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Review: Evocation (The Summoner’s Circle #1) by S.T. Gibson

May 23, 2024 by Paige Leave a Comment

Rating: 7/10

Synopsis:

The Devil knows your name, David Aristarkhov.
 
As a teen, David Aristarkhov was a psychic prodigy, operating under the shadow of his oppressive occultist father. Now, years after his father’s death and rapidly approaching his thirtieth birthday, he is content with the high-powered life he’s curated as a Boston attorney, moonlighting as a powerful medium for his secret society.
 
But with power comes a price, and the Devil has come to collect on an ancestral deal. David’s days are numbered, and death looms at his door.
 
Reluctantly, he reaches out to the only person he’s ever trusted, his ex-boyfriend and secret Society rival Rhys, for help. However, the only way to get to Rhys is through his wife, Moira. Thrust into each other’s care, emotions once buried deep resurface, and the trio race to figure out their feelings for one another before the Devil steals David away for good…

 The first book in a spellbinding and vibrant new series from The Sunday Times bestselling author of A Dowry of Blood.

Review:

Thank you Angry Robot for sending me a copy of Evocation for review!

Read Evocation when you want a character-focussed, slow-burn romance with a arcane backdrop. While the plot is present Evocation is far, far more about the evolution of David, Rhys and Moira’s relationship, with a special mention for how David and Moira’s friendship, and eventual relationship grows. The plot is really just a backdrop for our trio to bond, and while I did enjoy the plot it’s quite a slow mover until the very last pages where it suddenly concludes in just a few pages.

I really enjoyed Evocation. As much as I found the characters frustrating at times it became part of their charm. At times I just wanted them to all talk together (and to work out the central plot premise that is sitting in front of them for quite a while), but to be h0nest it added to the slow burn and it hooked me, so I can’t really complain.

I really enjoyed the arcane setting. It’s never really explained if this story is set in our world and magic happens to exist for a few, or if this is a world where magic is abundant. David and Rhys are part of an arcane boys club, and Moira has powers of her own too, so all our characters are on the same page as to the existence of magic. My favourite setting in the book was (of course) the dusty, full library of arcane books, I think it’s a setting that perfectly fit the book, and anything set here were the stand-out scenes for me.

I’ll admit that I thought this book was going to be spicier. But in a way I’m glad it wasn’t, because it becomes so much more about the emotional relationships between the characters and thee exploration of polyamory. You could cut the tension with a knife at times, and the relationships that get built up make the climax of the book work so much better. I still wish it could’ve had a longer, more comprehensive ending, but the book isn’t really about the ancestral deal. It’s more about love, friendship and overcoming issues together.

Save Evocation for a time when you want a darker book that focusses on characters and relationships.

Filed Under: Fantasy, Magical Realism, Paranormal Fantasy, Reviews, Sci-Fi Fantasy, Urban Fantasy Tagged With: Angry Robot, Evocation, S.T. Gibson

About Paige

Paige started book blogging 7 years ago and never looked back. She started out in YA and has since moved on to Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror, although it’s rare for her to read something she doesn’t enjoy! Paige is chronically out of shelf-space but that doesn’t stop her buying books. She is an avid gamer when she isn’t reading.

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