Ender in Exile by Orson Scott Card

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Publishers Weekly

Set between Card's Hugo and Nebula-winning Ender's Game(1985) and Speaker for the Dead(1986), this philosophical novel covers familiar events, but puts new emphasis on their ethical ramifications. In the wake of his victory over the alien Formics, 12-year-old military genius Ender Wiggins is hailed as a hero, but governments opposed to the International Fleet, which trained him, intend to portray him as a monster. Ender winds up as titular governor of one of the new human colonies, where he struggles to adapt to civilian life and ponders his role in the deaths of thousands of humans and an entire alien species.

Just when you thought Card had mined everything out of the Ender saga - he comes back to prove you wrong - and I'm glad he did. This was very good at "filling in the details" at the aftermath of the Bugger War, and "what happened" to lead up to Speaker for the Dead. Looks like there's more to come - hallelujah! (There are also interesting notes about the retconning necessary to correct differences between this book and the end of Ender's Game.

Wolfstar (Tour of the Merrimack Series #2) by R.M. Meluch

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From Booklist
The second adventure of the Merrimack and her right good crew focuses on the war between Earth and the Palatine Empire. The empire is a group of seceded colonies that based its culture on the Roman Empire. Although doughty fighters, the Palatines have been at a disadvantage in interstellar flight technology. Now they may be developing Earth-equivalent technology and the potential to expand their sphere of influence. When the Merrimack is sent to investigate, she falls into a trap that only Captain Farragut's ingenuity keeps from becoming fatal. Add to this the advent of the Hive--space-dwelling group beings who are the deadly enemies of all other sentient life--and the ingredients of a fast-paced, space-action novel are assembled.

Very fun! It' s interesting - the first book (The Myriad) sets up all the relationships and histories - like a pilot episode of a series - and then (using a device I can't/won't explain) "resets" everything to continue the story into the second book. Good series - and getting better!