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erynelle's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
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? It's complicated
3.75
-I didn’t entirely enjoy the writing style. Some new concepts didn’t make sense at first and I just had to roll with it until they did. I know there’s a glossary but the writing could’ve been clearer.
+ I enjoy the thoroughness of Herbert’s world building, including the appendices that build on background stuff.
+ I enjoy the thoroughness of Herbert’s world building, including the appendices that build on background stuff.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, War, Blood, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Murder, and Alcohol
Minor: Pedophilia, Child death, and Addiction
randirush's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-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
4.0
i did appreciate having seen the movie before reading this, as the book heavily focused on the world building and political aspects of the story rather than a lot of the action — the movie was a great introduction to the tale, whereas the book just gave everything more depth. none of that is necessarily a bad thing, however, part of me thinks the book could’ve been a bit more condensed in some areas. that being said, i still really enjoyed it and it was nice to get some of those more in-depth details! this book was obviously revolutionary within the sci-fi genre and i can definitely see why. anddd i just love jessica — a reverend MOTHER
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Child death, Death of parent, and Violence
Minor: Grief, Murder, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Sexual assault, Torture, Pedophilia, War, and Adult/minor relationship
lorraine19's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
4.75
I have to start out by saying this is the most unique book I've ever read. Everything - from characters, to plot, to the world - felt unique to this story and I really am at a loss trying to compare it to anything. The world building is just absolutely amazing and complex. Characters are deeply connected with the world and their histories.
I went into this book expecting it to be slow and was very surprised by how fast paced it actually is. And despite the pace, it still ends feeling like the introduction to the story (because it basically is) and I can't say that upsets me.
The only criticism I have is that there are some things that feel like they should've been major plot points that were just glossed over - again not an issue I was expecting from an almost 800pg book.
Overall, I highly recommend if you are a fan of sci-fi, fictional politics, or religion. I will definitely be looking for the rest of the series.
I went into this book expecting it to be slow and was very surprised by how fast paced it actually is. And despite the pace, it still ends feeling like the introduction to the story (because it basically is) and I can't say that upsets me.
The only criticism I have is that there are some things that feel like they should've been major plot points that were just glossed over - again not an issue I was expecting from an almost 800pg book.
Overall, I highly recommend if you are a fan of sci-fi, fictional politics, or religion. I will definitely be looking for the rest of the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War and Death
Moderate: Addiction, Incest, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Child death, Classism, Colonisation, and Genocide
Religion, religious jihad, human breedingchrispy_mac's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-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
It's a classic. However, my spicy hot take is that the Villeneuve movies might be just as good (if not better??) than the source material. But this is coming from someone who DNF'd the book in 2019 and just finished it the whole way through after seeing Part 2 (2024).
Still definitely an interesting read, especially if you are a fan of classic sci-fi!
Still definitely an interesting read, especially if you are a fan of classic sci-fi!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Violence, and War
Moderate: Child death
crimsonash606's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book is such a beautiful blend of cultures and the in depth ecology of a planet that continually shocks you with the life within it. There's so much political intrigue and pondering human nature and how to do the most good, and it's one of the most complex and incredible things I've ever read. I highly recommend this to anyone with a stomach for a challenge.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Kidnapping, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Violence, Religious bigotry, Racism, Murder, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Grief, and War
Moderate: Blood, Child death, Alcohol, Addiction, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Medical content, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Drug abuse, Sexual violence, Religious bigotry, and Colonisation
incandescent_ink's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: War, Colonisation, Violence, Death of parent, Death, and Grief
celeste77's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
It was good. There were definitely some differences between the book and the movies. I think I liked the book better. It had more happening and it didn't feel as slow as the movies. Overall, I enjoyed it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Child death
mrgriffit's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
3.5
This audiobook was really hit or miss for me. The ensemble cast was very good, but it was not clear to me when or why an actor would voice a character or when the main narrator would. As a result, certain characters came off as oafish in some scenes while chilling and calculating in others.
On the whole, the book is a classic sci-fi story for a reason. The world is full and interesting and grand in scope. The actual story that our characters go through is strange at times, where people act contrary to how the say they want to act.
And the most off-putting choice of the whole book is the two year time skip in the third act. It really didn’t add anything to the story other than having Alia be properly present and giving Paul a child that we don’t ever meet before he is killed off screen.
It was worth the read, but I’m not interested in returning to Arrakis any time soon.
On the whole, the book is a classic sci-fi story for a reason. The world is full and interesting and grand in scope. The actual story that our characters go through is strange at times, where people act contrary to how the say they want to act.
It was worth the read, but I’m not interested in returning to Arrakis any time soon.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Violence, War, and Murder
Moderate: Torture
Minor: Child death
laura_nel13's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Slavery, Drug use, Child death, Classism, Violence, Colonisation, and War
Minor: Grief, Blood, Alcohol, Addiction, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
mabelsyrup's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This being the first scifi NOVEL I've ever read is giving the same vibe as when the second Stephen King book i read was It, I'm all or nothing
Dune is so fucking exquisite fr, the worldbuilding is so detailed and extensive; it feels like every single term has a backstory and a significance, some people have said that the story relies too much on dumping all the explanations into the glossary but to me that was a huge bonus cuz imagine explaining ALL those things in the main story, the book would be 1000 pages lmao and cutting some of those things is actually not an option, you could just get by with the context clues sometimes or you could go in and read on what this random Butlerian Jihad means and then you go down a rabbit hole because that is so fucking cool but it isn't the point of the book so you gotta move on.. yea.
Going into this story for the characters and the relationships and the relationship between Chani and Paul teehee ISNT GONNA WORK yall, Dune isn't about the good side of humanity and finding brotherhood and community it's about literal assasinations, opportunism, the exploitation of religion and resources, and how fucked up people are even thousands of years into the future, these characters are not ones you feel fondly about (except Duncan my one and only.. and Alia? maybe) because they suck from the beginning or they start going to hell as the story goes along. This ties into the theory i have that one MUST watch the Villenueve movies before reading this (at least the first one) as it gives a more explicit view that this isn't the type of story that you think it will be.
I do think the book suffers from the typical white male author in the 20th century syndrome; it is said many times that the Fremen women are just as savage and efficient in battle as the men and the children are also trained and capable of fighting and blah blah..okay? show it to me then? show me a section where the women are actually killing some people don't just tell me and expect me to believe you cuz... i'm not buying it lmao, the women in Dune are either spiritual, a witch or just hanging out, obvs there's nothing wrong w being a witch (i actually wanted MORE from the Bene Gesserit and their scheming little plots) but it annoyed me that they kept saying that Chani was such a slay fighting baddie but all she did was follow Paul like an assistant, not even a bodyguard just his assistant, although I was expecting much much worse from her, she seems to be more of the analytical type in the book.
Another thing is that yeah, the story sometimes is a lot. There's many threads connecting and unraveling and sometimes i felt like i couldn't follow everything seamlesly, and i felt some actual plot lines could've been explained better but for some reason it also made me like it a bit more? like i was amused every time i went "tf is going on rn?"
IF Only you could see my copy of this book i went crazy, i almost ran out of ink and post its, I'm taking a break for like a month and then I'm jumping right into book two rrraahhhhh
Dune is so fucking exquisite fr, the worldbuilding is so detailed and extensive; it feels like every single term has a backstory and a significance, some people have said that the story relies too much on dumping all the explanations into the glossary but to me that was a huge bonus cuz imagine explaining ALL those things in the main story, the book would be 1000 pages lmao and cutting some of those things is actually not an option, you could just get by with the context clues sometimes or you could go in and read on what this random Butlerian Jihad means and then you go down a rabbit hole because that is so fucking cool but it isn't the point of the book so you gotta move on.. yea.
Going into this story for the characters and the relationships and the relationship between Chani and Paul teehee ISNT GONNA WORK yall, Dune isn't about the good side of humanity and finding brotherhood and community it's about literal assasinations, opportunism, the exploitation of religion and resources, and how fucked up people are even thousands of years into the future, these characters are not ones you feel fondly about (except Duncan my one and only.. and Alia? maybe) because they suck from the beginning or they start going to hell as the story goes along. This ties into the theory i have that one MUST watch the Villenueve movies before reading this (at least the first one) as it gives a more explicit view that this isn't the type of story that you think it will be.
I do think the book suffers from the typical white male author in the 20th century syndrome; it is said many times that the Fremen women are just as savage and efficient in battle as the men and the children are also trained and capable of fighting and blah blah..okay? show it to me then? show me a section where the women are actually killing some people don't just tell me and expect me to believe you cuz... i'm not buying it lmao, the women in Dune are either spiritual, a witch or just hanging out, obvs there's nothing wrong w being a witch (i actually wanted MORE from the Bene Gesserit and their scheming little plots) but it annoyed me that they kept saying that Chani was such a slay fighting baddie but all she did was follow Paul like an assistant, not even a bodyguard just his assistant, although I was expecting much much worse from her, she seems to be more of the analytical type in the book.
Another thing is that yeah, the story sometimes is a lot. There's many threads connecting and unraveling and sometimes i felt like i couldn't follow everything seamlesly, and i felt some actual plot lines could've been explained better but for some reason it also made me like it a bit more? like i was amused every time i went "tf is going on rn?"
IF Only you could see my copy of this book i went crazy, i almost ran out of ink and post its, I'm taking a break for like a month and then I'm jumping right into book two rrraahhhhh
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Pedophilia and Torture