Rating: 
Summary: Good conclusion to the original trilogy
Review: Children of Dune is the third book in the Dune series. Although there are six books total, the first three form a trilogy, essentially the biography of Paul Atreides and his family (the other books take place much later). Dune, the first book, is a definite classic in science fiction, while Dune Messiah is a weaker yet still good sequel. Children of Dune fits somewhere between the two in quality.As the book opens, Paul is believed to be dead, a martyr last seen nine years earlier. The political and religious empire he had created is prospering under his sister, Alia, who is acting as regent until Paul's twin children come of age. With indications of decadence already appearing, a mysterious Preacher is speaking out against the failings of this empire, and there are those who believe that this Preacher may be Paul. One of the reasons that this book is stronger than the second book is the return of Lady Jessica, absent since the end of the first book. With her daughter Alia seeming possessed by the spirit of Baron Harkonnen (one of the great villains of sci-fi), Jessica becomes entangled in plots that could be fatal to her and her grandchildren. The twins themselves, intellectually far older than their physical ages and gifted with inherited talents, are hardly helpless in all this intriguing. If you have enjoyed the first two Dune books, this is a must read, as it brings many plot lines to a close even as it opens new possibilities for future books. As in real life, Herbert understands that historical (even future historical) events rarely wrap up neatly, and a conclusion is merely a beginning of a different phase of history. This adds to the richness of this book and makes this series one of the landmarks of the genre.
Rating:
Summary: Nice transition from old characters to new...
Review: 1) The unabridge audiobook was a lot of listening, but it has some things going for it.
a) The reader of the audiobook did a good job of the acting and voiceovers. There were one or two scenes where the actor missed the correct voice and if it wasn't for the "Lito said" or "Gurney said" you kind of loose the pace during those scenes. Otherwise, the reader did a fine job!
b) The story was gripping! I normally can't stand unabridged readings but this one kept me enthralled from the beginning of tape 1 to the end of tape 10. Now more about the story... 2) Some will love it, while others will hate the transformation of some of our favorite characters from Dune. I personally felt the transformations were a love/hate relationship I had with the book. I too like to see my favorite protagonist succeed in the end, so the end result on a couple of characters was saddening. The redeeming factor is that there are new characters who come to life and step in, with all their glory and likeableness (is that a word?), to take the spotlight and continue the story. 3) I honestly don't remember getting any true sense of wonder from Dune Messiah. Children of Dune I definitely had that sense of wonder. The sense of wonder did at times borderline on huge disbelief but Herbert's explainations helped me through it...so I was able to forgive the author when all was said and done. Because of feedback from others, after reading Dune I abandoned the rest of the series. Years later I picked up Dune Messiah on the off chance that it would be great and it was ok reading when you have nothing else that is seriously waiting to be read. That was like 7 years ago. With the upcoming Sci-Fi channel made movie called Children of Dune I had to pickup this story. I'm very glad I did and I'm very interested in reading the next book in the series now.
Rating: 
Summary: Not as good as the first two Dune novels, but still 5 stars.
Review: As the title suggests, this Dune novel, book 3 in the Dune series, focuses on Paul's children. It is an altogether different kind of story than the first two Dune novels, but a great read nonetheless. It starts out with Paul's children receiving clothes as gifts from someone who wants them dead. Publicly refusing the gift would be a slap across the face to the giver, which could start a war, so the Atreides children accept the gift. Larza Tigers have been trained by the giver of the clothing to attack and eat anyone wearing these specific clothes. And the story goes from there. Children of Dune and Heretics of Dune are largely considered to be the third/fourth best novels in the Dune series. If you liked the first two, you'll probably like this one as well. Frank Herbert has a captivating writing style all his own.
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Rating:
Summary: The Fall of House Atredeis, The Rise of Leto 2
Review: Out of all the books in the Dune Chronicles, Children of Dune is my second favorite (right next to Dune). I see Children of Dune sorta like Episode 3 will be like. Anakin becomes powerful and evil. While Leto 2 does not become evil he does gain power and a suffocating grip on humanity, which will make you feel like he is evil in God Emperor of Dune, but he is not. The book shows that even the power of the Kwisatz Haderach and precognition (Muad'Dib's powers) is not limited to just adults. Oh yeah, you thought the Baron Harkonnen was dead. Think again.
Rating: 
Summary: LET THE CHILDREN RUN THE SHOW
Review: In the novel Dune, Frank Herbert created an original world of fiction that could go toe to toe with Middle-Earth. In the subsequent novels, like an aging rock star, Herbert has thrown out uninspired mess. While an improvement over Dune Messiah, Children of Dune, the 3rd novel in the Dune series, isn't much better. Leto and Ghanima Atreides, the twin children of Paul Atreides, are now nine years old and struggling with the curse of being pre-born. When you are pre-born, it means that all of your ancestors exist in your mind, all their memories and experiences are a part of your consciouness. The danger is that one of these memories can rise up and seize control of your mind, a state called "abomination". We could call it possession. The two twins are being raised by their aunt Alia, also a pre-born, who has taken over the reins of the Empire after the almost certain death of her brother Paul. Along with her priesthood, she holds sway over the world of Arrakis, and thereby holds power over the spice and the universe. The twins learn that she is harboring a horrible secret. Not everyone is satisfied with Alia's rule. Those Fremen who adhere to the old ways have begun to grumble and to seek ways to reverse what is happening to their planet. Also complicating things are the plots of Farad'n, the grandson of Shaddam IV, the emperor deposed by Paul Atreides. It is up to Leto and Ghanima to renew the dying spirit of Arrakis, and also to avoid the trap of prophecy that claimed their father. I can't really say I enjoyed this book. I read it. The thing about the first book of the Dune series is that it combined action, politics, philosophy, religion, and other genres. In the next two books, Herbert has taken out all the action and just turned them into almost Platonic dialogues. It's almost as if he got consumed by his message of environmentalism and philosophy and ideas outstripped his talent to portray them. Maybe he was a one book wonder. I'll have to read his non-Dune novels to be a judge of that. When there is action, which probably adds up to two whole scenes comprising about 5 pages of the 400, this book is great. I don't know if I will continue with the series.
Rating:
Summary: Herbert's third book of Dune is dark and exciting
Review: The first Dune novel was such a phenomenon that it was difficult for Frank Herbert to achieve the same level when he continued the series. Book Two (Dune Messiah) had the aspect of a Greek tragedy, pitting Paul Atreides against his sister Alia, who became possessed by the spirit of the evil Baron Harkonnen. The death-and-destruction ending of Book Two made for a darker, less optimistic feeling and disappointed many Dune fans. Book Three, however, regained the exciting tone of Book One. Here, the children of Paul and Chani assert their unusual powers, the result of centuries of breeding for super-humans by the Bene Gesserit. But don't count out House Corrino, the house of the defeated Emperor Shaddam. They are back to conspire some more against House Atreides. And a more evil enemy lurks in the future. This book has all the excitement of Dune, but is more focused on the Atreides children and what they are to become. It is a very thrilling science fiction novel, and not to be missed if you love Frank Herbert and "Dune."
Rating:
Summary: A vast improvment over #2
Review: This book lays the groundwork for the rest of the Dune Series. Litto II and his sister are young children now, almost adolescents.
It is not known what happened to their Father Paul. A few remnants of the old books survive in Gerny Hallack and Stilgar who no their best to safeguard the kids. But all 4 will be caught up in the vast changes sweeping the planet Arrakis, as their world Dune starts to die. Or that is, the deserts dry up. A great book as always interspersed with that wonderful Frank Herbert poetry adding a new depth to the story, a must for any serious Sci-fi fan.
Rating:
Summary: Great, but not so much as the first two.
Review: I recently came into knowledge of the "Dune" series, and so far this book is not my favorite. It lacked the complexity of that world created by Herbert on "Dune", and the story did'n't catch me like "Dune Messiah". This book runs through several storylines, and the one I found the most interesting was Leto's journey of self-discovery in the desert (which is essential to know if you're going to read the Fourth Book), but the whole thing is too long and sometimes runs thin on you. It's still a great story, but it wasn't as effective as its predecessors.
Rating:
Summary: Science and plausibility get kinda weak
Review:
In 'Children,' Herbert uses magic and fantasy a little bit too much, but it's still a good read, and has quite a few awesome concepts and action scenes. Still a damn good read.
-- JJ Timmins
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant!
Review: Magnificant! Dune was and is the ultimate imaginary masterpiece. Dune Messiah could be described as the character evolution of Paul Atreides and his sister Alia. Children of Dune centers around the inner torment of Paul's children, Alia and their own agendas. This book was hard to put down for more than five minutes. The drama unfolds and never ends!
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