10.3k reviews for:

Dune Messiah

Frank Herbert

3.77 AVERAGE

dark mysterious tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

In terms of overall enjoyment, I’d say this one is probably even with the first Dune book for me. However I feel that if I had to choose between the two I would choose this one. While Messiah may drag a bit, and I found myself only able to read about one or two chapters at a time for a majority of it, I feel that the things I enjoy about a book are much stronger here than they were in the first one. This book primarily focuses on three characters, those being Paul, Alia, and Duncan Idaho. Each of these characters felt fully realized and their internal struggles were incredibly engaging. Seeing Paul have to struggle with the choices he’s made, tormented by his inability to live outside of his future sight was just top notch, and a much improved realization of his character than what I saw in the first book. This book feels like a perfect ending to the Dune story and the story of Paul, and for that I think that I am happy leaving this series where it is for now. One day I’ll probably get around to Children of Dune and God Emperor, but for now I feel satisfied and have no necessary need for more.

petatron's review

3.0

Well that was certainly a thing.

I wish David Lynch had made a Dune Messiah movie. I’d like to see that.
challenging emotional reflective tense medium-paced
mysterious reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated
challenging dark 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: Yes
adventurous challenging emotional inspiring mysterious reflective tense medium-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

This book was amazing, it was definitely written as more of an addendum to Dune than anything else. Frank Herberts writing is still immaculate, with an insane ending to boot. This was extremely close to 5 stars, only reason not is there were some threads in the storyline that I personally feel there weren’t adequate answers to, but overall an amazing book!
challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
challenging dark mysterious reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character

the plot is kinda secondary to the overall vibes and weirdness and world-building, which is fine, because the vibes and weirdness and world-building are God tier (pun intended)! this book also had some of the best one-liners I’ve ever read in a sci fi book/book period??? (IMO Dune is closer to a fantasy than traditional sci fi…but I digress) it’s definitely not perfect and I honestly wasn’t sure if I was going to like this enough to continue, but I was sold by the end of it. am excited to see what Children of Dune is all about!
mysterious reflective slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes