The Borderlands Princess

The descriptions of the magic and politics made the borderlands seem almost real. I wonder how much of it was inspired by traditional folklore or entirely from the author's imagination.

The setting adds so much tension and mystery, but I'm curious whether the author envisioned this as a metaphor for real-world divisions or just a fantasy trope.

I loved the chemistry, but the risks the characters take kept me on edge. Did the author intentionally craft the romance to mirror the dangerous political landscape?