This is less of a sequel and more of a continuation of the first book. This story contains everything I love and expect from a GGK book - the idea that one seemingly minor decision can change the lives of thousands, and the interconnectedness of the lives of his characters. A respected mosaicist is summoned to the capital by the emperor, kicking off a series of events that include a charioteer, a slave, an undercook, a foreign doctor, the wife of a general, and a dancer. You end up with a sweeping narrative and solid worldbuilding that seems like it should take more than just two books.