EVOCATION by S.T. Gibson

Book Review

Pauline Morgan

One of the problems with having a proof copy of a book to review is that it is difficult to appreciate the finished product. Having seen it, I know that the special edition hardcover is a beautiful book and a worthy addition to any bookshelf. Sometimes, the packaging is better than the contents. Fortunately, the story between the covers is deserving of the presentation.

            This novel is a blend of the supernatural and romance and revolves around three principal characters. David Aristarkhov is a Boston lawyer. He is also a sorcerer and a medium. His problems start when his session with a client is interrupted by a spirit declaring he is the ‘Son of Anatoly’. He doesn’t understand the reference, and the incident unsettles him, and he starts having episodes where he loses touch with reality.

            Rhys McGowan is not a natural sorcerer but has worked hard to develop his skills. He is meticulous in his preparations of spells. He and David were lovers but, after their estrangement, became rivals for the upcoming position of High Priest for the society they both belong to (David introduced Rhys to it when they first became involved). Rhys is the one David turns to when the current issue erupts.

            Moira Delacroix is a Black woman and an astrologer. She is married to Rhys. Theirs is a true partnership. She supports her husband and is prepared to do the same for David, though there is initially some suspicion on both sides, considering they both have or had an investment in Rhys.

            David asks Rhys to be present when he finally starts to go through his recently deceased father’s papers. Moira goes long, too. What they discover is that several generations ago, Anatoly Aristarkhov made a deal with a demon, and he is ready to claim David’s soul. Over the generations, a loophole in the contract has allowed the debt repayment to be deferred to the eldest son. Unfortunately, the debt will be collected on David’s thirtieth birthday in a few weeks’ time, and as he has no son to pass the curse on to, his fate seems inevitable. Amongst the other pressing issues in their lives, the three have to find some way of circumventing this.

            Although this is a novel about magic, spells, and problem-solving, it is much more. It is an exploration of what could have been a rancorous love triangle, with Rhys caught in the middle. By making compromises and coming to understand each other better, the sharp corners are rounded. This is a novel of relationships, friendship and trust that happens to be set against a background of magic and the supernatural. This is what makes Evocation a very enjoyable reading experience.