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A review by ravensandpages
Evocation by S.T. Gibson
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I received an early copy in exchange for an honest review. Thank you SO much, Angry Robot!
Never have I loved a set of characters so much I could forgive them for being chronic sparkling water drinkers, but here we are.
EVOCATION is a poly romance set against an urban fantasy taking place in my beloved Boston, how I miss it, that follows three principal characters: David Aristarkhov, Rhys McGowan, and Moira Delacroix. David has been paraded around his entire life as a psychic prodigy from a long line of powerful mediums, backed by a family legend about a deal with the Devil that turns out to be terrifyingly real. To avoid death at 30, his only solution is to (somewhat messily) reach out to his ex, Rhys, a sorceror currently opposing him to be appointed for High Priest—and the only way to get to him is to charm his wife, Moira, a medium herself who isn't keen on seeing her husband get tangled with David again.
But over the course of trying to break the curse, they all become closer than they thought possible and have to contend with what that might mean for their future... that is, if David even has one.
I adored this book. I enjoyed the writing, the magic system, and the immersion of the setting—I was this close to booking my ticket back! I could feel the love for Boston and the characters felt established and well-rounded. The characters!! I loved them all, and I think this is a book where that really matters. I would say this is more of a romance than a fantasy, since the A plot is truly centered around the relationships between the three and the curse/David's impending death is relegated to the B plot, so readers who are more interested in the curse and not in those characters probably won't have as great a time as I did.
The way connection and relationships were talked about in this book was also wonderful. I could wax poetic about the bond between David and Moira, and I also loved how jealousy was brought up and handled. I think this first book wraps up well enough (no cliffhanger endings), but I am SO excited to see these characters again and watch where their journeys take them. Thank you again to Angry Robot for blessing me with an early copy of this, I will absolutely be hounding everyone I know to read it.
Never have I loved a set of characters so much I could forgive them for being chronic sparkling water drinkers, but here we are.
EVOCATION is a poly romance set against an urban fantasy taking place in my beloved Boston, how I miss it, that follows three principal characters: David Aristarkhov, Rhys McGowan, and Moira Delacroix. David has been paraded around his entire life as a psychic prodigy from a long line of powerful mediums, backed by a family legend about a deal with the Devil that turns out to be terrifyingly real. To avoid death at 30, his only solution is to (somewhat messily) reach out to his ex, Rhys, a sorceror currently opposing him to be appointed for High Priest—and the only way to get to him is to charm his wife, Moira, a medium herself who isn't keen on seeing her husband get tangled with David again.
But over the course of trying to break the curse, they all become closer than they thought possible and have to contend with what that might mean for their future... that is, if David even has one.
I adored this book. I enjoyed the writing, the magic system, and the immersion of the setting—I was this close to booking my ticket back! I could feel the love for Boston and the characters felt established and well-rounded. The characters!! I loved them all, and I think this is a book where that really matters. I would say this is more of a romance than a fantasy, since the A plot is truly centered around the relationships between the three and the curse/David's impending death is relegated to the B plot, so readers who are more interested in the curse and not in those characters probably won't have as great a time as I did.
The way connection and relationships were talked about in this book was also wonderful. I could wax poetic about the bond between David and Moira, and I also loved how jealousy was brought up and handled. I think this first book wraps up well enough (no cliffhanger endings), but I am SO excited to see these characters again and watch where their journeys take them. Thank you again to Angry Robot for blessing me with an early copy of this, I will absolutely be hounding everyone I know to read it.