Evocation

Gibson (A Dowry of Blood, 2022) pairs the old-world elegance of a secret occult society with the glitz and glamor of modern urban magic to create a dazzling world. David and Rhys are occultists and former lovers who are each desperate to be named High Priest of Boston's most secret magic Society. David is born to magic, a New World prince with innate otherworldly senses who will not let anything, including a demonic possession or his ex's witchy wife, stand in his way. Rhys might not have magical powers, but he makes up for their lack with determination, practice, and steadfast conviction. As the two shore up allegiances, David discovers he's inherited a deadly family curse and he enlists Rhys and his wife Moira to help set things to rights. Over time, the three grow closer and unexpected feelings blossom while the race to break the curse--and become High Priest--pushes each to the limits. Gibson is a master here at creating awful yet appealing characters who actually learn from their mistakes. The casual inclusion of polyamory within a committed relationship, and the positive reinforcement of love in different forms, are terrific additions to what is already an engaging fantasy novel.

There are genre mashups, and then there's this paranormal horror second-chance enemies-to-lovers queer rom-com from Gibson (A Dowry of Blood), which flies by like a breezy beach read, but centers demons, witches, and polyamorous kinksters. The players are David, a bad-boy occult prodigy; Rhys, David's scholarly, overearnest ex; and Moira, Rhys's wife, a witch of vast but unarticulated talent. In alternating perspectives, David snarks hard about everything around him, Rhys whines about David, and Moira sighs, a watchful steel magnolia. The dynamic is campy, anxious, and angry, as the three circle each other in well-established ruts--until David comes to believe he's the target of a demonic possession that only Rhys can thwart. Can this dysfunctional trio exorcise the threat, resolve past hurts, and enter into the triad relationship none of them can admit they want? It's a pleasure to watch these three amusing characters fit together the puzzle of their relationship. (As Gibson writes of Rhys, "It was, he realized with creeping horror, love.") This is an audacious and uncommon romp. Agent: Tara Gilbert, KT Literary. (May)