Rating: 
Summary: Awesome
Review: Card does a wonderful job of drawing you into the story. The intricate plot may be beyond some people, as there is definitely no lack of characters, but it makes sense if you're actually paying attention. Petra plays a large role in the story, and we, as the readers, get to know her much better. It's nice to finally get into the mind of one of Card's female characters. This is probably one of my favorite books in the Ender Series. (My other favorite being Ender's Shadow.) Some of the events in the story would be unlikely to happen and make the story seem to try too hard, if any other author had written them. As it is, Card makes even the most doubtful events seem quite believeable, especially since we're tensed up for action throughout the entire book. I would definitely suggest that you buy this book instead of borrow it, since you'll want to read it again, and everybody gets a bit miffed when you don't return books, especially books this good.
Rating:
Summary: Card scores big!
Review: Card creates and engrossing plot that expands the thoughts and world of Bean, while bringing the history of Peter Wiggin into prospective, and enlightening us further of the Wiggin family, and how the reacted to the leaving of Valentine and Ender.A+
Rating: 
Summary: Compelling read, but lots of incongruities
Review: I loved both "Ender's Game" and "Ender's Shadow", so I was definitely ready for this one. Overall, I liked it very much... as a narrative. Certainly a must-read for fans of the earlier books. A persistent problem, though, is that it doesn't really work as believable "future history". I had very much looked forward to Card's vision of Earth's political and social situation circa 2150 A.D. But it seemed as if he's off by a century. The geopolitics and the the state of technology and society struck me as being more in line with 2050... if not earlier. Additionally, there are some plot twists and situations that struck me as wholely implausible, but it would be a "spoiler" to describe them here. Let it suffice to say that the way some nations behave in this book is not very believable. But like I said, it was a good read. I like Bean very much, and Sister Carlotta is much more fleshed out here. The next book should be just as good... and I hope even better.
Rating: 
Summary: Appaling, boring and rapidly becomes intelligence insulting
Review: With great hope I openend this new book in the Ender series, hope that it improves on the previous one in the series, Children of the Mind. Which was just plain boring. Had to skip to the end as could not bear the appalingly plodding script and magical approach to plot devices. Worst luck, this is worse. Within a few pages the stupidity of the plot, shalowness of the characters and non-exploration of SF causes headaches. Perhaps one of the worst books I've bought. Do not buy! Orson has lost it.
Rating: 
Summary: Card is always readable. . . yet this one falls short
Review: This novel really falls flat in comparison to other Card masterpieces. Instead of a tightly woven plot, Card seems hyper focused on the interactions of emotionally bonded competing protagonists. So much so that the plot becomes subverted to the expedient whims of the characters emotional development. Shadow is a book of military strategy that takes place two centuries in the future - using contemporary technology. This is seems a novice error. Or is this book intended to be more metaphorical? The lengthy afterward defending his future personas would dissuade this thesis. I think it safe to say that Card lacks a general grasp of air power (or space power) specifically and political power generally. Power never lies with the smart. Brains and geeks shape the world but they do not re-forge it in their image.
Evan Hitler had to go to jail. Stalin had to wait in the wings.
The political maneuvering that Card envisions is simply silly. Wheels within wheels of deception. Too many break points. Too little plausibility. Too much power entrusted to those who have not earned it. So I am left thinking that this book fails because it is not a novel. It is a launching pad for Card's various well documented broadsides: America is on the decline, (morally and otherwise) the world is easily manipulated by strong personalities etc. Card's philosophy, as presented in Shadow, is heavily tainted by his Mormon belief structure - witch seems to force him to always show his own country in a negative light. This is, after all, the country that denounced and persecuted his church fathers for their beliefs.
It is hard to be this brutally honest with Card. He left a beautiful eulogy for his late son in the final pages of Shadow of the Hedgmon. But I must be frank. Card has sunk to the level of Bath Tub SF with this novel.
Rating:
Summary: Fleshing Out Peter Wiggin
Review: It has always been a complaint of mine since the original Ender Series that Peter Wiggin was merely a templated character-a nothing which helped define Ender, Peter seemed to exist only to be a foil to Andrew Wiggins goodness. No longer. Scott Card has done an amazing thing with each of the characters in this book and that is breath life into them. Peter is three dimensional and we can actually sympathize with any and all his situations. Without giving anything away from the tremendous plot of the story, Scott Card is going strong in this series and has made us fall in love with other children as well as Ender of old. I look forward to the rest of this series with absolute joy. Definitely a great read for anyone who has read the original Enders series. If you liked Armour and Starship Troopers, some of the military actions in this book will make you salivate. Enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: Card is slowing down a bit
Review: Ender's Game was fantastic. The rest of the books surrounding Ender's life were different, but good in their own way. Ender's Shadow was a glimpse at the original story from a different perspective, but it was still intriguing and very fun to read. Now, we have Shadow of the Hegemon, and we're starting to ask the big question: Do we really care that much about Bean? The book is pretty good, but not on the same level as Ender's Game. Of course, if you look at Ender's Game and Ender's Shadow, this book is the next progression in the "series", but somehow it leaves you wanting more. Mr. Card, Ender's Game was terrific, and we would have been thrilled had you left it there. Fortunately and unfortunately, you didn't. Final thoughts: If you loved the series, get the book. If all you've read is Ender's Game, please, for the love of all that's sacred, leave it there!
Rating:
Summary: Good - pretty good
Review: Cards books on the Battle School genius's are all pretty good. I particularly liked Enders Game and this book, Shadow of the Hegemon. While I could never believe the premise that the worlds most powerful leaders would listen to children, regardless of the childs brilliance, Card still makes a plausible story of it all - and takes the reader on a fun journey into brilliance and madness while he is at it. Bean is the brightest of them all and this book takes you deeper into the thought process of the wonderkid at work - this time not in war but in Politics. I have only two complaints with the book; Peter Wiggen and Childhood Influence. This book seems to have softened the personality of Peter Wiggen, Enders older brother whom we met in Ender's Game - he seems much nicer and compassionate than he should be - I don't have the same sense of forboding I had before with Peter. Secondly, the realitive ease with which these kids get the ear of world leaders, particularly our main antagonist Achilles. Not only do they get the ears of all of these adults but they are easilly able to manipulate them via petty flattery and the petting of egos. Despite these weaknesses the story is good and has a great flow to it. I read the book in two afternoon sittings during my recent vacation and don't feel the time was wasted. The book is good entertainment while also delivering some social commentary about our not too distant future. However, more than the book itself, I enjoyed the afterword by Card giving some insight into the books that shaped his views of world politics and what makes the events that happen happen. The book can be read as a stand alone volume but I would recommend at least reading Enders Game and Enders Shadow before hand so that you have a solid basis with which to "believe" in the extrodinary children depicted.
Rating:
Summary: Casting A Pale Shadow
Review: Shadow Of The Hegemon pales in the brilliance of Ender's Shadow. But then again, sequels to works such as Ender's Game (Speaker For The Dead, Xenocide, etc.) and Ender's Shadow are exceptionally difficult undertakings - how does one compete with a world-class big brother who can do no wrong? The principal element of greatness in Ender's Game and Ender's Shadow is character development. Because the sequels employ the same characters, for the most part, Card has to depend on the story line to carry the book. It becomes clear fairly quickly that Card's greatest strength as an author lies in creating unforgettable super-hero-type personalities, rather than in yarn-spinning. Nevertheless, Shadow Of The Hegemon is entertaining and a good read (unlike the off-world sequels), as long as one does not expect to be taken in the same way that Ender and Bean inevitably capture the reader: innocence triumphs over evil through character, brilliance and sheer willpower.
Rating: 
Summary: why i think this is a good book
Review: Why I think this book and others in this series are good is simple. They kept my attention. I am a sixteen year old girl that when I get bored I want a good book to curl up with no distractions and I totally get lost in the charecters and thats what happened when I read, not only this book but all of the ENDER books, I got lost for hours on end. With Bean having to save his friends, nobody quite knowing whats going on, and the budding romance between him and the only girl in BATTLE SCHOOL to have fought in the Bugger wars. A good end. Or is it a new beginning...? To this the bean segment of the series. I don't know about anyone else who's read these books but i hope he comes out with more of them maybe Enders children...?
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