Reviews

House Harkonnen by Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson

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hendrix67's review

adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

The House Trilogy is my favorite of all of the extended duniverse trilogies. It was the first one that I read and it has continually became a firm favorite for re-reads. Mainly because it is leading right up to the book that makes this series so popular - Dune.

In House Harkonnen we see the Baron, with his protigy Rabban, making plots within plots to squeeze every grain of spice out of Arrakis and to bring about House Atreides downfall. We see Kailea and Rhombur Vernius trying to ressurect their exiled house. Meanwhile Leto Atreides is trying to set up the right political marriage, while still keeping the affairs of Caladan in tact. And as always the Fremen and the Bene Gesserit are awaiting the messiah - the one that will be transform Dune as we know it.

I love the plots within plots, the colorful character and the epicness that this book encompasses. Every time I re-read this book (this was my fourth re-read) I fall in love with it all over again. It is epic, it is amazing and it is a must read for scifi fans.

If you haven't picked up this series, I highly recommend you do. Fantastic reading!

pio_near's review

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5.0

Heartbreaking! This House Subset Series is SO well written!

almostg's review

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4.0

These get quite gruesome and genuinely harrowing at times, yet I find them really comforting too!! I enjoyed this just as much as House Atreides and I'm moving on to House Corrino straight away.

mdefillipi's review against another edition

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adventurous dark hopeful mysterious sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Content Warnings

laileanah's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.75

2023 Reread:
This is a solid book. Not great. I dislike that the secret of the Tanks is revealed, but otherwise, this doesn't too far stray from the original Dune cannon.
I find many story elements to be underwhelmingly written. I HATE the narrative regarding the conception of Lady Jessica. I was hoping for a more complex scheme from The Sisterhood.
I was equally disappointed with the way Leto & Jessica's 'love' story is treated. Why Jessica betrayed The Sisterhood is a major plot point of the original novels, and this is just like the Great Value version of what I was expecting.
I don't buy their love story. It doesn't make sense that Jessica would defy her training in that short an amount of time for really nothing. They don't seem very attached. Leto isn't charming and the scheme to get her into the house is a stretch and silly. If The Bene Gesserit were this clumsy I don't think they'd have the power they have.

In all fairness Jessica having a boy when she was supposed to have a girl AND the Sisterhood not bothering to call her in. Much less bother to check out her kid for the first 15 yrs of his life are a weak plot point in the original Dune novels to begin with. Still, this prequel enhances this plot failure rather than corrects it.

Count Fenrig is disappointingly written, he's a complex character but he's the equivalent of the twisted Mentat, Piter who is also simplified in these prequel novels.
It's definitely the Great Value version of 80's style mustachioed villains evilly twisting their mustache while scheming.

It's a meal but the original Dune novels are an expensive satisfying meal at an expensive trendy restaurant and these novels are White Castle burgers, running you directly to the toilet in gastric distress.
🤷🏾‍♀️

Original Review:
My favorite book in this trilogy.

amarie101's review

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2.0

I liked this book A LOT better than House Atreides. Events slowly start to pick up and (thankfully) many years pass in this book, unlike the first book which only had a few years pass. Sure, I had my problems with it but it still kept me interested to see the characters grow up and finally mature. I really enjoyed Liet's tale on Dune. Although, it was obvious from the first description, who Chani's mother would be with the repeated usage of "elfin" annoyed me.

The only perspective lacking was there wasn't enough of the Corrinos in this one, there were a few but I was hoping to get more of Shaddam's ploting and personal character. And finally Jessica arrives! I was happy to have her finally have her in House Atreides. This book isn't Dune, but it is a nice companion piece if you are a fan and enjoy the many cast of characters.

bigbeardedbookseller's review

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2.0

This almost spoiled my love of the Dune series, not quite but almost. They have almost made me wary of non-canon books in general.

They didn't feel like Dune books, the majesty just wasn't there