Phantom: A Dark Retelling

The story weaves a dark, seductive atmosphere with fantasy tropes, which isn't common. I'm curious how the author decided to merge these genres.

The romance felt intense but also intertwined with themes of identity and power. Did others interpret it as a story about finding oneself within darkness?

The setting felt richly textured, almost like a character itself. I'm wondering if the author developed the world first or if it evolved alongside the plot.