Review

Ascension is the newest release from A Dowry in Blood author S. T. Gibson and the second book in Gibson’s Summoner’s Circle series. Picking up after the events of Evocation, we follow Rhys as he tries to come to grips with his new role as High Priest. Things don’t go quite to plan, and Rhys finds himself with quite a lot on his shoulders. He is supported by his wife, Moira, and boyfriend David, but Rhus is determined to be an outstanding High Priest at any cost, even if that means biting off more than he can chew.

I absolutely fell in love with Evocation, so Ascension was one of my most anticipated releases for 2025. It was an utterly compelling read, and I will absolutely read anything S. T. Gibson writes. Gibson has a beautiful and engaging writing style, and as soon as I started reading Ascension, I didn’t want to put it down. I raced through this book in a few sittings, and I am already counting down the days till the release of book three.

The story is pretty fast-paced, and there’s lots going on that will keep the reader hooked and desperate for more. Gibson has a way of crafting these fascinating, complex characters that you just can’t get enough of, and that’s definitely how I feel about Rhys, Moira, and David. I loved exploring the relationships between these three characters, particularly as the story progresses and Rhys becomes consumed by his ambition, while David encounters someone from his past.

This is a compulsively readable series; it’s full to the brim with magic and has some really fascinating and complicated characters. If you’re someone who loves stories with demons and secret societies, you definitely don’t want to miss this one.