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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
A patient read that pays dividends in its final act. The way the motivations and schemes of every single character interact kept me in suspense the whole way through, even through the slower portions of the book.
Once you reach about the three-quarters mark, things begin to unfold - plans within plans within plans. Even between characters who may be ‘aligned’ by blood or loyalty, there exist personal motives that undermine the integrity and honor of these relationships. It’s something that the series as a whole excels at, but something that Children of Dune takes to a more complex and entangled level than its predecessors. Things are getting really conceptual and wacky here by the end, but it’s still unmistakably Dune.
Once you reach about the three-quarters mark, things begin to unfold - plans within plans within plans. Even between characters who may be ‘aligned’ by blood or loyalty, there exist personal motives that undermine the integrity and honor of these relationships. It’s something that the series as a whole excels at, but something that Children of Dune takes to a more complex and entangled level than its predecessors. Things are getting really conceptual and wacky here by the end, but it’s still unmistakably Dune.
2.5 I tried so hard to finish this book and love it but truthfully I can’t.
I wish Duncan Idaho had more of a role! I really looked forward to him in this book and he was such a secondary character :(
I did not like Alia cheating on Duncan. It felt out of place and unnecessary.
Stilgar felt like a totally different character in this book and Lady Jessica was nothing like I wanted her to be.
Leto was annoying.
The only good thing out of this book was Ghanima. I liked her a lot but WHY WHY WHY did she have to marry her BROTHER!!!! I understand the whole “I don’t want someone else to take arrakis from me” from Leto but like
I wish Duncan Idaho had more of a role! I really looked forward to him in this book and he was such a secondary character :(
I did not like Alia cheating on Duncan. It felt out of place and unnecessary.
Stilgar felt like a totally different character in this book and Lady Jessica was nothing like I wanted her to be.
Leto was annoying.
The only good thing out of this book was Ghanima. I liked her a lot but WHY WHY WHY did she have to marry her BROTHER!!!! I understand the whole “I don’t want someone else to take arrakis from me” from Leto but like
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
The third book in Frank Herbert's Dune saga. This book mostly wraps up the first three books. We follow a cast of characters vying for control of the Imperium, including: Alia, Leto and Ghanima, Jessica, Farad'n, and their various supporters. Alia is no longer herself, she has become possessed by the Baron. "She" wants to quell the rebels and cement her position on the throne. Jessica has her hunch that Alia is possessed, but she is also frightened of the Twins and wants to get them under the Bene Gesserit's control, more or less. Farad'n wants to see House Corrino back on the throne - or at least that's what his mother wanted. The Preacher wants to correct the religion of Paul Atreides, which he sees as having fallen far past what Paul desired. And finally, the Twins. They just want to set humanity on the Golden Path.
This book was a bit more of a slog for me than the first two. I enjoyed it, but it was definitely dense in a lot of parts, and the fact that character viewpoints switch mid-scene (albeit at this point I'm more prepared for it) doesn't help. I was also spoiled a bit as I knew Leto II would survive and become the God Emperor at the end of the book.
These Dune books, they have a certain feeling. A feeling that this universe is very serious, and these characters are intensely capable, self-aware, in many cases superhuman. Of course, this is by definition the case with the likes of the Bene Gesserit and other spice consumers who have enhanced abilities. This feeling was captured well in the 2021 film. It is not bad by any means, but at times I am left feeling less of a connection with these characters. They just don't feel relatable a lot of the times. Their problems are way bigger and grandiose than mine. You also oftentimes sort of *know* how the books gonna end. Rather than guessing or there being major plot twists, you're moreso along for the ride. Again this isn't bad, it's just how it's written.
There's a number of things I really liked about this book. Firstly, wow, Herbert wrote the pre-born (Alia, Leto, Ghanima) "condition" so well. Ever wanted to imagine what it'd be like to have other "people" living inside you, in a strong sense of the idea? Look no further, welcome to Children of Dune! This really comes to a head in the beginning of the book when Alia has to make a deal with the Baron (in her head) to silence the other voices, all vying for control of her flesh. It's really quite terrifying. And you can't really blame Alia. Oftentimes during the book I found myself feeling ill towards her, but then I (or Herbert) would remind myself that this is not really her. The whole notion of human evolution and selective breeding is really interesting in these books. Herbert really explores what a humanity that pushes its abilities to the limit (for the most part without computers) could look like - with the aid of spice melange of course.
I also enjoyed Leto's metamorphosis into a sand worm. Wow, I did not see that coming at all. I was still wondering why others hadn't tried that before him, as it seemed like Fremen children would play with the sand trout.
The Preacher's arc was also solid. He played a big role in the beginning, then died off, and came back for the end. I actually quite liked his place in the book, though I did find it odd how people didn't realize he was Paul sooner - I suppose because of how much his body had changed since he went into the desert.
Finally, the epilogue. Yeah, Leto is in charge now, for better or for worse. And unlike Paul, Leto is actually, more or less, a god. Yeah, I saw a picture of Leto in final worm form, and that is insane. When I started Dune, I was not expecting a human to go full on worm mode. It's too perfect, with the Shai Hulud references. My only hope is that Leto is right, and the Golden Path will lead humanity to better days. It's obviously not exactly clear what this path is. I think the idea of it is that humanity will be facing a few millennia of suffering - as a result of the dwindling spice supply, Leto's rule, or both I guess. But then, it seems like that suffering is necessary on this Golden Path, in order for to survive a metaphorical great storm and then come out the other side better. Who knows, maybe there will be alien civilizations in the other books? Haha.
This book was a bit more of a slog for me than the first two. I enjoyed it, but it was definitely dense in a lot of parts, and the fact that character viewpoints switch mid-scene (albeit at this point I'm more prepared for it) doesn't help. I was also spoiled a bit as I knew Leto II would survive and become the God Emperor at the end of the book.
These Dune books, they have a certain feeling. A feeling that this universe is very serious, and these characters are intensely capable, self-aware, in many cases superhuman. Of course, this is by definition the case with the likes of the Bene Gesserit and other spice consumers who have enhanced abilities. This feeling was captured well in the 2021 film. It is not bad by any means, but at times I am left feeling less of a connection with these characters. They just don't feel relatable a lot of the times. Their problems are way bigger and grandiose than mine. You also oftentimes sort of *know* how the books gonna end. Rather than guessing or there being major plot twists, you're moreso along for the ride. Again this isn't bad, it's just how it's written.
There's a number of things I really liked about this book. Firstly, wow, Herbert wrote the pre-born (Alia, Leto, Ghanima) "condition" so well. Ever wanted to imagine what it'd be like to have other "people" living inside you, in a strong sense of the idea? Look no further, welcome to Children of Dune! This really comes to a head in the beginning of the book when Alia has to make a deal with the Baron (in her head) to silence the other voices, all vying for control of her flesh. It's really quite terrifying. And you can't really blame Alia. Oftentimes during the book I found myself feeling ill towards her, but then I (or Herbert) would remind myself that this is not really her. The whole notion of human evolution and selective breeding is really interesting in these books. Herbert really explores what a humanity that pushes its abilities to the limit (for the most part without computers) could look like - with the aid of spice melange of course.
I also enjoyed Leto's metamorphosis into a sand worm. Wow, I did not see that coming at all. I was still wondering why others hadn't tried that before him, as it seemed like Fremen children would play with the sand trout.
The Preacher's arc was also solid. He played a big role in the beginning, then died off, and came back for the end. I actually quite liked his place in the book, though I did find it odd how people didn't realize he was Paul sooner - I suppose because of how much his body had changed since he went into the desert.
Finally, the epilogue. Yeah, Leto is in charge now, for better or for worse. And unlike Paul, Leto is actually, more or less, a god. Yeah, I saw a picture of Leto in final worm form, and that is insane. When I started Dune, I was not expecting a human to go full on worm mode. It's too perfect, with the Shai Hulud references. My only hope is that Leto is right, and the Golden Path will lead humanity to better days. It's obviously not exactly clear what this path is. I think the idea of it is that humanity will be facing a few millennia of suffering - as a result of the dwindling spice supply, Leto's rule, or both I guess. But then, it seems like that suffering is necessary on this Golden Path, in order for to survive a metaphorical great storm and then come out the other side better. Who knows, maybe there will be alien civilizations in the other books? Haha.
adventurous
challenging
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
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Buddy Read with Markus
I love this series. It's like the most beautiful poetry about betrayal, love, family and kingdoms in a Sci-Fi setting.
If you loved the first one, you will love the second and third...and I'll be working my way through this series. I need more...
I love this series. It's like the most beautiful poetry about betrayal, love, family and kingdoms in a Sci-Fi setting.
If you loved the first one, you will love the second and third...and I'll be working my way through this series. I need more...
2.5/5; this was the weakest of the Dune books so far. It was too long in the beginning and kept its story to close to the best, because it was so long it felt interminable to figure out what was happening. Once I got 75% in and things began to be explained it made more sense, it just felt like the first 75% could have been cut in half. It sets up an interesting next chapter but was not an exciting read throughout.