Schatten über Ulldart

Heitz's depiction of Ulldart feels so immersive and brutal; I'm curious what influenced his vision of this dark fantasy realm.

The story introduces so many groups and characters; I found it challenging to keep track. Was this complexity intentional or did it evolve during writing?

Some chapters are packed with battles, while others slow down for introspection. I wonder what led to the pacing choices here.