Decent writing with some interesting characters who slowly developed over the course of 700+ pages. Story could have been written in a much shorter length and been just as good, although the slow pace of the developing story can be enjoyed if the reader isn't looking for a quick resolution. Bad ending to the book.....in fact, no ending at all, just leaving the reader hanging in mid-air with nothing whatsoever resolved. Obviously a set-up for a continuing series, but the complete lack of any of the storyline makes me wonder if I really want to invest another 700 pages of effort to find.....what?

I enjoyed the book, but the sudden and incomplete ending was very frustrating.

The ending to this book was a complete non ending. Very disappointing. It's obvious that the authors are planning a multi-book story arc... which I can live with, but there is very little closure to this part of the story. It's as if you were forced to exit the movie half-way through. Also, though competently written, I don't feel this book has much heart. The best sci-fi books are really more about investigating the human condition, and this is more about creating fabulous worlds. Unlike the Dune books of Herbert's father where people are often flawed, and multi-layered, most of the characters in this book are one dimensional props, and their relationships are simple, obvious, and thinly developed. I was really excited to see where Herbert and Anderson went after the completion of Dune. I think unfortunately it's not anything ground breaking, and easily ignored. I might read the next book by the pair, but I'm not looking forward to it. Hopefully it will be more satisfying.

Entertaining, but not as detailed or as deeply imagined as the 'honorverse'. Authors use a dozen or more characters to advance the story; all competent as I said. It's like...one could read it once but not feel as if they needed to ever read it again. Once is adequate.