Adaptively Radiant

"the mix of traditional Japanese and Hawaiian folklore with some contemporary sci-fi and fantasy elements makes for a fresh and distinctive read." ―Kirkus Reviews

Adaptively Radiant is a fast paced, adventure packed supernatural story of discovery and exploration―with a mix of traditional Japanese and Hawaiian folklore.

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?

Adaptively Radiant is the first published fiction novel by Joseph E. Henning