Tales of the Sun Eater, Volume 2 is another set of short stories that take place during the 2nd and 3rd books of the main series. I think this collection was a little stronger than the first volume.

Ruocchio has definitely improved as a writer as the series has gone on. These stories have better characterization and stronger plots than the first series, and they really help fill in some of gaps in the worldbuilding in the main series. They're by no means essential reading to understand the main plot, but they add some color and personality to the setting that aren't always present in the main books.

The best stories are those that focus on Hadrian and his family, but the few that have completely new and unrelated characters are fun too. This is a really quick read and worth your time if you enjoy the series.