Adaptively Radiant

by Joseph E. Henning

Adaptively Radiant is a fast paced, adventure packed supernatural story of discovery and exploration that blends aspects of culture and mythology into a modern fairy-tale.

While on a summer vacation in Japan, Justin Toshi Blackwood attends a birthday party for his cousin Kaito and begins to bond with estranged relatives. The two young men share a great-grandfather and soon realize they have each inherited a mysterious family heirloom with one receiving a folding knife and the other a pocket watch.

After discovering that the knife opens a secret compartment in the old watch containing a tiny hidden map, they hike out it into the forest along a riverbed to locate a jar containing the Nine Stones. Each grayish-blue river rock has an animal engraved on one side and a location etched in kanji on the other.

So begins an exciting, Pacific-leaping scavenger hunt where the cousins must collaborate their efforts during nine supernatural encounters and recover remarkable objects of grand significance. Along the way, they unite with Justin's loyal sister Melia and new friend Yori as the four companions try to unlock a magical family secret. Will they survive the perilous journey and unravel the mystery?

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Supernatural, Ebooks

250 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 28, 2019

About the author

Joseph E. Henning was born in the County of Los Angeles, California and moved to Hawaii in 2007.

Reviews

[Renee Godding · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 stars

In this 2019 fantasy adventure debut, we follow 2 young voyagers, embarking on an exotic journey across Japan, Hawaii and the United States West Coast after they find a mysterious pouch containing 9 stones of great significance. Along the way, they discover that there is much more at stake then they originally anticipated.

Adaptively Radiant left me with some mixed, but ultimately positive, feelings upon finishing it. First things first: it’s clear to me that this novel’s greatest strength lies in the beautiful descriptions of the different settings, and the incorporation of the local folklore and mythology of those places. I’m a sucker for these type of stories, especially around the summer times, as they almost act as a vicarious vacation to me. Adaptively Radiant did just that: I felt like I was there, traveling along with the characters and visiting all these places, and learning new things about them. I was personally not familiar enough with either of the cultures to speak to the accuracy of these elements, but I can say that I absolutely loved being introduced to them via this way.
Secondly: the story is very fast paced, plot driven, and for lack of a better word: “cinematic”. It read like a movie in my mind, and I finished it within a day. That being said, for me personally, these stories unfortunately tend to be the least memorable ones to me. For all the character the settings had, I couldn’t help but feel a little let down by the development of our protagonists who remained very one-dimensional throughout the novel. The same goes for the mystery plot-line; although it was on point at times, it felt a little rushed and underdeveloped in others. I appreciate there’s only so much you can do in just over 200 pages, but I often felt the right ideas were there, but just didn’t come to fruition. Personally, I would have liked the book to have been a little longer, allowing for a bit more depth in all aspects.
Lastly (and this is not a critique, but more of a question), I kept wondering what age-range this book would best be suited for. Considering the protagonists age, and the darker elements of some of the culture and mythology, this seems targeted at adults, or at least older teens. For that target audience, it did read a little “young” to me. I can’t quite put my finger on why (perhaps because of the simplicity of the plot, and the high focus on adventure), but the thought kept occurring to me.

All in all, I really enjoyed Adaptively Radiant, and I’d recommend it if you’re looking for a high paced, adventure packed novel, with a high focus on travel and exploring different lands and cultures.

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5/5.0

Trivia nerds, nature enthusiasts, amateur chefs, and adrenalin junkies will all find something to light up their minds in Mr. Henning’s youthful journey of self-discovery, mysterious beings, and blossoming romance!

Read full review in the 2019 October issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[Tina Loves To Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fantasy inherited a mysterious family heirloom journey across Japan, Hawaii and the United States West Coast that two young cousins are finding nine stones of great significance. I found this book so good. I won a kindle edition of this book from a goodreads giveaway, but this review is 100% my opinion. (*)

[Moony (Captain Mischief) MeowPoff · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF 52%
I were just so incredible confused and bored... no characters were interesting to hold me there, i ended up giving up.

I got this eARC from Netgalley

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (4/4/2020)! 🎁

[Laura U · Rating 4 out of 5]

This gorgeous cover can only be associated with an equally stunning story. This is a story about traveling, family, friendship, and nature.
Justin is a half-Japanese guy who grew up in Hawaii and attends college in California. When he visits Japan with his cousin Kaito, he learns about a mysterious family quest that is passed to their generation from his great-granddad. The quest takes Justin through incredible places of imense beauty from Japan, Hawaii, and California.
This book is for everyone who loves to travel and discover new places. It's filled with amazing descriptions.
I was bothered by the instalove, so I had to take a star away. It would have been better if the main character didn't get involved in any romantic relationships because this book is not about that.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed the description of the places visited as well as the information from the different cultural beliefs. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read and review this story.

[Ian Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book could best be described as at least in part a cosy Japanese-flavoured supernatural story. The plot involves a half-Japanese student Justin receiving nine stones with symbols on them. These indicate a quest to work out what they mean, then Justin and two other Japanese friends/relations set out to recover the objects that come with solving the puzzles. The cosiness of the story means nobody ever gets into serious trouble for long, so it is easy-going, and not a thriller. However, that part would struggle to take up more than 15% of the story. Much of the rest reads like a travelogue, with detailed descriptions of the treks through remote Japan, two of the Hawaiian islands, and parts of California. There are long descriptions of food preparation, fishing, so it is a sort of relaxed entertainment that, if you want this sort of thing, will keep your attention in a pleasant way. There are even two long paragraphs giving the speech a hostess prior to an aircraft landing, so while you may be told again to buckle your seat belts, at least you know how to go find your luggage at that Hawaian airport. Quite remarkable what additional extras are there.
The writing style is clear, the descriptions are vivid, the food preparation is probably sufficiently detailed you could probably follow it, and while there are some injuries, etc, while involved in the supernatural parts, the supernatural is always kind and helpful. Nothing scary here. The plot structure is very simple – the party goes more or less unimpeded along the path to the nine sites. However, at the end, while I can't spoil, in my opinion the author really ducks for cover and does not really bring the whole to a proper conclusion. If you like a story full of pleasant digressions, this is one for you; if you want your story to keep to the point (or points) it is not.

[T.S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adaptively Radiant chronicles exotic voyage of two young cousins across islands in Japan, Hawaii, and West Coast of America after they stumble upon a mysterious pouch containing nine stones of significant importance. As they move ahead in their journey, the cousins uncover shocking revelations and realize that there’s much more at stake than it seems on the surface.

Henning expertly depicts the traditional folklore of Japan and Hawaii against a contemporary backdrop but the best of all is his rich portrayal of the Japanese and Hawaiian settings and exploration of the misty Morro Bay in California. The prose is simple, and the inclusion of supernatural elements add extra intrigue to mythical tales of traditional Japanese and Hawaiian culture.

This intriguing look at the Japanese voyage with a dash of sci-fi and fantasy elements will enthrall readers.

[JB · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good adventure

I don’t like to give spoilers on the books that I read. I believe the blurb on the back is enough for you to decide if you will read the book or not. If you choose to read, enjoy!

[Charlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantasy is not my usual genre but I enjoyed reading this tale. Justin goes on a quest with his cousin, Kaito. Their adventure begins in Hawaii and takes them to Japan and California. They are on a search for 9 stones with an etching of an animal on each of them.

[Laura Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The synopsis of this story sounded so good. It was a quick read and was very descriptive of the places they had to visit to find out their family story. Definitely check it out if you're into fantasy books.




**Received from Netgalley for review**

[Hikes in Rain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite a fun read. Part travel documentary (Japan, the Hawaiian Islands, west coast), part fantasy, part young adult growth, part spiritualist. Two cousins meet in Japan during a summer vacation, and discover that each has inherited an odd heirloom; an old pocket watch and a folding knife. They find that the unusual tip of the knife opens a secret compartment in the watch, revealing a tiny note from their mutual ancestor. This is the beginning of their journey of discovery, from finding a pouch of nine carved river rocks that act as a guide to further adventures, discoveries, and meetings with various spirits and their gifts.

A lot happens in this book, almost too much for a short novel. As a result, it’s very action packed. I’d be exhausted; good thing these folks are young! I very much enjoyed the descriptions of the various places the team visited in Japan, the various islands of Hawaii, and the California west coast. I’ve been to some of them, and the descriptions were accurate, so I assume the descriptions of the places I haven’t are also on target, which made me want to go and see. Although they were brief, I also enjoyed the descriptions of the various cultures and folklore, so different from my own.

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for a fair review, for which I am very grateful.

[MCZ Reads]

Thank you to Goodreads and the author for my copy! I fell in love with the gorgeous cover and was happy to win a copy in a Goodreads giveaway. I’m glad I had the chance to read this book.

I may not be the audience for Adaptively Radiant. I was excited to read a fantasy adventure story of two young friends. The plot and the mythological aspects of the story are highly creative, and I expected the writing style to reflect that imagination. But the book’s tone is more like a nonfiction book. There’s a lot of description that gives product description—material, exact measurements, etc.—that feel more like what I’d read when ordering furniture than a literary technique to add to the story. Most conversations, on the other hand, are described to, instead of observed by, the reader, especially in the beginning. It’s disorienting to get so much detail about non-essential elements of the story and then skim by conversations—which could be used to flesh out characters and add tension to the plot—about what is actually happening.

This book might be better suited for readers who enjoy fast-paced, cinematic stories without a lot of character introspection, or for those who regularly read nonfiction but want to try out fantasy/adventure fiction.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of Adaptively Radiant

I enjoyed this books descriptive nature. It took me from location to location, all the while describing its geography, animal inhabitants, and in many instances, culture.

I felt both educated and entertained at the same time.

Thank you, Goodreads, for making this book available as a “giveaway”.

[M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a good read.

[Nikki Reilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adaptively Radiant is a refreshing book, such a nice change of pace from the typical murder mystery or romance novels that are flooding the market. I loved the details and historical information that were woven into the storyline. The characters were very enjoyable and made you want to keep turning the pages to see what would happen next. If you are an avid traveller or have been wanting to travel to California, Hawaii and/or Japan, you will love reading this book! Great first book from author Joseph E. Henning, I cannot wait to read more!

[Tomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adaptively Radiant was a very, very good read. I was really impressed with how the flow of the story being told in 3rd person, almost like he was talking to you face to face. I enjoyed how all the characters came to one and connected some way or another.

If your looking for a fun, fast paced, adventure book, with many different characters, I highly recommend this book Adaptively Radiant to you.

Rating 4

[April eclecticbookworm · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this in a Goodreads giveaway. I was excited about the idea of this since I love fantasy and folklore and this promised folklore from areas I don't come across as often in fantasy. However, it felt stilted and I found my self lost more often than not. It did have various interesting locations and it moved quickly but it kind of turned into a confusing combination of a self-help, travel guide and save the planet in the middle before crashing into the finish.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun adventure book for all ages. I loved the beautiful places and adventures. I would recommend for anyone looking for a great read.

[Charles Remington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Justin, a California student from Hawaii embarks on a journey of a lifetime which starts with a trip to Japan to visit estranged family. Adaptively Radiant by Joseph E. Henning describes how he is welcomed with open arms, and later is astonished when an elderly relative retrieves a tightly folded map from an unsuspected secret compartment in an old watch given to him by his grandfather. Thus begins an exciting voyage of discovery, a voyage that will take him and his cousin to out of the way islands in Japan, exotic locations in the Hawaiian group and a thrilling road trip on the West Coast of America. Finding love along the way and helped by his loyal sister, Justin must face many dangers to resolve the mystery which evolves from the discovery of the old map. In the fast-moving narrative, we learn much about some of the Japanese and Hawaiian islands, their ecology, history and mythology. We also learn much about Justin as he struggles with the many challenges he must face on his sometimes perilous journey, following him as the story progresses to the final denouement at Death Valley in eastern California. Weakened by his long arduous journey and recovering from a car crash he pushes on, but can he overcome his final ordeal?

I found the storyline of Adaptively Radiant a mixture of travel writing which was very good, and mysterious quest which was not as accomplished. I was enthralled by the descriptions of the Japanese and Hawaiian locations and foggy Morro Bay in California is beautifully brought to life. I found the mythological parts of the story, and the local belief systems in Japan and Hawaii interesting but the characters and dialogue somewhat lacking. I am not sure if Mr Henning is more travel writer than novelist but I can certainly recommend Adaptively Radiant as a great travelogue on some Japanese and Hawaiian islands and parts of California.

[KD · Rating 1 out of 5]

Review of the book in exchange for winning a copy through goodreads

I dont know what else to say except, there was great potential for this story, yet it crashed and burned, quite hard.

The plot was rushed, there was no character development, relationships felt awkward and clumsy, and the present tense writing 😬.

None of the writing was particularly spectacular. Most of the time it felt quite juvenile, with descriptions falling flat often. Example, at the end they were in a car accident. Car drove off road when swerving, main character wakes in hospital. It was just so matter of fact let's not take the time to describe the event that it didn't elicit any feelings. I could care less he got injured. This is something I faced many times. I couldn't care less what happened happened the characters because I couldn't develop a bond with them.

There was also many moments where a place or tradition was explained. This would be super helpful, especially for people not familiar with the place or tradition, if it was written in a manner that felt as if the author didn't directly copy pasted the info from a Wikipedia article. Many times I found myself speeding up to get through the long passages of text that had more description that the actual story of the characters.

I rarely finish a book feeling utterly disappointed and even in books I felt "meh" about, still can leave a positive review, but this is a rare occasion. I finished the book out of obligation for an honest review for myself, other readers, and the author. But to be honest, this almost nearly was a DNF many times.

[Dana K · Rating 3 out of 5]

{3.5 stars}

Adaptively Radiant is the story of two cousins vacationing in Japan together on a mysterious quest related to two family heirlooms they inherited. They venture out together and sometimes apart (or with Justin's sister) to nine different locations around the Pacific to collect a set of objects but along the way find true fellowship, learn amazing history and see places they might not have otherwise. The ending explaining the quest definitely surprised me.

This story is definitely a fun, fast-paced read. I liked these two cousins and the magical coincidences that kept drawing them closer to their goals. I do think the writing could have benefited from an editor to help smooth the dialogue and the chunks of facts about the places and culture they visited. While the transition between the action and the background information was clunky at times, I learned a lot and was interested in the cultural background driving the story. I even enjoyed that I knew some of the places described on the islands of Hawaii.

Apologies to the author for how long this sat in my Netgalley queue, I'm desperately trying to get caught up on all my backlog. All opinions above are my own.

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book from a Goodreads giveaway. I tried very hard to like it and to finish it to no avail. (I read about half the book.) The premise is interesting and somewhat unusual, so I thought it had promise, but oh my, the writing. It's written in present tense, which can sometimes be used to heighten suspense, but in this case is just annoying. Nearly every event of the characters' lives is described in wearying detail. The style is stilted and formal, giving the impression that English is not the author's first language. Much time is spent discussing Japanese and Hawaiian cuisine and culture; nothing wrong with that if this were a memoir or travelog, but get to the action already! Surfing, deep sea fishing, hiking, all interesting to some people, but they don't directly impact the story! Ultimately I found all the detail so boring that I couldn't continue. Perhaps a good editor could strip this down to the essentials and wind up with a good story.

[Susan Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of Adaptively Radiant by Joseph E. Henningfor free from Goodreads Giveaways. I was intrigued by the premise of the book, nine stones with an image of an animal and a location leading to a family secret. As it turns out, I learned by googling most of the animals are endangered and the sites are fascinating ecosystems. The process of following the path of the stones also proves to be insightful for the two main characters, Justin and Kaito. I enjoyed the different locations, but much of the book read like a travelogue with more facts than necessary, as they impeded the flow of the plot. Also, most of the book’s readers will already know what a marshmallow tastes like.

[Sarah Wolfe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book free in the Goodreads giveaways.

I really loved the supernatural elements in this novel. It was the good kind of weird and quirky. I also liked that the novel spanned over different locations and involved lore from three separate cultures.

The only critique I have with the novel is that i wished there was more of the lore and that the characters immersed themselves in it. I wished the scenes where Justin and Kaito had run-ins with the gods and supernatural creatures lasted longer.

[Jes · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a Goodreads Giveaway. When I read the synopsis of this book I absolutely loved the concept. However, I felt that the book had too many unnecessary details making the time in between the stones very boring. The ending I also found very lackluster. I would not recommend this book.

[Craig Russo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good. I don't know the target audience yet I'd guess it's 12-15. Great ending. And the imagery is fantastic.

[S C · Rating 1 out of 5]

Awful. Just awful.

[Tracy · Rating 2 out of 5]

(Won this book on Goodreads) The characters are simple and easy to follow. However, they didn't feel like they were in their early 20's; they seemed to be written in a younger tone. The story was a tale of travel, love, friendship, and family. It was a cute and easy to read book, unfortunately due to the way the characters felt (younger) I just couldn't find myself wanting to read more.