FINAL update: just finished reading the new translation and it is MUCH better! There is still an awkwardness to how it is written, but that is expected of any translation given the variations and nuances in language structure—especially when translating French to English, both of which utilize contractions, contextual “slang”, regional dialects, etc. that are not always “formal” and can be difficult to directly translate in a way that expresses the original phrasing or imagery portrayed by the author. There are also several phrases in both the French and English languages that simply cannot be translated to the other.
Now the STORY: Two souls who met as children in a future time, meet again at different points in time, eventually reconnecting in a “past” timeline and going back to the future to prevent war. AKA time-traveling secret agents seeking to stop evil scientists from developing bioweapons that will lead to global destruction of earth and humanity. This concept >>>>>>>>> FANTASTIC. In terms of execution, it was still somewhat confusing to me—but that does NOT mean that the story was not told well or written well! For example, it wasn’t explained how Tokuri and Redlight knew each other but had their memories erased until the very end—but after reading it a second time I can see how it is foreshadowed in that both mentioned how each other seemed familiar and were like triggering suppressed memories of somehow knowing the other at various moments in the story. I would again claim this confusion is due to the untranslatability of certain phrases/words, etc.
Also, the most confusing part was the switching of timelines once we got into the London future where Tokuri HAD existed and created the time-traveling secret agents and recruited/trained Redlight indirectly but then died, and then Redlight goes back in time and reconnects with/recruits Tokuri, but niether of them remember being friends as kids prior to Tokuri going to Dahlia or Redlight being recruited to the time-travel agency. But I can follow it now! (I think? lol)
I still recommend reading it in French if you can, but still the new translation is much better and the concept is great so give it a read!
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2nd update: the author reached out to let me know they are aware of the issues with the translation, is currently having a new translation done, and offered to send me the new/updated translation for free! The author is incredibly kind and I appreciate her reaching out. If you can read french, definitely read the book in french!
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initial post: please get a new translator for the english edition, i read all 400 pages and have no idea what this story is about or even what happens in the book. there are several grammatical issues and syntax errors that prevent the plot from making sense—contextually, there is no continuity to the story, as the “plot”, character motivations, and world building somehow doesn’t exist, and what IS written constantly contradicts itself. every word written, every decision made and action taken by a character, every direction the “plot” went makes NO sense. the characters changed personalities and their backstories seemingly every chapter. even the sentences that are technically “correct”—in terms of language usage—are contextually indecipherable.
there is so much blatantly lost in translation that i genuinely believe this story is ENTIRELY different in its original language.