Review: A good story that was badly translated
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 04 9, 2013
This is a very good book, but it needs a lot of work to make it readable. That's why I gave it 3 stars.I've just finished the kindle ebook, and it's only because the story is so different and captivating that I managed to get past the translation issues. Several idioms are translated as-is, forcing the reader to guess as what is meant with them.Just one example : "While they were left clucking their beaks" ? Okay I guess the writer means that they are still talking, but I'm not totally sure... ? It does make you smile though.Several times I only realised what they meant by what the main character did afterwards. I also felt that a bit more explanation of what happened or how the magic system was used was needed.For example, somewhere in the book there is a mention of the "armoury curse" : I could not find a description of what it does only talk between characters. Later on another curse is used, but is it the same ?And what is meant with the Shackles of deliverance curse  and the pump-sign ? More and better explanation please !Probably there is also a different cultural setting, and while in Russia a reader may not need extra information to comprehend the situation, other countries do *not* have the same cultural setting. Why do students were uniforms ? A student cap ? Why are women or girls hardly mentioned or if they are mentioned, why they are treated as only secretaries "looking for men" ?This book, correctly translated, could be a real winner. I'll buy the following books as well, but I hope they are better written.