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
