It has been eighty-three years since the destruction of the thinking machines in the Battle of Corrin. War hero Vorian Atreides has abandoned politics and vanished. The descendants of Abulard Harkonnen, who was convicted of cowardice and exiled to the grim Lankiveil, continue to blame Vorian for their fate.

On the jungle planet Rossak, Raquella Berto-Anirul, the first Reverend Mother, has created her own Sisterhood, running a school that trains women to enhance their minds and bodies. The descendants of Aurelius Venport and Norma Senva have built a commercial empire, while Gilbertus Albans has established a different school in Lambdas, teaching people to become Mentats.

Anti-technology zeal still spreads across human-colonized planets, with powerful, fanatical groups enforcing violent purges... The first book of a stunning, adventurous trilogy that reveals the mysterious aspects of the schools and political formations that have shaped the universe of Dune...

"Characters and plot are well-crafted, the timing perfect [...] The universe captured by Frank Herbert is so vast, complex, and captivating that it keeps the magic alive." – Kirkus Reviews

"With their well-known dedication to the vision of the late Frank Herbert, authors Herbert (son of Frank) and Anderson (The Winds of Dune) continue to shed light on the hidden facets of the Dune Chronicles to this day. The fully realized characters and intricate plot will place this title high on the reading list of fans." ―Library Journal

"An enjoyable blend of space opera and feudal soap opera [...] The narrative is divided into short, striking chapters, featuring scattered familiar names like 'Atreides', 'Harkonnen', and 'Arrakis' that will capture the attention of devoted Dune series fans." ―Publishers Weekly