read chapterhouse if you're wondering how the bene gesserit operate as they’re hunted from planet to planet. or if you’re a dune completionist with a morbid curiosity like me! otherwise, let me specifically point out that this will not be a fun read if you were hoping for an amazing return of sandworms, sheeana, the terraforming of chapterhouse, or miles teg.

avoid chapterhouse if you’re against revisiting the same awful plot device

(sexual assault of a child’s body)

used to recover ghola memories. it should have been retired after heretics but it’s here again. if it was meant to come off as simply a creepy tactic, I’m positive there were less voyeuristic ways to write it. also skip if you're not invested in the honored matres conflict in general.

one of the main arguments that herbert wanted to unpack in his last 2 books—whether love weakens or strengthens humanity—is all well and good. it’s just no one can convince me to take his discussion seriously when these opposing views are associated with two female cults who’s only differences are whether they kill people with their legs and their knowledge of “sexual augmentation”. even murbella

already talks and thinks like a bene gesserit that her choice to assimilate into the sisterhood to gain information (and lose her “love” of duncan)

ends up not that shocking or interesting. herbert may have been decent at writing women of distinct motivations, but his attempt to write them with a straight, sex-positive attitude was poor. the execution of it all feels dated and bogged down by odd, spacey sci-fi elements I wouldn't care to reread about.