Heretics of Dune (Dune Chronicles #5) by Frank Herbert

"A new (sort of) cast of characters is revealed but it's the same, familiar "plots within plots, schemes within schemes" line that Herbert loves. There's always a group of people out for personal gain and power. This novel at least had a semblance of a plot with twists and turns and wasn't a 600 page diatribe on prescience."

3 Stars

Pros: A new cast of characters (for the most part) and a storyline that actually has action/intrigue/twists instead of endless drivel about prescience.

Cons: With the changes after the death of Leto II, the Bene Gesserit has more or less become the absolute power and as always, they're up to their "breeding" games/The goals and such for the younger Ghola version of Duncan Idaho were just...unsettling at points. Lots of odd sexual things going on, unnerving.

Full Review:

Arrakis, now Rakis, has been reclaimed by the desert. A girl is there who sees a sandworm devour her entire town and in her anger she climbs atop the worm and starts beating it. The worm starts moving and she grabs the edge of a ridge, like the Fremen of old and rides the worm to the closest town, Keen. She is taken in by the Priests of the Divided God, Leto II and carefully observed. They take her out into the desert a number of times and call the worms and the worms never attack her. She seems to be able to control them. Her name is Sheeana, an obvious descendant of Siona and everyone knows there's something special about her.

On Giedi Prime, or Gammu, the 12th iteration of the most recent Duncan Idaho Ghola is being trained by the Bene Gesserit. He's curious about his birth parents and comes to understand that he's a Ghola, resurrected flesh. He starts to resent the Reverend Mother, Schwangyu, who oversees his teachings and it isn't until Miles Teg, a Bashar brought out of retirement at the request of the Supreme Reverend Mother of the Bene Gesserit, Tarazane, that something starts to form. It's obvious that the Bene Gesserit want this Duncan and the girl, Sheehana to mate.

There's also a rival group of rebels that call themselves Honored Matres, who are like the Bene Gesserit but aren't. They're people from the Scattering which happened during the Famine times after Leto II's death.

Plots within plots, schemes within schemes, other memories and new levels of consciousness, it's all the same. But at least in Heretics we have a semblance of plot, we have new characters (at least somewhat) who bring a bit of life to the story and we don't have to listen to the rambling of Leto II. I'm interested to see what Chapterhouse holds and to finally be done with this series.

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