Gerbang Nasib (Postern of Fate)

The atmospheric setting adds so much to the suspense, but I wonder if the author's own experiences influenced this choice or if it was purely fictional.

I felt like the story dragged at times, but maybe that was to build tension. Would love to hear others' thoughts on the story’s rhythm.

The way the past seems to haunt the present really stood out to me. Did others feel that the characters' memories were reliable or distorted?