After reading several GMMTV translations, I went into this one with fairly low expectations. I actually tried to put my serious-reader brain aside and approach it purely from a fangirl perspective, but even then, it became difficult to ignore some of the issues.
To be fair to the story, I think there are two things I needed to accept. First, this is a YA novel, and I left that genre behind a long time ago, so naturally I’m probably not its target reader anymore. Second—and this was the bigger issue for me—the translation just isn’t very good.
I know producing beautifully translated novels for international fans probably isn’t GMMTV’s ultimate goal, and this release feels more like making the most of the popularity surrounding the series. And honestly? I don’t even mind that. I bought it knowing exactly why I wanted it. But the translation often made the story feel awkward and disjointed. I couldn’t help feeling that some of the original essence had been lost along the way, because there were moments when the writing simply didn’t flow.
The story itself was okay. Nothing I particularly disliked, but nothing that managed to pull me in either. In the end, I’m mostly just happy to have another GMMTV novel sitting on my bookshelf as part of my collection.
One thing that did make the reading experience better was having William’s OST permanently stuck in my head. It somehow became the unofficial soundtrack to the entire book and probably added more to my reading experience than I expected.
Having already watched the series once, though, I can’t say finishing the novel has made me want to revisit it anytime soon.
Maybe this one was always destined to be more of a fangirl collectible for me than a memorable read—and I think I’m okay with that.
63. “He tried to call out for someone to answer… the crowd jostled and dragged him further and further away… Mhok’s voice, his only sanctuary, became lower and lower and finally disappeared.” ㅠ ㅠ
130. “He smiled and blew out the candles. God might have been cruel to him with one thing. But maybe he was kind to him in another way.”
138. “In the end, August was no different from anyone else. He was looking at Day with eyes of pity, the type of eyes that Day hated the most ever since his vision began to deteriorate. The type of assistance that did good deeds to prove they were a good person… Day hated this most, he hated everyone who pitied him… A kiss out of pity was actually the most pitiful thing.”
140. “‘Who said I punched him for you? It’s my hand. I decided to use it for punching. It was outside of work hours, Day. That means I don’t take orders from you anyway. I did what I wanted to do,’ Mhok was still arguing.”
141. “Day spoke like a child with a bad temper. He knew he was extremely irritated. A bird with broken wings that was about to bite anyone who came near him. Trying to spread his wings and fly had utterly damaged his identity both inside and out.”
Well, guess it’s time to go back and watch the series again. 😌