Nick Perzacki’s Reviews > Heretics of Dune > Status Update

Plans within plans within plans within plans… good lord it is hard to keep up. I love Sheeana continuing to take advantage of her power over the Rakian priesthood, it’s very funny to read them try and make sense of her within the confines of their religion. Also, Miles Teg was cold as fuck threatening to blow himself up with the soldier from the Scattering - that man has dedication.

Very curious what the Honored Matres goals are, and I’m enjoying the little spy thriller the Tleilaxu have going on. We got a small time jump to age up Sheeana and Duncan. Sheeana’s kinda hilarious for immediately taking advantage of the praise of the Rakian priests, and Duncan’s busy trying to out-Chad Schwangyu; I want to see their response to the Bene Gesserit scheming that is setting them up together.

We’re finally getting some expansion on the other factions in the world that have been largely inactive/irrelevant for the last two books. Fun to see Scytale return and we got a solid intro to the new Duncan. It’s been largely introductions of characters, of which I’ve found Seeana’s the most interesting, with her village tragically being wiped out by a worm immediately before she realizes she can control it

I really like how Herbert isn’t married to any one time period or character, just following families and groups through the eons. After 4 books I’m also excited to learn more about the Bene Gesserit as seems to be a focus based on the first couple chapters, pretty tough that the first thing they’re doing is planning out their grooming of an adolescent Duncan Idaho ghola though - seems on brand for them.