The Blade Itself

The story jumps between different characters' perspectives, which kept me hooked but also made the pacing feel uneven at times. I wonder what inspired this structure and how it evolved during writing.

The characters often blur the lines between right and wrong, making it hard to root for anyone. Did this moral complexity enhance or detract from the story for others?

The setting feels so lived-in and brutal—I'm curious whether the author drew from real-world influences or crafted this entirely from imagination.