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dannilmp's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
slow-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
2.0
This book felt like a breath of fresh air compared to the long haul that Dune felt. Dune Messiah felt like a completely different novel with a whole new cast of characters. Following a large time skip from the final events of the previous book, here we see the fallout of Leto I's actions of the first book. Boy are they some severe consequences! In this section of the story, he will try to please everyone before making a final choice on who his actions will save.
Of all the books in the series, this one didn't stick out much to me so it's hard to think of anything I actually enjoyed while reading it as I write this review months after I finished the novel. Watching the plot against Leto unfold was quite interesting, due to Leto's character I didn't think they would be able to plot anything against him at all without him being able to detect and ruin it.
Sometimes, the writing in this book was not great, especially when it came to Leto I starting to monologue on certain mundane things. I know he has all these great powers now but, it seemed to me that he just enjoyed hearing the sound of his own voice by trying to philosophise all these little things. That or he just really didn't like talking to some people and wanted to bore them to sleep?
Of all the books in the series, this one didn't stick out much to me so it's hard to think of anything I actually enjoyed while reading it as I write this review months after I finished the novel. Watching the plot against Leto unfold was quite interesting, due to Leto's character I didn't think they would be able to plot anything against him at all without him being able to detect and ruin it.
Sometimes, the writing in this book was not great, especially when it came to Leto I starting to monologue on certain mundane things. I know he has all these great powers now but, it seemed to me that he just enjoyed hearing the sound of his own voice by trying to philosophise all these little things. That or he just really didn't like talking to some people and wanted to bore them to sleep?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Incest
voxvenati's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Messiah was not the same reading experience as Dune, but it was just as beautifully written.
I’ve seen people mention they didn’t like this one because it wasn’t as action filled or epic as the first one. That is true (to an extent - there are no planetary battles, but there is smaller-scale action). But the political intrigue, the delving into individual characters, and the tragedy of Paul all play on the themes from the first book. It has gorgeous world building as well, sad and painful, but also vivid on the page.
I’ve seen people mention they didn’t like this one because it wasn’t as action filled or epic as the first one. That is true (to an extent - there are no planetary battles, but there is smaller-scale action). But the political intrigue, the delving into individual characters, and the tragedy of Paul all play on the themes from the first book. It has gorgeous world building as well, sad and painful, but also vivid on the page.
Content Warnings
Minor: Incest
decapode's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
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
5.0
YES. just yes. satisfying and heartwrenching all at once. herbert's vision finally made clear to those of us who couldn't really get it while reading the original. my second read was so much more satisfying than the first; previously, i'd probably give this a 4.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pregnancy and Violence
Minor: Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Addiction, Drug abuse, Incest, and War
viiemzee's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I was so close to DNF-ing this book, but I powered through and I wouldn't say I'm overly disappointed that I did, but I'm not thrilled either.
First of all, this book was incredibly confusing. It was just full of so many things happening and so many characters, and I felt I had no time at all to get to know anyone or understand who anyone was. I liked that the POV was a shifting one so that I got alternate views from each major character, but I hated how pre-ambling the whole thing tended to be. I've been told on good authority that it just gets worse as the books go on, as well.
Secondly, the themes of incest were just...completely unnecessary. I get why they are in the story in the end, but they're just weird and made me uncomfortable.
So much happened but I feel like nothing really did. Dune is such a good book. This one just fell flat for me. I understand what Herbert was trying to do - make Paul into a Messiah who must ultimately sacrifice himself for the good of his people. But did he have to go about it in such a roundabout way?
First of all, this book was incredibly confusing. It was just full of so many things happening and so many characters, and I felt I had no time at all to get to know anyone or understand who anyone was. I liked that the POV was a shifting one so that I got alternate views from each major character, but I hated how pre-ambling the whole thing tended to be. I've been told on good authority that it just gets worse as the books go on, as well.
Secondly, the themes of incest were just...completely unnecessary. I get why they are in the story in the end, but they're just weird and made me uncomfortable.
So much happened but I feel like nothing really did. Dune is such a good book. This one just fell flat for me. I understand what Herbert was trying to do - make Paul into a Messiah who must ultimately sacrifice himself for the good of his people. But did he have to go about it in such a roundabout way?
Content Warnings
Minor: Incest
aegireads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
2.5
(bdg voice) i just wish it was something else.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Pregnancy, Drug use, Adult/minor relationship, Suicide, Death, Murder, and War
Moderate: Incest and Injury/Injury detail
graphic eye traumaparksvslibraries's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Incest
potatodel's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
1.5
Here, have strong women characters, except they are all controlled by that one dude and they appear to be unable to control their emotions.
Here, have a ton of world building in book one, except that most of it doesn't continue in the next book.
Here, have a godlike main character, except he is annoying, and we don't really know why you should even like him.
Here, have a sexualized 16 years old character, because she's a girl and it's the 70s ... I guess ?!
I'm so glad to be done with this book. Hopefully, like I was told, Dune #3 is a bit better...
I was going to give 1 star, but the last few chapters weren't that bad.
Here, have a ton of world building in book one, except that most of it doesn't continue in the next book.
Here, have a godlike main character, except he is annoying, and we don't really know why you should even like him.
Here, have a sexualized 16 years old character, because she's a girl and it's the 70s ... I guess ?!
I'm so glad to be done with this book. Hopefully, like I was told, Dune #3 is a bit better...
I was going to give 1 star, but the last few chapters weren't that bad.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, and Toxic relationship
Minor: War, Colonisation, Incest, Infertility, and Adult/minor relationship
i_mina_i's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Incest
nicolepaul_ine's review against another edition
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
Minor: Suicide and Incest
m_delaney's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Incest