Reviews

Heretics of Dune by Frank Herbert

katy_ryn's review

Despite some strange(?) plot points I really enjoyed this one, the new characters were oddly endearing and the plot/pacing had some of the spirit of the first book

hayleybriars's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

0.5

notspencerryan's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

seanplacchetti's review against another edition

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? Yes

3.5

noah_hinds's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

mcrammal's review against another edition

adventurous tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

I really liked this book, almost as good as the first. I did have to take a break in the middle, as I felt Frank is so formulaic with the way these books are structured I needed a break from it when reading them all back to back. The Bene Gesserit chapters in the beginning were a bit redundant, with not much new information being given five books in, but when you started seeing a new side to them it became interesting. I hope to god though they fall in the next book.

Oh, the Honored Matres are bad because they weaponize sex? What is it you do again, Ms. Attempts control of breeding for the power? Oh, and the Honored Matres are bad because they would destroy Rakis just to get to the ghola? What exactly is it that you did at the end? Wild. I hope the warning Leto carved just for them in the secret spice room rings true.

jennifer27's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious reflective

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

Starting the series I thought these books would be about the Atreides but it’s actually about Duncan Idaho. The Atreides lay the groundwork but Duncan is like the most Important character imo. Miles Teg is my GOAT‼️ he’s my favorite character in this book.

ba6a's review against another edition

2.0

whatever the hell this was

taylorhathcock's review against another edition

3.0

“Tolerate love but guard against it, that was the rule.”

We have people returning from the Scattering and they are vastly different from those who remained. The biggest threat at this point seems to be a group who refers to themselves as the Honored Matres and are attempting to amass power. The Bene Gesserit naturally see these women as a threat as they seem to be a more advanced version of themselves. The Bene Gesserit have some ultimate goal in mind and have been using a specific ghola to attempt this. Sheeana is just a young girl who becomes wrapped up in a world she doesn't understand. However, she quickly learns to manipulate the religious power that has been granted to her and use it to her advantage. Naturally the Sisterhood has their sights set on her. Plans and schemes abound. Religion becomes a huge focus; especially the ways it can be twisted. 

So after we just adjusted to the last major time jump and narrative with new characters... we get yet another round of it. I have to say that I really didn't start to enjoy this one until closer to the end. We get a completely different focus in this one. Everything has changed dramatically. I wanted to like it because different powerful women were the focus for once. However, it took a bit to adjust to a whole new cast of characters yet again. I also found all the moving parts to be hard to follow at times and I think this is because so much in the narrative had already changed. We have alliances that never existed before and groups meshing together that never did. I think the Honored Matres storyline was more fascinating but it got less focus than the Sheeana storyline. It's also difficult because it takes so long to realize what the plan is for Sheeana. I would have enjoyed more about the Lost Ones and the Honored Matres honestly.

daytonchen's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75