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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
The concept and power of love is explored against the unyielding foundation of logic as themes exploring the evolution of power in politics, religion and human culture.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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
as soon as I read this was a lot of people’s least liked book of the series I had a feeling it’d be my favorite and I think it was? it’s arguably the easiest story to follow, the height of the stakes feels like it actually matters because there are more events happening than just philosophy and politics, characters are more than just mysterious and calculated, we get to explore so much more setting than the first 4. the approach to sex was confusing and at times just funny and stupid. I can’t tell if frank herbert thinks sex is truly the most powerful force in the universe or (/and?) if sex in excess is truly repulsive and demeaning. the main trio of characters is probably the most interesting and enjoyable set of characters in the whole series (along with alia). I think giving the series a shake up and taking it in a more action-oriented direction is a pretty good idea when you’re on your fifth book meant to be the start of a new trilogy. I really don’t get the hate unless you’re looking at it with a criticism of how it approaches women and their sexual autonomy but I don’t think that’s most people’s problem.
If the handsfree orgasm from watching a rockclimb felt weird, it gets weirder.
The book's got a weird amount of action (or it's an effect of the i-just-read-500-pages-of-the-God-yapping)
this felt like how all of the past 4 books (especially the messiah and god emperor) felt merged into one, which makes sense since its a sequel (duh). And even with another insane time jump, it still somehow manages to keep us attached to characters already gone through vibes alone and genes or something.
The book's got a weird amount of action (or it's an effect of the i-just-read-500-pages-of-the-God-yapping)
this felt like how all of the past 4 books (especially the messiah and god emperor) felt merged into one, which makes sense since its a sequel (duh). And even with another insane time jump, it still somehow manages to keep us attached to characters already gone through vibes alone and genes or something.
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
“Religion must remain an outlet for people who say to themselves, ‘I am not the kind of person I want to be.’ It must never sink into an assemblage of the self-satisfied.”
Heretics of Dune - Frank Herbert
This is the fifth entry in the Dune saga and it’s a bizarre, brainy, and at times baffling continuation of his epic universe. Set 1,500 years after the death of the God Emperor Leto II, the book launches the series into even stranger territory, populated by increasingly alien societies, philosophical thought experiments, and, frankly, some aesthetic and narrative choices that leave the reader wondering if they've missed several important pages or volumes.
This is the book with cat-people, known as Futars, who are part-human, part-beast hybrids bred to hunt the Bene Gesserit’s mortal enemies, the Honored Matres - a violent, authoritarian order of women who wield sex as a literal weapon. Imagine a society of sexual dominatrix nuns fused with the rage of a totalitarian war machine, returning from deep space to reclaim power. The Honored Matres are so aggressive, so extreme, that even a genetically modified, sex-addicted ghola of Duncan Idaho - who has survived more lives than a cockroach at a nuclear test site - is terrified of them. And honestly? Same.
Herbert also introduces some visual horror that feels like nightmare-fuel smuggled into a space opera: there are chairs made of living dogs. No, not just the leather—living dogs, shaped and presumably kept alive in some grotesque way. It’s an image so jarringly grotesque it could have been lifted from Cronenberg’s cutting room floor. And that’s just a chair.
Plot-wise, well—good luck. Between the Tleilaxu’s cryptic machinations, the Bene Gesserit’s endless scheming, and Duncan’s continuing existential whiplash, you might feel like you've lost the thread more than once. Themes of control, evolution, and identity swirl together with a density that’s hard to penetrate, and even harder to enjoy without some heavy lifting.
And yet, there’s still something compelling under the chaos. Herbert is grappling with deep, difficult ideas about humanity, religion, trauma, and power. "Heretics” marks a clear shift into post-imperial Dune, where no clear center holds and the galaxy’s major forces scramble to adapt to a broken, scattered order.
This isn’t “Dune” as most readers know it. It’s darker, weirder, more alien, and far less coherent. If you’re willing to surrender to its strangeness and don’t mind some philosophical whiplash along the way, “Heretics of Dune” offers a disturbing, at times fascinating vision of the far-future. Just... don’t sit in any furniture without checking first.
Heretics of Dune - Frank Herbert
This is the fifth entry in the Dune saga and it’s a bizarre, brainy, and at times baffling continuation of his epic universe. Set 1,500 years after the death of the God Emperor Leto II, the book launches the series into even stranger territory, populated by increasingly alien societies, philosophical thought experiments, and, frankly, some aesthetic and narrative choices that leave the reader wondering if they've missed several important pages or volumes.
This is the book with cat-people, known as Futars, who are part-human, part-beast hybrids bred to hunt the Bene Gesserit’s mortal enemies, the Honored Matres - a violent, authoritarian order of women who wield sex as a literal weapon. Imagine a society of sexual dominatrix nuns fused with the rage of a totalitarian war machine, returning from deep space to reclaim power. The Honored Matres are so aggressive, so extreme, that even a genetically modified, sex-addicted ghola of Duncan Idaho - who has survived more lives than a cockroach at a nuclear test site - is terrified of them. And honestly? Same.
Herbert also introduces some visual horror that feels like nightmare-fuel smuggled into a space opera: there are chairs made of living dogs. No, not just the leather—living dogs, shaped and presumably kept alive in some grotesque way. It’s an image so jarringly grotesque it could have been lifted from Cronenberg’s cutting room floor. And that’s just a chair.
Plot-wise, well—good luck. Between the Tleilaxu’s cryptic machinations, the Bene Gesserit’s endless scheming, and Duncan’s continuing existential whiplash, you might feel like you've lost the thread more than once. Themes of control, evolution, and identity swirl together with a density that’s hard to penetrate, and even harder to enjoy without some heavy lifting.
And yet, there’s still something compelling under the chaos. Herbert is grappling with deep, difficult ideas about humanity, religion, trauma, and power. "Heretics” marks a clear shift into post-imperial Dune, where no clear center holds and the galaxy’s major forces scramble to adapt to a broken, scattered order.
This isn’t “Dune” as most readers know it. It’s darker, weirder, more alien, and far less coherent. If you’re willing to surrender to its strangeness and don’t mind some philosophical whiplash along the way, “Heretics of Dune” offers a disturbing, at times fascinating vision of the far-future. Just... don’t sit in any furniture without checking first.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
This was weirdly.. good? In comparison to the last three books in this series, this was something I KIND OF enjoyed.
I loved the focus on the Bene Gesserit and their slow machinations as they grapple for power while new and completely unknown forces enter the picture. The long, drawn out and detailed conversations between protagonists and factions was the great strength of this book. Very clever dialogue and great insight thanks to an omniscient narrator who revealed how both parties manipulate and evaluate the situation in real-time. It was nice to see the fruits of Leto's actions that lead to the scattering, ensuring that the golden path is followed. In summary, I am as always fascinated by the world building and the grand ideas, but the execution man... not for me.(The Tleilaxu/Bene Gesserit contrasts were really delicious. Such fundamentally different groups being forced to work together is always fun. (The realization that Axlotl tanks are just Tleilaxu WOMEN morphed into some breeding machine was HORRIFYING))
Okay, now the negative/ridiculous stuff. The weird sexual stuff. (I swear, I'm not a prude.) I know, it's a book of its time and the Bene Gesserit have always used seduction/sexual means bla bla bla. But it's still so weird. Duncan Idaho being used for their "breeding" purposes while being a minor. (YIKES) The honored matres. (I know they are a foil for the Bene Gesserit, but YIKES)
The detailed description of vaginal pulsing?! Made me laugh because it was so absurd and came out of nowhere. (Only 300 something sex positions? That's all? Lmao)The way he talked about breasts and womens bodies in general was... something for sure. I know there is interpretative symbolism in all of this and this futures society is very alien, but all of these aspects were delivered in such a way that it just felt.. silly.
I loved the focus on the Bene Gesserit and their slow machinations as they grapple for power while new and completely unknown forces enter the picture. The long, drawn out and detailed conversations between protagonists and factions was the great strength of this book. Very clever dialogue and great insight thanks to an omniscient narrator who revealed how both parties manipulate and evaluate the situation in real-time. It was nice to see the fruits of Leto's actions that lead to the scattering, ensuring that the golden path is followed. In summary, I am as always fascinated by the world building and the grand ideas, but the execution man... not for me.
The detailed description of vaginal pulsing?! Made me laugh because it was so absurd and came out of nowhere. (Only 300 something sex positions? That's all? Lmao)The way he talked about breasts and womens bodies in general was... something for sure. I know there is interpretative symbolism in all of this and this futures society is very alien, but all of these aspects were delivered in such a way that it just felt.. silly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual content
Moderate: Abandonment