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The Elixirist: A Novel
A young man’s dangerous quest for a mythical elixir of love wins him not only a girl's heart, but also immortal greatness as savior of his people. The Elixirist is an exciting adventure that evokes an unforgettable testament to the priceless rewards bestowed on those who follow their dreams. The novel has been compared with such inspiring books as The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, The Secret by Rhonda Byrne, Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts, The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari by Robin Sharma, The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, Life of Pi by Yann Martel, The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield, Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig, and Wild by Cheryl Strayed.
323 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 4, 2020
10 people are currently reading
6 people want to read
About the author
Avraham Azrieli
22Ìýbooks35ÌýfollowersAvraham Azrieli writes books and screenplays. His first novel was The Masada Complex (a political thriller), followed by the Israeli spy novels The Jerusalem Inception and The Jerusalem Assassin, as well as Christmas for Joshua (an interfaith family drama), The Mormon Candidate (a political thriller), Thump (a courtroom drama featuring sexual harassment and racism), and The Bootstrap Ultimatum (a mystery involving the commercialization of Memorial Day). More recently, he has written a series of novels inspired by the true story of the first woman to lead a nation in human history, starting with Deborah Rising (HarperCollins 2016), which won the 2017 Illumination Book Award for fiction, Deborah Calling (HarperCollins 2017), and continuing with Deborah Slaying and Deborah Striking. A prequel to the Deborah series, The Elixirist, was published in 2020. The Plot to Save America, a mystery set in an authoritarian America, came out in 2022.
Besides fiction, he has also authored Your Lawyer on a Short Leash - A Guide to Dealing with Lawyers and One Step Ahead � A Mother of Seven Escaping Hitler’s Claws, an acclaimed WWII true story, which inspired the musical By Wheel and by Wing.
While growing up in Israel, Avraham received an extensive Talmudic education and performed his mandatory military service in the IDF. After attending law school, he served as a law clerk at the Israeli Supreme Court in Jerusalem. He later earned an advanced law degree from Columbia University in New York City, served as a law clerk at the Federal District Court, and started his legal career with Davis Polk & Wardwell. He has advocated for clients before trial and appellate courts, including the United States Supreme Court. He currently lives near Washington DC. Like Ben Teller, the protagonist in The Mormon Candidate and The Bootstrap Ultimatum, Avraham often rides his motorcycle in the mountainous forests of western Maryland.
To learn more, visit
Avraham Azrieli's Books:
The Jerusalem Inception - "Boldly realistic plotlines and genuine, well-developed characters. Highly recommended!" Yahoo News/Politics. "Protagonist Jerusalem Gerster is the quintessential recruit." NY Daily News.
The Jerusalem Assassin - "Action-packed escapade ... memorable cast of characters ... pages turn as fast as the plot twists and locales shift, taking the reader from Paris to Zurich to Amsterdam to Tel Aviv." Jewish News.
The Masada Complex - "Brims with gritty authenticity ... a genuine treat!" David Liss, author of Conspiracy of Paper, winner of Edgar. "Riveting portrayal of global intrigue!" Stella Pope Duarte, author of If I Die in Juaréz, winner of the 2009 American Book Award.
The Bootstrap Ultimatum - "The real magic here is Azrieli's incredible ability to create well-developed characters as well as his skill in knowing how to draw in his readers." Examiner. “Fast-paced action thriller ... but also full of heart. Sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats." Hollywood Book Reviews. "Riveting. It doesn't get any better than this, folks!!" Sun Francisco Book Review.
The Mormon Candidate - "Plotted like a cinematic thriller, Azrieli has come up with a very powerful novel. At work here is his extraordinary magic in making his readers as eager as his protagonist in uncovering the truth and thus effectively creating pervasive fear and suspense. Sure to keep you up late against your better judgment. Don't say I didn't warn you." Norm Goldman, Examiner.
Thump - "A light-hearted romp through sexual proclivities ... the characters are lovable ... the irreverence is delightful. Thought-provoking. Interesting. Unconventional. Recommended!" U.S. Review of Books.
Christmas for Joshua - "In its own gentle way, the book is as much a page-turner as Azrieli's thrillers - pulling the reader into complex personal and familial conflicts." The Jewish Journal.
Besides fiction, he has also authored Your Lawyer on a Short Leash - A Guide to Dealing with Lawyers and One Step Ahead � A Mother of Seven Escaping Hitler’s Claws, an acclaimed WWII true story, which inspired the musical By Wheel and by Wing.
While growing up in Israel, Avraham received an extensive Talmudic education and performed his mandatory military service in the IDF. After attending law school, he served as a law clerk at the Israeli Supreme Court in Jerusalem. He later earned an advanced law degree from Columbia University in New York City, served as a law clerk at the Federal District Court, and started his legal career with Davis Polk & Wardwell. He has advocated for clients before trial and appellate courts, including the United States Supreme Court. He currently lives near Washington DC. Like Ben Teller, the protagonist in The Mormon Candidate and The Bootstrap Ultimatum, Avraham often rides his motorcycle in the mountainous forests of western Maryland.
To learn more, visit
Avraham Azrieli's Books:
The Jerusalem Inception - "Boldly realistic plotlines and genuine, well-developed characters. Highly recommended!" Yahoo News/Politics. "Protagonist Jerusalem Gerster is the quintessential recruit." NY Daily News.
The Jerusalem Assassin - "Action-packed escapade ... memorable cast of characters ... pages turn as fast as the plot twists and locales shift, taking the reader from Paris to Zurich to Amsterdam to Tel Aviv." Jewish News.
The Masada Complex - "Brims with gritty authenticity ... a genuine treat!" David Liss, author of Conspiracy of Paper, winner of Edgar. "Riveting portrayal of global intrigue!" Stella Pope Duarte, author of If I Die in Juaréz, winner of the 2009 American Book Award.
The Bootstrap Ultimatum - "The real magic here is Azrieli's incredible ability to create well-developed characters as well as his skill in knowing how to draw in his readers." Examiner. “Fast-paced action thriller ... but also full of heart. Sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats." Hollywood Book Reviews. "Riveting. It doesn't get any better than this, folks!!" Sun Francisco Book Review.
The Mormon Candidate - "Plotted like a cinematic thriller, Azrieli has come up with a very powerful novel. At work here is his extraordinary magic in making his readers as eager as his protagonist in uncovering the truth and thus effectively creating pervasive fear and suspense. Sure to keep you up late against your better judgment. Don't say I didn't warn you." Norm Goldman, Examiner.
Thump - "A light-hearted romp through sexual proclivities ... the characters are lovable ... the irreverence is delightful. Thought-provoking. Interesting. Unconventional. Recommended!" U.S. Review of Books.
Christmas for Joshua - "In its own gentle way, the book is as much a page-turner as Azrieli's thrillers - pulling the reader into complex personal and familial conflicts." The Jewish Journal.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 8, 2021
“The Elixirist� by Avraham Azrieli is the page-turning adventure of a boy turned young man on his quest to find a dwarf who inhabited his dreams. Sall, a boy from Edom, has fallen in love with the high priest’s daughter. Sall believes that the fact that he is not big and rough is the reason why she sneers at him. Sall is also the son of the well-known healer in Edom, which is not something in which he takes pride. One day while working on the high priest’s feet, his daughter comes into the room to inspect, and overcome by her beauty, Sall falls back, knocking himself momentarily unconscious. During this time of unconsciousness, he dreams of an old dwarf who tells him that he cannot change the situation without changing oneself first, and a magic elixir has something to do with it all. This advice starts a chain of events for Sall when he leaves his comfortable lifestyle for the unknown in the wilderness on his way to find a dream-interpreter who can tell him how to win the heart of the one he loves, and ultimately how to change himself.
Sall’s journey takes place during the time of the Judges in the Christian Old Testament Bible. The sons of Israel have dispersed, and each has its designated land; this doesn’t mean that the tribes are always peaceful- no, at one point, Sall finds himself in the middle of a war between two of the tribes. Throughout his journey, he experiences theft, slavery, war, having oil poured over him and dragged from a donkey, rescue, miracles, recovery, witness to a murder, near drowning, and much more. This reviewer has more of a sensitive soul, so reading about some of the harsher things that Sall endured was difficult to read, but I loved how it all turned out. But I won’t give it away � readers will need to read and find out if Sall completes his quest to discover the meaning of his dream, the magic elixir, and if the main character gets the girl.
The theme that I got from this book is that everyone is capable of change. Sall was well-to-do with a loving and comfortable lifestyle at home, but internally, he was a peasant with his self-loathing. Throughout his trials, he learned much about himself and the world around him. He also learned to take pride in himself and his family’s work; it is stated in the story that you don’t “do� your work, but you “are� your work. Each new trial for him seemed to present a new way of viewing himself and the world and additionally presents some valuable material for self-reflection for the reader. The story is fast paced, with many things happening already within the first fifty pages. Books that center around events that happened in the Bible are entertaining since the author makes the events seem real, which is how Azrieli has presented this book. Of course, the author takes some artist liberties in regard to biblical information, but I loved reading this book and truly believe that anyone else who picks it up will enjoy it too!
Sall’s journey takes place during the time of the Judges in the Christian Old Testament Bible. The sons of Israel have dispersed, and each has its designated land; this doesn’t mean that the tribes are always peaceful- no, at one point, Sall finds himself in the middle of a war between two of the tribes. Throughout his journey, he experiences theft, slavery, war, having oil poured over him and dragged from a donkey, rescue, miracles, recovery, witness to a murder, near drowning, and much more. This reviewer has more of a sensitive soul, so reading about some of the harsher things that Sall endured was difficult to read, but I loved how it all turned out. But I won’t give it away � readers will need to read and find out if Sall completes his quest to discover the meaning of his dream, the magic elixir, and if the main character gets the girl.
The theme that I got from this book is that everyone is capable of change. Sall was well-to-do with a loving and comfortable lifestyle at home, but internally, he was a peasant with his self-loathing. Throughout his trials, he learned much about himself and the world around him. He also learned to take pride in himself and his family’s work; it is stated in the story that you don’t “do� your work, but you “are� your work. Each new trial for him seemed to present a new way of viewing himself and the world and additionally presents some valuable material for self-reflection for the reader. The story is fast paced, with many things happening already within the first fifty pages. Books that center around events that happened in the Bible are entertaining since the author makes the events seem real, which is how Azrieli has presented this book. Of course, the author takes some artist liberties in regard to biblical information, but I loved reading this book and truly believe that anyone else who picks it up will enjoy it too!
September 30, 2020
Avraham Azrieli’s “The Elixirist� is excellent, so full of exciting events that it will make a wonderful motion picture. It is the story of a young boy of 16, Sall, who lived in the biblical time of the judges, before the Israel tribes united, when they sometimes engaged in war with one another, when Israelite and non-Israelite nations fought to gain territory, all of which happens in this tale. But it is not about Israel, although the Hebrews are sometimes, rarely, involved. It is about a boy from the land of Edom, a country to the south-east of Canaan, whose father is a healer, who is hated by the high priest of Edom who felt that healing belongs to God and people should not interfere and attempt to heal people as Sall’s father does and as Sall helps him do.
The problem that Sall faces is that he has fallen in love with the high priest’s daughter and the high priest would never allow him, the son of a healer, to marry her. More to the point the girl looks at him with contempt. He wishes he would be better looking and be able to impress the girl he loves. He has a dream in which a dwarf tells him that if he travels the far distance to Damascus he will find an elixirist who will change him. He decides to take the trip on a donkey with his mother’s dog, despite the many dangers in the war-torn world on the way. An elixir is an alchemic preparation for transmuting base metals into gold. An elixirist is a person who uses elixirs. If the elixirist can change metals into gold, he thinks, he can change me into a man who my love will like.
The trip is filled with adventures: a meeting with the Edomite general who is in love with his mother who inexplicably advises Sall not to return home for many months, the encounter with a female handless dream reader on a mountaintop, his journey with a Moabite merchant who robs him of his mother’s dog, slavery to a potter in Jericho, finding a way to end the slavery, capture by a group who ties him naked in the sun where he blisters until he looks like a leper and is shunned by fearful people who see him, the magical healing at Job’s bath, his journey with the lying brown prince of Kush who had a secret murderous agenda, the battle between two Hebrew tribes provoked by the brown prince, the fishing success that he developed, the kindness of a hunchback, drowning and being saved and taught by the elixirist, the unequal battle between Edom and Egypt, and much more. Even perhaps of equal significance is that during each leg of his long journey the 16-year-old hears life-saving wise advice, usually one-liners, that teach him, and which he uses as he moves on.
Who was the elixirist? How did he do his magic? Did the 16-year-old change? Did he get the girl he loved?
The problem that Sall faces is that he has fallen in love with the high priest’s daughter and the high priest would never allow him, the son of a healer, to marry her. More to the point the girl looks at him with contempt. He wishes he would be better looking and be able to impress the girl he loves. He has a dream in which a dwarf tells him that if he travels the far distance to Damascus he will find an elixirist who will change him. He decides to take the trip on a donkey with his mother’s dog, despite the many dangers in the war-torn world on the way. An elixir is an alchemic preparation for transmuting base metals into gold. An elixirist is a person who uses elixirs. If the elixirist can change metals into gold, he thinks, he can change me into a man who my love will like.
The trip is filled with adventures: a meeting with the Edomite general who is in love with his mother who inexplicably advises Sall not to return home for many months, the encounter with a female handless dream reader on a mountaintop, his journey with a Moabite merchant who robs him of his mother’s dog, slavery to a potter in Jericho, finding a way to end the slavery, capture by a group who ties him naked in the sun where he blisters until he looks like a leper and is shunned by fearful people who see him, the magical healing at Job’s bath, his journey with the lying brown prince of Kush who had a secret murderous agenda, the battle between two Hebrew tribes provoked by the brown prince, the fishing success that he developed, the kindness of a hunchback, drowning and being saved and taught by the elixirist, the unequal battle between Edom and Egypt, and much more. Even perhaps of equal significance is that during each leg of his long journey the 16-year-old hears life-saving wise advice, usually one-liners, that teach him, and which he uses as he moves on.
Who was the elixirist? How did he do his magic? Did the 16-year-old change? Did he get the girl he loved?
October 27, 2020
The lands of ancient Israel supply the backdrop to Azrieli’s compelling and deeply intriguing latest, which explores a young man’s path to self-discovery and enlightenment.
Determined to win the stunning daughter of the High Priest of Edom, a country to the south-east of Canaan, sixteen-year-old Sall sets on a harrowing journey, leaving his home and city behind. Fraught with deceits, trickeries, and hardships, Sall’s journey takes him from Edom to Jericho and further to Damascus in his search of the mythical elixir of love.
Azrieli’s prose has a dreamlike quantity, and the narrative shines with passages of vivid imagery as Sal gains an added dimension of perception from going through relentless sorrows. In Sall, readers find a courageous hero determined to realize his dream despite the circumstances. Azrieli makes the connections among his various characters seem so natural that the whole situation feels utterly realistic: Sall’s relationship with his parents is both convincing and endearing; the bond between Sall and Bozra will just about break the reader’s heart.
Against the backdrop of ancient Israel, Azrieli explores the path to self-searching and spiritual understanding and sheds insight on the power of hardships and miseries in a person’s life and how they shape one’s character.
Readers, both young and old, will find themselves turning pages nonstop, wishing this won’t end.
Replete with sharp observations, hysterical asides, and vivid depiction, this surreal work is sure to win Azrieli many fans.
Determined to win the stunning daughter of the High Priest of Edom, a country to the south-east of Canaan, sixteen-year-old Sall sets on a harrowing journey, leaving his home and city behind. Fraught with deceits, trickeries, and hardships, Sall’s journey takes him from Edom to Jericho and further to Damascus in his search of the mythical elixir of love.
Azrieli’s prose has a dreamlike quantity, and the narrative shines with passages of vivid imagery as Sal gains an added dimension of perception from going through relentless sorrows. In Sall, readers find a courageous hero determined to realize his dream despite the circumstances. Azrieli makes the connections among his various characters seem so natural that the whole situation feels utterly realistic: Sall’s relationship with his parents is both convincing and endearing; the bond between Sall and Bozra will just about break the reader’s heart.
Against the backdrop of ancient Israel, Azrieli explores the path to self-searching and spiritual understanding and sheds insight on the power of hardships and miseries in a person’s life and how they shape one’s character.
Readers, both young and old, will find themselves turning pages nonstop, wishing this won’t end.
Replete with sharp observations, hysterical asides, and vivid depiction, this surreal work is sure to win Azrieli many fans.
November 9, 2020
Set in ancient Israel in the Old Testament times, Azrieli’s illuminating latest tells the story of a young man’s perilous quest for a mythical potion of love, which takes him on journey to self-realization and enlightenment.
Falling in love with the High Priest’s lovely daughter forces sixteen-year-old Sall to abandon his home and city and search for the magical elixir of love. Full of unforeseen dangers, Sall’s adverse journey takes him from the lush valleys of his hometown to the rough terrains of places far away, bringing him at last to self-understanding and spiritual enlightenment.
Azrieli is an expert storyteller, and his affecting prose and deeply realized characterization keep the readers invested. Sall, with his determination and resilience comes out as a realistic character whose story remains consistently intriguing. His endearing naivety, his unwavering devotion for An, and his heartwarming bond with Bozra makes him reliably human.
His coming of age journey—from being an abject naïve young boy to a grown, self-assured man—comes through in careful detail, never slipping into the maudlin. The story is elevated further by its vivid backdrop of Old Testament times and its deft inclusion of fine historical detail.
Fans of The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho will want to take a look.
Falling in love with the High Priest’s lovely daughter forces sixteen-year-old Sall to abandon his home and city and search for the magical elixir of love. Full of unforeseen dangers, Sall’s adverse journey takes him from the lush valleys of his hometown to the rough terrains of places far away, bringing him at last to self-understanding and spiritual enlightenment.
Azrieli is an expert storyteller, and his affecting prose and deeply realized characterization keep the readers invested. Sall, with his determination and resilience comes out as a realistic character whose story remains consistently intriguing. His endearing naivety, his unwavering devotion for An, and his heartwarming bond with Bozra makes him reliably human.
His coming of age journey—from being an abject naïve young boy to a grown, self-assured man—comes through in careful detail, never slipping into the maudlin. The story is elevated further by its vivid backdrop of Old Testament times and its deft inclusion of fine historical detail.
Fans of The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho will want to take a look.
November 24, 2020
A life-changing journey in search of a magical elixir.
Avraham Azrieli is a graduate of Columbia Law School in New York and an award-winning author. In this incredible tale, he takes his readers back through the centuries into Old Testament times and reveals a story steeped in mystery and intrigue. It stands alone, however, it is the prequel to ‘Deborah Rising,� the first in the author’s epic historical ‘Deborah� series, which tells the journey of the biblical prophetess Deborah in her quest to fullfil her destiny.
Traditionally, in many countries, your career is dictated by your family heritage, and this is the case for the protagonist in this story, Sall, who is an apprentice healer, under the instruction of his father, in Edom. Although highly respected, and essential, his career is not a glamorous one, yet, his father assures him, it is his destiny
Sall, on the day this book begins, falls under the spell of the beautiful but unobtainable daughter of the High Priest, and this fires a desire to be so much more in the heart of the young man, but how can this happen?
Well, the answer lies in the advice of a magical dwarf, Sall must leave his home and take a dangerous journey to find the elixir of love. The elixir will not only enable him to win her heart but also achieve greatness as the savior of his people.
So, fired with determination, Sall sets off with his donkey and dog. Advised by a merchant to talk to the dream reader, the merchant shows him the way, and her wise words and the secrets she reveals, open his mind and strengthen his resolve to continue his journey. It is a journey fraught with danger, he suffers terrible injuries, trickery, and deceit, yet he also makes friends and alliances and discovers a lot about himself. Over time, these events change the boy into a man, giving him morals and the kind of wisdom which can only be gained through experiences. Until ultimately, as the story reaches its climax, Sall discovers his true destiny and self.
Throughout the story, the characters each have their own vital part and weave their way through his life. It is a true coming-of-age story and wonderfully illustrates how, whatever century or time we are in, every element and person in our lives impacts us in varying degrees. Yet, it also illustrates how, with determination we can make our dreams come true. Highly Recommended!
.
Avraham Azrieli is a graduate of Columbia Law School in New York and an award-winning author. In this incredible tale, he takes his readers back through the centuries into Old Testament times and reveals a story steeped in mystery and intrigue. It stands alone, however, it is the prequel to ‘Deborah Rising,� the first in the author’s epic historical ‘Deborah� series, which tells the journey of the biblical prophetess Deborah in her quest to fullfil her destiny.
Traditionally, in many countries, your career is dictated by your family heritage, and this is the case for the protagonist in this story, Sall, who is an apprentice healer, under the instruction of his father, in Edom. Although highly respected, and essential, his career is not a glamorous one, yet, his father assures him, it is his destiny
Sall, on the day this book begins, falls under the spell of the beautiful but unobtainable daughter of the High Priest, and this fires a desire to be so much more in the heart of the young man, but how can this happen?
Well, the answer lies in the advice of a magical dwarf, Sall must leave his home and take a dangerous journey to find the elixir of love. The elixir will not only enable him to win her heart but also achieve greatness as the savior of his people.
So, fired with determination, Sall sets off with his donkey and dog. Advised by a merchant to talk to the dream reader, the merchant shows him the way, and her wise words and the secrets she reveals, open his mind and strengthen his resolve to continue his journey. It is a journey fraught with danger, he suffers terrible injuries, trickery, and deceit, yet he also makes friends and alliances and discovers a lot about himself. Over time, these events change the boy into a man, giving him morals and the kind of wisdom which can only be gained through experiences. Until ultimately, as the story reaches its climax, Sall discovers his true destiny and self.
Throughout the story, the characters each have their own vital part and weave their way through his life. It is a true coming-of-age story and wonderfully illustrates how, whatever century or time we are in, every element and person in our lives impacts us in varying degrees. Yet, it also illustrates how, with determination we can make our dreams come true. Highly Recommended!
.
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