Evocation

The story is good, I'll admit that. But I do feel that towards the end, things moved really quite fast. I mean, without giving any spoilers, was it really that simple, that easy, that quick? If the problem could be solved without any practice, without any elaborate safeguards, was the problem such a big deal? Still, that's not my biggest issue with this book. I personally like a good, clean read and this book was not one. The story was good, but the added elements of unnecessary * * * really really irritated me. If it weren't for that kind of content, I would probably have rated it much higher. 

I read this for a book club and I don't have much to say about it. I did love how the author handled polyamory. I felt there was a missed opportunity in regards to dealing with the magical side of the plot but then it probably wouldn’t lead to a sequel. I didn’t click with the characters as they sounded like college kids instead of adults in their mid to late 20s.

DNF

I received and Audio ARC thanks to NetGalley and Tantor Audio. The opinions expressed are my own. 

This book is the start of a new series about a trio of magic users in Boston. When David starts experiencing odd episodes related to his magic, he reaches out to Rhys, his estranged ex-boyfriend and rival in the local occult society. Rhys and Moira try to help him figure out what's going on and how to make it stop. Also Rhys and David resume their romantic relationship with Moira's full awareness and permission and David and Moira become friends. 

This book was... not for me.  It was more of a polyamorous paranormal romance than urban fantasy with romantic elements. Which would have been fine if the romance was well done. There was a lot of telling rather than showing.  At one point Moira is telling Rhys information about polyamory from a book. David was described as charming but came off fairly unlikable to me. Your mileage may vary. 

The fantasy/occult elements often felt like an afterthought and the three main characters bumbled around, not finding the right information, ignoring a valuable source of information until very late in the book. And the “solution” to the problem was to transfer and delay the “bad thing” for a ?few months, maybe. 

Oscar Reyes, the narrator was fine. I sometimes lost track of whether we were in David's or Rhys' POV, but that may have been because the story wasn't holding my interest. 

Others might like it more, but again, not for me. 

I loved this book! S.T. Gibson has a way of balancing so many different themes in one novel and I enjoyed the characters so much! I really loved the progression we see as their relationships flourish while they all work together to save David's life. While the focus was mostly on character development and romance, the magical secret society they reside in was also fascinating. I'm interested in seeing where these characters go as individuals and partners, as well as their involvement in the secret society.

Thank you to Angry Robot for the eGalley and getting us in contact with S.T. Gibson for a Shit We've Read podcast interview!

Evocation boasts a perfect balance of character relationships, romance, and supernatural suspense.

The plot was fantastic but my favorite part was the development not only of each character, but of the relationships between Moira, Rhys, and David. Rhys and Moira's love for each other is sweet, and so deep, it actually gave me butterflies. David is a snarky jerk who is used to getting what he wants, when he wants it, but underneath his tough guy exterior is a vulnerable man who is terrified of the ancient curse placed upon his family. At the beginning of the book, Rhys and Moira are at odds with David, and he's not too happy with them either, but as the story progresses, their feelings change in a way that feels natural and evenly-paced. The proximity is forced, but the slow-burn to the conclusion isn't!

As for the story itself, it wasn't until I hit about 10% of the book that I knew it was absolutely for me. I wouldn't say the first bit was confusing, but there was some setup and I honestly didn't know exactly what was going on. But once I got there, I was all in. I was truly engrossed as the trio attempted to break the curse threatening David's life. I never would have guessed how everything came to a head! The ending was a great surprise, one that made me both excited for a sequel and beyond depressed that I'll probably have to wait a long time for it.

This book really has it all: a spell-binding plot that leaves you excited for the next installment, unforgettable characters that defy initial impressions and surprise you with their depth, and a MMC who calls the FMC “little goddess.”

I received an ARC of Evocation from the publisher and all opinions are my own. 

If you're looking for a dark-academia-demonology-summoners-circle type of book, look no further than Evocation. If you liked Bardugo's Ninth House, you'd like Evocation. (Added bonus of Evocation being pretty dang gay, too.) Basically, if you want the feeling of an old dark dust-covered mansion with a chalk circle in the library...you've found the right book.

I was not the biggest fan of David, but I don't actually think you're supposed to like him all that much. He's a spoiled rich boy who gets everything he's ever wanted. (He does have a sad/tragic/awful backstory, but his personality doesn't change much over the course of the book.) I really liked Rhys and Moira, though. They were couple goals, really. Moira is a bright light in the darkness of this book. And it is fairly dark, though not a lot of violence takes place. It's just...demons.

Actually, there's not a whole lot that happens really, over the course of the book. David finds himself possessed, and then turns to Rhys and Moira for help figuring out what exactly is going on. They all fall in love. Ish. ALLLLSOOOOOO I was promised polyamory, but Moira and David don't really ~love~ each other in the romantic sense. OR at least that's how I read the book. It was more platonic between them, but definitely romantic between David and Rhys. IDK maybe I don't know what polyamory is exactly.

EITHER WAY – Evocation is a decent read, but it's not particularly plot heavy. It's more of a character study with a tiny splash of plot in the background. I'm going to give it three and a half stars, simply because I really wanted there to be a MMF relationship hidden in there somewhere.

UPDATE:
For more of my thoughts, listen to my interview with author S.T. Gibson on the Shit We've Read podcast here.
—–
This was incredible! I love this trio of MCs, but Moira? MOIRA?? Ugh, I'm so in love with her! Moira, Rhys, and David will live in my heart for a long time. Easily at least 4.5 stars. Final rating TBD. Get this when it come out in May.

Thank you Angry Robot for the gorgeous ARC.