Search Image

Web Shifter's Library #1

by Julie E. Czerneda

The first book in the Web Shifter's Library series returns to the adventures of Esen, a shapeshifting alien and member of an ancient yet endangered race, who must navigate the perils of a hostile universe.

Esen's back! And the dear little blob is in trouble again.

Things began so well. She and her Human friend Paul Ragem have opened the doors to their greatest accomplishment, the All Species' Library of Linguistics and Culture. They're prepared for clients to arrive, but trouble comes knocking instead.

First is Paul's family, who'd mourned his supposed death years ago. Understandably, feelings are bent. But what matters? Paul's father has gone missing.

Before he can convince Esen to help him search, a friend shows up to use the Library. A crisis in the Dokeci System is about to explode into violence. To have a hope of stopping it, Evan Gooseberry needs answers.

Unfortunately, the artifact he brought in trade holds its own distracting secret. A touch of very familiar blue. Lesy's "signature," left on all her creations. Web-flesh.

The race is on. Paul, to find his father. Esen, to search for the rest of her Web-sister while helping Evan stop a war. What none of them realize is the price of success will be the most terrible choice of all.

Genres: Science Fiction, Aliens, Space Opera, Canada

448 pages, Hardcover

First published October 2, 2018

About the author

Having written 25 novels (and counting) published by DAW Books, as well as numerous short stories, and editing several anthologies, in 2022, Julie E. Czerneda was inducted in the Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame. Her science fiction and fantasy combines her training and love of biology with a boundless curiosity and optimism, winning multiple awards. Julie's recent releases include the standalone novel To Each This World, her first collection Imaginings, and A Change of Place, #3 in her Night's Edge fantasy series. Out July 2025 is A Shift of Time, #4 and the second last of the series.
For more visit czerneda.com Julie is represented by Sara Megibow of Megibow Literary Agency LLC.

Reviews

[Niki Hawkes - The Obsessive Bookseller · Rating 4 out of 5]

[4.5/5 stars] Can I fanigirl a minute over a new Esen novel?? 😭😭

I have to say, even though I loved how the first trilogy ended, I had a true booknerd freakout when I heard there was another Esen novel in the works. Czerneda has long been my favorite sci-fi author, and amazing, funny, awkward, compassionate characters like Esen are a big part of why I recommend her books so often.

It’s abundantly clear Czerneda loves this character as much as her fans do. Her writing in Search Image showed so much exuberance, it was the most fun I’ve seen her have to date (there’s always an element of fun and humor, but she really leveled up here). It’s obvious she delighted in this project, and her enthusiasm within her writing was infectious (and my favorite overall takeaway from the story). I can’t wait to see what fun she comes up with next!

Admittedly, I didn’t remember a lot from the first trilogy before diving into this one (it has been 10+ years), and so I’m certain I missed a few nuances and details, but that didn’t really limit my enjoyment much. Search Image had one of my favorite settings so far (an all-inclusive alien library), and an abundance of interesting aliens. Czerneda’s world building and attention to biological detail is amazing, and something I always look forward to in her books.

Recommendations: if you’re new to this author, I’d recommend starting with Beholder’s Eye. That trilogy had the perfect blend of story, humor, character, concept, and world-building for me, and I find myself recommending it often. If you love it as much as I did, then you’ll have this gem to look forward to next! :)

I’d like to thank Berkley Publishing Group, Julie E. Czerneda, and Netgalley for the chance to read and review an early copy of Search Image!

Other books you might like:

[Lorelei · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alright, these books are not super deep. They don't make a lot of demands on the reader, and Czerneda does this stylistic thing a lot? That I don't love. Breaking a sentence up into sort of half a question? And then a fragment for the answer. But damn if I don't get so sucked into the plot that I stop caring after a chapter or two. Really the books are a lot like Esen herself: extremely eager, maybe kinda embarrassing, but ultimately hard to resist. And sometimes I just really want a fun book with some weird aliens.

[Metaphorosis · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars, Metaphorosis Reviews

Summary:
Paul and Esen (an ancient energy being able to adopt other forms at will) are semi-retired, dedicated to a universal library of knowledge they hope will stop conflict between species before they get out of hand. But even nestled on a quiet planet, the flood of inter-galactic travelers brings
with it trouble out of their past.

Review:
I’m a fan of Julie Czerneda’s writing. I even have a rare (for me) fan fiction piece in one of her anthologies. And the Web Shifters series was among the first of her books I read. I was ready, therefore, to be excited by this new, follow-on series. I’m sorry to say that I wasn’t.

I was excited enough at the start – the story returns to the familiar, friendly characters of the earlier series, and does a pretty good job of refreshing the backstory for those of us who have been away for a while. Unfortunately, aside from that, the plot is something of a muddle. There’s too much going on, and too little direction in the story overall. The structure meanders from one theme and sub-plot (of many) to another without much logic or clarity. It’s not so much that it’s hard to follow as that it’s simply not interesting. Which is a shame, because the concept is interesting, as is Esen herself. I’ve no inside knowledge of any kind, but the feeling I got was that Czerneda (for all I admire her) has gotten too big for her britches, and could have used a much stronger editorial hand – someone who could have trimmed the excess and imposed some order on the storyline.

The Library at the nominal heart of the story is ill-defined and mostly just a framework for Esen to have adventures without traveling. Lots of adventures, with aliens of many kinds, and subplots galore, most of them involving one family or another.

Did you notice how I said “I’ve” a few lines back? There are contractions that have largely fallen out of favor in the modern idiom, and it amuses me to uses them from time to time in conversation. They’re correct, but because they’re rare, they feel wrong. Either they’re not so far out of favor in Canada, or Czerneda has a similar amusement. More than that, she’s on a quest to single-handedly wrest them back into common parlance. The book is chock full of phrases such as “I’d the freedom”. There’s no confusion here – it’s clearly “I had the freedom”. And yet, we don’t normally use the contraction this way; we just say “I had”. I approve of Czerneda’s intent here, but the frequency of it is more distracting than interesting.

All in all, a sequel with great potential that it doesn’t live up to. I’ll still pick up the next book in the series (Julie Czerneda, after all), but with less optimism. Here’s hoping that for the second round, she lets the editor have a freer hand.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Searska GreyRaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

I 've missed these characters and this world so much. Loved it, and definitely looking forward to the next one.

[Bonnie McDaniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first Web Shifter book in fifteen years, and as such it has to bring the reader up to speed. The slow, languid pace of the beginning chapters is the main reason I didn't rate it higher. Once the story gets going, it's engaging, but it takes a loooonnnnnnngggg time to get there.

If you're a Czerneda fan, that doesn't matter. Esen-alit-Quar is one of the author's most beloved characters, and for good reason. She's one of the most alien protagonists I've ever read, but her personality flows off the page: loyal, naive, curious, stubborn, determined, whimsical, and bubbling with alien humor. In many ways this is a book written for Esen fans and not necessarily an attempt to expand the readership. Which is fine, but just be aware that if you haven't read the three preceding books, this story won't mean nearly as much. (Also, don't skip over the Main Character/Ephemeral Species appendices at the back! They're delightful.)

Having said that, the final chapters serve both as a fine ending to this book's storyline and setting up further books in the series. From the hints we're getting, I suspect the next book will be a lot darker. There's a mystery to solve, and more to learn about this universe and characters. Bring it on, please.

[Susan]

yay, now I have to re-read the original Esen trilogy

[Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yay! The little blue blob is back with more adventures with her small little web of friends and family. I especially enjoy the humor and wit that go into Czerneda's books. A few things toward the end of this didn’t quite make sense to me (and maybe because Czerneda's narrative style is a bit frenetic), but I enjoyed the ride and re-familiarizing myself with old book friends. I’ve forgotten a lot from the original trilogy and need to go back and read those books. I also really need to re-read all of the Trade Pact/Clan books, too, before I tackle the Reunification books. That’s going to be a huge time investment that I don't quite have the attention span and focus for yet (soon, maybe). I often wish Czerneda would publish an illustrated guide to all the aliens she has created over the years. The author does provide a glossary, but I would love artwork to go with it!

A few caveats I had with this book: I wasn’t a fan of Evan having a crush on Paul, but I like how the focus of relationships is on friendship and family in its many and varied guises. Paul is at times a bit too idolized, but the characters are so much fun, I don't feel too fussed about it.

[Melissa Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

The world that was created within this book’s covers was nothing short of astounding! Honestly, you should read this book just for the glossary alone because so much thought went into building this world and the lifeforms that reside within it. The depth of creativity shows through the story that was created. I found Esen to be a likable character who has an almost childlike whimsy with how she views the world and those in it. She is no fool but she tends to believe the best in everyone. I was a bit confused about her species and the whole web creation, how she came to be, but I think that goes back to not having a familiarity with the previous series. Still, I enjoyed reading Search Image very much and would recommend it to science fiction fans who love intricate world/species building!

This review is based on a complimentary book I received from Penguin Random House. It is an honest and voluntary review. The complimentary receipt of it in no way affected my review or rating.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Esen and Paul are back! Paul's family now knows that, after being told of his death 50 years ago, Paul is in fact alive and well and running the new All Species' Library of Linguistics and Culture with Esen. The purpose of the Library is to try to head off misunderstandings between different alien species, especially the kind which lead to inadvertent genocide!

I have really enjoyed the adventures of Esen, the Web being (aka blue teardrop blob). Yes, she is young but that means that she is still eager to take on life's challenges with a hopeful attitude. Paul's main job remains trying to protect Esen from herself when she goes overboard. As she frequently does.

I also particularly enjoyed the reprise of a character from the previous adventure Evan Gooseberry. He was a major character in The Only Thing to Fear, the bridge novella connecting the original Web Shifters trilogy to the new Web Shifter's Library series. Evan is so brave as he strives to work through his many crippling phobias!

Highly recommended for all fans of interspecies tolerance and space opera in general!

[BookishBexx&theCats · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.
**I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

See more in depth reviews and recommendations on my blog:
https://bookgirlsbooknookblog.blogspo...

[William Howe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I tried

I just couldn’t get into the book.

Maybe it’s the 15yr old story that is being revisited. Maybe my tastes have changed (I loved the original trilogy).

I don’t know the characters anymore. Add in the multiplicity of aliens - and their names - and the whole thing is a nightmare goulash of wondering what is going on.

For a first book in a new series, this is damn near opaque.

[Lyndburger · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful story. Well done to the author for striking the right balance between the same old helpful Esen that we adore and a story that is new and different from the ones that came before. I can't wait to see what surprises are in store for us in the next book!

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of the 18 or 19 books I own, written or edited by Julie Czerneda, this is the first one I had some difficulty in following. Perhaps it was because it is so long since I read the Web Shifters trilogy and had forgotten some of the characters, perhaps it was the sheer number of characters with difficult to remember names, but here is a piece I couldn't make head or tail of: "Lionel's smile widened. Countless before Evan had succumbed to Paul's unconscious nobility, the warmth he emitted like a small sun." - My guess is the printer omitted the word "times", but I still feel the need for another main clause.
The are other bits like that where, to my mind, there is a clause or a sentence missing, or else this is some kind of shorthand prose.
It does get better, and as I became more accustomed to who was who (or what), I was able to enjoy it, although I began to like Skalet (a villain in the earlier series) rather more than Esen, the nominal heroine.

[Henry Lazarus · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s been over fifteen years since Julie E. Czerneda had a tale about Esen, the youngest of six web-shifters who can shift to an individual on any species she has records. She and her human friend Paul Ragem have created All Species' Library of Linguistics and Culture on his original home planet. Then an old human friend, Evan Gooseberry arrives with a problem. The Dokeci Na have discovered a new intelligent species, and all their efforts to save them, have made the elf-like beings conditions worse. Search Image (hard from DAW) shows the love that Julie E. Czerneda puts into the aliens who range from silly to imposing. I’m really glad that more tales are promised. Review printed by Philadelphia Free Press

[Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Czerneda, Julie E. Search Image. Web Shifter’s Library No. 1. Daw, 2018.
Although Search Image proclaims itself to be the first volume of a new series, it is really a close sequel to the original Web Shifter series. Once again, the potentially immortal shape-shifting alien Esen and her ephemeral human pal Paul sort through problems with their families, endeavor to keep Esen’s nature from being revealed as they try to build and protect a multispecies library. Once again, we are introduced to some creatively imagined creatures. But the plot never engages, and the character relationships don’t really develop. Unlike the first series, this book was a slog for me.

[Tensy (bookdoyen) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Julie Czernada is the creative queen of alien species. Her books provide the richest mine of varied alien creatures I have ever read. This novel could be considered cozy science fiction since readers have come to love her character Esen, a web-being who is immortal and composed of seven beings, and her best friend the human, Paul Ragem. This is a new series which is part of the Web Shifters universe. There is a complicated plot involving the All Species' Library of Linguistics and Culture, of which Esen and Paul are the directors, and the saving of a new species. This is a book about found family and hope, as Paul and Esen try to save a species from annihaltion.

[Nicole Luiken · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was lovely to read another Esen book; she is such a fun character. I was worried that, so much time having passed since I read the last one, that I would be lost, but there were just enough gentle recaps to reorient myself without bogging down the plot. In fact there were two plots: one resolved at book's end and one that I predict will stretch across the trilogy. I liked the complexity of Skalet's character, and how despite being on the same side as Esen, their tactics were miles apart.

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I discovered that there was another book featuring Esen, I listened to my nostalgic feelings about my encounter with “her” 18 years ago and plunged in without rereading. The story did not flow for me the way I remember, but I have rounded “way up” the 3.25 stars it felt like to 4 based on the insights into important issues. You will have to read the book to find out what they are. I will watch for the next book and may even go back to the earlier trilogy.

[Ben · Rating 2 out of 5]

Far too much of this book was a whole bunch of nothing happening and dealing with singularly boring touchy-feely relationship bollocks that I frankly did not really care about. Very disappointing after the fun romp the original series provided. Instead it seems as if this is the very protracted opening piece of a new series, but not one which actually has an interesting story of its own and just provides an extremely drawn out setting for some future story.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yay! Esen and Paul are back. I reread the original trilogy before this book came out and I loved it as much as the first time around. This novel (with an e novella in between) starts up soon after the last book ends. If you love aliens and adventure and mischievousness and some sadness give this series a try.

[Caroline Ingvaldsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

First in the new series set in the All Species Library, featuring shape shifting Esen and her beloved human Paul Ragem, celebrating the extraordinary diversity of a galaxy populated by a seemingly infinte number of sentient species.

[Darceylaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting characters. The author loves to explore new and fantastic biology. Our heroes are likable, and their friendships sweet. Reminds me a little of a late career Terry Pratchett novel. Witty and light, even when faith things certainly doom. A fun read.

[Brian Gaston · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a 4 for the hard science fiction fan. There is a lot of world building and explanation that bogs down the narrative at times. Having said that, the characters are great and the plot is good. Recommended for those that like this sort of fiction.

[June · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book. I usually enjoy novels written by this author but in this case, I could not even "like" or care about the characters. alas. I found it difficult to stay focused on the story.

[Maureen · Rating 2 out of 5]

At 31% done, I was intrigued by the characters, but hopelessly confused by the formatting of the way it was presented and totally lost as to whom all was in the story and why they might be present. I DNF’d it.

[Lee Pinchbeck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little difficult at the beginning to get up to speed but that's mostly my fault for not reading the first three esen books first. After that it's quick going and inventive. Interested to read more about esen now.

[Breane Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an arc of this book and love Esen! What a great character. Totally recommend this book!

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charming book, fist of a new series, but based on a earlier series. Will have to look it up!

[Samuel Lubell · Rating 3 out of 5]

My review is online at http://www.sfrevu.com/php/Review-id.p...

[Kelly Peasgood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Czerneda's work. She knows how to elicit emotional reactions quite well--tears, laughter, outrage. Always fun!