The Red Palace - Istana Merah

The rich historical setting adds such depth to the story. I'm curious whether the author was inspired by real events or wanted to highlight a lesser-known period.

The buildup was intense, but I found myself wanting more urgency during the slower parts. Was that intentional to build atmosphere or a pacing choice?

The setting felt so vivid, but I wondered how much of that was driven by research versus storytelling needs. What do you think led to that balance?