Forging Divinity

The world of Forging Divinity feels richly detailed, but I wonder how much was planned in advance versus developed during writing. Did focusing on the characters come first?

The plot ramped up unexpectedly, and I found myself flipping pages faster. Was this pacing choice intentional to keep readers on edge?

The divine aspects added depth and intrigue, and I’m curious whether these came from existing mythologies or were entirely created for this world.