📚 Odd Spirits 📚
🔮 Fantasy
📖 92 pages
📖 10 chapters
📖 Prequel
✅ Focuses on the relationship of Moria & Rhys
✖️ Left wanting more
✅ Recommended
✅ Would read again
⭐ Rating: 3.5

E-ARC provided by Angry Robot in exchange for an honest review.

Odd Spirits serves as a brief yet engaging prequel to the Summoner's Circle series, giving us another glimpse into the world of magic and the complex relationship between Moria and Rhys. As one of my favorite parts of Evocation, their dynamic takes center stage here, making this short, witchy read a real treat.

However, I found myself wishing the novella was a bit longer. While the length fits the novella format, it left little room to explore the characters’ lives beyond the main conflict. I would have loved to see more depth and time dedicated to their personal stories outside the central plot.

That said, I appreciated how the story starts with their relationship already established. It’s a refreshing change from the typical buildup in many romances, and it helped the story dive straight into their dynamic. Overall, this was a perfect quick read while waiting for the next book in the series, and I’m eager to return to this world soon!

I didn’t read the original Odd Spirits novella, but I’m very familiar with Gibson‘s work. And it pains me to see that this novella has recently been edited and still reads like a draft. I don’t know what’s going on here?

The dialogue in Odd Spirits reads very stilted. Moira and Rhys are married, but they seem to have only just met. They constantly tell each other things a married couple should know.

“Besides, you know I don’t even like working with spirits; that’s your thing.” (p. 11)

“Well first of all, in my tradition we call it a spell.” (p. 13)

I feel like a spouse would be the first to know that I’m creating a “spell”. Has Moira never crafted (is that the right verb?) a spell in their home at all? But why would she be stashing all her utensils here then? I’m confused.

The narrative also consists of too much telling and this is a repeat problem with Gibson’s novels. It’s such a turnoff and it ruins all the magic. Instead of telling me what the characters are doing, please show me their emotions.

“[Moira] and Rhys had gotten married in the throes of their honeymoon period, and as a result, they didn’t have a wealth of experience navigating conflict together.” (p. 17)

“Still, it was impossible not to notice that she and Rhys were slowly but surely drifting apart, as slowly and surely as her house was becoming utterly inhospitable.” (p. 26)

This paragraph would have made great dialogue. However, we get characters who act and talk like people on their first date.

On the plus side, I think the characters have real personalities, but they are being burdened by hasty writing. Gibson tries to cram too much into too little space. Am I going to try another one of her books? I really don’t know.

Rhys and Moira haven't been married long, but they are starting to worry maybe they rushed in and don't know each other as well as they think they do

However, when a malevolent spirit takes root in their home, can the blend themselves (and their different magical practices) together to get rid of what is causing them harm.....

I have already read Evocation and I understand that chronologically this Novella can be read first. But I am actually really glad I read it before as it got me to knowing Rhys, and especially Moira, more. I love them even more as a couple and actually want to reread Evocation again with this insight into their early years

Thanks to NetGalley and Angry Robot for the review copy, all opinions my own. Out 08 October

I really enjoyed this short story which serves as the perfect introduction to the The Summoner's Circle series by S.T. Gibson.
The first book in the series is Evocation and, in Odd Spirits, we meet Rhys and Moira many years before the setting of the events of Evocation. Odd Spirits also provides the reader with some background understanding of the relationship between the characters in the series.
On its own, Odd Spirits is an enjoyable short story, which entertains the reader as different styles of magic collide and a relationship is on the rocks.

Odd Spirits is the prequel novella to S.T. Gibson's book "Evocation". I really enjoyed this novella and getting to know more about Rhys, Moira, and David. It was so interesting to learn more about the magic practices of a sorcerer vs witch and how that played a role in Rhys and Moira's new marriage. I flew through this book and finished it in one sitting!

In addition to the elegant writing, I really enjoyed the colored illustrations throughout the ebook. I love seeing art of book characters as it helps me visualize them as I read the story. Overall, I highly recommend Odd Spirits and the following book, Evocation!

Odd Spirits comes out on October 8th, 2024.

Thank you Angry Robot Books and NetGalley for access to this ARC!

It’s official—I will read anything S.T. Gibson writes. The way the words flow and leap off the page is truly magical. The vivid detail and beautifully crafted descriptions make every sentence a delight. I find myself savoring each word and craving more of the story.

I love the length of these books; they are expertly crafted so that they feel just right, never too short, never too long. It’s impressive how S.T. Gibson captures an entire narrative in such a concise format while still forging deep connections between readers and characters. I felt an immediate connection with Moira and Rhys, as if I’ve known them forever, despite having just meeting them.

Truthfully, I didn’t realize this was a prequel novella (oops), but I’m so glad I picked it up because now I can dive into Evocation and enjoy it even more. The moment I saw it was by Gibson, I knew I had to read it. S.T. Gibson has definitely earned a spot on my auto-buy list!

Thanks to Netgalley for the arc!

This was great! I loved some of the backstory for Moira and Rhys. This was very enjoyable and a fun read! Definitely recommend if you read Evocation!

In Odd Spirits, we get to see Moira and Rhys in the early days of their marriage just after their honeymoon period has seemed to lapse and watch as they learn how to communicate with each other and grow together. Despite the brevity of the book, Moria and Rhys feel like complete characters and we see them develop in real time as they deal with their own insecurities and the isolation they feel when they stop talking to each other.

I truly enjoyed getting a more in depth look at these characters and revisiting the world S.T. Gibson expanded upon in Evocation. Rhys and Moria's relationship in that book is much more mature and seeing how their marriage began helped explain why they were so secure in Evocation.

I would absolutely recommend this book and think it would work equally well read either before or after Evocation, especially if you want some more time with Rhys and Moira. A wonderful bonus was the beautiful illustrations in this new version. Thank you very much to Angry Robot Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Odd Spirits by S.T. Gibson is a prequel to Evocation. It was originally published independently several years ago and has now been revised and is being published by Angry Robot.

The story focuses on Rhys and Moira and is set a few years before the events of Evocation. Rhys and Moira are newlyweds when odd things start happening around their house. The paranormal events strain their new and untested relationship and the two must work to figure out what kind of spirit is haunting their home.

The story deals with their early relationship problems and how the two learned to work through their issues together. We have flashbacks to even earlier in their relationship and learn the best parts of their relationship but also the uncertainties. I really enjoyed this more in-depth view at their dynamic.

My favorite part of Odd Spirits was getting to know Rhys a little better. I loved Moira and David in Evocation but didn't feel like I got to know Rhys enough to care about him as much as the other two main characters. This novella really helped me understand and appreciate him more. It also focuses a little more on his work as a Sorcerer and I really enjoyed that.

Moira is delightful, as always. She was a highlight in Evocation and I found her to be just as enjoyable in this story. David, unfortunately, isn't a big part of this novella but he does make one very memorable appearance.

Odd Spirits is a quick read and should be really enjoyable for those of us who loved Evocation. It further fleshes out Rhys as a character which now has me even more excited for Ascension (which will be released next Summer)!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

“Rhys’s eyes were bright as polished tourmaline. Black tourmaline kept evil away, Moira remembered absently, and she wondered if that had anything to do with how safe she felt around him.”

I am still buzzing about being accepted as an ARC reader for this novella! As always, S.T. Gibson’s prose feels effortlessly beautiful. Only knowing the blurb for Evocation, the full length novel which follows the events of this book, I feel like it’s set the stage perfectly for what is about to unfold for Moira and Rhys (and David 👀).

This book made me far more emotional than I’d expected (though I don’t know why I’d expect anything less) but in the best way. I’m a huge fan of how all of the different magical practices came together here, especially in how that plays out in the resolution. I can’t wait to move on to Evocation and see where the story takes me 🥰

“I worry that there’s this ache inside of me for sensation and for love and for adventure that’s too big for any one person to satisfy.”

Spice level🌶️/4
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 rounded up
Odd Spirits is a novela prequel to Evocation (⭐⭐⭐⭐.5). This work introduces Rhys, Moira, and David. Set several months before the events of Evocation, Rhys and Moira are recently married and settling into their Jamaica Plain home. Both practice magic, though different types and in different circles (Rhys is part of a society of exclusively make practitioners and Moira takes a more modern approach with tarot, astrology, and natal charts). Throw in Rhys' psychic ex and something brewing in their home; things should be fine, right?

I know this was originally independently published first, but I was glad I read Evocation first and was invested in these characters. This novela gives Rhys and Moira's relationship a bit more context. It's a quick and enjoyable read, but it's also tackling topics like marital strain and communication. I'm happy for this edition and excited to read what comes next in this series.

Thank you to Angry Robot Books for an ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. This book is due to be published 10/8/24. I'll be posting to Instagram shortly before publication.

I did find some weird stuff in the writing, I don't know if these are typos, or I just did not understand the sentences,

In chapter 4 Rhys talks about Mediation but I think it's supposed to be Meditation

In chapter 7, Moira had already met the men gathered on HIS doorstep, I think Moira is cis

Also in chapter 7, I did not understand whatsoever the sentence: "Ultimately, it was miscalculated, as Rhys didn't think the thought of HER husband putting himself so far out of his comfort zone to make David happy would make Moira feel any better"

And in chapter 9, Moira pauses HIS work long enough to stare at Rhys.

Other than those maybe mistakes ? I enjoyed the story a lot, it's really interesting to see the story of how Rhys and David came to hate each other. I would recommend it to people.

➛ thank you to netgalley and the author for providing me with an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

THIS WAS REALLY SWEET!! i really enjoyed reading 'evocation' so i was pumped to have the opportunity to learn more about rhys & moira's life / background and i was not disappointed. this was just very cute, a palate cleanser in a sea of angsty, heart-wrenching books! it was also such a delight to see them working through their insecurities / marital issues, because i think it added a nice tone of realism to a world that is otherwise filled with magic, but without it being too much of a 'problem' (as in, you know those books that abuse angstiness in order to stand out). the author's writing, too, is such a bonus for me!! it's as if every sentence was laced with a dash of magic!! it was a treat to read this novella!! the illustrations were also so pretty!

I very much enjoyed Rhys and Moira’s relationship! ST Gibson wrote beautifully as always. I really liked how Rhys and Moiras relationship was written to be very genuine and realistic even with the magic haha.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me the ARC for Odd Spirits! Potential spoilers ahead

Odd Spirits provides a nice and quick look into Rhys and Moira’s marital life prior to Evocation. Gibson’s prose here is still her strong suit, allowing time to flow quickly while reading and keep you intrigued towards what will happen next. Where I believe the book falls flat resides in our main characters, who spend the entirety of the book locked in miscommunication over an incredibly obvious issue. It can feel at times that even though these characters love each other, I’m not always lead to believe they like each other. It’s similar to an issue I had when reading Evocation, that the time they spend most united is when they’re angry with David who was absolutely right in his theory. It was a bit unsatisfying to see them become so angry with his insinuation that they had unknowingly caused a problem when we find out mere pages later that he was exactly right. Ultimately, Odd Spirits is still an enjoyable read for lovers of Evocation and fans of Gibson’s writing style and characterization as a whole.

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC for early review.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.

3.5* rounded up to 4*. This will be a review of Odd Spirits, published October 8th, 2024, from the perspective of someone who has also read Odd Spirits, published August 7th, 2018. There is a distinct difference between the two editions, though both share this singular Goodreads listing.

Odd Spirits 2.0 is a novella predating the events of Evocation, the first book in the Summoner's Circle series. It follows the young marriage of Rhys and Moira, two of our three characters from Evocation, as they deal with emotional and supernatural difficulties in their relationship, with David, the third character of Evocation, popping up to both help and hinder them simultaneously.

This novella is very character driven, despite being centered around a mystery plot, and features much more of Rhys and Moira than David. Moira and Rhys are having marital issues--- something is slinking around the house, rotting food and messing with the plumbing and giving Moira a great deal of anxiety, but neither of them are willing to admit that something might be wrong, trying their best to ignore both the emotional cracks in their relationship and the cracks in the foundation of their home.

We also get flashbacks to the first couple of times Moira met Rhys, where they fell in love and their first kiss, a headstrong, no-nonsense kind of country witch crossing paths with a strict, stringent pencil pusher magician. Though originally rocky, both Moira and Rhys fall quickly in love with each other and we see the result being their spur-of-the-moment marriage.

Though it is clear that both of these people love each other, I found myself consistently annoyed by the fact that they wouldn't talk to each other and actually didn't seem to *like* each other all that much. Rhys is a workaholic who ignores his wife until she literally barges into his office after being supernaturally attacked. Moira is confrontational in the extreme with Rhys's ex, but refuses to actually confront and speak to Rhys himself and gives the silent treatment and finds ways to avoid him. Both of them refuse to acknowledge that there is literally SO OBVIOUSLY some sort of malicious entity causing chaos in their lives, and it drove me nuts. I almost wish something bad had happened to one or both of them, to make them realize just how horribly they were handling the situation.

When David is invited to come and figure out what is haunting their home, Moira is combative and rude in the extreme, and David is just as cruel and egotistical as he is in Evocation. Rhys is, as usual, a mess and does the wrong thing several times, from fumbling all over his words when a photograph of him and David appears in their bedroom, to snapping at both of his paramores in front of the members of the magical society.

In the end, David is kicked out, after risking his life to try to help get to the bottom of things, and Moira and Rhys have their emotional explosion at each other. Their long-awaited overflow of communication shows just how little the two are really in tune with each other and how much they are blind to the realities of how the other feels. And this conversation leads to Rhys finally solving their supernatural entity mystery, and saving the day with Moira, saving their marriage and relationship in the process.

So, overall, not as good as Evocation. I think David has the kind of leading character energy that Rhys lacks in every way, and having too little of him in the book really hinders it when you know how closely entwined these three individuals are going to be. The frankly stupid communication issues between Rhys and Moira drove me up a wall and I disliked Rhys more than I already did by the ending.

To touch on the subject of the biphobia present in Odd Spirits 1.0--- where Moira is presented as a heteronormative-upholding country gal--- it is not present overtly in Odd Spirits 2.0. Here is the line from 1.0:

“God, fine! I don’t like that you’re bisexual. I never have.” She continues; “Go ahead, crucify me.” "But I can’t change the way I feel. I’m just so terrified you’re going to wake up one day and decide you don’t want me anymore, because there are certain things I just can’t give you…”

And further; "Where I grew up you were either one or the other, and I know you’ve tried to explain this to me, but I just don’t understand. And then you go off and spend all this time with these men and I’m not allowed to come, and then I realize that you’ve known David forever and that you two to go out…”

And finally; “...I just don’t like the way he treats you and I don’t like how much you let him get away with, and yeah, if I had my way you would never see him again and maybe that makes me a controlling hellbitch but...Rhys, are you listening to me?”

(After which point Rhys offers HER an apology). This is very clearly a character expressing common biphobic sentiments. Below I will share the dialogue that Odd Spirits 2.0 has for that same scene.

“I don’t know if we can do this, Rhys. We’re just different people, and no matter how hard we try, we can never seem to build real trust with each other. Maybe we should take a step back and reevaluate. I just… I don’t know. That’s it."

“Sometimes, I wonder what my life would be like if we hadn’t gotten married so young,” “I know that makes me wicked, and I wish I could just be a better wife. But there’s something wrong, inside me. I’m sorry it took me this long to tell you.”

“When I met you, I thought, there he is, that’s the person I’ve been waiting for. But I see you with David and the other guys from the Society and it’s like looking at a stranger. It’s like I don’t know you at all, and I wonder how well you know me, at the end of the day. There are parts of your inner world I just can’t access, and there are things about me you’ll never understand. I don’t know if love is enough to make up for that. I really hope it is, Rhys. I pray for that every day. But I just don’t know.”

So, Odd Spirits 2.0 clearly axed the plot line of Moira being biphobic in exchange for her being insecure and thinking she's wicked for having insecurities. I really just don't know if this is the way to change what was already problematic? My thoughts on this are muddled. But there are the exact quotations, laid out, since 2.0 has to share a review pool with 1.0.

Also, to speak on the quality of the book, I can see why it was re-edited beyond the removal of the biphobia. 1.0 was a mess of clunky descriptions, awkward dialogue, and careless references. It was definitely and clearly a labor of love by the author, but 2.0 shows just how much they have grown and improved as a writer. The prose is very pretty, the descriptions have much more Creepy Cozy Vibe™, and the dialogue has been worked over to sound more natural for the two protagonists. I would like to end off by sharing this final comparison;

From 1.0; "Rhys had shoved the book into a shoebox under his bed where he kept a pack of menthol Camels and a copy of Brokeback Mountain."

From 2.0; "Rhys had shoved the book into a shoebox on the top shelf of his closet where he kept a pack of menthol Camels and his beat-up Hellblazer comics."

If you know me you'll know that John Constantine is one of my favourite characters of all time and I clocked Evocation as having a Hellblazer vibe before I even got my claws on the ARC of it, and being proven right by the text itself is so nice. And the cherry on top is that the Hellblazer comics replace a copy of *BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN,* of all things. Thanks, Gibson. That made me laugh.

Overall, Odd Spirits 2.0 is a vast improvement in quality to the original, but still features some problems with the protagonists and characterization. While it is a good novella to pick up for the fall vibes, I would only recommend reading it if you read AND enjoyed Evocation.

"Odd spirit" is nice little snippet into Rhys and Moira's life before the events shown in "Evocation". I quite enjoyed it, despite being a bit annoyed by the characters. They show some realistic reactions and trouble in their married life, which is a nice thing to see, since its rare. Both Moira and Rhys are flawed, trying to do their best but failing as they keep too much to themselves or communicate.
The prose is good, easily flowing, with enough characterisation, with hints of past events. I didn't read the previous version so I can't tell about the improvements.
Overall, a nice quick read !

This novella offered a lovely little insight into Moira and Rhy’s life and their background together. I love these characters and I enjoyed being in their world for a brief period once more.

Thank you NetGalley and Angry Robot Books for my review copy.

Odd Spirits was a poignant look into the world of Evocation, and at what a marriage between two people with wildly different practices of the same art could look like. However, what set the rating of this book for me was the way the characters interacted. Although this book was about miscommunication, the extent to which this happened and the way it was more wilful than I expected threw me off, as well as the ways in which characters would disrespect each other with no explanation and that would not be resolved properly even though the story ended on a lighter note than it began. Personally, this book was okay and if you enjoy gothic fantasy with miscommunication tropes in romance, you might love this.

Thank you netgalley for this arc!!

I haven’t read evocation so I thought itd be perfect to start with the prequel novella! And I enjoyed it!! The miscommunication was a bit annoying but I still enjoyed. Full review will be on my bookstagram!

3.75⭐️