Search Image - Review

Title:  Search Image

Author: Julie E. Czerneda

Series:  Web Shifter’s Library

Synopsis:     “Esen’s back!  And the dear little blob is in trouble, again.

     “Things began so well.  She and her Human friend Paul Ragem are ready to celebrate the first anniversary of their greatest accomplishment, the All Species’ Library of Linguistics and Culture, by welcoming his family back – at least, he hopes so.  Having mourned his supposed death years ago, understandably, his family’s feelings are mixed.

     “Instead, they’ve unexpected guests, starting with an old acquaintance who brings unwelcome news.  Paul’s father has gone missing under dire circumstances.

     “Before Paul can convince Esen to help him search, a friend shows up to use the Library.  A crisis on Dokeci Na is about to explode into violence.  To stop it, Evan Gooseberry needs answers.  Unfortunately, the artifact he brought in trade holds its own distracting secret.  A touch of very familiar blue.  Web-flesh.

     “The race is on.  Paul, to find his father.  Esen, to search for a mysterious legacy while helping Evan avert an extinction.  What none of them realize is the price of success will be the most terrible choice of all.”

Review:  It’s been 15 years since the last Esen novel.  I’ve missed her so much!  I had no idea that Search Image was coming out until late August.  At first I just noticed it was a new novel by Julie E. Czerneda, which makes it a must read.  But then I noticed the words Web Shifter on the cover and I freaked out.  I jumped up and down and there were wordless noises coming out of my mouth.  Excited, does not do how I felt right then justice.  Ecstatic might be closer, but still falls short of fully describing the joy I felt in my soul at the realization that there was going to be a new Esen story in my life. 

***WARNING, Past this point there are minor spoilers.  No major plot spoilers though***

    

     Now that I have read it, my joy is still bubbling out of me uncontrollably.  I have told all of the readers in my life that they MUST read this book.  I love the realization of the Library and what it means to Es (I can call her Es because I think we would be friends), and what it means to Paul.  I could have read an entire novel this same length just about them running the library and attempting to reunite Paul with his family.  But there’s more!  We meet some new characters.  Evan (we actually met him in The Only Thing To Fear) is wonderful.  I really like him.  He’s afraid of everything.  Spiders, snakes, fruitcake (let’s be honest, isn’t everyone a little afraid of fruitcake?) but he pushes through those fears and is the bravest character in the whole novel.  I also really like Lambo, which I’m picturing looking vaguely crablike.  Some of our old favorite characters are back.  I love the relationship between Es and Paul, we should all be so lucky to have a friendship like that! 

     Once I started reading Search Image I could not put it down.  I laughed, I cried; I’ll be honest, I hugged and smelled it quite a few times.  I couldn’t help myself.  I was so happy to have it in my hands.  No offense to any other authors, but this was the best book I have read so far this year.  It was amazing, and I cannot wait for the next one.  But the ending!  Oh my! I won’t nag repeatedly, I promise.  But, when can we expect another novel about our favorite blue blob Julie? 

Publisher: DAW

If you like this book you may want to read:

Species Imperative Series by Julie E. Czerneda

The Silver Ships (Silver Ships #1) by S. H. Jucha; read BookGirlR’s review here

Seveneves by Neal Stephenson; read BookGirlR’s review here