Skandar and the Phantom Rider

The creatures feel so unique and alive — I wonder if the author drew from existing folklore or created them from scratch. Did any real-world myths influence this?

Those moments were detailed and important for character growth, but I found myself wishing for more action. Do others think those parts were necessary or could they have been shorter?

Shifting into Skandar’s point of view gave the story intimacy, but I wonder if the choice was to help build trust with the reader or for another reason.