Book Review: Evocation by S.T. Gibson

I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.

Evocation by S.T. Gibson

Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Series: Book 1 of The Summoner’s Circle

Publisher: Angry Robot (May 28, 2024)

Length: 301 pages

Author Information: Website

S.T. Gibson whisks readers off to an enigmatic world of the mystical occult in Evocation, and I was so ready to dive headfirst into this gorgeous book! The story takes us down into its tangled web of magic and secrets, focusing on the complex relationships and lives of our three main characters.

In his public life, David is a successful prosecutor, but within the hidden community of the paranormal, he is also known for his unique gift of contacting the spirits. Unfortunately though, he may have tapped into something bigger than he bargained for in his latest séance, uncovering a curse that has been hanging over his family for generations. Enter Rhys, David’s former lover and a talented sorcerer in his own right. However, following their messy breakup, the two men have barely spoken to each other, and things have only gotten worse between them with Rhys’s subsequent marriage to Moira, an astrologist and medium.

But now, facing an insurmountable threat, David is going to have to swallow his pride and reach out to his old friend and his new wife for help. Reluctantly, Rhys and Moira answer the call, meeting David at his family’s opulent estate called Beacon Hill house, where they immediately feel the presence of something oppressive and malignant. Working together with their specialized skills, the three of them embark on an investigation into the dark forces at play. But as they delve deeper into the mysteries of the house, dangerous secrets about David’s ancestry are revealed, leaving them with little time to save his life.

Believe it or not though, it’s the character relationships in Evocation that really take center stage, despite the high stakes plot. From the very first page, the intricate dynamics between David, Rhys, and Moira evolve constantly as they are forced to confront their shared history, leading to moments of deep connection but also lingering resentment. But faced with a common goal, their personal and collective struggles ultimately result in emotional bonding and a better understanding of each other, eventually opening the story up to an exploration of polyamory.

In fact, if I had to pick on one thing about this novel, it would be its handling of this aspect of the characters’ relationships. In particular, the insta-closeness between Moira and David, who were initially at each other’s throats, was a little too sudden and convenient, and I wasn’t entirely convinced of the slapdash magical explanation. I think Gibson also did Moira dirty in some ways. She seemed to serve more as a plot device than a fully realized character, frequently stepping in to be the mediator whenever David and Rhys were bickering like a couple of bratty kids, then being sidelined as a passive and compliant observer when they decided to rekindle their romance with little input from her.

I also would have preferred heavier emphasis on the paranormal elements of the story over the romantic connections, but thankfully the author also breaks ground for plenty of growth in the areas of character development and world-building. Evocation introduces an intriguing and promising glimpse into its world of the arcane, and the city of Boston where it all takes place serves as an ideal setting for a burgeoning paranormal series.

Lately, I feel urban fantasy is a genre practically begging for a kick in the pants, and it looks like S.T. Gibson is here to give one to it! In the end, I have a feeling we’re merely scratching the surface with Evocation, and I’m curious and excited to see where the next book of The Summoner’s Circle will take us.