A very fitting ending point for those interested in stopping their Dune journey with the main Atreides cast of characters. Ultra-philosophical while not being particularly alienating (save for the epigraphs, which demanded far more attention this book than any of the prior three), with a plot that is paced appropriately and thoroughly thought through. Leto II is by far one of the most interesting fictional beings I've ever read about, and is both the protagonist and antagonist this time around. The arc of Duncan Idaho is surprisingly refreshing for a character I didn't have strong feelings about in the first novel. Siona, Moneo, and Hwi Noree are awesome characters introduced in this book that all had very compelling motives. The reason I did not rate it 5 stars is it is not a book I would recommend to everyone. It is long, and often difficult to keep track of certain characters if you're not actively taking notes (which I did for the first 1/3 of the book). I also spent much of the book wondering when and why Siona needed to be tested, just for it to not end up being particularly consequential when it happens. I believe more time could have been spent on the rebellion aspect, and the attacks throughout Arrakis and the public's perception of the God Emperor. The final main complaint I have is that when Leto and Hwi Noree meet, the book grinds to a halt and takes a bit of time to pick back up. Aside from that, there are many gorgeous and heart pounding scenes and quotes from this book, and many of Herbert's annoying quirks as a writer are refined away. The overall arc of the Atreides, Duncan Idaho, the Empire, Arrakis, the Fremen, and their culture, spice/worms, and overall writing is absolutely beautiful when compared to the first book, and I will be thinking about it for a long time.