Still interested despite confusing beginning

There were lots of characters that were all introduced back-to-back. Each had their own backstory, adventure, and personality. Just as I was getting to know one character, the chapter would end and a new character was introduced. That made me a little confused because I was also trying to keep track of each character's story line and the time line. The intro was clearly in the past, and the current chapters feel like they're in the present but I'm not entirely sure. Despite struggling to keep track of the story in the beginning, I am still interested in the story because I want to know what the "Flies" are and why/what they are hunting.