This book of the continuing saga of the "Enderverse" continues what has been a slight decline in the series for me.

I don't know if it was the fact that it takes place almost exclusively on Earth or the fact that the main characters the we've grown to love are pushed a little to the background.

Don't get me wrong, reading about Ender's parents and Peter was not a bad thing, but with Ender barely ever seemingly barely ever being mentioned and Bean pushed a little into the background, the book just didn't captivate like prior installments of this fine series have.

Still, the end pays off (a long standing thread in the series tied up) and Card leaves us anticipating the next chapter in the series.

While this may have been the book that I've enjoyed the least so far in this sprawling series (I've chosen in my own mind not to break them into an "Ender" series and a "Shadow" series, as some have), it's still a must for any fans of the stories of Ender's universe and Orson Scott Card.