The Infernal City

The city feels so vivid and layered — I wonder if it was based on real places or entirely imagined from scratch. Did the author have a particular source of inspiration?

Some decisions seemed really grey and complex, which made me think about how power can corrupt even well-intentioned characters. How did others interpret their motivations?

There were exciting battles but also moments of plotting and diplomacy. Was this contrast intentional to keep the pace dynamic?