The second book in the prequel trilogy by Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson, the events of which immediately precede the beginning of Frank Herbert's incomparable Dune. The quiet, happy life of Lady Jessica - the unofficial but beloved wife of Duke Leto Atreides and the mother of his heir Paul - comes to an end .She is again called to the planet of the Bine Gesserit Order, where she faces a deadly battle with the maddened keeper of the secret of creating a superman. It was she who saw in Jessica and Paul an imminent threat to the long-standing hopes of the Bine Gesserit. Meanwhile, the Empire finds itself on the brink of destruction, and even the Reverend Mother of the Order herself is unable to correct the situation. Sophisticated intrigues are woven. Intrigues are being built. You can't trust anyone. Jessica understands: the fate of her family hangs in the balance...