Корона за холодное серебро

The setting feels both expansive and visceral—I'm curious whether the author envisioned this bleak tone from the start or developed it as the story evolved.

The characters are so flawed and layered that I kept wondering if their actions justified their motives—am I the only one feeling this tension?

The shifting viewpoints added depth but also made the story feel more intricate—was this approach planned from the beginning or did it develop during writing?