Adventures in Barn Town

by Jordan Elizabeth

Serena Cole can kick serious butt thanks to young women only she can see. School bullies aren’t a problem, but Serena’s mental health might be. To shield Serena from a dark secret, her family tries to convince her that her friends are imaginary.


Fleeing her distrustful aunt, Serena joins her mother on an archeological dig at Kistishi Island. There, Serena discovers an ancient scroll and realizes her invisible friends are goddesses native to the island, and they are in danger of enslavement for their abilities. Only Serena can save her friends if she can discover the past her family has hidden her entire life – the reason why only she can see the goddesses.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

Paperback

Published November 14, 2016

Reviews

[Brenda]

Serena Cole was always in trouble at school. The bullies wouldn’t leave her alone so she would fight then be sent to the principal and suspended. Her psychiatrists despaired of her. Serena had imaginary friends but were they? When she fled her Aunt Nikki after yet another episode, she flew to Kistishi Island to join her mother at the archeological digs on the island. But in leaving New York City, she also left her four friends, Krieg, Wahr, Froh and Frieden. Would she ever see them again?

On Kistishi Island she found herself in danger everywhere she turned. Serena couldn’t find her mother, and no one would help her. But when she finally did find her, Sophia was shocked to see her there. The events which followed were catastrophic – Serena had no idea what the outcome would be but she didn’t want to lose her friends.

Kistishi Island by Jordan Elizabeth is a fast-paced fantasy, coming of age, young adult novel which I enjoyed. A little slow to begin with, the introducing and buildup of the characters meant the action and entertainment followed well once Serena arrived on Kistishi Island. A fun read which I recommend.

With thanks to the author for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

[Dianne]

Serena has always had imaginary friends, or at least friends no one else can see or hear and each has a specific trait to guide her. Is that why Serena is so combative? Is she unstable or is there something more to her “friends” than meets the eye?

Jordan Elizabeth’s KISHTISHI ISLAND is a little bit different from her usual fantasy fair for young adults. Sure, that edgy style is still there, but this time out I think all the stops have been pulled in creating a world that is contemporary, fantastical and plenty mysterious as the daughter of an archeologist discovers the island really does exist and the legends and myths surrounding it may hold more truth than the world would believe, but someone knows and they aren't telling…

With a strong-willed teen as the main character, with an attitude that anything could be possible if she tries hard enough, once again, Jordan Elizabeth pens a wonderful young adult read that zooms by, page after emotionally charged page!

I received a complimentary copy from Jordan Elizabeth! This is my honest and voluntary review.

Publisher: Wicked Lace Press; 2 edition (August 9, 2020)
Publication Date: August 9, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Print Length: 264 pages
Available from: Amazon
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[Fizza]

This is easily the most interesting story I have read this year and that's saying something. I enjoyed it a lot. The story is gripping, intriguing, and has enough twists and turns to keep readers wondering what will happen next. That's the best part, I love it when stories are unpredictable. As a fan of this author and of YA fiction, I find this book to be highly entertaining. Not only that, but the characters are also all interesting, especially Serena of course. She is exactly the kind of strong-minded teenager that we would want to see in a YA fiction. I think that this book is a perfect read for anyone who enjoys a good fiction, the kind that makes you use your imagination and takes you on a journey you aren't likely to forget any time soon. Highly recommended!

[Nancy Brandt]

The overall story was interesting but there were so many logic flaws that brought me out of the story. Serena is fifteen but doesn't seem to realize that if you travel internationally, you can't generally use American money (although the people of this small country doesn't seem to understand that either). She thinks nothing of running off with strangers, including a drug dealer, to find her mother.

The island didn't make sense - how do archeologists set up a dig with no governmental approval? How is there a king and queen on the island but none of the citizens seem to know this? How did the archeologists get to the dig when everyone tells Serena "there's no way to get there?" Why would a mob of over 100 people suddenly decide that killing the archeologists is a good idea and while this is happening, Serena is focused on some "hot guy" instead of her mother and aunt being in danger? An archeologist sees monsters and says, "It's flying monkeys from the Wizard of Oz," and he wasn't joking.

She is FIFTEEN and one of the adult males kisses her at least once, possibly twice, and this is okay?? She's a child.

If you can look past some of the logic flaws, the idea of imaginary friends who are actually goddesses on a magical island is actually fun and could have been done so much better.

[Wendy]

"Kistishi Island" an imaginative and intriguing fantasy revolves around sixteen year old Serena Stymerya Cole, a teen whose only friends are unseen which encourages bullying at school and leaves her aunt struggling with doubt and anxiety about her mental health. After another fight at school which prompts a visit to the psychiatrist, Serena overhears a mysterious phone conversation between her aunt and the mother who abandoned her to study old ruins for the "Location Archaeologists Organization (LAO)". More determined than ever to confront her estranged mother after her aunt's house is broken into, Serena flees to Kistishi Island where not only clues to the identity of her imaginary friends and her past begin to unravel but she must find the courage to save the island from chaos.

Jordan Mierek begins her story in Abrams, New York where Serena Cole, open about visitations from her five invisible friends is not only bullied by the students but ends up in the school office after each confrontation. With her mother away on archaeological digs and her aunt distrusting her mental health she continually finds herself in a psychiatrist's office. The plot heats up when Serena after overhearing a phone conversation flees to Kistishi Island where she learns not only that her friends are goddesses but in danger from the magic of a malicious queen.

Meshed into the main story line are letters Serena composes to her deceased father that give insight into her feelings, the mystery of her past as well as to what's happening to her. As events unfold this entertaining and gripping story moves quickly as Serena faces not only the violence of a vengeful queen determined to control the island goddesses, pterodactyl-like creatures who try to kill her, but also a police force bent on wiping out the archaeologists.

The mystery is fascinating especially when Serena is given a necklace linked to her heritage but there are several incongruities in the plot like the age of the heroine who seems younger than sixteen in dialogue and action, as well as the romantic chemistry that seems to spark more between Serena and Oliver than with her and the king's advisor nineteen year old Stanomar. Although the plot draws to a satisfying climax, it does raise questions about any changes to her relationship with her mother and aunt.

Yet this story is exciting and entertaining not only because of its mystery and magic but characters that capture your interest like Serena Cole the teen with the purplish hew to her eyes who's feisty and angry when attacked at school by the mean-spirited and cocky bully Roxanne Bynes. Distant with people in Abrams, with cousins who hate her and an uncle who equates gifts of money with love, Serena discovers friendships and love on the island that elevates her sense of self-worth and brings out her courage. Jordan Mierek creates unforgettable personalities like Serena who infuse the plot with energy, depth and drama; an ingredient that keeps you riveted to the story.

I have enjoyed reading all of Jordan's books and "Kistishi Island" is no exception.

[Tanya]

She can hear and see goddesses but her family make out they are not real. She is about to learn more when she goes on a dig with her mother. Shenlearn s they are real but only she can help them from being enslaved for their powers? Can she do it? Follow her and see

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Iryna Combs]

I really enjoyed this book. I am a very picky reader and rarely read fiction but this book I can highly recommend anyone. Love the cover, love the story about 16 year old girl, it was interesting from cover to cover, kept me intrigued. Really well written book!

[Annemarie]

Recently I'm reading a lot of books with great potential. Potential unfortunately isn't enough, and in the end, it was just an okay read. The main character was rather childish for her age, and there were a lot of weird leaps in logic. Stanomar was years older than our main, but they went to university together? She bought an airplane ticket as a minor? Is that actually a thing in America? (Maybe it is, I don't know.) And why in the world were all godessess named with German names, except the crow goddess? Why wasn't she called Krähe?

[Rainer Prem]

The book started well. But then those "imaginary friends" appeared with their German names, wearing Greek style clothes and I was somehow repelled. Shortly afterward I was constantly thinking "Why does she do that - apart from the author needing to put her into calamities she could easily avoid."

Didn't finish.

[Pam]

Kritishi Island is by Jordan Elizabeth Mierek. This is an extraordinary book. I was sent this book and asked to review it. I put off reading it to get to others I had waiting. Had I known how great this book would be, I would have read it much earlier. As it is, I, once more, stayed up until 2 AM to finish reading it. I just had to find out what happened to Serena. It was definitely worth it.
Serena was a fifteen-year-old girl who lived with her Aunt Nikki and her uncle. Serena’s Mother, Sophia, was an archeologist and was always gone on digs. Occasionally, she would call to check on Serena or would stop by for a visit. However, she would always leave without Serena. Serena wanted to leave with her Mother so badly. Serena was an outcast at school and it seemed even at home. Serena had always had imaginary friends. When she was little, it was acceptable since little children often have imaginary friends. However, Serena’s friends stayed with her. The other children at school would laugh and make fun of her because of her imaginary friends. Aunt Nikki had her to doctors and psychologists to have them try to get rid of these friends; but nothing worked. Aunt Nikki was always called to school because of fights that Serena would get into. The school she was at now wanted Aunt Nikki to have her tested and taken to a special school. Her final fight at school was with Roxanne who now wanted Serena to meet her at night and finish this off. Instead, Serena left and through forgery managed to get a flight to Kistishi Island where her Mother was supposed to be on a dig. Serena was unaware that once she got to the Island, her life would just get much more complicated.

[Lidia]

This is my review of the audio version as posted on Audible:

This is the third book by Ms Jordan Elizabeth I listened to (the other two being 'Rogue Crystal' and 'Victorian') and they all seem to share the same weakness - they are uneven when it comes to the pace and the logic of the plots... Or is it that maybe I'm just a bit too old for them and that's why some of the reactions or choices the main characters (who are teenage girls usually) make seem improbable and a bit unbelievable to me...? And yet, surprisingly, I've found them all quite entertaining anyway, in spite of their imperfections, because in all of them the 'let's uncover the secret' part has been quite engaging:)

There are some really great ideas in 'Kistishi Island', like the whole 'now you see them, now you don't' thing about the goddesses:) I also liked some of the dialogues, some of the humour in the book and some of the side characters. I'm not so sure about Serena, however - there were moments when she really did irritate me; her behaviour was erratic, reckless, impulsive... yes, she's a kid, really, under pressure, feeling desperate, but still... Would you purposefully look for a mafia boss just to ask him the way to an archaeological dig because MAYBE he knows it? That's the kind of illogical reactions that happen quite often throughout the book.

And yet, as I said, on the whole it's quite an entertaining listen, just don't think too much about what you're listening to - the emotional part is pretty well done:)

The interpretation by Ms Larson is very good, with voices in most cases well matching the characters' personalities and the narration itself well paced.

DISCLAIMER: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[TDCbookreviews]

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. This is the first I have ever read from this author and it was pretty awesome.
Serena has always been an outcast with her family and classmates. Most of them considered her crazy because of her imaginary friends. Some of the teens were pretty awful to her and constantly fighting with her. She lives with her aunts and wishes for some normalcy with her mom. Her mom, oh boy, I hated her all the way until the end. She is a career minded person and was never suitable to be a mother and I think that shows throughout the book. She may love her daughter, but not as a mother.

Serena has a lot going on in this book and I loved the backstory. I think Serena did have a lot of healthy relationships with her imaginary friends. I think they made her stronger as a person. I loved the adventure in this book. I really liked the friendship shown in this book.

The ending went way too fast, although I did love the ending and the way it played out.
Book Blurb:
Serena Cole can kick serious butt thanks to young women only she can see. School bullies aren’t a problem, but Serena’s mental health might be. To shield Serena from a dark secret, her family tries to convince her that her friends are imaginary.

Fleeing her distrustful aunt, Serena joins her mother on an archeological dig at Kistishi Island. There, Serena discovers an ancient scroll and realizes her invisible friends are goddesses native to the island, and they are in danger of enslavement for their abilities. Only Serena can save her friends if she can discover the past her family has hidden her entire life – the reason why only she can see the goddesses.

[Susan Dayley]

Kistishi Island is a great read into the world of Kistishi Island where people move from room to room by touching a wall and imagining where they want to be. The evil queen plots to bind all the powerful gods and goddesses to her bidding, but Serena, who doesn’t realize her own potential, and has life-long friendships with four of the goddesses, is determined to stop the queen. And she finds her first crush for the handsome new advisor to the king. A bit of romance is always a good thing. I enjoyed many aspects of the book, but a bonus was this tiny passage: “Dear Dad, I won’t start with once upon a time. . . . Now comes the juicy middle. There will be action, otherwise the story is so dull you find yourself skipping chapters. That’s never a good thing. You could miss something essential. Not only that, but you might tell someone else you found it boring. You’d be robbing them of their chance to read it and discover the wonder for themselves. The middle is what you fall into, although the beginning is what gives you the tantalizing push. . . . The ending’s always sad because it’s the end. It is how endings have to be.” Kitishi Island is not a dull book—no temptation to skip chapters! There is wonder to be discovered.

[Cora]

Serena's best and only friends are imaginary. Or so it would seem, as she is the only one who can see or hear them. Due to this, her aunt (whom she lives with) worries that she needs mental help. Even Serena begins to question her sanity. Speaking to her "friends" has left Serena alienated by her peers to the extent that many bully her (although not without impressive push back from Serena, who is anything but spineless).

Adding to Serena's feelings of loneliness and isolation, her father died before her birth and her mother (an archaeologist) travels extensively, leaving Serena in the care of her aunt. Serena finally hits a breaking point and sets off on a journey in search of where she believes her mother is; Kistishi Island.

She arrives only to find that NO ONE wants her there. I don't want to add any spoilers beyond this point. You, the reader, need to unravel the mystery along with Serena.

The book was exciting, eventful and filled with extremely interesting characters. I would label it young adult or teen, however I'm sure many adults would love reading it.

[Glenn Turner]

Wonderful read.

In all honesty, I haven't read much for a while. I agreed to try this when a friend asked me, and I was reminded of why I love reading.

Jordan Elizabeth crafts a tale which follows a young girl, Serena, who apparently is a bit off her rocker. She spends her days as an outcast. Alone, unless you count her imaginary friends. These are friends that no amount of counseling or medication could get rid of.

I loved watching Serena grow in maturity and confidence throughout the story. But by bit, mysteries blossom then bloom at a pace that leaves you turning the page to either figure out the answers you are looking for, or to confirm what you hope to be true. Such a great, well paced balance.

Kistishi Island was a breath of fresh air that reminded me why I love literature, and has drawn me back into long hours of feeding my soul with good books.

[Eve Culley]

I was asked to review this book and I am very glad that I did. This was my first book to read by author Jordan Elizabeth and I wasn't sure what to expect. Also, I asked my 17 yr old grandson to read it for his point of view on the storyline. There was magic, gods and goddesses, and rebellion involved right up his ally. I thought he would enjoy the book and he enjoyed the book very well, even to the point of laughing out loud several times as he read.
Serena is a troubled young lady who is seeking to come to terms with her mother, her aunt, her imaginary friends and bullies from school. The viewpoint from an overly stressed teenage girl is handled very well as is the turmoil and confusion of her first brush with romance.
Overall I was glad that my grandson read the book and I would recommend it for other teenagers and adults as well.

[Carol Riggs]

This was an interesting read, in my exploration of various books by this author. The concept was different from anything I’ve read before. The descriptions and imagery were good, and the storyline kept me reading. While the beginning sounded more like a typical snarky bullying-by-the-mean-girl story, it grew into something more unique. At some points the main character, Serena, acted more like a twelve- or thirteen-year-old than sixteen, but I suppose part of that immaturity could be explained from having “imaginary” friends and being branded with a mental illness for so long. She doesn’t have many actual friends beyond the goddesses whom no one else can see. I personally thought the gore at the end was a bit overdone (surprising for a Clean Reads book), but I really liked the crows, especially the one she named January. The reason she named him that was perfect!

[Karen Martin]

This was such a unique and fun take on mythology. Serena is not your typical heroine. She's not asking for an adventure, and she does everything in her power to not start fights, but she's not afraid to finish them along the way. Having imaginary friends from as early as she could remember, she's used to being an outcast, and she's comfortable with it. She's certainly unique, with her combination of strength and naivete, and it was quite a refreshing character. There's also a great deal of suspense, as the mysteries of Kistishi Island only seem to ask as many questions as they answer, and death seems right around the corner. And while there's some hints at teenage romance, the greatest theme in this book is a deep friendship Serena and her friends have. Serena has to learn to navigate a new country, dodge shady characters, and possibly save her not-so-imaginary friends in the process.

[Kathy]

Kistishi Island was such a fascinating read! The premise was unusual and I found the plot gripping. I loved the concept of the goddesses and really felt for Serena, the way she felt misunderstood as she spoke to her "imaginary" friends. If you're looking for a fast-moving plot with strong, interesting characters, this young adult / middle-grade fantasy novel is a great read. I had many questions brewing, especially in the first two-thirds of the book. You want to know why she's been told so many times not to come to the island. Everyone seems to be hiding something. The suspense builds. I think this story deserves a sequel. I'd love to see what happens to Krieg; who would've thought I'd like the goddess of war?

[Emerald Barnes]

Everyone thinks that Serena is crazy because of her imaginary friends, and Serena just wants to be normal, though she wouldn't give up her best friends for anyone. When someone breaks into her house, Serena is on the run to find her mother, an archaeologist on Kistishi Island. Serena seems to find more trouble than it's worth, but eventually, she finds her mom and the secrets to her imaginary friends.

Kistishi Island was a good read. I found Serena a bit annoying at times and rather immature. Though, I guess for someone who might be crazy that would be rather realistic. I was glad to see growth in Serena, but it took too much time for her grow. I really enjoyed the last third of the book best because it gave us lots of answers and was action packed.

[Emily]

This book sucked me right in from the beginning! Loved the imagination of the author, and I couldn't wait to see what happened next. I like that Serena wasn't you're typical weak female like you find in many books, but actually could fend for herself. I was a little surprised how whiny the character got at the end though. Also I thought it was strange that she kept being warned to leave the island like it was so urgent, yet one of the friends warning her to go, then proceeded to take her for a day of shopping on the island. Overall I enjoyed the read and look forward to reading more from this author.

[B.W. Morris]

I really enjoyed this book, particularly for the main character. Serena is easy to sympathize with, particularly with how much she wants to be with her mother. The twists in the book were a bit unexpected but they are built to well.

It does take a while for the story to get going, but the later chapters are when it becomes a good page turner and you start to root for Serena.

I did wish that a couple of the minor characters had been developed better -- they seemed a bit superficial -- but otherwise this was an enjoyable book with a main character who I think teens and young adults will relate to.

[Heidi]

I was given this amazing book by the author. I absolutely love her writing and that she can write awesome stories in varying genres. This one is mythology based and keeps you guessing and enthralled throughout the story. Jordan does a great job taking you into Serena's life and explaining the history of everything as the tale moves along. You meet several really cool characters, and some that will completely frustrate you along the way. Serena is a well written character and it is very enjoyable to follow her on her adventure of self discovery.

[Derik]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I liked the overall concept of the story with a girl who sees imaginary friends. I found the story to be light and fun with some adventure sprinkled throughout. At times the main character seemed younger than her age of 16 which made me feel like I was reading a book for kids. This would be my only negative aspect of the story is it didn't feel like a young adult novel as much as a story for a younger age group. But overall it was a fun story and one that I enjoyed reading and would recommend

[Donna]

This is a fun read and very imaginative too. I loved the character of Serena, and how she perserveres even in the face of adversity. I also liked the goddesses, especially Krieg - I wish she was real and my friend, even if she would cause trouble everywhere we went! If you like a combination of Ancient Greek-style mythology combined with a modern world, this could be a story for you!
NB I received a complimentary copy of this book, but I always give an HONEST review based wholly on my own opinions

[Jennifer]

I love the concept for this story: Imaginary friends that are not imaginary at all. But why can Serena see them when no one else can?

While you enjoy the fantastic answer to that question, Kistishi Island also delves into real-world concepts facing young adults, such as bullying, coming of age, anger management, and the angst of dealing with detached parents, overprotective parents. I recommend this story for any YA readers who love real-world meets fantasy stories.

[Levian]

i received a free ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review. the book started out an easy read. i had fun following Serena and her imaginary friends going about their every day life. her difficulties getting through real people was somewhat relatable. but the story started losing me the moment she stepped into the sand. i was no longer intrigued. royalty & history wasnt really my thing.

[Sherry Christenson]

This is an amazing well written story! So creative in the way the author combined every day human life with those of the gods. Serena is an interesting character, as a 16 year old her 4 best friends are imaginary and she doesn’t even care! This story is a wild fantasy with such vivid detail I felt like I was there with her. I really hope there will be a sequel now that Serena’s questions have been answered

The narration was perfect! I thought she did an excellent job

[Amy Mullen]

The fantasy world created in this book had just enough reality to give it an authentic feel. The characters are strong and unlike with other fantasy stories I have read, I was able to keep right up with them without backtracking. The author has a fantastic imagination and I would be pleased to recommend this to anyone who is looking for a fast moving and well written tale.

[Kim Kasch]

Well written and thought out. I'm not a big fantasy reader unless there are Knights and swords with a sprinkling of magic. But Kistishi Island introduces readers to another world, filled with great dialogue, “imaginary” friends and secret intrigue. Plus, there are a few weapons and a little magic ;D Well worth the price