The cast of characters in this book two of the The Sarantine Mosaic are as diverse as the tesserae used in the making of mosaics. Small pieces of glass or stone, which have a huge impact depending on where they are placed with other pieces of the puzzle. As in the book one, the stage setting is the Byzantine Empire with all the intrigue, back biting, and the dancers in the royal court playing one against the other. I thought the sexual interactions of the pieces on the game board were a bit over done, but in the end sets the arena for battles to come.

Excellent descriptions of what the chariot races of the day were. Foul play allowed, if discrete. And again the world of the god Jad with rulers and clerics alike making the religious rules as they see fit.

G. G. Kay has a new book coming out in May 2022. There is one other of his I have not read, but reading the reviews, I shall not risk it. The reviewers either liked it or hated it. No in between. So, for now, I am done with Mr. Kay.