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Theonite #1
Planet Adyn
Joan Messi has spent thirteen lonely years hiding her supernatural abilities from her parents, her classmates, and everyone in her white bread suburban community. However, her little world of secrets is shattered when a pair of strangers arrive from a parallel dimension on the hunt for a nameless criminal. Now, after a lifetime of wondering how she got her powers, Joan might have found the beginnings of an answer.
For Daniel Thundyil and his father, elemental powers and ego-maniacal supervillains are nothing new — although this is the first time a mission has brought them to a parallel dimension. Daniel's main concern in this new world isn't the looming threat of a godlike killer; it's fitting in at a school where the food is flavorless, everyone writes backwards in an ancient alphabet, and all the racial hierarchies seem to be reversed.
For Daniel Thundyil and his father, elemental powers and ego-maniacal supervillains are nothing new — although this is the first time a mission has brought them to a parallel dimension. Daniel's main concern in this new world isn't the looming threat of a godlike killer; it's fitting in at a school where the food is flavorless, everyone writes backwards in an ancient alphabet, and all the racial hierarchies seem to be reversed.
298 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2016
About the author
M.L. Wang
7 books1,351 followersHi, I'm M. L. Wang, writer of sci-fi & fantasy, winner of Mark Lawrence's 5th Self-Published Fantasy Blog Off (SPFBO).
I'm rarely on Goodreads, so if you need to get in touch, please see the contact page of my website: https://mlwangbooks.com/contact/
I'm rarely on Goodreads, so if you need to get in touch, please see the contact page of my website: https://mlwangbooks.com/contact/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
July 16, 2019
Theonite: Planet Adyn is a solid first entry fantasy effort which had some bits of magic and very good writing.
I first heard of M.L. Wang after reading her phenomenal The Sword of Kaigen, which blew me away, and became my favorite book of 2019! Written in the same 'world' of 'Adyn', this new novel 'Theonite' was her freshman effort at fantasy writing. Despite some inconsistencies and slower mid-book pacing, the book was overall entertaining and a good first effort.
Wang, is able to write a 'coming of age' hero story, that is both emotional and engaging. The story revolves around ' Joan Messi', a 13 year old girl who oddly enough, has superhuman powers! Joan has spent her entire life hiding her superhuman strength, practicing her supernatural abilities in secret, making herself practically invisible at school and to her disappointing parents. It is the arrival of a new 'family' in her town and another boy named 'Daniel', that the story really lights up. Joan realizes she's not as alone in her super abilities as she thinks, and with the help of Daniel and her father, she evolves into someone really special.
The strengths of the book lie in Wang's ability to describe 'joan's superpowers. The scenes where Joan is able to manipulate wind/ water and metal are quite impressive for a first-time writer. On the other hand, I thought the book lacked the 'polished' finish of her herculian effort 'Sword of Keigan'. Wang really tried to lay the foundation at 'worldbuilding' in this novel, and spent an unnecessarily long time at answering questions about the 'Adyn' world. Unfortunately, most of the story takes place on planet Earth, so the build up background about another planet felt inorganic and disconnected tfrom the story. These are things I hope will improve in the 2nd follow up book.
Despite some slow pacing, the first 'Theonite' book is a solid first fantasy effort, and a coming of age story about an affable young women with awesome powers. Wang is far from her stellar work from The Sword of Kaigen, but overall this is worthwhile entry.
3 1/2 Stars
I first heard of M.L. Wang after reading her phenomenal The Sword of Kaigen, which blew me away, and became my favorite book of 2019! Written in the same 'world' of 'Adyn', this new novel 'Theonite' was her freshman effort at fantasy writing. Despite some inconsistencies and slower mid-book pacing, the book was overall entertaining and a good first effort.
Wang, is able to write a 'coming of age' hero story, that is both emotional and engaging. The story revolves around ' Joan Messi', a 13 year old girl who oddly enough, has superhuman powers! Joan has spent her entire life hiding her superhuman strength, practicing her supernatural abilities in secret, making herself practically invisible at school and to her disappointing parents. It is the arrival of a new 'family' in her town and another boy named 'Daniel', that the story really lights up. Joan realizes she's not as alone in her super abilities as she thinks, and with the help of Daniel and her father, she evolves into someone really special.
The strengths of the book lie in Wang's ability to describe 'joan's superpowers. The scenes where Joan is able to manipulate wind/ water and metal are quite impressive for a first-time writer. On the other hand, I thought the book lacked the 'polished' finish of her herculian effort 'Sword of Keigan'. Wang really tried to lay the foundation at 'worldbuilding' in this novel, and spent an unnecessarily long time at answering questions about the 'Adyn' world. Unfortunately, most of the story takes place on planet Earth, so the build up background about another planet felt inorganic and disconnected tfrom the story. These are things I hope will improve in the 2nd follow up book.
Despite some slow pacing, the first 'Theonite' book is a solid first fantasy effort, and a coming of age story about an affable young women with awesome powers. Wang is far from her stellar work from The Sword of Kaigen, but overall this is worthwhile entry.
3 1/2 Stars
January 13, 2020
Joan Messi has spent thirteen lonely years hiding her supernatural abilities from her parents, her classmates, and everyone in her white bread suburban community. However, her little world of secrets is shattered when a pair of strangers arrive from a parallel dimension on the hunt for a nameless criminal. Now, after a lifetime of wondering how she got her powers, Joan might have found the beginnings of an answer.
For Daniel Thundyil and his father, elemental powers and ego-maniacal supervillains are nothing new — although this is the first time a mission has brought them to a parallel dimension. Daniel's main concern in this new world isn't the looming threat of a godlike killer; it's fitting in at a school where the food is flavorless, everyone writes backwards in an ancient alphabet, and all the racial hierarchies seem to be reversed.
After reading the incredible Sword of Kaigen I really wanted to get back into the world Wang had created as quickly as possible. Theonite: Planet Adyn offered my that chance and I was excited for this to be my first book of 2020.
Theonite is the author’s first book and is firmly focused on the YA audience. It Avatar: The Last Airbender meets I am Number 4 with a teen protagonist possessing awesome elements based powers facing an alien threat whilst coming into her own.
It’s an interesting read with great characters and written well and it was also quite incredible to see the development in skill and writing style between this, her first book and Sword, which I believe is her third. Sword was one of my favourite books of last year, if not the absolute favourite, and its origins are clearly seen in Theonite, particularly in the scenes where the intricacies of elemental based powers are laid out. The link between the two books is the character of Robin Thundyil, a dear friend of Misaki Matsuda, and here the father of Daniel and takes place roughly five(?) years after the events of Sword of Kaigen.
The only real weakness to Theonite: Planet Adyn is the lack of serious threat. A big bad is mentioned, rumoured and hinted at but remains unseen for almost the entirety of the book which is not overly long in itself. I would have also liked to see more of a link to the Matsuda’s other than their name being dropped, however this book was written before Sword so that would involve time travel or a Sanderson level of pre planning, neither of which I really expect.
I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys YA magic based urban fantasy. 4/5
** During a look at the authors Website recently I discovered she is abandoning this entire series. Did I enjoy this enough to read the next one? Absolutely. Will I do so knowing the series is being canned? Probably not. Let me know if you’re as devastated as I am that there wont be sequel to Sword of Kaigen.
For Daniel Thundyil and his father, elemental powers and ego-maniacal supervillains are nothing new — although this is the first time a mission has brought them to a parallel dimension. Daniel's main concern in this new world isn't the looming threat of a godlike killer; it's fitting in at a school where the food is flavorless, everyone writes backwards in an ancient alphabet, and all the racial hierarchies seem to be reversed.
After reading the incredible Sword of Kaigen I really wanted to get back into the world Wang had created as quickly as possible. Theonite: Planet Adyn offered my that chance and I was excited for this to be my first book of 2020.
Theonite is the author’s first book and is firmly focused on the YA audience. It Avatar: The Last Airbender meets I am Number 4 with a teen protagonist possessing awesome elements based powers facing an alien threat whilst coming into her own.
It’s an interesting read with great characters and written well and it was also quite incredible to see the development in skill and writing style between this, her first book and Sword, which I believe is her third. Sword was one of my favourite books of last year, if not the absolute favourite, and its origins are clearly seen in Theonite, particularly in the scenes where the intricacies of elemental based powers are laid out. The link between the two books is the character of Robin Thundyil, a dear friend of Misaki Matsuda, and here the father of Daniel and takes place roughly five(?) years after the events of Sword of Kaigen.
The only real weakness to Theonite: Planet Adyn is the lack of serious threat. A big bad is mentioned, rumoured and hinted at but remains unseen for almost the entirety of the book which is not overly long in itself. I would have also liked to see more of a link to the Matsuda’s other than their name being dropped, however this book was written before Sword so that would involve time travel or a Sanderson level of pre planning, neither of which I really expect.
I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys YA magic based urban fantasy. 4/5
** During a look at the authors Website recently I discovered she is abandoning this entire series. Did I enjoy this enough to read the next one? Absolutely. Will I do so knowing the series is being canned? Probably not. Let me know if you’re as devastated as I am that there wont be sequel to Sword of Kaigen.
August 19, 2017
I'll be honest, I didn't go into this book expecting to love it. The blurb just didn't grab me, so I wouldn't have started reading it at all if not for the recommendation of a friend whose opinions I trust. And this book is now another reason why I trust those opinions.
Joan has spent her entire life teaching herself to pass as ordinary — hiding her superhuman strength, practicing her supernatural abilities in secret, making herself practically invisible at school and to her disappointing parents. She thought she was alone with her strange powers. But when Daniel and his father move into her small, dull town and immediately brighten it up, Joan realizes she's not the only one who can do things that should be impossible… and somewhere, there are answers to why she's like this.
I'm a sucker for friendship stories over romance stories. I loved Joan and Daniel, and the relationship between Daniel and his father . And while the book was a little slow to grab my attention, once it got me interested in how Joan figured out her powers I was hooked. All the world building we got of Duna, even while still on Earth, was fascinating, and I'm very excited for the second book to come out and bring us deeper into this world (and I want answers to that cliffhanger!).
But that brings us to the things that denied this book a full five stars. I wish it stood on its own as a story a little more. It's a fascinating exposition, but still just an exposition. We learn a lot about Duna and Joan's powers that I assume we'll need for the next book, but not a lot about what happened in this one. Most of the answers are as hidden from us as they are to Joan and Daniel, and while that's a brilliant way to make us sympathize and share their frustration, it's still…. you know, frustrating. It was more dialogue and explanation than plot. Again, I enjoyed all that, but to me it seems like part one of a two part book, not an entire book. (Which will bother me less once the second book is actually available, I'm sure)
Also, a few notes about the age of the characters: Joan is thirteen, so we can assume her classmates are in that range too… yet there are dramatic breakup scenes between kids in her classes specifically described, and one girl who's always described as aggressively flirting with whoever is in the scene. Maybe I'm the one mixing up ages here, but I think the author forgot she put her main character in middle school for a moment there. I mean, thirteen-year-olds haven't had much time to form on-and-off-again relationships have they? (…have they?)
Well. Those things aside. I enjoyed this book, and I think you would too.
Joan has spent her entire life teaching herself to pass as ordinary — hiding her superhuman strength, practicing her supernatural abilities in secret, making herself practically invisible at school and to her disappointing parents. She thought she was alone with her strange powers. But when Daniel and his father move into her small, dull town and immediately brighten it up, Joan realizes she's not the only one who can do things that should be impossible… and somewhere, there are answers to why she's like this.
I'm a sucker for friendship stories over romance stories. I loved Joan and Daniel, and the relationship between Daniel and his father . And while the book was a little slow to grab my attention, once it got me interested in how Joan figured out her powers I was hooked. All the world building we got of Duna, even while still on Earth, was fascinating, and I'm very excited for the second book to come out and bring us deeper into this world (and I want answers to that cliffhanger!).
But that brings us to the things that denied this book a full five stars. I wish it stood on its own as a story a little more. It's a fascinating exposition, but still just an exposition. We learn a lot about Duna and Joan's powers that I assume we'll need for the next book, but not a lot about what happened in this one. Most of the answers are as hidden from us as they are to Joan and Daniel, and while that's a brilliant way to make us sympathize and share their frustration, it's still…. you know, frustrating. It was more dialogue and explanation than plot. Again, I enjoyed all that, but to me it seems like part one of a two part book, not an entire book. (Which will bother me less once the second book is actually available, I'm sure)
Also, a few notes about the age of the characters: Joan is thirteen, so we can assume her classmates are in that range too… yet there are dramatic breakup scenes between kids in her classes specifically described, and one girl who's always described as aggressively flirting with whoever is in the scene. Maybe I'm the one mixing up ages here, but I think the author forgot she put her main character in middle school for a moment there. I mean, thirteen-year-olds haven't had much time to form on-and-off-again relationships have they? (…have they?)
Well. Those things aside. I enjoyed this book, and I think you would too.
June 26, 2016
This story is so engaging, I read it through twice in a row and was no less caught up in the suspense the second time than I had been the first. There's a good mix of humor and more serious elements, and the climax is absolutely heartwrenching.
There's lots of setup for future books so 'Planet Adyn' doesn't quite stand alone, but it's a strong first book and I'm excited to see the rest of the universe fleshed out.
There's lots of setup for future books so 'Planet Adyn' doesn't quite stand alone, but it's a strong first book and I'm excited to see the rest of the universe fleshed out.
March 23, 2020
Fun and relatively short, this book was a unique take on a girl discovering that she has superpowers. The story starts to follow her from a young age and shows her growing up and learning to hide her powers from everyone, all the while trying desperately to find out where her powers come from.
May 27, 2017
I've read this book three times now and each time I appreciate it more, and fall deeper in love. What starts out as fun YA story with a fairly generic premise (isolated special girl with superpowers meets a mysterious boy with cool powers, adventure ensues) turns into something much deeper and more ambitious.
Basically, this series uses the trappings of generic special white girl YA to challenge our assumptions about power and racial hierarchy. Later on, I found a post on the author's blog where they actually explain their process of using main character Joan as an audience proxy as she (and we, the readers) are forced to question our notions about the world. Link here: http://officialtheonite.tumblr.com/po...
And even withoutthe deeper social connotations, the suspense and great character dialogue in this book would take it all the way to five stars for me. Daniel especially is so charming and lifelike, I would probably read a whole story about him going to the grocery store. Reading this took me back to the wonder, angst, and raw emotion of being 13. As a minority kid with similar feelings of alienation to these characters, I only wish I had had this book when I was going through middle and high school.
Highest recommendations!
Basically, this series uses the trappings of generic special white girl YA to challenge our assumptions about power and racial hierarchy. Later on, I found a post on the author's blog where they actually explain their process of using main character Joan as an audience proxy as she (and we, the readers) are forced to question our notions about the world. Link here: http://officialtheonite.tumblr.com/po...
And even withoutthe deeper social connotations, the suspense and great character dialogue in this book would take it all the way to five stars for me. Daniel especially is so charming and lifelike, I would probably read a whole story about him going to the grocery store. Reading this took me back to the wonder, angst, and raw emotion of being 13. As a minority kid with similar feelings of alienation to these characters, I only wish I had had this book when I was going through middle and high school.
Highest recommendations!
September 5, 2020
i was actually rather surprised when i found myself liking this book.
the setting for this book was earth, and that is the main reason i was hesitant to trust it. would m. l. wang be able to pull off a very modern, very contemporary setting while simultaneously managing to write about theonites? in addition, would i like a story about the thundyils when i was so used to reading about mamoru and misaki? i needn't have worried: the book did not disappoint.
except with one thing, though: its length. ordinarily, 250+ pages is a very good length, but wang's detailed, discursive writing style, coupled with the fact that the books in the series flanking this one were much longer, made this book feel like an introductory book to the next one, a book written only to be able to connect the sword of kaigen with theonite: orbit. if there was more plot in this book rather than being saved for the one that came after it, i think i would have enjoyed it much more.
the setting for this book was earth, and that is the main reason i was hesitant to trust it. would m. l. wang be able to pull off a very modern, very contemporary setting while simultaneously managing to write about theonites? in addition, would i like a story about the thundyils when i was so used to reading about mamoru and misaki? i needn't have worried: the book did not disappoint.
except with one thing, though: its length. ordinarily, 250+ pages is a very good length, but wang's detailed, discursive writing style, coupled with the fact that the books in the series flanking this one were much longer, made this book feel like an introductory book to the next one, a book written only to be able to connect the sword of kaigen with theonite: orbit. if there was more plot in this book rather than being saved for the one that came after it, i think i would have enjoyed it much more.
December 18, 2017
Slow start—I had to pick it up twice to get into it—but once it builds momentum, Theonite: Planet Adyn is an inventive, compelling story that had me itching for the next book as soon as I realized I was nearing the end. The book does a lot of story setup, leaving you with more questions than answers at the end of this part one, but this does not work against the way it pulls its reader in. Here’s hoping part two continues the story arc by answering some questions—the smallest of which for me is why does Daniel suddenly start speaking Hindi at the end there?—and expanding this saga-worthy world.
June 9, 2020
The prequel is better
Way to much exposition and repetitive information. This book was mainly pointless conversation and reminiscing about things that don't matter to the plot, if there even is a plot that is because I never found it. I will not be continuing with the series but I will still recommend the prequel book to this series, that was good.
Way to much exposition and repetitive information. This book was mainly pointless conversation and reminiscing about things that don't matter to the plot, if there even is a plot that is because I never found it. I will not be continuing with the series but I will still recommend the prequel book to this series, that was good.
August 23, 2018
This book was fantastic! I was sent this book in exchange for an honest review and i enjoyed it so much! It was a nostalgic and unique ride I recommend everybody hop on. The characters were witty and completely authentic and i loved them. Very excited to see how the next one pans the series out.
Read
June 18, 2020I'm choosing not to leave a star review but I didn't finish this one. After months of trying I just couldn't. So eye rolly. And the writing reads like an amateur writer. The Sword of Kaigan was so much better.
December 9, 2018
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for a review! My Spoiler-Free Video Review
April 2, 2019
I had absolutely loved Sword of Kaigen with its heavy Japanese influence and super-powered people (theonites). So much so, I was slightly worried that by changing the setting so drastically to Earth (or, Planet Adyn) that some of that magic might disappear.
The thing was, any of that magic that was “lost” was replaced by a different magic, one that fit Earth and Joan’s world perfectly, in a way that Duna’s magic would not have done.
Here on Earth, Joan is one-of-a-kind : she can tune into what she calls the “Hum” – a sense of things around her, especially when there is metal in the object. But more than that, she is stronger, faster and more resilient than other people. She has to carefully gauge how hard she hugs for fear of hurting the other person. She has to deal with people that don’t understand her or her abilities, who would prefer to ignore them because they are inconvenient and strange. As a result, Joan has spent almost all of her life hiding what she can do – around others, she takes care to move as like them as possible, never pushing her limits, always trying to stay in the background where no one would notice her. The only time she lets herself be herself is when she is alone in the safety of her room, where she can practice tuning into the Hum and manipulating water, air, metal… It has made her life a very lonely one, with her only confident being her grandpa who would encourage her intellectual pursuits and share his wisdom and openness with her. But even with him, she was never fully honest.
And now, there’s a new boy at school who lives with his father in the biggest house down the street. And he moves like she could move, if she wasn’t trying to blend in. And he sneezes fire.
Joan knows she has to reach out to him, she has to know if what she saw is real, if he can enlighten her about her own abilities when countless searches and endless research has failed to provide any answers.
His name is Daniel Thundyil.
Daniel and his father, Robin, come from a parallel Earth, called Duna, in the pursuit of a killer – for Robin is a crime-fighter, and he will pursue criminals beyond his own world to keep his son and everyone he holds dear safe. Daniel and Robin are tajakalu – fire wielders, who can create and manipulate fire, part of the majority theonite (those with power over elements, including fire, wind, water, light, sound…) population of Duna. But this switching dimensions for Daniel is more change than he’s used to – a whole new world, where people with powers are all but non-existent, and as Joan notices early on, he’s not a very good liar. Not to mention he sticks out in Joan’s middle-class nearly all-white neighborhood with his dark brown skin and eyes like live coals.
Daniel’s presence will help Joan to open up, to embrace her abilities and be able to share them with someone, but doing so and getting tangled up with Daniel and Robin could put her in even more danger than she ever imagined possible. What is she willing to lose to get the answers she seeks?
As Robin is off being Robin – doing his crime-fighting thing while leaving Daniel safely as in the dark as possible, this book mostly centers around Joan, the only theonite on Planet Earth/Adyn. We get to know her very well, her difficult and lonely childhood as she learned more about hiding her abilities than using them. We get glimpses into her only close relationship, with her grandpa, the one solid, supportive, truly loving presence that she had growing up. We get to spend time with her as she explores her abilities, the pain and frustration and resilience she shows as she learns about them and tries to master them with no one there to help or support her. From this, I probably make it sound like it’s a long character study/information dump, but it doesn’t come across that way – each bit of history we get of Joan plays into her current actions and decisions, builds up who she is so that we can really get to know her as her world turns itself upside down. Plus, so many of her struggles are reflections of struggles and problems in society today which makes for a rich setting of similitude.
We also get to see her learn to open up, to push herself out of her comfort zone as she reaches out to Daniel and insists upon getting to know him and his world. We laugh with them, we cry with them, we fear for and with them, we root them on as they plunge ahead into the unknown side by side. And what’s more, their relationship is strictly a friendship, a friendship between a girl and a boy who find themselves in more and more difficult situations.
I found myself reading this in leaps and bounds, as I was always interested to learn more about the way Joan thinks/operates and what caused her to act the way she does, what was going on with Daniel and Robin and Mohan, and to see where it would all lead.
About the only “negative” thing I have to say about this book is that the end is abrupt, cliff-hanger-y, and clearly a lead in to book #2. But given how book 2 picks up, and being ¼ of the way through it already, it was really the only place Wang could have divided up the two books. And I more than happily jumped right into it anways!
Favorite quotes:
“Of course, a competent teacher would check to make sure I actually understood how all these events tied together to lead to the Revolutionary War, but why bother with actually understanding the stuff we memorize? It’s just school, right? No need to actually teach us anything. That would just be overkill.” – place 585-596 – To briefly unpack this into what it makes me think of: Common Core, governmental oversight making it hard or impossible for teachers to truly teach beyond the test, the importance too often given to knowing facts/dates instead of the whys and hows of history, etc.
“Ron-ron.” Katie put on a dramatic expression of distress. – place 734 – His name is Cameron, and I can only assume this is a humorous nod to the nickname given to Ron by a girlfriend in the Harry Potter series.
Fear is an enemy dressed up as a friend. Humor it as far as it keeps you safe, but don’t you ever let it get in the way of what you want to be. [Grandpa would say to me] – place 1044
Typos:
The thing was, any of that magic that was “lost” was replaced by a different magic, one that fit Earth and Joan’s world perfectly, in a way that Duna’s magic would not have done.
Here on Earth, Joan is one-of-a-kind : she can tune into what she calls the “Hum” – a sense of things around her, especially when there is metal in the object. But more than that, she is stronger, faster and more resilient than other people. She has to carefully gauge how hard she hugs for fear of hurting the other person. She has to deal with people that don’t understand her or her abilities, who would prefer to ignore them because they are inconvenient and strange. As a result, Joan has spent almost all of her life hiding what she can do – around others, she takes care to move as like them as possible, never pushing her limits, always trying to stay in the background where no one would notice her. The only time she lets herself be herself is when she is alone in the safety of her room, where she can practice tuning into the Hum and manipulating water, air, metal… It has made her life a very lonely one, with her only confident being her grandpa who would encourage her intellectual pursuits and share his wisdom and openness with her. But even with him, she was never fully honest.
And now, there’s a new boy at school who lives with his father in the biggest house down the street. And he moves like she could move, if she wasn’t trying to blend in. And he sneezes fire.
Joan knows she has to reach out to him, she has to know if what she saw is real, if he can enlighten her about her own abilities when countless searches and endless research has failed to provide any answers.
His name is Daniel Thundyil.
Daniel and his father, Robin, come from a parallel Earth, called Duna, in the pursuit of a killer – for Robin is a crime-fighter, and he will pursue criminals beyond his own world to keep his son and everyone he holds dear safe. Daniel and Robin are tajakalu – fire wielders, who can create and manipulate fire, part of the majority theonite (those with power over elements, including fire, wind, water, light, sound…) population of Duna. But this switching dimensions for Daniel is more change than he’s used to – a whole new world, where people with powers are all but non-existent, and as Joan notices early on, he’s not a very good liar. Not to mention he sticks out in Joan’s middle-class nearly all-white neighborhood with his dark brown skin and eyes like live coals.
Daniel’s presence will help Joan to open up, to embrace her abilities and be able to share them with someone, but doing so and getting tangled up with Daniel and Robin could put her in even more danger than she ever imagined possible. What is she willing to lose to get the answers she seeks?
As Robin is off being Robin – doing his crime-fighting thing while leaving Daniel safely as in the dark as possible, this book mostly centers around Joan, the only theonite on Planet Earth/Adyn. We get to know her very well, her difficult and lonely childhood as she learned more about hiding her abilities than using them. We get glimpses into her only close relationship, with her grandpa, the one solid, supportive, truly loving presence that she had growing up. We get to spend time with her as she explores her abilities, the pain and frustration and resilience she shows as she learns about them and tries to master them with no one there to help or support her. From this, I probably make it sound like it’s a long character study/information dump, but it doesn’t come across that way – each bit of history we get of Joan plays into her current actions and decisions, builds up who she is so that we can really get to know her as her world turns itself upside down. Plus, so many of her struggles are reflections of struggles and problems in society today which makes for a rich setting of similitude.
We also get to see her learn to open up, to push herself out of her comfort zone as she reaches out to Daniel and insists upon getting to know him and his world. We laugh with them, we cry with them, we fear for and with them, we root them on as they plunge ahead into the unknown side by side. And what’s more, their relationship is strictly a friendship, a friendship between a girl and a boy who find themselves in more and more difficult situations.
I found myself reading this in leaps and bounds, as I was always interested to learn more about the way Joan thinks/operates and what caused her to act the way she does, what was going on with Daniel and Robin and Mohan, and to see where it would all lead.
About the only “negative” thing I have to say about this book is that the end is abrupt, cliff-hanger-y, and clearly a lead in to book #2. But given how book 2 picks up, and being ¼ of the way through it already, it was really the only place Wang could have divided up the two books. And I more than happily jumped right into it anways!
Favorite quotes:
“Of course, a competent teacher would check to make sure I actually understood how all these events tied together to lead to the Revolutionary War, but why bother with actually understanding the stuff we memorize? It’s just school, right? No need to actually teach us anything. That would just be overkill.” – place 585-596 – To briefly unpack this into what it makes me think of: Common Core, governmental oversight making it hard or impossible for teachers to truly teach beyond the test, the importance too often given to knowing facts/dates instead of the whys and hows of history, etc.
“Ron-ron.” Katie put on a dramatic expression of distress. – place 734 – His name is Cameron, and I can only assume this is a humorous nod to the nickname given to Ron by a girlfriend in the Harry Potter series.
Fear is an enemy dressed up as a friend. Humor it as far as it keeps you safe, but don’t you ever let it get in the way of what you want to be. [Grandpa would say to me] – place 1044
Typos:
December 24, 2019
I had heard a review of Wang's The Sword of Kaigen, and the reviewer raved about it, so when I saw that the author had written this book first, I decided to read her books in published order. Anyway, I really liked this, and it ended on a cliffhanger, so I need to read the second book, as soon as I finish this review.
August 29, 2018
Enjoyable read
A coming of age superhero story with incredibly unique ideas and plot devices. I could see the unfold hours that went into the creation of the world of Joan and her new friend Daniel.
Fantastic read for teens who love good sci-fy that isn't same-old.
A coming of age superhero story with incredibly unique ideas and plot devices. I could see the unfold hours that went into the creation of the world of Joan and her new friend Daniel.
Fantastic read for teens who love good sci-fy that isn't same-old.
May 17, 2022
The plot was interesting mostly because not much was revealed. It's one of the things that frustrated me in this book: the author created mystery by withholding information when there was no reason to do so.
M.L. Wang also used the "questions/answers" mecanism in the dialogues to implement her plot and her world-building, which is the most annoying way to deliver knowledge. I wish the characters made their own discoveries, did some research, faced some surprises... Anything that would have made all this more entertaining than this academic approach.
The author focused heavily on the characters - which I usually like - but there wasn't much development. I liked them but their lives became repetitive after some time.
I still enjoyed it. I liked the magic, the themes and the mystery around other magical beings.
I'm not sure if I'll ever read the sequel as the conclusion to the series is not garanteed. I will definitely read her next projects though.
M.L. Wang also used the "questions/answers" mecanism in the dialogues to implement her plot and her world-building, which is the most annoying way to deliver knowledge. I wish the characters made their own discoveries, did some research, faced some surprises... Anything that would have made all this more entertaining than this academic approach.
The author focused heavily on the characters - which I usually like - but there wasn't much development. I liked them but their lives became repetitive after some time.
I still enjoyed it. I liked the magic, the themes and the mystery around other magical beings.
I'm not sure if I'll ever read the sequel as the conclusion to the series is not garanteed. I will definitely read her next projects though.
October 1, 2018
This YA novel has a neat hook: its thirteen-year-old protagonist has spent her whole life hiding superpowers, only to discover that her new neighbors have special abilities of their own and are here from a parallel dimension in search of a dangerous criminal hiding out in Joan's reality. I like this storyline a lot, and I think it would be good material for a TV or film adaptation. The worldbuilding is pretty imaginative, and I'm guessing author M. L. Wang will develop the concepts she's introduced even further in the sequel(s).
Unfortunately, this is a self-published book from a young debut author, and the writing is very exposition-heavy. There's a tendency for the narrative to tell instead of show, and this whole first book ultimately feels more like setup for what comes next in the series than a satisfying story in its own right. The heroine is also a bit overpowered in my opinion; she's strong, and fast, and telekinetic, and pyrokinetic, and hydrokinetic, and magnetokinetic, and fire-proof, with a perfect photographic memory to boot. (Did I miss anything?) Even the other 'theonites' she meets are in complete awe of her abilities, which makes it hard for the plot to maintain any tension or challenge her character effectively.
My copy of this book also contains a few typos, missing words, and other issues that an editor should have caught, although none are substantial enough to impede understanding of what the author means or detract from the story at hand. Still, this would be something else for Wang to keep in mind in her future publications or revised editions of this one. As with the plot, there are solid foundations but definite potential for improvement there.
[This book was passed along to me by a friend who knows the author's mother. If you'd like to read it next, I am happy to send it your way!]
Unfortunately, this is a self-published book from a young debut author, and the writing is very exposition-heavy. There's a tendency for the narrative to tell instead of show, and this whole first book ultimately feels more like setup for what comes next in the series than a satisfying story in its own right. The heroine is also a bit overpowered in my opinion; she's strong, and fast, and telekinetic, and pyrokinetic, and hydrokinetic, and magnetokinetic, and fire-proof, with a perfect photographic memory to boot. (Did I miss anything?) Even the other 'theonites' she meets are in complete awe of her abilities, which makes it hard for the plot to maintain any tension or challenge her character effectively.
My copy of this book also contains a few typos, missing words, and other issues that an editor should have caught, although none are substantial enough to impede understanding of what the author means or detract from the story at hand. Still, this would be something else for Wang to keep in mind in her future publications or revised editions of this one. As with the plot, there are solid foundations but definite potential for improvement there.
[This book was passed along to me by a friend who knows the author's mother. If you'd like to read it next, I am happy to send it your way!]
June 28, 2016
What an engaging and fun read! The characters are easy to relate to. Initially I didn't think I was going to finishing reading, but as the plot got going I couldn't put it down. When is the next book coming out? I want more...
July 17, 2019
I'm not usually one for Sci-Fi books, but boy am I glad that I stumbled upon this one. The main character Joan is different from other people on Earth, unlike them she has powers. But this is NOT the special snowflake trope, instead of her powers making her excel and seem better than everyone else they do the opposite and ostracize her instead. Joan is alone in a world where she knows she can't reveal her secret because of all the outburst it may cause. Her parents are neglectful and don't understand her, and the only person who made her feel normal, her grandfather, died a couple of years ago. One thing I would like to commend M.L. Wang on is that even though Joan is "Anatomically" superior to everyone else, she did not forget the fact that Joan is just a thirteen year old kid, and not a popular one at that. Joan acts thirteen and is very relatable, her loneliness is relatable. Then Joan meets Daniel Thundyil and his crime fighting father Robin Tundyil (who is secretly the Dunian superhero Firebird) who are, naturally, from a parallel dimension of Earth (the planet Duna) and have powers like she does. For the first time Joan doesn't have to hide who she is. I loved Daniel's relationship with his father which was very loving. Robin was a great parent and a stark contrast to Joan's own parents. He was probably my favorite character in the book. I loved how this book could go from making you laugh so hard one second to waning to break down in tears the next. It was very fast paced and enjoyable. Joan's thoughts often got very philosophical, which is expected for an observative thirteen year old girl with no friends and only her thoughts to turn to, and made me think a lot as well. I also love the diversity in this book (which substantially increases in the next book). As far as this book goes Daniel and his father are "Indian" and Joan is a very pale white. We can see in this book how being white on Earth, as everyone know, is a privilege, which is important to keep in mind for the next book. My only complaint is that it felt more like a lead in to the plot of a story than an actual book, but this did not take away from my enjoyment of the story.
December 20, 2020
Joan Messi es una niña de trece años que sabe que hay algo diferente en ella. O al menos, se da cuenta de pequeña cuando descubre que el resto de las personas, por lo que puede averiguar, no controla el fuego, viento, agua... Esto hace que se acostumbre a estar sola, ya que sus padres tampoco son muy presentes en su vida diaria. Joan practica constamente en secreto sus habilidades, pero claramente no puede obtener respuesta a sus preguntas. Pero todo cambia cuando Daniel Thundyil empieza a ir a su colegio, y se da cuenta de que no está tan sola.
Me gustó mucho cómo la autora desarrolló el carácter de nuestra protagonista. No es impulsiva, y ha sabido adaptarse a un mundo al que siente que no pertenece. No tiene un mentor, sino que es su propia determinación la que lleva adelante que siga entrenando con sus poderes. Es decir, a pesar de que sabe que sus poderes no deberían existir, hace frente a la realidad sin abusar de ellos para lograr sus metas. Su amistad con Daniel me encantó, y el vínculo que genera con Robin, el papá de Daniel, me pareció muy enternecedor.
Aunque la historia se desarrolla mayormente en la Tierra, aprendemos por Daniel y Robin que existe un equivalente a esta en otra dimensión, llamada Duna. Me pareció muy interesante la diversidad de culturas que se plantean, y de que en una dimensión paralela siga existiendo la discriminación racial, pero inversa a este mundo. Además, las grandes potencias son otras, y obviamente, el lenguaje predominante no es el inglés, con lo que me parece un giro interesante.
El final deja el pie justo para continuar con la historia, y con muchas preguntas por responder. Esta lectura me llevó mucho tiempo ya que me costó engancharme con la historia, y estuvo algunos meses dejada de lado. Sin embargo, hace unos días retomé la lectura y en poco tiempo lo finalicé. También mi abandono puede haber sido por toda la situación de estrés generada por el home office sobre todo en los primeros meses.
Me gustó mucho cómo la autora desarrolló el carácter de nuestra protagonista. No es impulsiva, y ha sabido adaptarse a un mundo al que siente que no pertenece. No tiene un mentor, sino que es su propia determinación la que lleva adelante que siga entrenando con sus poderes. Es decir, a pesar de que sabe que sus poderes no deberían existir, hace frente a la realidad sin abusar de ellos para lograr sus metas. Su amistad con Daniel me encantó, y el vínculo que genera con Robin, el papá de Daniel, me pareció muy enternecedor.
Aunque la historia se desarrolla mayormente en la Tierra, aprendemos por Daniel y Robin que existe un equivalente a esta en otra dimensión, llamada Duna. Me pareció muy interesante la diversidad de culturas que se plantean, y de que en una dimensión paralela siga existiendo la discriminación racial, pero inversa a este mundo. Además, las grandes potencias son otras, y obviamente, el lenguaje predominante no es el inglés, con lo que me parece un giro interesante.
El final deja el pie justo para continuar con la historia, y con muchas preguntas por responder. Esta lectura me llevó mucho tiempo ya que me costó engancharme con la historia, y estuvo algunos meses dejada de lado. Sin embargo, hace unos días retomé la lectura y en poco tiempo lo finalicé. También mi abandono puede haber sido por toda la situación de estrés generada por el home office sobre todo en los primeros meses.
July 23, 2020
This was incredibly short. I had just begun to sink my teeth back into the wonderfully detailed world when I was abruptly pulled out. So I’m docking a star.
Otherwise it is exactly what a young adult fantasy story should be - it’s gripping, it’s personal and relatable and incredibly intriguing. The main character is well developed and very far from being a self-insert character and the side characters are also interesting. It’s much less detailed and more streamlined than Mistborn (and no doorstopper), but the world has the same lived-in feel and the system of powers is fully developed and internally consistent, though this only becomes evident if you read the prequel.
Actually, this is a problem with the series: the prequel fleshes out not only the world but much of what happens here, but it is definitely too old for the target audience of this one. Can’t see them enjoying a novel about the tribulations of motherhood. As for older readers - if they’re anything like me they’ll consider this merely an appetizer and not really engaging (unless one has the benefit of having read the prequel).
Otherwise it is exactly what a young adult fantasy story should be - it’s gripping, it’s personal and relatable and incredibly intriguing. The main character is well developed and very far from being a self-insert character and the side characters are also interesting. It’s much less detailed and more streamlined than Mistborn (and no doorstopper), but the world has the same lived-in feel and the system of powers is fully developed and internally consistent, though this only becomes evident if you read the prequel.
Actually, this is a problem with the series: the prequel fleshes out not only the world but much of what happens here, but it is definitely too old for the target audience of this one. Can’t see them enjoying a novel about the tribulations of motherhood. As for older readers - if they’re anything like me they’ll consider this merely an appetizer and not really engaging (unless one has the benefit of having read the prequel).
September 12, 2019
For a young adult, fantasy book, I am impressed with this book.
The story line is fairly simple where two super-humans were destined to meet on earth (Adyn). The two hands on the cover is related to the Daniel (black) and Joan (white).
I loved how the author does not mention typical powers involved in a fantasy book - fairy, werewolf, shapeshifter, vampire, etc. Instead, there are super-humans that have powers to connect with energy, whether it is fire, wind, air, etc.
The book had a coherent flow from the beginning to the end. The ending was a bit tragic and ended in a cliffhanger. However, the ending made me want to read the second book right away in anticipation to more to come!
The story line is fairly simple where two super-humans were destined to meet on earth (Adyn). The two hands on the cover is related to the Daniel (black) and Joan (white).
I loved how the author does not mention typical powers involved in a fantasy book - fairy, werewolf, shapeshifter, vampire, etc. Instead, there are super-humans that have powers to connect with energy, whether it is fire, wind, air, etc.
The book had a coherent flow from the beginning to the end. The ending was a bit tragic and ended in a cliffhanger. However, the ending made me want to read the second book right away in anticipation to more to come!
September 6, 2018
The book is a slow start and it took a while to get into it. But if you stick it out the storyline is great after all the world building done. I really enjoyed reading this book (I did it in two night) and can't wait to read the second one. Definitely suggest if you enjoy science fiction sorta books.
October 12, 2018
This book got me out of my reading slump! I'm so glad Merphy Napier recommended this on her channel. It was a very compelling read!! Need to read the next book ASAP. I NEED ANSWERS!!
January 8, 2020
It was ok but just not for me! Joan was born with super powers that she had to hide! Then Daniel and his father appear from an alternate universe, chasing a criminal!
July 9, 2022
I love Wangs prose.
This story kept me on the edge of my seat, can't wait to continue.
This story kept me on the edge of my seat, can't wait to continue.
September 9, 2022
I guess I am a masochist for starting this series.
November 3, 2019
Not a patch on Sword of Kaigen which is a truly great book.
This is YA stuff at its most trite and annoying where-in a girl with virtually every super power you can think of meets a boy from another dimension and hi-jinks ensue. Oh and Mary, sorry I mean Joan, is also multi-lingual and has a photographic memory.
The fact that this inter dimensional traveller comes from the Sword of Kaigen world, a sort of feudal Japan with our level of tech and some magic is confusing. Nothing in “Kaigen” suggested space travel or inter-dimensional space travel. There’s also a daft pseudo explanation for the huge coincidence that brings these characters together.
I can only assume this book was written when the author herself was only a youngster. It does try for some more mature themes but the brattish protagonist and overall silliness spoils it. Especially the main unseen bad guy who spouts cartoon bad guy spiel that will make you cringe.
The other thing is that this book is just a huge exercise in exposition to get the characters into the next book. It’s lightweight and pointless.
Read Sword of Kaigen though...it is superb.
This is YA stuff at its most trite and annoying where-in a girl with virtually every super power you can think of meets a boy from another dimension and hi-jinks ensue. Oh and Mary, sorry I mean Joan, is also multi-lingual and has a photographic memory.
The fact that this inter dimensional traveller comes from the Sword of Kaigen world, a sort of feudal Japan with our level of tech and some magic is confusing. Nothing in “Kaigen” suggested space travel or inter-dimensional space travel. There’s also a daft pseudo explanation for the huge coincidence that brings these characters together.
I can only assume this book was written when the author herself was only a youngster. It does try for some more mature themes but the brattish protagonist and overall silliness spoils it. Especially the main unseen bad guy who spouts cartoon bad guy spiel that will make you cringe.
The other thing is that this book is just a huge exercise in exposition to get the characters into the next book. It’s lightweight and pointless.
Read Sword of Kaigen though...it is superb.
February 26, 2018
To say I'm blown away by this book would be an understatement. I love everything about it. The characters, the story, the world-building; everything is absolutely wonderful. I'd write more, but I need to go pick up the second book right now immediately.
July 29, 2018
I received an ebook copy of this book for free through a giveaway hosted on GoodReads.
Theonite: Planet Adyn is an amazing story which combines classic tropes of the super powered teen with elements of science fiction, particularly the existence of alternate realities. It focuses on Joan Messi, a thirteen year old girl who was born with extraordinary powers. All through her life, she has struggled to hide the fact that she is not only extremely strong, but also very quick in both body and mind , as well as able to manipulate an array of elements. She has searched endlessly for answers to where these powers have come from, has studied every known case of humans being able to do things that are beyond normal human capability, but has all but given up on ever finding answers when a mysterious new boy enters her class. Daniel Thundyil exhibits the same strength and physical speed she has, and is so open about his powers that he sneezes fire. Joan quickly decides she must befriend this boy, as he is the closest she has come to finding answers in a long time. But what she discovers is far from what she expected: Daniel and his father are on a secret mission from a parallel universe to apprehend a dangerous criminal, one who Daniel’s father will not reveal more information than is absolutely necessary. What’s more, in the universe they come from, a majority of the population has powers similar to Joan’s, but despite being from a universe where these powers were thought to not exists at all and where she had no one to train her properly, she exhibits better power and control than her formally trained friend, and she is the only case Mr. Thundyil has ever seen of someone being able to control such a wide variety of elements and the only person outside mythology to have control over metals. But just when Joan finally believes she will be able to learn the answers to all the questions she has had about herself for so long, the dangerous Killer 31 begins to threaten her and her new friends, and she is suddenly left with even more questions than ever before.
I really enjoyed this book. It had a story that felt very unique, and while it mixed quite a few different story elements from various genres, it all felt very cohesive and fun. Despite being very fantastical, the whole story felt very real in the moment, with all the details sliding snugly together without contradiction. Joan and Daniel were dynamic and loveable characters, each showing their own strengths and flaws is very natural ways. And despite Joan being very overpowered by many metrics, she never felt like she had too much power. Her abilities were reigned in well, both by her own will and by the narrative, so that the conflict is able to move along in an interesting way without Joan solving everything in an instant as some other characters with her caliber of power might be able to. I would love to be friends with the two teens, and after the surprise toward the end of the book, I wanted nothing more than to give them both a tight hug.
This book is a great addition to any fantasy and sci-fi lover’s library. As it takes so many plot points common in tales of superheroes or space travel, teens with more power than they know what to do with and extraterrestrials making contact with Earthlings, it will feel familiar to anyone who enjoys such stories without feeling overdone. Furthermore, as it has young characters with very real problems mixed in with the supernatural, it would make a great choice to encourage reluctant teen readers to crack open a book, and maybe realize how fun reading can really be.
Theonite: Planet Adyn is an amazing story which combines classic tropes of the super powered teen with elements of science fiction, particularly the existence of alternate realities. It focuses on Joan Messi, a thirteen year old girl who was born with extraordinary powers. All through her life, she has struggled to hide the fact that she is not only extremely strong, but also very quick in both body and mind , as well as able to manipulate an array of elements. She has searched endlessly for answers to where these powers have come from, has studied every known case of humans being able to do things that are beyond normal human capability, but has all but given up on ever finding answers when a mysterious new boy enters her class. Daniel Thundyil exhibits the same strength and physical speed she has, and is so open about his powers that he sneezes fire. Joan quickly decides she must befriend this boy, as he is the closest she has come to finding answers in a long time. But what she discovers is far from what she expected: Daniel and his father are on a secret mission from a parallel universe to apprehend a dangerous criminal, one who Daniel’s father will not reveal more information than is absolutely necessary. What’s more, in the universe they come from, a majority of the population has powers similar to Joan’s, but despite being from a universe where these powers were thought to not exists at all and where she had no one to train her properly, she exhibits better power and control than her formally trained friend, and she is the only case Mr. Thundyil has ever seen of someone being able to control such a wide variety of elements and the only person outside mythology to have control over metals. But just when Joan finally believes she will be able to learn the answers to all the questions she has had about herself for so long, the dangerous Killer 31 begins to threaten her and her new friends, and she is suddenly left with even more questions than ever before.
I really enjoyed this book. It had a story that felt very unique, and while it mixed quite a few different story elements from various genres, it all felt very cohesive and fun. Despite being very fantastical, the whole story felt very real in the moment, with all the details sliding snugly together without contradiction. Joan and Daniel were dynamic and loveable characters, each showing their own strengths and flaws is very natural ways. And despite Joan being very overpowered by many metrics, she never felt like she had too much power. Her abilities were reigned in well, both by her own will and by the narrative, so that the conflict is able to move along in an interesting way without Joan solving everything in an instant as some other characters with her caliber of power might be able to. I would love to be friends with the two teens, and after the surprise toward the end of the book, I wanted nothing more than to give them both a tight hug.
This book is a great addition to any fantasy and sci-fi lover’s library. As it takes so many plot points common in tales of superheroes or space travel, teens with more power than they know what to do with and extraterrestrials making contact with Earthlings, it will feel familiar to anyone who enjoys such stories without feeling overdone. Furthermore, as it has young characters with very real problems mixed in with the supernatural, it would make a great choice to encourage reluctant teen readers to crack open a book, and maybe realize how fun reading can really be.
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