Cardinal Caged

The mood really drew me in, but I wonder what the author envisioned as the emotional core of the story. Was it based on personal experiences or a desire to explore darker themes in romance?

I loved the complexity but also felt uneasy at times about their choices. How do readers reconcile empathy for flawed characters with their questionable actions?

The pacing kept me hooked, but I’m curious whether the shift in tone was planned from the start or developed as the story evolved during writing.