The Eternity Elixir

Gordy comes from a family of potion masters, and he is in training to brew potions himself. His parents are impressed at his abilities to make excellent potions. While his mother is away on potion-brewing business, Gordy receives a package addressed to his mom and opens it. Soon after, mysterious people come to his house and attempt to steal the package. Thus begins a race between Gordy and his family and the villians who want what Gordy has received - the eternity elixir.

This book is an action-packed fantasy adventure perfect for fans of J.K. Rowling and Holly Black. The story reads similarly to the final chapters of the first Harry Potter novel: there isn't much world-building, but plenty of action and problem-solving. Fans of fantasy will enjoy the potion-making world and will be eager to read the next one. Recommended.

Recommended for: tweens
Red Flags: fantasy violence - people experience results of various potions (explosions, growing an extra limb, etc.)
Overall Rating: 4/5 stars

Read-Alikes: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, The Iron Trial, The Glass Sentence

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley for the purposes of review.

3.5 Stars for this fun fantasy novel. Perfect for tweens who enjoyed the Janitors, Michael Vey and Fablehaven Series. A battle between good and evil, with unexpected plot twists. A bit too easy for my 15 year old, but perfect for my 12 year old! Looking forward to the rest of the trilogy.

A great start to a trilogy I'm looking forward to reading the rest of! A fast moving, well paced fantasy book, perfect for fans of magic and mystery.

This was a great start to what I think will be a fun and exciting series that will fly off the shelves. All of the characters, big and small, were full of details and personality. Gordy was a kid that most readers will relate to and enjoy. He had a great adventure with action, humor, and just the right amount of magic. Some of the situations were quite absurd, yet were too entertaining to bother the reader. The magical background of the novel was a little murky, yet we will hopefully learn more about it in the installments to come.

Being a huge fan of Harry Potter and seeing reviews mention this was along the same lines, it was a must read for me!
I felt it was lacking a bit in terms of world building, but it was full of exciting action and lot's of problem solving.
I loved the characters and I am beyond excited to be reading the remaining books in this trilogy!

Twelve year old Gordy might be the best elixirist ever when he grows up, but first he needs to save his world from the enemies of B.R.E.W. (Board of Ruling Elixirist Worldwide) or at least hold them off until his Mom gets home.
This was a really good book full of non stop action, lots of suspense, and of course plenty of potion magic. I am sure there will be many references made between Harry Potter and this book but if you ask me, I don't see it, apples and oranges. I guess you could make a case for anything but I think this is different and refreshing. It's eclectic list of characters, including Doll, will make this a hit for boys and girls of a wide age range and especially reluctant readers. This is a really good book and I can't wait to see what happens next!

If you have a child (or even if you) like YA/Middle Grade fantasy books, this is one to pick up and read.

The author did a great job of making this an enjoyable and captivating read for me. I liked the concept, the characters, and the action. There is a good balance of good and evil to add enough tension for the reader to wonder what might happen next and how certain situations would resolve themselves.

The main character, Gordy, is a talented potion maker and is leaps and bounds ahead of those around him. He is perhaps even better than his mom. He is also smart and is able to figure out a few things when situations become tense all looking for the Eternity Elixir. This is a fantasy book, so you do have to suspend reality when they talk about various potions and what they can do, but that isn't hard at all.

I had a hard time putting the book down and can't wait to see what happens in the next book.

Frank L. Cole brews up exciting adventure in The Eternity Elixir

THE ETERNITY ELIXIR, by Frank L. Cole, Shadow Mountain, Jan. 2, 2018, Hardcover, $16.99 (ages 8-12)

It’s always fun to discover a new series with wide appeal. The Eternity Elixir, the first book in Frank L. Cole’s Potion Masters trilogy, has all the makings of a fast-paced and enjoyable middle-grade fantasy.

Most people don’t believe in magic. Most people don’t believe in potions. Gordy Stitser is not most people. In fact, the 12-year-old is anything but ordinary. Gordy not only knows potions are real; he knows how to brew them, too.

You see Gordy is one of a select group of people who know about the secret society of potion masters. His mom happens to be on the Board of Ruling Elixirists Worldwide (B.R.E.W.), and she’s been training Gordy since the moment he showed aptitude.

And while Gordy’s mom tries to rein him in, Gordy can’t help but invent his own potions. His creativity pays off when a mysterious package containing an unmarked potion arrives at his home.

What Gordy doesn’t know is the potion he’s received is the extremely rare “Eternity Elixir,” and it’s more than a little bit dangerous. When nefarious characters arrive at his house to take the elixir, Gordy quickly finds himself in over his head. Lucky for him, Gordy isn’t alone. With the help of his parents, and his best friends, Max and Adeline, and his superior ability to think on the fly, Gordy just might be able to thwart an all-out potion war.

The Eternity Elixir is a fast-paced read — I read it in one sitting — with the familiarity and accessibility fans of the Fablehaven series will immediately recognize.

Gordy is likeable, his friends plucky and his parents both involved and interesting. Throughout the book, Gordy interacts with both kids and adults, and all interactions feel natural. He learns and teaches in both settings, which is refreshing to see.

The Eternity Elixir celebrates learning and education. Gordy learns from recipes and trial and error, serving as a great foundation for further reading. Humor is laced throughout, making The Eternity Elixir a great choice for fans of all genres.

Gordy is not a normal 12 year old, he is an apprentice Elixirist and his mum is a powerful potion maker (although his dad has a normal, humdrum job). He has two good friends who are non magical and his younger twin siblings are not yet old enough to be involved in the 'family business'. All is not well in the magical community however and a very dangerous potion has been created. The Eternity Elixir is a fast paced story for younger children with plenty of adventure and humour with family conflict thrown in. Ends with a cliffhanger (as the best stories do!) and I'm definitely looking forward to reading more of Gordy's adventures.

In this new world, making potions is a secret and to those on the outside who find out about it, there is a one-way ticket to getting your memory wiped! Just like on Men in Black! This story is about Gordy, a 12-year-old potion maker who is trained by his mother who is a high-level potions maker herself. Gordy’s mother always tells him to never open the deliveries that come to their house if they are not addressed to him. So, when a mystery package arrives while Gordy is unsupervised, curiosity gets the best of the young man and like Pandora, he opens a box of complete bedlam!

This book is perfect for tweens and young readers who love a good adventure! There is virtually no lag time between action and the story continues to pique the reader’s interests from cover to cover. Slow readers to advanced bookworms can appreciate this one! I look forward to reading more from this author and possibly the continuation of this series!

If you mix Harry Potter’s potions class, the Ministry of Magic, chemistry, and the 21st century, your result would be this book. A brisk and fun read, the plot has adventure, family bonds, humor, and a touch of magic with a good deal of curiosity that leads to trouble. I enjoyed the fact that the story reveals that children and adults have weaknesses, making the characters more relatable. The author did an excellent job of laying the groundwork for the new series. I did have several questions at the end of the book. All in all, I enjoyed reading it and will likely read the sequel! I would recommend this book to any reader who enjoys fantasy or Harry Potter.

Kept me engaged the whole way through! I think this is going to be a great series! Action + Adventure + Potions= endless reading enjoyment..

Action packed. Fast paced. Humor and adventure at every turn. Loved this story. I can't wait for book #2.

Kids are going to love this magical, exciting, and sometimes gross journey into the world of potions. Characters are relatable and engaging.
Great start to a new series!