I agree with you but if I were in the same situation, I might act like him, cold-hearted as much as possible. Everyone around him is so toxic, no one ever gives him love or teaches him how to love someone, they just teach him how to get revenge and aim for the throne. If he can stay sane in this situation, the storyline might become not very persuasive. However, breaking Suu's legs is going too far.
So true. Whatever happened as a child, I will see him as a child. I will understand him as a child. Pity him even. But that does not mean I will project the same pity on the adult. No way. He is evil and manipulative now. All things he does now lie squarely on his shoulders as someone chasing power at the expense of the lives of others. Doesn't matter what he suffered as a child.
I don't disagree, but the placement of the reveal needed to be earlier in the story. Now, it no longer matters.
I think the author picked the wrong time for the back story. The action was finally moving and now we have to wait. Personally things have gone too far for me to care about his intentions as a child. He is a ruthless man now. That is who we are dealing with.