A Curse of Shadows and Ice (Curse of Shadow and Ice 1)

The tension and chemistry between characters really drove the story, but I wonder if this was a deliberate choice or evolved during writing.

Every detail about the magic and politics made the setting vivid, making me curious whether there was a detailed lore bible or it grew naturally.

The contrast between shadows and moments of tenderness made the story stand out, and I wonder if it was a conscious decision to keep the tone complex.