I loved being back with Rhys and Moira in this prequel, and really enjoyed to see how they met and get a bit more context to their relationship, and their relation with David. It was really short and sweet, and I loved all the beautiful illustrations. I want more of these short stories.

Odd Spirits
Author: S. T. Gibson
Publisher: Angry Robot Books
Release date: 8th October 2024
Page count: 92

Following the success of Evocation and David’s story, this shorter book takes us to before those events and Rhys and Moira, recently married, dealing with a malevolent entity in their house.
For background, in Evocation we learn that Rhys is a ceremonial magician, Moira a Tarot Witch and his ex David is a psychic.
As far as aesthetics go, this is a truly beautiful book. The cover, the foil, etc but it’s the interior art that will knock your proverbial socks off. The tarot/artwork near the beginning – page 12 I think - showing Rhys kissing Moira’s shoulder as she holds the honey based spell is simply beautiful; it captures their love. We also have black and white illustrations that add to the story arc.
As for the newlyweds, magically and ritualistically, they are chalk and cheese. He’s a researcher, pedantic, bookish and methodical, and she is fire and instinct.
Then of course there’s the bringing his work home with him. Paperwork she figures is fine; spirits and demons he summons, not so much.
Rhys is convinced it’s nothing he’s done, after all, most of his demons are “perfectly civil”.
The current timeline of being newly married and dealing with their ‘house pest’ is interspersed with their mystical meet-cute; memories from both of them and how attraction sparked between them.
And there’s David, and what a complicated character he is! There’s so much I could say about him, however there’s the risk of spoiling Evocation.
Ascension, the sequel, is out July 2025 and this book is a great background story to the dichotomy of Moira and Rhys, and how David interacts with them.
Like the first novel, this prequel is about the characters more than the circumstances and we find out more about their differing personalities by the way in which they try to manage the evil presence.
Amongst the way, there’s also quite a bit of laughter and love represented.
I also listened to the audiobook and the narration was spot on.
A terrific, engaging, complex portrayal of love in all its forms.

While S.T. Gibson has beautiful prose that I would love to teach in my classroom, I'm not entirely sure the subject matter would match the need. That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Gibson has a great and compelling voice and realistic characters that have been invested quickly.

This was a really fun little prequel novella that offered a personal glimpse into Rhys and Moira’s life. After really enjoying Evocation, I knew going into this that I’d have a good time. I really adore these characters so much and even though this happens before Evocation, I feel it gives more depth to the characters. I read this in pretty much one sitting and it still had me wanting more. I love this world Gibson has created so much.
Definitely five stars for me. Thank you Netgalley and Angry Robot Books for the ARC.

i’m happy to revisit this novella 4 years later, i still loved it as much, more even as i am very happy with the changes made. the ending of the original version had left a sour taste but the new version corrected everything i didn’t like. and now i’m even more excited for the second book of the summoner’s circle

S.T. Gibson surely did not disappoint with this prequel novella to Evocations!

I absolutely loved revisiting Rhys and Moira and seeing more of their life and story together. I do think I enjoy their relationship more when David is present, but nonetheless I enjoyed the way S.T. Gibson set up Rhys and Moira's relationship, their insecurities that they have to work through, and their occult practices.

I definitely recommend this to anyone who read and enjoyed Evocations!

Thank you to NetGalley, Angry Robot, and S.T. Gibson for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Odd Spirits by S.T. Gibson is an enthralling prequel to Evocation that dives deep into the pasts of David, Rhys, and Moira.

I really enjoyed seeing how Rhys and Moira first met, a detail briefly mentioned in the first book, and how their love story unfolded. I also appreciated how the book delved into the idea that marriage isn’t always perfect. It highlighted the challenges they faced and how they worked through them together. This backstory added depth to their current struggles and relationships, making everything feel more heartfelt and real. It was a rewarding experience to learn about them in such a personal way, and I’ll definitely keep their past in mind as I read the future instalments, knowing it will add more layers to their ongoing story.

Although David’s inclusion in this prequel was brief, it was a joy to see him again. The first book did such a fantastic job of making me emotionally invested in him that even a brief return felt significant and impactful.

Odd Spirits by S.T. Gibson is a captivating addition to the series that left me eagerly anticipating the next instalment. The combination of deep character exploration, the gorgeous illustrations, and the compelling story made it a truly memorable read. I can’t wait to see where the story goes next and to continue following the journey of these fascinating characters.

Rated 3.5 stars

"Odd Spirits" is an interesting glance into the early struggles of Moira and Rhys’ marriage, and while I loved the creepy atmosphere and Gibson’s writing, this one didn’t fully land for me. The magical clash between them was engaging, but Moira’s attitude toward Rhys’ past rubbed me the wrong way. Still, the haunted house setup was fun.

I'm hopeful about future books in the series.

This is an interesting story. The characters are rich and inviting. The world building is beautifully done. Some of the pacing hit me a bit different but overall I really enjoyed the story. I like how the resolution ultimately came about. The author has a knack for building suspense. I hope you give this story a chance.

Rhys, Moira and David my beloveds! I absolutely loved learning more about them, and immediately went to reread Evocation as soon as I was finished with this.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the arc. 🫶🏻

I was gifted this book for free by the publisher, Angry Robot. Thank you! ❤️

I am absolutely obsessed with Rhys & Moira. David, too, of course, but ultimately I think I’ll die a Rhys girlie. I cannot wait for Ascension, I’m going to go feral.

The emotional growth between Rhys and Moira in this short little spirit filled romp makes me SO happy, we love S T Gibson in this house. Five stars.

You know that feeling when you stumble into someone's home and everything just feels right? That's how S.T. Gibson's writing hits me every single time, and "Odd Spirits" is no exception (even if it's a shorter visit than usual). This novella dives into the early days of Rhys and Moira's marriage – two magical practitioners trying to merge their lives while dealing with a particularly pesky haunting. And let me tell you, nothing tests a new marriage quite like a malevolent entity setting up shop in your house (and an ex who might be the only one who can help).

As always, I found myself completely absorbed in Gibson's atmospheric prose and the way she weaves magic through the mundane struggles of early marriage. The illustrations sprinkled throughout are absolutely stunning and add another layer of enchantment to an already magical story. Sure, it's a shorter read than I'd like (because honestly, I'd happily read Saint's grocery lists - which I have admitted to her!), but it's the perfect appetizer for fans of Evocation or anyone looking to dip their toes into The Summoner's Circle series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot Books for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5
I'll admit that I'm not much of a fan of novellas and this book wasn't compelling enough to make me revise that opinion. While it is nice to gain some background information about Rhys, Moira, and David, I don't think this added that much to the over-arching story. That being said, love these characters and S. T. Gibson's prose.

I love the whole secret society and magic in this series but this novella didn’t quite hit the mark. I liked getting the backstory to Rhys and Moira but it did make me like Moira less. She doesn’t handle Rhys’ sexuality well and that David is his ex. She is so snappy and they really should have dealt with some things before they married!

They both did David dirty. They are struggling and he comes to help and they are just rude. These characters are just not loveable.

The overall theme did show why good community is essential in a relationship but that’s starts before marriage, not a year on. To be honest, if I’d read this before Evocation I don’t think I would have carried on. Another stunning cover though.

I loved Evocation and being able to know more about the characters and their dynamics, especially about being newly married and feeling a little lost was amazing !

The immersion into Rhys and Moira lives was really interesting because their relationship is very complex in a way and to see how the trio with David began was thrilling ! Also I was very curious to hear the story of why David and Rhys were so mad at each other and I’m not disappointed.

So, a good novella to understand more about the characters and their dynamics in Evocation

It's a short novella that introduces you to the characters of evocation, and I read it before starting the main story. I really enjoyed the couple dynamics and the story, and I'm so glad I read it!
I really liked the glimpses I got of this world, and it made me so excited to jump into the main story.

Thank you to Angry Robot and S. T. Gibson for the chance to review this.

I honestly mistakenly thought that this was a standalone and have not read Evocation (although this has escalated it towards the top of my tbr). While the story definitely has its moments that would have been enhanced by a glimpse of these characters in the future from the rest of the series, it still stood on its own as a fun read with likeable leads. Rhys and Moira had a compelling relationship that is no doubt in a much stronger position in the main series. The book is also beautifully illustrated!

I probably should have read Evocation before reading this, as I felt a little adrift at times. It was like reading fan fiction for a fandom I don't belong to. As such, I'm hesitant to claim my reactions to the book as something readers who've consumed and enjoyed Evocation should heed. I found it lacking tension and cyclical, with too much focus on miscommunication and too little on actual depth of reasons for their relationship. Still lovely, and I will be picking up Evocation sometime in the near future to see what I missed.

I enjoyed this novella to more of a background on Rhys and Moria. I love the characters, and this story provides a good development of them. I flew through the pages and read this is one sitting. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC
4 star

It was nice to see the origin of Rhys and Moira’s relationship however it felt like this novella was pretty unnecessary. It was just okay, I also did not appreciate Moira's very apparent biphobia and her use of religion to try and justify it. I absolutely loved the writing of A dowry of blood, this authors other work, but this writing just did not feel the same