This book was a surprise to me; I expected another dark book, but that's not true of Insignia. It's one of those books that you finish and want more, more, more. The characters were really real; I either liked them or hated them, except for Heather who was shallow, but not so much so that I disliked her. The plot was absolutely amazing; the ending really surprised me and was wonderful! It is nothing like Ender's Game! I especially liked the way S. J. Kincaid explained the current world and how it came to be. Also, the author infused humor throughout and that added a lot of enjoyment. There were some really touching scenes, too, some of which moved me to tears. Insignia is a great read!