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.