Prisoners in the Palace

The historical context adds so much tension and drama, but I wonder what drew Michaela MacColl to this particular moment in history and how she brought it to life in fiction.

Some decisions felt brave, others naive, and I kept wondering how I might have acted in their situation. Was that intentional to create moral ambiguity?

The story weaves both elements seamlessly, but I’m curious whether that was a conscious choice to keep the story engaging or if it evolved during writing.