3.75 stars

After reading Anatomy, I so desperately wished there would be a sequel. When Immortality was announced, I was THRILLED! The ending to the first book was ambiguity at its finest, and I was so excited to see Hazel's story continued.

Hazel is operating as doctor & surgeon to the underserved community in Edinburgh when, in a quite surprising turn of events, gets hired to London as a last resort to diagnose Princess Charlotte. The princess has been sick for some time, and no doctor has been able to figure out what is ailing her. While in London, Hazel comes across the Companions of Death, a secret society that is more connected to her past than she realizes.

I do think this book would have worked better as a #1.5 novella rather than a full sequel. The gothic & mysterious vibe of the first book was absent here, and it was much more filler "day-in-the-life" than having a plot to drive it forward. We don't really get a mystery until 60-ish% into the book, and it's sort of background to the actual story.

That said, I do love the characters in this world and even though it didn't exactly meet my expectations, I still enjoyed this read!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

THIS WAS SO FUN! I read it in one sitting. hazel is as fearlessly headstrong and one step ahead of everyone else and committed to doing the right thing as always, old beloved characters make a reappearance, new characters like Simon and Princess Charlotte and Marie-Anne all add some welcome tension and intrigue into the mix, and the end…the end is just fundamentally flawless. (cue the tears and applause!)

dana Schwartz did not disappoint with Immortality: A Love Story. this series is such a breath of fresh air to the YA genre — beginning with an MC who prioritizes the pursuit of intelligence, shattering glass barriers and leading with kindness over all else to elements of a nearly-believable fantasy tale steeped in science and the unknown. a wonderfully inventive duology!

*thanks to netgalley and the published for an ARC.*

Immortality: A Love Story is the second and final book in The Anatomy Duology. Anatomy, the first book, concluded without much resolution. But Schwartz delivers a more well rounded conclusion to Hazel Sinnett’s story. We find Hazel still treating patients at Hawthornden while she continues to wonder whether Jack is even alive. After helping a young woman, she is arrested and left in prison until she is offered a deal to be the personal physician of a chronically ill Princess Charlotte. While at court, she finds herself amongst a social club of brilliant minds called The Companions to Death.

I really enjoyed this young adult duology. I felt Immortality was a better balanced story than Anatomy. It is full of gothic mystery and medical science with Frankenstein undertones. I also enjoyed the storyline at court; the romance and royalty. There is also a love triangle of sorts here as Hazel finds herself drawn to the King’s personal physician. In this surgeon she finds not only a professional equal but a friend. Yet she cannot let the memory of Jack fade.

Dana Schwartz has written a great gothic story with a perfect setting and likable characters. Immortality is an enjoyable send off to our heroine Miss Hazel Sinnett.

Content Warning: surgery, medical scenes, misogyny

I definitely had to read this sequel because the way the first book Anatomy ended was in need of some serious closure! The closure happens in this book. This is what I thought:

+ The book covers for this series are one of my favorites of all time. It’s so cool!

I like being back in Hazel Sinnett’s world as she works as a doctor and helping those that need. This time she is trying to publish a book all about medicine but life hasn’t been easy for her. But I love all the medical stuff, which seems gory but not in a horror way. I found all of it fascinating!

+ What I enjoyed so much about the first book was the gothic vibes and the historical fiction aspects of the book. There is no gothic vibes in this one because it’s set at the royal palace but I did enjoy the historical parts once more especially in reference to the royals and the immortals. I thought the secret society of immortals was kind of cool though one particular character is not very likable.

+ I’m glad Hazel and Jack got some closure – I was waiting for it since book one!

~ While I’m glad there was closure for Hazel and Jack, he only appeared almost 200 pages into the story. And the book is only 289 pages. So…I wish we got to see Jack earlier? Although it was cool to see Hazel living her life, missing him and thinking maybe she could move on. I just wish we got more of him in the book.

~ This is a quick read but I think the new things brought up in this book, the immortals, the villain, and maybe undoing the tincture just didn’t feel solid. It felt like it was thrown in to make the story longer and then it ends. I think some of this could have been added to book one or developed more to make a three book series. Or maybe this could have been a novella? I’m not sure but it didn’t seem to connect to book one as easily.

Why you should read it:
*you want some closure if you read the first book Anatomy
*you like medical fiction, especially historical fiction where a woman doctor is rare

Why you might not want to read it:
*not into the gory medical stuff
*it gives closure but the story feels like multiple separate ones at times

My Thoughts:

I love the covers for this series – they really are amazing! I really enjoyed Anatomy but I think Immortality falls a bit short of my expectations. I got the closure I wanted for Hazel and Jack but definitely not in the way I expected. I did enjoy being back in Hazel’s world of practicing medicine and see her so passionate about it. I like the time period it’s set in and having her be around the English royals. Overall, it’s entertaining an entertaining read if you like medical historical fiction.

I had an interesting experience reading Anatomy: A Love Story. I was actually enjoying the book for the majority of it despite it being a gothic which never work for me. That was until the gothic aspect of the book really kicked in, and I was suddenly not enjoying myself anymore. I had no idea though that it wasn't a standalone and actually had a sequel.

I wanted to read this because it gave me a bit of hope that the series was able to turn around after the way the previous one ended. Unfortunately, I found that this book didn't stand great both as a singular book and as a sequel and final book in a series.

I won't go into extensive detail because most of what didn't work about this book for me was the lack of content. Or to be more specific the lack of content that connects this book to the previous one. We follow Hazel who, after helping someone despite the illegality of it, ends up in jail for the foreseeable future. The promise of a dismal outcome changes though when she is requested to aid Princess Charlotte, the daughter of the current king of England. Things get even more complicated once she gets entangled in the court and a mysterious organization.

Now, did I mind this plotline, no, but I found there was one question looming over my head the entire time, why? Why did the author feel the need to create this plot in order to complete the story? A lot of what happened in this felt very redundant as what was happening was only there to serve one purpose, and it took a lot of time to even get to said purpose. Anything that happened in this that was imperative to round out the story could have easily been achieved had the author extended the first book a bit and made it into a standalone. And those needed plot points, like the last book, also occurred very abruptly which led to some pacing issues as well.

I also can't say I was the biggest fan of Hazel herself, as well as the addition of a new love interest for her. It wasn't necessary nor was it written particularly well considering how fast it burned. Hazel also simply had a lot of lapses of logic in this book which doesn't seem to fit in with her character. The climax of her character arc as well ended up being predictable which didn't help.

Overall, while I wouldn't say this was bad, I didn't find it to be necessary. The story could have been better, at least for me, had it been a separate book or cut down and combined with the first book.

Thank you, St.Martin's Press and Wednesday Books, for giving me the opportunity to review this in advance. My review will be posted to my blog two weeks in advance of the release date.

The covers of book 1 and 2 are just *chef's kiss*; truly some of the prettiest ones I have seen in a while. I have a phys. copy of the first and will be buying this one for my bookshelf as well.
These books are so easily binged due to the flowy, uncluttered writing style.
This book is just as good as the first one in the series, so don't skip out on getting a conclusion for Hazel & Jack! The only way I could be happier is if there were more books in this realm.
Dana is an auto-buy author for me going forward after these two wonderful amd entertaining books.
TYSM for letting me be an ARC reader for this one.

4.75 stars.

One of my most anticipated reads of 2023 and fantastic follow up to Anatomy: A Love Story (thank goodness for that because the ending was a total killer of a cliffhanger), but I am truly saddened to find that this is listed as a duology rather than a trilogy. I'm just plainly in love with Dana Schwartz's world and I could honestly have this just continue on as an infinite series at this point. Once again, a gorgeous cover that is truly brilliantly matched to the subject material. And a great blend of historical fiction with a touch of sci-fi.

The characters in this second of the duology were just as lovely as the first. The plot wasn't quite a seamless and did have some waffling moments, but I enjoyed the journey all the same. The tale is gripping and entertaining with a mixture of so many genres peppered in to the narrative. I very much enjoyed the read and how quickly the story moved. The historical content was lovely and both imaginative and intriguing. Yes...I am that nerd who looks up the characters after the fact to discover the real histories.

Dana Schwartz is a fantastic writer who delivers the goods in her novels. Great story, wonderful characters, and atmospheric writing. Loved this. Dana...please write more. :)

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book! The following is a review by a school librarian. Immortality: A Love Story is a sequel that takes us back to the story readers fell for in Anatomy: A Love Story, offering a brand new tale about heroine physician Hazel Sinnett. Fans of the novel's predecessor will not be disappointed when diving into this new work that offers all of the twists, turns and science laced with romance that they enjoyed before. This novel is a perfect addition to library collections serving the teen/YA population and will be admired by both romance and STEM fans alike for its admirable love story with a dash scientific magical realism.

DNF with the 'why the heck did I request this?' being my main thought. Actually, no, my main thought is 'this is so gross!' I'd forgotten how gross the first one was and this one seemed determined to meet that level of squelching, oozing, solidifying-chunks-of-pus levels of gross from the get-go.

I tried to move past it but the in-your-face grossness of the audio was quickly too much for me. I will say that the narrator did an excellent job with the character voices and voice acting.

I'm sure people will love it, but after trying several times to get into it, re-reading my review for the first book and then reading several reviews for this book, I can tell that it's definitely not for me and my opinion of it won't improve. Other than the grossness, I had several issues with the plot of the first book and I read quite a few reviews (after realizing how very opposite of interested in continuing I was) where those same issues are pointed out here and people seem to think they're more glaring than in the first book.

*Thanks to NetGalley, Wednesday Books, and Macmillan Audio for providing an early copy of the book and audio for review.

After finishing "Anatomy," I was hoping another book would come along and explain maybe just a bit more. I really did enjoy "Anatomy" but I didn't feel like the whole immortality thing fit with the story. But after reading "Immortality," I have a better understanding of the immortality aspect and it actually does fit the story. And it actually makes me love "Anatomy" a little more.

Some of the things about this new novel I didn't like were the extra little story lines. There's the interaction between Hazel and Simon. With the two of them being doctors, I totally get that interaction. And with the uncertainty of Jack's whereabouts (if he was even still alive), I can also understand the possible new love interest. But that relationship just felt almost forced. They work together, so of course they have to fall for each other? Pass.

There is also the story of Princess Charlotte. She's the reason why Hazel had to travel to London in the first place. From the first time Hazel meets Charlotte, I knew exactly what was wrong with Charlotte. Charlotte got the happy ending she was hoping for, and it made for a cute little story, but for some reason I just didn't enjoy it.

And can we talk about the people Hazel left behind at Hawthorden? When she left, her cook/servant was pregnant and about ready to pop. She was worried about the birth and Hazel had assured her everything would be fine. But what happened to her?

Without Dr. Beecham in the picture, Hazel needed someone else to turn to for the intellectual stimulation she wants. Enter The Companions of Death. Again, when this group of highly intelligent individuals was introduced and what they offered to Hazel, I knew immediately how it would end.

Overall, this was a good book to answer any questions that remained from "Anatomy." I just wish there weren't so many extra story lines. It was almost too distracting.

Wow! Dana Schwartz has blown me away with this sequel! I really enjoyed Anatomy, but I loved Immortality. This was an amazing sequel and perfect ending to the duology. In Immortality, we once again join Hazel Sinnett in the 1800s. Jack is gone, and Hazel is alone in Hawthornden Castle, treating patients and working on an anatomy book for the masses. But trouble is lurking around the corner, and Hazel soon finds herself charged with murder and in a whole lot of trouble. On the day she expects to be hanged, like her lover Jack, she is unexpectedly released and rushed off to London to treat Princess Charlotte. Princess Charlotte is suffering from an undiagnosed disease and it is up to Hazel to diagnose and treat her. If she cannot , she will be sent back to jail and hung.

At the castle, she meets Simon, the castle doctor, and a small romance begins to flourish. She also comes into contact with the Companions of Death, a secret club in London that Hazel is most curious about.

Life gets more and more crazy in London and Hazel realizes things are not as they seem. Can Hazel save herself and Princess Charlotte ?

Beautifully written, lots of action and adventure, a great conclusion. An easy 5 stars from me.

There’s been a huge trend of duologies in YA/New Adult genres, and I don’t really get it. Some of the bigger splashed just haven’t worked for me (Chloe Gong’s “These Violent Delights,” being a recent one), and I don’t see them offering much that the classic 3-act trilogy doesn’t. Duologies never relax into their pacing, but they cram too much into the world-building to trim the plot down to just one installment.

‘Immortality’ falls victim to this; whereas ‘Anatomy,’ leaned into the contained, vibe-y world of black market medicine in Edinburgh, this one never found a sense of place. To be fair, If I had to leave Edinburgh for the dull grime of London, I’d probably lose my spark too. The introduction of a second love interest was prime “book 2” fodder, but without a third book to bring everything to a Days of Our Lives-level climax, feelings and murders and plots were all rushed to their inevitable conclusion.
The one are it feels like Schwartz was having FUN was the introduction of the messy, dramatic Companions of Death, a **spoilers--redacted** group that I was way more interested in than Hazel. Now THAT has legs for an expanded universe series.

I loved the first book in this series so I am very honored to received an ARC of Immortality! It absolutely lived up to my expectations and I’m thrilled I got to spend a little more time with Hazel and her companions. This world is so fun for me, I love the mixture of royalty and anatomy, princesses and poison. The juxtaposition works so well and I truly enjoy reading every part of it! Sad to see this series come to an end, can’t wait for more from Dana Schwartz!

There were a few editing notes to make and they are as follows:

Immortality uses feet as a unit of measurement but takes place in Scotland.
Bag written as bad at 37%
Back written as pack at 39%
Warning written as warming at 46%
“Were even been done” at 63%
Unnecessary quotation marks at 86%

I received a copy of this book as an eARC from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I enjoyed Anatomy: A Love Story but was crushed by the massive cliff hanger at the end of the book. So when I saw Immortality: A Love Story was coming out I wanted to read it, more for resolution than anything else.

First of all, yet another STUNNING cover! I hope the physical copies have the anatomical brain on the naked cover (like anatomical heart on the first book).

I'm glad we got more of Hazel's story. We start off with Hazel helping sick people in Edinburg, continuing to hone her medical craft. Unfortunately she gets wrongly accused of murder and goes to prison! But somehow, she is released from prison to become the doctor in charge of healing Princess Charlotte. She also meets another doctor from Sweden, Dr Simon, and a crew of secret society members. There is more to it than this, but I want to be spoiler free.

We do get a somewhat rushed HEA at the end (though I wish she ended up with someone else). I think that this book may be better than the first slightly, definitely easier to read and a bit more interesting plot. I didn't like how long it took for us to get some clarity on the cliffhanger (not til 60% through!!). I also think there were some superfluous descriptions at times. The historical fiction in this book bends a lot of reality (I don't know enough royal history to be bothered by it, but lots of artistic liberties are taken). Overall I enjoyed this duology and I'm glad to have read them.

I’ll start by saying I am quite disappointed how this sequel turned out. I remember finishing the first in this duology a year ago and feeling like the ending was so wonky. It didn’t feel complete, what it needed was… a sequel! To my delight, I received an ARC for this book and eagerly jumped into it. It started off strong, with Hazel confidently using the abilities and knowledge she had risked her *gasp* reputation to obtain in the first book, and I so enjoyed seeing this side of the protagonist. A female surgeon doing her think in 19th century Scotland? Hell yeah, down with the patriarchy! Things started taking a somewhat downward turn when Hazel arrives in London to treat a member of the royal family. I feel like Hazel basically does nothing from this point onward, particularly after Jack comes back in the picture. There is little-to-no doctoring to be found after he comes back. The romance between Hazel and Jack was one of the better parts of the first book, and I was disappointed when Jack came back in the picture and his character fell flat. She had more chemistry with the Swedish doctor than she had with Jack, the apparent love of her life. Then, with the addition of the Companions to the Death club, there seemed to be so much unexplored potential with these other characters and their involvement in the shaping of world history, all of which would have been so much more interesting than what we were given. And what kept me on edge so much in the first book, how the big baddie basically got away with mass murder, was given less than one chapter right at the end. Overall, a disappointment. It could have been so much more.

I read Anatomy at the end of 2021 and have been anxiously awaiting the sequel ever since.

If you haven’t read Anatomy yet, read it.

Because it’s the sequel I won’t give away any details that could possibly ruin the end of the first book, but I loved it. Hazel has landed herself into quite the predicament (again) in Edinburg but was miraculously rescued by the royal family in London. She is now helping the Princess of England, who is sick with a mysterious illness. We find out what happened to Jack, as well as Dr. Beecham, Hazel meets a secret society of immortals, and she meets a handsome Swedish doctor who not only is interested in her, but also respects her as a female physician. So things seem to be looking up, and then they’re not…

I really liked Immortality and thought the end was a good way to end it. I did miss all the gory/unsettling details the first book had, but it really wasn’t the premise of the story so that’s just me. I’m looking forward to more from Dana Schwartz. Immortality will be published 2/28, thanks to the author, Wednesday Books/St. Martins Press and NetGalley for review copy.

The first book ended in a cliffhanger so I was beyond stocked that I was approved for the arc.

In this sequel we’re introduced to a few new characters and a new love interest. I loved Jack but I have to say, Simon grew on me. He was really supportive of Hazel and saw her as an equal. I thought they would be really good together.

⚠️ Spoiler Alert ⚠️

The question we all had at the end of the first book was answered, Jack came back! I had a biggest grin on my face when it happened.

I loved the ending and how the author did a little fade to black for all the characters.

Sequels tend to be disappointing for me but I’m happy to say that this book did not share that fate. I thought it was done well. I loved the character growth and how everyone got their HEA.

And with that, I leave you with my favorite quote.

“My heart is yours”’ he said. “Beating or still.”

Sigh.

Immortality: A Love Story picks up right where the first book left off. This story is action-packed like the first, though it includes less gruesome medical adventures. Hazel continues her quest to become a surgeon, Jack's fate is up in the air, plus a delightful dose of palace intrigue and secret societies. This duology is so fun and I will be recommending both books to my students!

Thank you to Wednesday Books for letting me read IMMORTALITY early. This one hits the shelves on February 28.

IMMORTALITY is the follow up book to ANATOMY and I really loved them both. This is not normally the type of book I gravitate towards, but Dana Schwartz is truly talented and wrote two books that I just can’t stop thinking about. This book has it all, medical history, gore, horror and a little love mixed in. I love these characters and I miss them already. I really hope we get another book!

Anatomy was one of my favorite books last year so when I found out there was going to be a second book I was so excited. I am happy to say that the second book lived up to my expectations & more.

And that ending? I was in tears. I want a hundred more books in this series but at the same time I’m glad it ends here because I will never get my heart broken.