Odd Spirits ♦ S.T. Gibson | Review

Odd Spirits by S.T. Gibson – A Mixed Bag with a Strong Atmosphere

Odd Spirits by S.T. Gibson is an intriguing precursor to The Summoner’s Circle series, providing a closer insight into the characters that fans may have become familiar with from Evocation, but I have yet to read it. Set against the backdrop of a marriage between two modern-day magic practitioners, the novella delves into issues of love, trust, and the problems that come when mystical forces are involved. While the mood and mystical setting were well-rendered, I struggled to connect with the protagonists, Moira and Rhys, leaving me conflicted about the plot.

Odd Spirits by S.T. Gibson
Series: The Summoner's Circle #0.5
Published: 1. January 1970 by Angry Robot
Format: ARC, eBook, 92 pages
Genre: Contemporary, Novella, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Witches
ASIN: B0CVKNP2TM
Language: English
Audience: Adult
Shelve: Read 2024
Link to Goodreads

Learn more about the characters from The Sunday Times bestselling author S.T. Gibson's Evocation in this gorgeously illustrated prequel novella to The Summoner's Circle series.

It takes a lot of commitment to make a marriage between a modern ceremonial magician and a tarot witch work, but when a malevolent entity takes up residence in Rhys and Moira’s home, their love will be pushed to the limits.

Brewing up a solution is easier said than done when your magical styles are polar opposites; throw a psychic ex and a secret society in the mix, and things are bound to get messy.

Buy the Book at: Amazon*

Opinion

The novella’s strength is its atmosphere. Gibson creates a world steeped in ancient mystery, where every shadow in Moira and Rhys’s home appears to carry a secret, and the air is rich with magic. Their ritual descriptions—Moira’s tarot readings and Rhys‚ ceremonial magic—are rich and engrossing, drawing you into their elaborate practices. The tension that builds as the malignant thing begins to meddle with their life creates a gratifying sense of discomfort. Gibson clearly has the ability to create an environment that feels both magical and scary, as if the supernatural is just around the corner.

However, while the location drew me in, the people did not have the same impact. Moira and Rhys are an unusual couple—a tarot witch and a ceremonial magician with vastly different approaches to their art, which creates an engrossing dynamic on paper. However, in practice, their friendship lacked depth. Moira’s portrayal, in particular, was problematic for me. Throughout the novel, she exudes openness and tolerance, establishing herself as someone willing to accept Rhys‚ uniqueness. But as the story progresses, particularly near the climax, it becomes evident that she has deeper fears and a reluctance to be vulnerable herself.

This lack of candor is particularly disheartening given her character’s initial promise. Moira’s reluctance to accept her own weaknesses destroys the balance between her and Rhys, making their relationship appear one-sided. Rhys, meantime, is torn between his feelings for Moira and the ghosts of his past—literally, with the arrival of a psychic ex and his involvement with a secret organization. His hardships were more relatable, but his restrained demeanor made it difficult to fully appreciate his point of view.

The interaction of their opposing magical styles—Moira’s intuitive, fluid approach and Rhys‚ organized, ritualistic methods—had the potential to generate additional tension and complexity. Instead, it felt unexplored, overshadowed by the malignant entity’s outward conflicts. The story hinted at deeper flaws in their relationship, but it never went deep enough to be fulfilling.

Conclusion

Overall, Odd Spirits is a decent prequel that catches the creepy, mystical atmosphere of The Summoner’s Circle series, but it lacks character development. Moira and Rhys‚ troubles with their relationship and the supernatural components had a lot of potential, but it missed the emotional depth I was searching for. Fans of S.T. Gibson’s prior work may appreciate the additional context provided by this novella, but it felt to me like a plot that never really delivered on its promise.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

About S.T. Gibson

S.T. Gibson is a poet, author, and village wise woman in training.

She holds a Bachelors degree in Creative Writing from the University of North Carolina at Asheville, and a Masters of Theological Studies from Princeton Theological Seminary.

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