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applesodaperson's review against another edition
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
This book was so boring! This book was so long for literally the most underwhelming ending ever. Like you are telling me that the Bene Gesserit spent years running from the Honored Matres only for them to just make an alliance at the end? It just made no narrative sense and felt so anticlimactic and out of character for the Honored Matres.
I also still do not understand why they locked up Duncan Idaho? Like maybe I missed something but it made no sense to me. What would the benefit to keeping him locked up for years be? Because narratively for the reader it just led to every scene with Idaho in it to be super boring and stagnant. Also this book honestly turned me into a Duncan Idaho hater. He was so cool in the first 4 books because of his talent and his loyalty to the Atreides. But in this book all that loyalty seems to be gone completely and without it, he comes across as a bland and unlikeable character. Also I HATED that 1) they did the graphic sexual assault of a child plot line AGAIN! Like hello that is extremely messed up and is absolutely not vital to the story. Herbert could have just thought up another way to active gholas that doesn't involve the horrific and detailed sexual assault of children. And 2) I hated that Duncan Idaho falls in love with Murbella, who is the one that assaulted him in the last book. Hated hated hated that. No book should ever portray a story line where is a positive thing to fall in love with the person who assaulted you. Horrible message to send to readers.
Also Sheeana was nerfed so bad. Like all that building up of her connection with the worms only to have her leave for no reason at the end? What was the point?
Also the Face Dancers continued to be nerfed in this book, which has been an ongoing and consistent issue I have had with this series.
The one saving grace of this book was Odrade. I really enjoyed her character and i loved how she showed a more human side of the Bene Gesserit. I liked seeing her daily life and the ins and outs of it. And I liked hearing about the pressures she was under as Reverend Mother.
Read my personal copy.
I also still do not understand why they locked up Duncan Idaho? Like maybe I missed something but it made no sense to me. What would the benefit to keeping him locked up for years be? Because narratively for the reader it just led to every scene with Idaho in it to be super boring and stagnant. Also this book honestly turned me into a Duncan Idaho hater. He was so cool in the first 4 books because of his talent and his loyalty to the Atreides. But in this book all that loyalty seems to be gone completely and without it, he comes across as a bland and unlikeable character. Also I HATED that 1) they did the graphic sexual assault of a child plot line AGAIN! Like hello that is extremely messed up and is absolutely not vital to the story. Herbert could have just thought up another way to active gholas that doesn't involve the horrific and detailed sexual assault of children. And 2) I hated that Duncan Idaho falls in love with Murbella, who is the one that assaulted him in the last book. Hated hated hated that. No book should ever portray a story line where is a positive thing to fall in love with the person who assaulted you. Horrible message to send to readers.
Also Sheeana was nerfed so bad. Like all that building up of her connection with the worms only to have her leave for no reason at the end? What was the point?
Also the Face Dancers continued to be nerfed in this book, which has been an ongoing and consistent issue I have had with this series.
The one saving grace of this book was Odrade. I really enjoyed her character and i loved how she showed a more human side of the Bene Gesserit. I liked seeing her daily life and the ins and outs of it. And I liked hearing about the pressures she was under as Reverend Mother.
Read my personal copy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Violence
draven_deathcrush's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
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
3.5
I kinda just felt meh about this book the whole time. There were a couple REALLY weird parts. I liked the ending though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault
Moderate: Death, Pedophilia, Violence, and War
Minor: Antisemitism
amachonis's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Violence
Moderate: Slavery
Minor: Pregnancy
deinol's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Violence
benegesserwitch's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence
muffinunchained's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, and War
sir_willyam's review against another edition
After 5 great books of fun, philosophical Sci-Fi, I began getting turned off to Frank Herbert’s storytelling because of his heavy use of sex as a plot-device in Heretics of Dune. In this book, the same plot devices are evident, and the inclusion of a fossilized society of practicing Jews based in anti-Semitic stereotypes really soured the fun, thoughtful adventure I was having with the series. I’m reluctant to DNF, but with no conclusion by the first author himself, I’d rather stop at a point where I still appreciate what I’ve read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Violence, Antisemitism, Murder, and War
Minor: Sexual assault