Chapterhouse: Dune (Dune Chronicles #6) by Frank Hebert.

"The final book in the Dune Chronicles, (at least the last book written by Frank Herbert), is just as rambling, nonsensical, annoying and unnecessary as the last four novels. Getting through the last 200 pages was a chore. Dune was so amazing but the rest of the series is a waste of time. "

1 Star

Pros: The open-endedness of the ending. It lets the reader decide whether or not they want to find out what happens to the characters and sadly, this reader doesn't.

Cons: 600 pages of circular, non-sensical, unnecessary rambling about God only knows what. Yes, there was a plot but it was so overwhelmed by the obnoxious pretention of Herbert that the last 200 pages were a chore.

Full Review:

The characters from Heretics of Dune have made it to Chapterhouse, the planet that houses the main force of the Bene Gesserit. The Honored Matres have made it their personal mission to hunt down the Bene Gesserit and destroy them and Darwi Odrade, the Supreme Reverend Mother must do whatever is necessary to make sure that does not happen, no matter who she abuses, manipulates or destroys.

Sometimes in a series, when an author has to meet a deadline or is given a certain amount of books to write as part of a contract, the story suffers. It happened with Caraval by Stephanie Garber. The first book was great, the third, Finale, lackluster. Unfortunately with Frank Herbert's Dune Chronicles, this happened as well. The first book was astounding, mesmerizing, sensationally immersive in every aspect. I, at least, truly felt like I was there with Paul as he traversed the planet Arrakis and simply fought to survive. But the rest of the series, from Dune Messiah to Chapterhouse: Dune were just unnecessary.

At best, some of the characters had potential, like Sheeana and her control of the worms in Heretics of Dune but even then, it never seemed to amount to anything. All the characters just came across as flat, emotionless and I just didn't care. I didn't care what happened to them and even when one did die, it was glossed over and I had no emotional reaction whatsoever. .

Never before have I been so underwhelmed by a series that I was actually relieved and grateful when it was done. Never before has reading a series felt like such a chore. And that is the saddest part. What could have been a truly amazing series became hundreds of pages of rambling nonsense about prescience, procreation...the list could go on to infinity. I cannot properly put into words my disappointment with this series as a whole.

By all means, read Dune and enjoy it but as for the other 5 books, do yourself a favor and don't waste your time.

Comments

A Spark of White Fire (The Celestial Trilogy #1) by Sangu Mandanna

"Similar to "Game of Thrones" only in space, there was a lot going on with a lot of different people and they were all important and connected but my tired, overworked brain had trouble keeping up. " 2 Stars Pros: I liked Max as a character, I'm all for the tall, dark, mysterious supposed bad boy with a heart of gold cliche, but the kissing cousins thing just made it weird. Cons: It felt like Game of Thrones, only in space, so there was a bit of a kissing cousins vibe going and I wasn't feeling it/The book tried to have these big, shocking moments I was just non-plussed, unaffected./The presence of the Gods irked me as they did in The Illiad, it's all terribly convenient to have divine intervention for your MCs. I feel like it's the cheapest fake-out cheat of all time 👍🤣 Full Review: My co-worker, who has recommended some amazing reads such as, A Man Called Ove , The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and the Horse, and I'll Give You The Sun...

Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

"The classic tale of Peter Pan, the boy who never grows up and his adventures with his Lost Boys and the Darling Children, Wendy, John and Michael. At times fun and whimsical and other times surprisingly dark, it was an interesting read as an adult." 3 Stars Pros: There is something appealing about flying away to a mysterious island where you can play all day and never have to grow up. The thrall of Neverland is a constant for this dreamer. Cons: Peter Pan is truly the most arrogant little brat and very much in need of a mother/I was surprised at the bloodshed because I always thought this was a children's book, it was rather dark at times. Full Review Mr. and Mrs. Darling are the proud yet rather dismissive and negligent parents of three children. Wendy, John and Michael. All three have flights of fancy and dream of an island, with mermaids and pirates. Mrs. Darling dismisses these as the whimsy of childhood but she herself remembers when she too dreamt of...

Leviathan Wakes (The Expanse #1) by James S.A. Corey

" Science Fiction at its most epically, horrific best. Mankind has colonized the galaxy and is reaching for the stars but something dark and fathomless waits in the recesses of space, biding its time and when it strikes, life itself will change." 5 Stars Pros: Deep and likable characters for all their flaws and a story that grabs you from the very beginning and never lets go. Cons: Some parts were a little technical, like how many G's a ship was flying under and the spin of planets, but it didn't take away from the story too much. Full Review: Julette Andromeda Mao. The heiress to a lunar corporate dynasty who's decided to turn her back on her life of luxury and venture out into the solar system to find work and earn her keep. Miller. A cynical, downtrodden but intelligent and resourceful cop who works out of the Ceres Station on the Belt. Holden, the commanding officer of a water hauler that ships ice from the rings of Saturn to stations ...

All the Books.

Search This Blog