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mary_soon_lee's review
4.0
This is the second Web-Shifters book, following on from "Beholder's Eye." I enjoyed it considerably, if not quite as wholeheartedly as the first book. This second book felt more scattered. At times, I was fully engrossed; at other times, less so -- but this may be because I've been distracted, rather than a reflection on the book itself.
Spoilers ahead. it is the friendship between Esen and Ragem that delights me. Long after I've forgotten all the plot details, I think I'll retain the warmth and kindness between them.
4 out of 5 mutable stars.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
Spoilers ahead.
Spoiler
As with book one, I like the portrayal of the variety of aliens, including an early and wrenching scene with a Ganthor. Least satisfying to me was the return of Kearn. The book works to show Kearn's strengths as well as his flaws, but I found myself unconvinced and stubbornly unsympathetic. Happily, Kearn's role in the story is secondary to Esen and her human friend Paul Ragem, and4 out of 5 mutable stars.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
atarbett's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
thecanary's review
4.0
In a futuristic world, where humans and aliens have spread across the galaxy, Esen Alt Quar, a web shifter -- a biological animorph, the last of her kind -- shares a trading business with her friend and human, Paul Ragem. On taking her first vacation after fifty years of self-imposed exile, danger strikes, both accidental and malevolent. New species of aliens, old enemies, abduction, ghosts, torture, a super-weapon, the imminent destruction of a planet, and family grudges all rear their heads over the space of 500-some pages.
Changing Vision sets itself apart in another sense as well; it is not a thinly veiled pretense for a romance novel. While I do enjoy romance (and, of course, the inevitable angst) in my Space Opera, the strength of this series is the absolute lack of that inevitable love story between the two main characters. The relationships revolves around caring, yes, and a deep bond of friendship. You wouldn't think that would strike me as a novelty, but I will say this: it is, and wonderfully so.
And if that's not enough, it's not every series that can pull off a fifty-year time-skip between the first and second book.
Read my full reviews at The Canary.
Changing Vision sets itself apart in another sense as well; it is not a thinly veiled pretense for a romance novel. While I do enjoy romance (and, of course, the inevitable angst) in my Space Opera, the strength of this series is the absolute lack of that inevitable love story between the two main characters. The relationships revolves around caring, yes, and a deep bond of friendship. You wouldn't think that would strike me as a novelty, but I will say this: it is, and wonderfully so.
And if that's not enough, it's not every series that can pull off a fifty-year time-skip between the first and second book.
Read my full reviews at The Canary.
bowienerd_82's review
3.0
The second Web-Shifters novel is not quite as good as the first, but still contains all the creativity and talent of Czerneda's works.
tome15's review
4.0
Czerneda, Julia. Changing Vision. Web Shifters No. 2. DAW, 2000.
This second installment of Web Shifters deepens and continues the development of characters of Es and Paul introduced in Beholder’s Eye, but it does not have the dramatic tension of the earlier book. Both are now are more mature, so there is not so much self-discovery. We want to know how far the alien-human relationship can be developed and we want to know if our protagonists will stay together, but the answers to those questions are not hard to come by early. The first novel could stand alone, but this one can’t—we are just waiting for whatever conclusions the third volume will bring us. The strength of No. 2 is the same as in No. 1—Czerneda’s well-thought out alien lifeforms.
This second installment of Web Shifters deepens and continues the development of characters of Es and Paul introduced in Beholder’s Eye, but it does not have the dramatic tension of the earlier book. Both are now are more mature, so there is not so much self-discovery. We want to know how far the alien-human relationship can be developed and we want to know if our protagonists will stay together, but the answers to those questions are not hard to come by early. The first novel could stand alone, but this one can’t—we are just waiting for whatever conclusions the third volume will bring us. The strength of No. 2 is the same as in No. 1—Czerneda’s well-thought out alien lifeforms.
jawshuwah's review against another edition
5.0
I loved it. Like I have said before, this is my favorite author, I loved the first one, I love the "Species Imperative" trilogy and "Web Shifters" gives me the same joys. As "Species Imperative" is my favorite series, this is quickly becoming my second. I'm going to start the 3rd book "Hidden In Sight" today and have already ordered book one and two of the "Web Shifter's Library." I teared up a couple of times in this one, but it was often due to Esen and Paul's friendship. They aren't perfect, but they care a lot for each other. Also, their friendship is just that, friendship (more like family as they create Esen's new web of two). Non-sexual friendship. It's refreshing to read something without unnecessary romance. Thoroughly enjoyed this and would read again.
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