Children of Dune

Children of Dune • Frank Herbert

⭑ 8.3 Stars

I struggled to decide how I should rate this book. Although I typically determine the number of stars as an instinctual reaction to each individual book that I complete, I had a hard time separating Children of Dune from the anthology that it’s a part of, especially having completed the series in succession, thus far. Ultimately, it landed in the middle - not quite as good as the lead-in (Dune), but certainly more entertaining than the sequel (Dune Messiah).

Overall, it was clear from the start just how much effort Herbert put into this novel. The plot lines are expansive, but without leaving the reader scratching their head in an effort to keep up. My one criticism, is that so much is spent on building up scenes that result in nothing, while the biggest moments of the story seem to emerge out of nowhere, before moving on just as quickly. Strategic decisions and character deaths are swift, and although they hit the reader with a jolt, they can be jarring.

All of that said, I do think I’ll be taking a short break before completing the series. We’re now generations from Paul Maud’dib and his ascension to power, and I need a moment to breathe before catapulting what looks to be thousands of years forward once more.