A Mask of Flies

The way the narrative explores the darker sides of the mind is intense. I'm curious whether this combination was planned from the start or evolved during writing.

The characters' psychological depth made me wonder how much of their backstories the author mapped out beforehand. Did the characters surprise the author as well?

The story balances tension with moments of reflection beautifully. I wonder what led to the decision to keep a moderate pace instead of going faster or slower.