Ascend

The world-building in Ascend is so vivid and complex. I'm curious what inspired the author to create this particular alien society and its power dynamics.

The dark atmosphere really heightened the romantic tension for me. Do others think the mood made the relationship feel more urgent or risky?

The pacing between the intense, dark scenes and the tender romantic ones felt well crafted. I'm wondering if this balance was intentional from the start or evolved during writing.