Note: I got this from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Elixir started off strong. Extremely intelligent kid solves a problem that unfortunately lands him in trouble with the government causing him and his family to get sent away under a new identity. Fast forward about four years, he falls in love but his girlfriend has a disease to which a cure must be sought. The remainder of the book explores how Sean goes about doing this.

The character development needs a bit of work. There were a few personality quirks that I still had questions about. How did the young Sean progress into the Sean that starts drinking and experimenting into drugs? There's nothing that explains or pinpoints how that goes about...only that it happens. I found myself not liking the grown up Sean as much because I felt the author spent more time honing in the younger Sean.

In addition, the way the girlfriend's disease was presented, as well as the type of disease, was somewhat far fetched. What was even more over the top was how quickly Sean was able to debunk it. One chapter, two tops then bam! Problem solved. Plus, it would have helped if the author would have decided which name he wanted to stick with once Sean moved to Italy. The potential for confusion is great, especially when the real name and the fake name get mentioned at the same time.

The end seemed a bit rushed. Did the author believe he had sacrificed conflict for narrative? In any event, a few times I had to re-read certain lines to make sure I was following all the action correctly. For me, the ending seemed way too tidy--although it delivers the message that unbelievable genius triumphs all.

With better development in main character, balance between conflict, dialogue and narrative, and more well thought out scenario in reference to the instigators of conflict, Elixir could have easily ranked higher. ( )

ABR's full Elixer audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.

Elixir is a YA suspense and the debut novel by Ted Galdi. Galdi did a fine job for a debut novel. There is good intrigue and decent plot development and a nice wrap-up for a standalone novel, all the while leaving the story open for any sequel, should the author change his mind.

The main character, Sean Malone, is inarguably the smartest person on earth with an IQ in the neighborhood of 250. His face became nearly unforgettable after appearing on Jeopardy at the age of 11 and winning over a million dollars before stepping down. This all but prevents a private “normal” life for him. Orphaned and under the guardianship of his aunt, Sean, age 14 at the beginning of the novel, attends SoCalTech and he unwittingly brings additional attention upon him when he solves a yet-unsolvable mathematical problem thus drawing the notice of the NSA for the code-breaking application of his solution. In an effort to keep this review spoiler-free, more things happen such that with the FBIs assistance Sean’s death is faked so that he can be kept out of harm’s way. The second half of the story jumps ahead four years when Sean, 18 and now living in Italy, meets and falls in love with Natasha, the woman of his dreams. Sean’s problem-solving intelligence is needed when Natasha is brought to the edge of death from a disease contracted while her family vacationed in Africa. Really. A bit far reaching, but this is a work of fiction.

I requested the audio book version of this book through Audiobook Reviewer in exchange for an honest review. As such, I cannot fairly comment on the edited status of the print version of this story. The plot development, character development and dialogue, as read by the narrator, are respectably sufficient. The story premise was interesting and the dialogue and subject matter is by and large age-appropriate for a YA audience. I am not certain that this YA will draw an adult audience.

There were several situations in the story which were vague in description, action which did not appear logical or connect to consequences and several characters’ actions that seemed specious, all requiring a leap of faith. How the solving of the Traveling Salesman Dilemma, the initial yet-unsolvable mathematical problem mentioned above, leads to code-breaking was unexplained, and yet, this pivotal connection leads to NSA activity which leads to another development which leads to necessitating Sean’s (faked) death. This influential element of the story seems non sequitur. The love-story element between Sean and Natasha was developed very quickly and feels more superficial than meaningful, and yet, it is this love that causes Sean to bring himself out of hiding to save her life. This relationship seems unconvincing in its depth – just because the relationship exists doesn’t mean its depth is believable, unless of course your audience can accept it without supporting substance. And, the disease that Natasha contracts for which Sean is able to create an “elixir” in mere hours after ingesting knowledge from extensive reports and studies hacked from a high level security-safe server that took a mere 10 minutes to hack into? I understand the boy is extremely intelligent, but too much must be “accepted” such that this story is better categorized as fantasy rather than suspense.

As for the audio version of this story, Elixir was read by Roberto Scarlato and is 9 hours and 41 minutes in duration. The end-product was good in that there are no extraneous noises to draw away the listener’s attention, no empty-room tinny sound. The narrator’s voice was fine, but added nothing to the listening experience. The reader read with virtually no emotion – no tenderness in the main character’s voice for Natasha, no fear or tension in the voices of the characters when the scenes are suspenseful and only the briefest hint of accenting in the voices. The reader simply read the book. Unfortunately, the reader countlessly paused as if a comma or period were in the text when the print should not have a comma in the sentence or the sentence did not yet end. When the listener has only the reader’s voice, comma-pauses (or period pauses) where there are not or should not be commas (or periods) requires the listener to come out of the story and make the mental correction for the sound of an error.

I would recommend this book to readers of YA. My other comments aside, this is an entertaining, interesting story. I would be comfortable allowing my teenagers to read this. I commend Mr. Galdi on this first novel and wish him every success with any future books.

Audiobook provided for review by the author. ( )

Elixir is a YA suspense and the debut novel by Ted Galdi. Galdi did a fine job for a debut novel. There is good intrigue and decent plot development and a nice wrap-up for a standalone novel, all the while leaving the story open for any sequel, should the author change his mind.

The main character, Sean Malone, is inarguably the smartest person on earth with an IQ in the neighborhood of 250. His face became nearly unforgettable after appearing on Jeopardy at the age of 11 and winning over a million dollars before stepping down. This all but prevents a private “normal” life for him. Orphaned and under the guardianship of his aunt, Sean, age 14 at the beginning of the novel, attends SoCalTech and he unwittingly brings additional attention upon him when he solves a yet-unsolvable mathematical problem thus drawing the notice of the NSA for the code-breaking application of his solution. In an effort to keep this review spoiler-free, more things happen such that with the FBIs assistance Sean’s death is faked so that he can be kept out of harm’s way. The second half of the story jumps ahead four years when Sean, 18 and now living in Italy, meets and falls in love with Natasha, the woman of his dreams. Sean’s problem-solving intelligence is needed when Natasha is brought to the edge of death from a disease contracted while her family vacationed in Africa. Really. A bit far reaching, but this is a work of fiction.

I requested the audio book version of this book through Audiobook Reviewer in exchange for an honest review. As such, I cannot fairly comment on the edited status of the print version of this story. The plot development, character development and dialogue, as read by the narrator, are respectably sufficient. The story premise was interesting and the dialogue and subject matter is by and large age-appropriate for a YA audience. I am not certain that this YA will draw an adult audience.

There were several situations in the story which were vague in description, action which did not appear logical or connect to consequences and several characters’ actions that seemed specious, all requiring a leap of faith. How the solving of the Traveling Salesman Dilemma, the initial yet-unsolvable mathematical problem mentioned above, leads to code-breaking was unexplained, and yet, this pivotal connection leads to NSA activity which leads to another development which leads to necessitating Sean’s (faked) death. This influential element of the story seems non sequitur. The love-story element between Sean and Natasha was developed very quickly and feels more superficial than meaningful, and yet, it is this love that causes Sean to bring himself out of hiding to save her life. This relationship seems unconvincing in its depth – just because the relationship exists doesn’t mean its depth is believable, unless of course your audience can accept it without supporting substance. And, the disease that Natasha contracts for which Sean is able to create an “elixir” in mere hours after ingesting knowledge from extensive reports and studies hacked from a high level security-safe server that took a mere 10 minutes to hack into? I understand the boy is extremely intelligent, but too much must be “accepted” such that this story is better categorized as fantasy rather than suspense.

As for the audio version of this story, Elixir was read by Roberto Scarlato and is 9 hours and 41 minutes in duration. The end-product was good in that there are no extraneous noises to draw away the listener’s attention, no empty-room tinny sound. The narrator’s voice was fine, but added nothing to the listening experience. The reader read with virtually no emotion – no tenderness in the main character’s voice for Natasha, no fear or tension in the voices of the characters when the scenes are suspenseful and only the briefest hint of accenting in the voices. The reader simply read the book. Unfortunately, the reader countlessly paused as if a comma or period were in the text when the print should not have a comma in the sentence or the sentence did not yet end. When the listener has only the reader’s voice, comma-pauses (or period pauses) where there are not or should not be commas (or periods) requires the listener to come out of the story and make the mental correction for the sound of an error.

I would recommend this book to readers of YA. My other comments aside, this is an entertaining, interesting story. I would be comfortable allowing my teenagers to read this. I commend Mr. Galdi on this first novel and wish him every success with any future books.
( )

Originally posted at Bunny's Review

When starting this book I thought it would be about a super smart kid who would conquer the world with his intelligence. Well he did that and more. I did not know that Ebola would be part of the novel. With everything about Ebola in the news this proved to be a very interesting read. I will state up front this is YA and not my preferred reading; however I still enjoyed this book.

Sean is so smart he can think out and solve problems to so many unanswered questions other people think he is a freak, a mutant. That is not the case and he proves that. With Sean everything has a solution and answer it just takes time to figure it out.

I really do not want to state too much about this book but it was such a wonderful refreshing read. If you enjoy reading a clean YA book then I highly recommend this book.

The bunnies and I give this book carrots.


I was given this book in exchange for an honest review. All views are my own and do not reflect those of the author, my clients or tour companies I work with. This is not a paid review. To form your own opinion please support the author and acquire your own legal copy of the book. ( )

**I received a free .pdf version off this book through LibrayThing's Early Reviewers program in exchange for an honest review.**

I totally loved this book. A page-turner.

An absolutely terrific book. Ted Galdi introduces us to Sean Malone, a boy genius who excelled while on the game show Jeopardy! when he was 11 years old. Fast forward a few years, Sean is now 14, living with his aunt, attending SoCal Tech. In an independent study with one of his professors, Sean unknowingly discovers the secret to mankind's most baffling mathematical equation. To protect this secret he must disappear. Four years later, Sean is 18, living in Italy with his Aunt. The past life of his gone but not forgotten. He meets the girl of his dreams. Paradise is lost when she becomes deathly ill. Sean must do everything he can do try to make her well again, which includes returning to The United States where all his problems arose to begin with. ( )