‘Evocation’ by S.T. Gibson: Embracing the Magic Within

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We’re stepping into the enchanting world of “Evocation” by S.T. Gibson. The first book in the Summoners Circle series follows David Aristarkhov. David is a part of the legacy of an oppressive occultist father who casts a long shadow over protagonist David’s life. As a former psychic prodigy, David has carved out a high powered existence as a Boston attorney, all while secretly moonlighting as a powerful medium for a clandestine secret society. However, his carefully constructed life begins to unravel when an ancestral pact buried deep resurfaces with the Devil and threatens to claim his soul as he nears his thirtieth birthday.

Title: Evocation (The Summoner’s Circle, 1)

Author: S.T. Gibson

Genre: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy

Star Rating: 3.5 stars

Spice Rating: 1 chili peppers

Tropes: Forced Proximity, Rivals to Lovers, Dark Academia, Polyamory

“I’d rather be exceptional than average.” 

Desperate and with time running out, David turns to his ex-boyfriend and secret society rival, Rhys, for help. Their reunion facilitated through Rhys’s wife Moira, reignites buried emotions and forces them into an uneasy alliance against the malevolent forces closing in. Evocation is set against a backdrop of urban fantasy. This spellbinding first installment in a new series from the acclaimed bestselling author of “A Dowry of Blood” promises a vibrant narrative woven with intricate relationships, magical intrigue, and the looming specter of the Devil himself.

Coming out of the gate with Evocation, I initially thought the writing style wasn’t for me. There wasn’t a natural flow to the pull of the words. It had me partially wishing there was more grace amended, partially feeling as if I was stumbling and missing the story. Eventually, this smooths its wrinkles finding the rhythm and a flow that suits the plot.

Beyond this hindrance at the beginning pages of Evocation, the story morphs into something utterly captivating. Combining friendship and relationship drama (let’s be honest this story is like a soap opera) with prose that builds its strength. While the story may seem ordinary and the use of tarot within a story isn’t necessarily unique (stories like The Shepherd King duology also use this device), Evocation brings something all unto itself.

“He almost looked handsome this way. No, not handsome. Cunning. David had a bad habit of conflating the two.”

There is a curse placed upon the Aristarkhov line by a long-lost grandfather, with a more personal touch added to the curse that David has no clue about. The unraveling of plot points adds to a slower style of pacing without being sluggish. Within this length of time that the plot is unraveling, the relationship dynamic is strengthening. Bringing together two people that were on the outs and one you knew was coming a mile away. In these confines, the characters have space to be themselves. David is a sarcastic asshole, Rhys can’t seem to stay away from David no matter how hard he tries and Moira finds herself intertwined in a way she never sees coming.

The basis of the romance dynamic is as if there will be a throuple situation. And while this may come to pass in later installments, I don’t see this point in Evocation. Do they love each other? Most definitely. David and Rhys can’t let go of their past and are drawn together like two magnets. Moira develops a love for David when the devil steals David, but it comes off as more of a friendship-type love than anything romantic.

With there being a throuple, the next question is, is it spicy? There are two spicy scenes within Evocation. One between Moira and her husband Rhys and one at the end between David’s ex-boyfriend Rhys and David. There isn’t any intermingling between the three (which I find a shame). These scenes are mild at most.

“We haven’t made any progress on breaking the curse,” David finished. “I’m out of my depth, and I’m running out of time.”
“Time?” Rhys echoed, shooting David a dark-eyed look.
David swallowed hard.

To be fair there isn’t much plot to Evocation, and should be considered a character-driven story. There are several chapters where the curse they are trying to break isn’t even mentioned, while later down the line it is mentioned that they were working on it off page. Despite this lack of plot, the way that the characters evolve is what gets the story going.

David has rough edges, and sharp points that need polishing and filing down. Smoothed out. Moira is that file. She is a village wise woman, witty, and powerful. It is easy to see why Rhys calls her “little goddess”. She doesn’t take any shit (especially from David), seeing through power comes given charisma and charm that works on so many others. Out of all the characters Rhys was my favorite. He is as stubborn as a bull (rightfully so) working so hard not to fall in love with David again (it doesn’t work lol).

“If David was an unstoppable force, Moira was an immovable object.”

Knowing all of this Evocation is more of a romance story (and drama) with fantasy, and magical elements, and you should go in knowing that. If you expect to find a heavily fantastical world with a romantic subplot you will set yourself up for failure. You have to be more into the character dynamics of the story versus the plotline.

Throughout the storyline of Evocation, there are great world-building points. In other instances, some moments leave something to be desired. We often hear about the characters doing magic instead of being shown them doing the acts. Even when it comes to the Society David and Rhys are a part of. They sit around drinking and smoking, talking about magic instead of performing magic. It is frustrating, to say the least. As a reader, you want to be shown instead of being told what’s going on. Leaving questions of what some of the witches and sorcerers do to gain that title. As a fantasy book at 293 pages is fairly short, we could have used another 50 or so pages to flesh out and dive a little deeper into points that were so integral to the story.

Overall, the story is a wonderful and engaging contemporary gothic novel that is worth the read. I loved this book. It’s been on my mind non-stop since I finished it, and I’m already counting down the days until book two—though the wait feels agonizingly long. If you like stories with magic, secret societies, and relationship drama add Evocation to your TBR for the fall (It gives perfect fall vibes).

Thank you to Angry Robot Books for sending me a finished copy of Evocation!

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