Reviews tagging 'Torture'

Heretics of Dune by Frank Herbert

7 reviews

spilled_juice's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

---

Evil nuns in space have bizarre plans for god’s favorite clone. An unnecessary extension of the series that could have been saved by new and interesting characters (Teg and Sheeana) had the author not been so preoccupied with the irresistible sex appeal of his self-insert Duncan Idaho (again). Too much porn, not enough plot tbh. Series should’ve ended with God Emperor. I miss the worm.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, Torture

Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Drug use, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Trafficking, Murder, Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Fatphobia, Slavery, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry

laura_nel13's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous challenging reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Gore, Slavery, Torture, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol

Minor: Addiction, Kidnapping, Pregnancy

applesodaperson's review against another edition

3.0

adventurous tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Torture, Violence

dauramirez's review against another edition

2.5

reflective tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

---

Heretics of Dune by Frank Herbert  follows Miles Teg, a military commander entangled in the politics of the Bene Gesserit and others vying for control over the spice melange. However, the book is weighed down by uncomfortable and graphic elements, including disturbing depictions of pubescent characters, women using intimacy as a means of power, and a particularly unsettling scene involving the torture of a man.
I didn't like it, but it was better than God Emperor of Dune.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Pedophilia, Torture, Violence, War

Moderate: Child abuse, Sexism, Religious bigotry

suneaters's review against another edition

3.25

adventurous tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

---

I really did have fun, but Frank needed an editor that wasn't afraid to cut the fat and trim this book down. We read parallel stories of Sheeana and Duncan that converge in the end. I really liked Duncan this time around until he gets his memories back. You really felt for him, essentially locked up with only semblances of parental figures and never really know what's going on. I liked the characters and the character work here, especially Odrade and her relationship with Miles Teg and Taraza. And the latter two's relationship with each other. It all made for great drama. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Torture, Murder

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Violence, War

Duncan Idaho, bodily 16, but with the memories of his adult self, has sex with Honored Matre Murbella, who is presumably above the age of majority. Consent is dubious. Lucilla, also an adult woman, plans to have sex with 16 year old Duncan Idaho, at a time when he does not have memories of his adult life, but this never occurs. Sheena, likely below the age of majority, receives "sexual education" from the Bene Gesserit. The Honored Matres are often referred to as "whores".

sir_willyam's review against another edition

3.5

adventurous challenging mysterious reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

---

A return to some of the fundamental story telling in previous Dune books found in Messiah, and Children, Heretics is a lot more character-based than the philosophy-heavy slog that God Emperor sometimes felt like. Despite Arrakis being recognizable again, aspects of Frank Herbert’s story telling doesn’t. The inclusion of sex-driven plot was the single most disruptive part of the entire series, and is a big factor in why I DNF the last book in the series, Chapterhouse: Dune. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence

Moderate: Death, Murder, War

Minor: Addiction, Child abuse, Drug use, Kidnapping

carrionkid's review against another edition

3.5

---

This was significantly better than God Emperor of Dune and the plot was compelling, full of twists and turns. The characters were interesting and I appreciate finally having some women in the spotlight as major characters. However it full dropped from a 4 star book to a 3.5 star book with the sexual assault scenes at the end and it was WAY more weird about sex than it had any right to be.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Violence