Elixir is the debutyoung adult novel co-written by American entertainer Hilary Duff with Elise Allen. It was available at booksellers on October 12, 2010. It is the first in a series of books that Duff became committed to write. Elise Allen collaborated on the first book with Duff, and became committed to work jointly with her on the others. The book is now a New York Times Best Seller.
Plot
Clea Raymond is a talented photojournalist and the daughter of high-profile parents. Usually she’s in total control of her camera, but after Clea’s father disappears while on a humanitarian mission, eerie, shadowy images of a strange and handsome young man begin to appear in Clea’s photos—a man she has never seen in her life. When Clea suddenly encounters this man in person she is stunned—and feels an immediate and powerful connection. As they grow closer, they are drawn deep into the mystery behind her father’s disappearance and discover the centuries-old truth behind their intense bond. Torn by a dangerous love triangle and haunted by a powerful secret that holds their fate, together they race against time to unravel their past in order to save their future—and their lives.
Creation process
Duff said, in an interview she gave to Seventeen Magazine about the creation of Elixir, "I have been playing with the idea for a few years now. It's a lot of fun and at the same time, very challenging." Duff informed the magazine that she had had the idea in her mind for a long time, first with a series of short scripts, but then, following encouragement from her mother, she decided to convert the concept into a book, recruiting Elise Allen to assist her with the writing. About the paranormal aspect of Elixir, Duff remarked: "I have always been interested in the paranormal and afterlife, everything from ghosts to angels. I think that everyone has that curiosity of the great unknown."
Reviews
Star Magazine gave Elixir 3 out of 4 stars, being positively surprised with Duff's writing. The New York Post wrote, "It has everything: romance and the supernatural; a globe-trotting Hillary Clinton-esque mom; characters with names like Sage and Clea...and a shout-out to Page Six!" MTV's Book Report gave Elixir a very positive review, saying it was ready for "another dose" of Elixir. MTV also said that "Elixir is crying out for a movie adaptation" and suggested that maybe Hilary Duff herself should take the main role. Elixir also reached the New York Times' Best Sellers List at #10 in Children's Chapter Books for one week.
Sequels
Duff had already stated multiple times that she would write a couple of sequels to Elixir, all in collaboration with Allen. In an interview with CosmoGirl! Magazine, she said: "Clea has been on an emotional rollercoaster, so that is probably where the next book will start. Clea will need tofind a way to pick herself up and put the pieces of her life back together. Who knows how long that could take? And what her next move will be? Hopefully her dreams will guide her. IF she can dream." But she had said that she had not set anything in stone as yet and that she and her co-writer, Allen, were simply playing around with different ideas. Duff teased on Twitter about a sequel: "Can’t believe so many people have read the book already! Yipeeee! Starting the next one in two weeks". The trade paperback version hit shelves June 7, 2011 as only the hardcover and ebook was released on October 12, 2010. A sequel, titled Devoted, hit book shelves on October 11, 2011. Duff announced in July 2012 that the third and final novel in the Elixir series would be titled True. The book was released on April 16, 2013 by Simon & Schuster."
