Publishers Weekly review stated, "Herbert and Anderson’s tepid 15th foray into the universe of Herbert’s father’s Dune novels (after Tales of Dune) adds little to the original series’ mix of action, politics, magic, and religion... The passable prose and lackluster plot will limit this one's appeal to diehard fans only."[5] Daniel Matters of Worldly Magazine wrote, "For anyone new to the Dune universe, Dune: The Duke of Caladan is an excellent place to start. Herbert and Anderson’s crisp prose is easy to follow and does just the right amount of world building so that newcomers who have never read any other books in the Dune series are eased into the interconnected politics of the planets within the Imperium, and its many organisations and structures. Older fans will be happy to find that they are not oversaturated by Herbert and Anderson with information they already possess."[6] Kelly Adams of Big Shiny Robot commented, "This is a fast-paced, fun read, and it’s sure to help with the pangs of missing out on the film this year. If you have read the other Herbert/Anderson books, this is a wonderful addition to their stories. If your knowledge is limited to Dune, then it’s easy to find your footing with these familiar characters and places. And if this is your first step into the Dune universe, it’s a great first look into this world. However, the worldbuilding begun by Frank Herbert is vast and may be a bit overwhelming at first."[7]
