Evocation by S.T. Gibson Summary, Characters and Themes
Evocation by S.T. Gibson is the captivating first entry in The Summoner’s Circle series, weaving together urban fantasy, romance, and rich emotional drama. Set against the atmospheric backdrop of a magical Boston, the story follows David Aristarkhov, a flawed yet compelling medium who moonlights as a high-powered attorney.
Bound by a generational curse that threatens his soul, David reluctantly seeks help from his ex-boyfriend Rhys and Rhys’s wife, Moira. The trio’s relationships deepen and evolve amidst supernatural danger, unearthing buried emotions and unresolved tensions. Gibson masterfully balances intricate character dynamics with gothic-tinged occult intrigue, making this a must-read for fans of dark fantasy.
Summary
David Aristarkhov is a psychic prodigy burdened by the oppressive shadow of his father, a controlling occultist who exploited David’s abilities as a child. Now approaching his 30th birthday, David leads a double life as a successful Boston attorney and a medium for a secret society.
Despite his carefully constructed life, a looming curse tied to an ancestral deal with the Devil threatens his very existence. If he cannot find a solution, his soul will be claimed, ending his life prematurely.
Desperate, David turns to the only person he has ever trusted: Rhys, his ex-boyfriend and rival within the secret society. However, Rhys is now married to Moira, a confident and spiritual woman who is an intuitive herself.
Their shared history is fraught with unresolved emotions and lingering tensions, and Moira’s presence adds complexity to the already fraught situation. Though skeptical of David at first, Moira becomes an integral part of the trio’s mission to save him.
The story begins with David using his abilities to charm his way into a wealthy widow’s home for a séance. This morally dubious act ends disastrously when he is possessed by a demon, catalyzing the central conflict.
With time running out, David contacts Rhys, who reluctantly agrees to help after months of silence between them. Moira, protective of her marriage but open-minded, insists on being part of their efforts, forming a messy but compelling partnership.
As they work to unravel the secrets of the curse, the trio must navigate their complicated relationships. David and Rhys’s unresolved feelings create palpable tension, while Moira’s maturity and emotional openness serve as a stabilizing force.
However, the dynamic grows increasingly polyamorous as Moira encourages Rhys to confront his feelings for David, even as she develops a bond with him herself.
The occult mystery deepens as they delve into David’s ancestral home, a foreboding place filled with his late father’s collection of arcane texts. The house symbolizes David’s lingering trauma and the weight of familial expectations.
It also holds the key to understanding the curse and finding a potential solution. Moira embraces her latent mediumship abilities, while Rhys’s expertise in summoning demons becomes crucial.
The climax centers on an adoption ritual, where David symbolically transfers the curse to Rhys in an act of trust and desperation. This temporary reprieve allows the trio to continue their search for a permanent solution but leaves them vulnerable to future complications.
The book ends on a bittersweet note, with the introduction of David’s estranged half-sister, Leda, hinting at deeper family secrets and conflicts to come.
Evocation is a character-driven exploration of love, trust, and redemption, blending supernatural intrigue with raw emotional depth.
The relationships between David, Rhys, and Moira form the heart of the story, while the gothic atmosphere and occult elements add a darkly enchanting backdrop.
Characters
David Aristarkhov
David Aristarkhov is the complex and morally ambiguous protagonist of Evocation. A psychic prodigy, he has spent his life under the shadow of his oppressive father, who used David’s abilities for his own occult pursuits.
David’s childhood left him deeply scarred, shaping his personality as an adult. As he approaches his 30th birthday, David is a successful attorney in Boston, exuding confidence and charisma.
Beneath this polished exterior lies a man grappling with his own vulnerabilities, self-destructive tendencies, and the weight of a demonic ancestral curse. His ability to emotionally connect with others through touch adds both depth to his character and a supernatural allure to his interactions.
Despite his strengths, David is often manipulative and ego-driven, traits that make him both intriguing and frustrating. His journey in the novel revolves around his desperate attempt to escape the curse, which serves as a symbol of his unresolved familial trauma and the legacy of his father.
Rhys
Rhys, David’s ex-boyfriend and rival in their secret society, is a stark contrast to David. He is portrayed as disciplined, hard-working, and ambitious, having earned his status through relentless effort rather than inheritance.
Rhys embodies a sense of responsibility and order, qualities that often put him at odds with David’s chaotic and self-centered tendencies. Despite his initial bitterness and reluctance to reconnect with David, Rhys’s lingering feelings for his ex become evident as the story progresses.
His marriage to Moira complicates the narrative, creating a love triangle fraught with unresolved tensions and emotional conflict. Rhys is deeply committed to his role in the secret society, using his expertise in summoning demons and other arcane arts to assist in their shared quest.
While his personality may seem rigid at times, his underlying vulnerability and struggles with loyalty make him a nuanced and compelling character.
Moira
Moira, Rhys’s wife, is a standout character who brings balance and depth to the story. A Black woman with intuitive abilities, Moira is confident, grounded, and spiritually attuned.
She initially approaches David with skepticism but grows to understand and empathize with him as they work together. Moira’s maturity and openness are refreshing, providing a stark contrast to the more tumultuous personalities of David and Rhys.
Her belief in astrological practices and her latent mediumship play a significant role in unraveling the mystery of the curse. Despite the tensions that arise from her husband’s unresolved feelings for David, Moira demonstrates emotional intelligence and generosity by encouraging Rhys to confront his past.
Her self-assured nature and willingness to navigate the messy dynamics of their relationship make her an integral part of the trio. She emerges as both a supportive partner and an individual with her own agency and strengths.
The Devil
The Devil, though more of a looming presence than a fully fleshed-out character, is central to the novel’s conflict. Representing the consequences of the Aristarkhov family’s generational curse, the Devil is a symbol of inevitable reckoning and the price of power.
His influence casts a shadow over David’s life, forcing him to confront his legacy and the decisions of his ancestors. The Devil’s role is intricately tied to the story’s exploration of themes such as inheritance, moral compromise, and the struggle to break free from the past.
Though his appearances are limited, his presence is palpable throughout, adding tension and urgency to the narrative.
Themes
The Weight of Inherited Trauma and Generational Burdens
At the heart of Evocation lies a profound exploration of how the past can insidiously shape the present, particularly through inherited trauma and familial expectations. David Aristov’s struggle is not merely against an external demonic force but against the oppressive shadow of his father, whose occult ambitions and authoritarian parenting have scarred David irreparably.
The ancestral curse is more than a supernatural plot device—it symbolizes the suffocating grip of generational burdens that David must either overcome or succumb to. The novel examines how these inherited legacies often demand emotional labor, self-awareness, and, ultimately, the courage to redefine one’s identity.
In this way, David’s battle against the curse becomes an allegory for breaking free from the cycle of familial dysfunction. However, it is a process fraught with setbacks, as seen in his alcoholism and his toxic coping mechanisms.
The Intersection of Power, Ego, and Vulnerability
David’s dual roles as a high-powered attorney and a medium within a secret society highlight the interplay between power and vulnerability. His psychic abilities, which should be a source of empowerment, are often a double-edged sword, leaving him emotionally exposed even as they grant him influence.
The novel underscores how power can exacerbate one’s worst traits—David’s ego-driven pursuit of the High Priest title and his manipulative tendencies are stark examples of this dynamic. However, his moments of vulnerability, particularly in his interactions with Rhys and Moira, reveal a deeply human desire for connection and redemption.
This theme examines how power and ego can isolate individuals. At the same time, it emphasizes that vulnerability, though terrifying, has the potential to bridge divides and foster genuine relationships.
The Fragility and Complexity of Human Relationships in Crisis
The emotional core of Evocation is its nuanced depiction of relationships under strain. The love triangle between David, Rhys, and Moira defies conventional tropes, presenting a tangled web of affection, resentment, loyalty, and ambition.
The novel delves into the ways unresolved pasts can distort the present, with David and Rhys’s tumultuous history casting a long shadow over their current interactions. Meanwhile, Moira’s role as both mediator and independent figure challenges traditional dynamics, bringing a refreshing complexity to the polyamorous relationship that emerges.
The text eschews simplistic resolutions, instead portraying love as messy, painful, and transformative. This portrayal is particularly poignant in the face of life-threatening stakes.
The Cost of Redemption in a World of Moral Ambiguity
Redemption in Evocation is neither easy nor straightforward. For David, the path to salvation is paved with morally ambiguous choices, from manipulating others to achieve his goals to placing those he loves in danger.
The novel questions what redemption truly entails—whether it is the absolution of guilt, the mending of broken relationships, or the willingness to face one’s flaws and strive for change. David’s struggle with alcoholism and his efforts to reconcile with Rhys and Moira reflect the multifaceted nature of redemption, which is as much about personal growth as it is about earning forgiveness.
The text suggests that redemption is not a singular moment but a continuous process. It is often marked by setbacks and sacrifices.
The Interplay of Free Will and Predestination in the Face of Supernatural Forces
A recurring philosophical question in Evocation is the extent to which individuals have control over their lives when faced with seemingly insurmountable forces. The ancestral curse, inherited without David’s consent, exemplifies the tension between predestination and agency.
While much of his journey is dictated by the looming threat of the demonic pact, David’s choices—whether to seek help, confront his past, or collaborate with Rhys and Moira—underscore the novel’s emphasis on the power of agency even in the direst circumstances.
This theme complicates the typical narrative of the hero overcoming a supernatural adversary. Instead, it presents a protagonist who must grapple with the limits of his control and the consequences of his actions within those constraints.
The Reconstruction of Identity Through Pain and Connection
David’s journey in Evocation is not merely about survival but about the reconstruction of his fractured identity. His father’s oppressive influence, his unresolved feelings for Rhys, and his destructive tendencies have left him emotionally fragmented.
The novel depicts how connection—with Rhys, Moira, and even the supernatural—serves as a catalyst for self-discovery and growth. However, this reconstruction is neither linear nor painless.
The polyamorous relationship at the story’s center challenges David’s conception of love and trust. It forces him to confront not only his flaws but also the ways he has been shaped by his past.
In this sense, the book positions identity as something fluid and continually shaped by one’s relationships and experiences. This is especially true in moments of profound crisis.
The Gothic Sublime and the Terror of the Unseen
Though the novel is rooted in urban fantasy, it draws heavily from Gothic traditions to create an atmosphere of dread and unease. David’s ancestral home, with its troves of occult knowledge and lingering malevolent presence, embodies the Gothic sublime—a space that is both awe-inspiring and terrifying.
The supernatural forces in the novel, from the curse to the demonic entity, are often more hinted at than fully revealed, amplifying their mystique and psychological impact. This theme reflects the terror of the unseen, suggesting that the most potent fears are not the external monsters but the internal anxieties and traumas they awaken.
In doing so, Evocation aligns itself with the Gothic tradition of exploring the intersections of the personal, the supernatural, and the existential.