Восхождение Ганнибала

The backstory adds depth to his character but also shifts the tone of the series. I'm curious how much of this was planned from the start.

While understanding his background adds complexity, it also made me question whether it excused some of his later actions. How did others interpret this balance?

The book's atmosphere is so tense, but I wonder if the focus on inner thoughts could overwhelm the pacing for some readers.