odd Spirits, a prequel novela that will be released this year.

✨ Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for granting me access to an e arc and I'm honestly sorry for the delayed review. 💜

I am so bummed this didn't end up working for me - i've loved Gibson's other works! This needed a bit more plot development to keep up with the character building throughout the book. I found the throuple dynamic to not be interesting enough to hold up the entirety of the story without more plot weight added to it. So bummed!

I’m going to be a bit honest here, I wasn’t sure Gibson’s writing was for me after their most recent book release. This book solidly changed my mind. I’m so pleasantly surprised by this book – I was hooked quickly and stayed immersed throughout. It did take me a few chapters to figure out the gist of the plot as it isn’t plainly laid out. I thought of that as a positive once I was deeper in the story. I came to view this story as 2 intertwined plotlines that are beautifully woven together. Which, I think, is why it’s a bit tricky to get into at the start. I would call this book an occult romance – maybe?

3 POVs tell this story. We follow Rhys (sorcerer) and Moira (witch), a married couple, as they navigate Rhys’s ambitions within his male only secret society fraternity where the rituals performed have real magic and effects – I thought of Blackwood from the Sherlock Holmes movie (2009) replace the gimmicks with real magic. We also meet David, Rhys’s previous lover and was the only other relationship that holds value to Rhys besides his wife. David and Rhys did not break up well – nothing was truly resolved. David and Rhys/Moira are social enemies at the start of this story. The book is driven on character development. Their evolution individually, and as a group, is one main plot line. The other plotline centers on their world’s magic. The before mentioned secret society needs a new high priest. Rhys and David are the top contenders. David also has a family history that comes out to play.

I really liked Moira’s character. I’d call her a gentile fierce person. She’s not in your face but will not, under any circumstances, back down to any foe that comes her way. She’s confident and very self-aware while being gracious, kind, and warm. She’s fabulous. Personally, I liked David more than Rhys simply because I like David’s spunk.

I don’t really consider their world to be queer normative. Their inner circle is but the rest of the society (we only get glimpses) seems tolerant but has limits – better than USA’s current standing but still could be better. There are also some race dynamics very briefly touched on.

As for the audiobook – I recommend it. The narrator is a bit breathy as they speak, which took me a minute to get used to. Once I acclimated, it was smooth sailing. I think because of how the beginning of the book is laid out, the audiobook helps to keep the pace for the reader better than the print book likely would. I didn’t find there to be serious pacing issues like other reviewers have mentioned. I credit the audiobook to that.

Apparently, I had a lot to say about this book. I found that I liked it far more than I anticipated and am excited for the series to continue.

Thank you NetGalley, S. T. Gibson and Tantor Audio for this audiobook ARC.

3.75 ⭐️

Evocation was a wonderful start to this series As usual, Gibson's writing is impeccable and immersive. The relationship dynamic between the characters was delicious and frustrating in the best way possible. David's character grated me at times, especially in the beginning but perhaps that was the intention. Regardless, I love the growth of these characters even if occasionally it seemed to move 1 step forward and 2 steps back. I'm genuinely curious as to where this story will go.