Candy Cain Kills

The juxtaposition of holiday cheer and horror is so striking. I'm curious if this contrast was a deliberate choice to amplify the tension or if it evolved naturally.

Her actions are extreme, but the story makes her seem almost sympathetic at times. How did readers interpret her character's morality?

The pacing and reveals kept me hooked, but I wonder if the backstory was planned from the start or developed during writing to enhance tension.