This wasn't a book duology that I would normally read, but I got ahold of the first one and really enjoyed it. I love how Schwartz has created such a strong character who does what she wants and isn't afraid to break the societal norms of the time! In this second book, Hazel finds herself as the personal physician to Princess Charlotte who is ailing from an unknown illness. Throughout the story, we meet some new characters in Eliza and Simon. I loved them both! I really liked how Simon, a fellow physician, was in Hazel's corner and would stick up for her because he knew how important her role as a female doctor was.
I enjoyed the ending, but I sort of wished one part was a bit different. A solid sequel in my opinion.
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Wednesday Books for the ARC!
Expected publication - February 28, 2023.

I was surprised to learn that Immortality held its own to Anatomy, offering the same character I loved with Hazel and adding a completely fresh set of supporting characters as well as a diverse plot. I think it tied up the plot to its predecessor perfectly and I can say I was engaged throughout the entire book! I'm so glad that Hazel and Jack's story received the closure it deserved.

Thanks so much to St. Martin's Press as well as NetGalley for granting me access to and advanced copy of this book ahead of its release in March 2023!

Immortality: a love story, by Dana Schwartz, is an absolutely redeeming sequel to the love story duology.

I was not the biggest fan of anatomy: a love story. While I found it to be a decent book overall, I really felt like it was lacking in the "love" part of the promise. Through reading the second book in the duology, I discovered that the love story may not have been as simplistic as I initially considered. I do not believe that the love story is between Hazel and Jack. I believe the overall encompassing love story is Hazel finding love within herself and comfort within herself to follow her heart. This book was a This book was an absolute redemption to the first book and made the duology a goal package that I would recommend. That being said this book receives four stars for me for being absolutely wonderful and entertaining read.

I absolutely loved the first book in this series and after the ending, needed the second immediately. This book was very enjoyable, but felt different from the first one. It could be because we were now set in London instead of Edinburgh, or that we had different goals and desires. I will warn you that although this book has "A Love Story" in the title, don't expect the hero to arrive for at least the first 60 percent of the book. That part was a bit disappointing, but I really am here for Hazel.

In this book Hazel is once again forced to fight societies thoughts on a female physician. However, with the help of royalty and a unknown club, she finds a place of her own. There is a bit of a mystery, but it doesn't have the same gothic vibe as the first book.

It ended with a lot more closure than the first book, but I still had many questions I wanted answered. I don't know if there are going to be more books in the series, but I kind of hope there are.

The continuation of "Anatomy: A Love Story", "Immortality:A Love Story" picks right back up with Hazel not long after the first novel left off: Jack has hung and his demise is unknown and Hazel has nothing to do but go on and keep treating patients.
Both of the novels are captivating in the focus of a female surgeon in Regency area Great Britain, but whereas "Anatomy" looked at medicine so deeply, "Immortality" steps away from intricate medical scenes and focuses more on Hazel's experience getting arrested then thrust among Regency royalty, both actual Royalty and as well as famous characters that we would recognize such as Lord Byron.
The book moves quickly and the lingering question about Jack enhances the need to speed through it even faster. It is a fun read with all the well known people who hang out in a secret club and the continuation of the immortality Dr. Beechman brought into the story at the end of "Anatomy" is continued well here.
However, some of the writing fell flat for scenes that should have hit harder, leaving a few choppy transitions in the plot as we moved along. For an example, when Hazel's medical bag is returned to her in a moldy condition that makes the bag unusable, we learn about this through the narration as something that had already occurred and we are being filled in on the event, rather than sitting with the narrator as it happens. This matters because, of course, to Hazel as the only female surgeon in the country, her medical bag is extremely valuable to her, both emotionally and physically for her work. Getting the bag in a ruined state would be an emotional event that we just don't feel because of the way the information was told to us. In contrast, the moment *huge spoiler alert* that Hazel sees Jack for the first time is well done, and although I was very happy with this scene, it became a bit frustrating to see that these emotional impacts could be made and just weren't at what felt like many important points in the story.
Yet, "Immortality: A Love Story" was a fun read and I find myself a bit torn at the ending. The final chapter makes it seem as though there will be no more and that we won't be following Jack and Hazel anymore since we get a glimpse into their future. And yet. And yet! *Spoiler Alert* Dr. Beechman is still alive and both Hazel and Jack's feelings on that aren't completely known if I read correctly, the secret society is still going, and we don't know if Hazel ever figures out how to reverse immortality. These are all big questions that remain, unless I missed subtle clues (in which case is not enough) but the book feels as though it is a final closing.

Oh, I loved this duology SO MUCH. The second installment was just as good as the first.

After unsuccessfully trying to become a surgeon using her brother’s identity, Hazel begins taking on a unique set of clients in her small but steady business. But her luck changes when she is summoned to London to diagnose and cure Princess Charlotte, who is suffering from an unknown ailment and has refused the services of dozens of other physicians.

Hazel worms her way into the Princess’s trust while working on her remarkable treatise which will help laypersons understand anatomy and how to treat common maladies. All the while she misses her love Jack, who’s whereabouts (and mortal status) are unknown. She also attracts the attention of an elusive and exclusive group of artists and scientists who’s cloak & dagger routine is covering up a larger purpose.

*I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

I was so happy when I discovered the existence or this book! I had read an ARC of its predecessor and was left with a feeling of . . . not emptiness, necessarily, but it didn't feel finished. It needed more, and this book provided that, for the most part. I didn't appreciate certain bits of history being messed with (such as the sexuality of a certain historical figure), and this book felt like it pushed in a bit of political commentary (honestly, I prefer my fictional books without it). I also had some mixed feelings about the ending. But I was still more satisfied with the way this book ended than I was with the previous book's ending.

Of the new characters introduced, Simon (24) was my favorite. Initially, I found him arrogant and irritating, like he was being offered as a replacement for Jack. I don't want to give anything away, but I will say that my opinion of Simon changed as the book progressed, and I came to care for him quite a bit. He was a good man--a very good man, and I found it difficult to dislike him in favor of Jack. Hazel (18 now) continued to persevere through her heartache and worked towards improving her knowledge and providing others with the medical help they needed. She avoided judging others for their decisions. The Companions to the Death were . . . interesting.

The writing style was enjoyable to read, and it was easy to get lost in the story while I read.


Note: Maybe mild swearing? I can't remember. Mild, fade-t0-black sex scene. A deliberate change to a historical figure's sexuality. It really bothers me when significant information about real people is changed. It's one thing to turn them into immortals (something very obviously imagined); it's another thing to change something that people who don't know better will then believe.

I adored the first part of this duology, and the sequel did not disappoint. Hazel has quite the adventure in these pages—it was so entertaining. So many bits of history mentioned, and the way they were all weaved together was very well done.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC copy of this book! Opinions are my own.

after being super disappointed with the ending of anatomy, I was THRILLED to read immortality as soon as literally possible!!

jack and hazel needed their closure, and this one exceeded my expectations in doing that! I was so excited to be back in their world and finish what they started (literally and figuratively)

except, this one was so drawn out and slow, I felt it would have done better as a novella rather than a full length sequel. most of the chapters felt like filler to me, rather than adding to the conclusion of the storyline.

that being said, dana’s writing is absolutely gorgeous and I would read anything she writes any day!!! the text flows like prose, the characters pop off the page, and it was so easy to read.

thank you to netgalley and st. martin’s press for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!!

rating: 3.5 stars
wine pairing: california zinfandel

Where Anatomy: A Love Story was feminist historical fiction with a touch of romance and a hint of fantasy, Immortality: A Love Story is…well, all over the place. It’s certainly feminist, but the historical and romantic aspects of it are muddled and take liberties with history that make it less engaging than Anatomy. We get to know Hazel a bit better under more pressure than the last book, and the ending of the previous book factors in heavily into the plot. It starts off incredibly slowly, incorporates waaaay more sociopolitical commentary (to the detriment of the plot), and just plain misses the mark that Anatomy hits so often. I read until about 14% on the eARC and got stuck with it, putting it down for nearly a month or so, until I was granted access to an ALC with a pleasant narrator, which helped me get through the rest of the story. I wasn’t pleased at all with this book, and I feel I only finished it because I had it on audio.

This book starts nearly directly after the last one finished, with only about a year to show the effect of Jack’s absence and the heavy loneliness Hazel experiences in her profession as a woman doctor. She has become incredibly skilled, and the community around her and quite far off know about her talent and come to her for medical help. Eventually, as the synopsis states, she is incarcerated for providing medical attention to a woman who has poisoned herself in order to abort her baby. For this, she spends some time in prison and is sentenced to death until she unexpectedly finds herself free and now the royal physician of Princess Charlotte, the granddaughter of George III.

The book picks up the pace a bit while Hazel is at the palace. She meets several historical figures and receives an invitation to join a secret society full of even more historical figures. We find out what happens to Jack after Hazel forms an attachment to a Swedish doctor in residence caring for the insane King George III. Everything plays out like a daytime soap opera, and historical events go out the window in favor of the plot. The whole book seems crammed together with no logical interweaving of the fantastic.

In addition to the history, the synopsis does not quite match the events of the book, either. I did not get the impression that Hazel questioned her sanity in terms of what happened at the end of the last book. There was an anxiety about the safety of her friend, certainly, but not thinking anything did not really happen. Though Charlotte is indeed the daughter of George IV, he is not the reigning monarch in the book—George III sits the throne, though his Prince Regent rules while he is incapacitated. Charlotte’s fate in the book is completely different from historical fact. Sure, this is okay to do with alternate history, but this book is historical fantasy. The fantasy should give way to the history, not the other way around.

While I quite liked Anatomy, Immortality felt very haphazard and rushed. The magical/scientific underworld is not seamlessly interwoven into history. The romance is convoluted. The beginning drags. Even the synopsis clashes with what happens in the book. Overall 2.5/5 for the book.

My thanks to NetGalley for the eARC, for which I willingly give my own, honest opinion.

These covers are seriously AMAZING.

I loved this duology as a whole. And this book was the perfect ending. It was a great YA read that I will happily recommend to readers that don’t know what to read next!!

I loved Anatomy: A Love story by Dana Schwartz so requesting Immorality: A Love Story from netgalley was a no brainer for me and ... I think I loved this one just as much.

Immorality picks up where Anatomy leaves off. Hazel is taking care of patients that otherwise wouldn't have access to healthcare and worried if Jack is alive or dead. After a series of events lead her to taking care of a princess, she finds herself invited to a social club of historical figures.

What I loved about this book is what I loved about Anatomy - as a female in tech, I am just in awe of women who have paved the way to allow women like me work in male dominated roles. Hazel is a tenacious character who continues to fight and work hard, for not only what she wants but those around her. It is just such a good reminder of what I often take for granted - the ability for a woman to be respected, have a voice and chose a profession.

Thanks, Netgalley for the ARC of this book!

This was a wonderful sequel and I loved learning more about this world! The author has lovely writing and catchy dialogue. And I adored the ending!

This sequel to Anatomy leans into the grotesque Gothic vibes of the first book. It's got mysterious societies, grisly injuries, and a potion that can provide immortality.

When Hazel is arrested for helping a woman who is experiencing a miscarriage, she loses all hope. But then a royal servant whisks her away to provide care for Princess Charlotte, the heir of the throne of England, who's suffering a mysterious illness. At the palace, Hazel attracts all kinds of attention, but especially from the doctor whose lab she shares. Hazel finds herself in a love triangle between the very-present and attentive doctor Simon and the absent Jack. When she gets an invitation to join a secret society made up of the elite, the Companions of Death, it seems the world is opening up to her, if only she could forget her lost love Jack.

This book fell a little short of the excellence of the first one for me, with a looser plot, but I was still glad to find out the ending of Hazel and Jack's story.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a great fallow up to Anatomy. Very slow to start, but once it did, I couldn't wait to see what happened. Love, Love the ending. Left me wondering just enough, that I don't need another book to complete the story.

"She had tended to and protected her loneliness as if it were flame of a small candle. Now she felt the flame burning her from the inside out.”

A sequel to Anatomy: A Love Story, I received this as an ARC and went to immediately read book one. I loved the first so I was really excited for this addition, especially after the cliffhanger ending book one.

Hazel picks up where she left off, treating patients without a formal medical degree when she is framed for providing an abortion until the royal family summons her to save Princess Charlotte.

The love triangle in this one was too good because I honestly was rooting for the guy she didn’t end up with, oops. I loved the mix of real and made up characters with nods to famous historical figures. All of this while adding the same mix of fantasy and science from the first.

Thank you to @netgalley @wednesdaybooks @stmartinspress for this ARC! A great finish to this duology!

📚Read this if you like:
⁃ Slow burn
⁃ Claire from Outlander
⁃ Love triangles
⁃ Historical fiction


My rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️

In this story, we see what happens to Hazel after the conclusion of Anatomy. She is continuing to help people with their medical needs, especially poorer people. After helping a certain person, she is accused of murder and is thrown in prison. She is only set free when the Prince Regent is looking for a doctor that can help diagnose Princess Charlotte, who has a mysterious ailment.

While in London, she meets the doctor Simon , who shows affection for her, but Hazel struggles with her feelings after losing and still missing Jack. Hazel also joins the group Companions to the Death, where she meets some of the greatest minds of her the time. While in London, Hazel has to make some bold decisions that affect her future and the future of the country.

I enjoyed this story - it was a quick, fun read. But it didn't quite have the same feel as the first book - I saw someone else's review that this could have better as a 1.5 novella instead of full length sequel, and I agree. There were some characters that were in the beginning of the story that dropped away, and other characters that I thought were going to be more important and then dropped away. I also ended up rooting for a different romance than I thought I would!

Overall, very enjoyable read and I'm sad that this story is over!

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I absolutely loved this book. I’m always a bit scared of sequels when I loved the first book but this one did not disappoint. The writing was excellent and I enjoyed the narration of the audiobook overall but I wasn’t a fan of the male narration, it was hard to understand. I absolutely loved the characters and how well they were developed. I especially loved Eliza, Charlotte and Simon. I was very invested in the story right from the start. There were lots of twists and turns that I wasn’t expecting, which is always a plus. Highly recommend checking this one out!

Thank you to the tagged publishers and NetGalley for providing free advanced copy of these audiobooks & ebook in exchange for honest reviews.

Yes, a book two has been made.

In my last review of Anatomy: a love story, I do remember it being one of the books that dragged out for quite some time and had the most disappointint ending ever. I was supposed to be hopeful by that book 1 ending, but I was not. I was PISSED that I had gone through the 200+ pages of what felt like extremely clinical writing that made me not really care about the wannabe surgeon and her corpse stealing boyfriend.

Not to mention that I wanted Bernard turned into a corpse too. But despite everything, when I heard that there was a second book, I did have my eyes peeled out not because I like to torture myself with bad books, but because I was hoping that the duology would redeem itself in the second book.

Also, it's a pretty creative cover.

Ladies and Gentlemen... I'm happy to report that it did get better. Hazel is still creepily clinical and detached from her emotions which scares me, but the story seemed to flow a lot better this time around. So, before I plunge into the conclusion of this duology, we'll go through the usual.


Short Summary: Our wannabe surgeon is finally one, but after helping conduct an illegal abortion, she ends up in jail and saved to be the royal physician of Princess Charlotte where all that glitters isn't gold and where love and immortality, can come... at a cost.

Long Summary: Hazel refuses to believe that the immortality potion from her former mentor Beecham exists. And yet, a part of her wonders if her Jack may still be alive, but all that keeps her heart beating now is saving lives of those who are in need. When she gets imprisoned for helping a woman through an illegal abortion (18th century, y'all I swear some things haven't changed in the world!) she fears her life will end in a dark cell.

That is, until she is summoned to serve as the Royal Physician for Princess Charlotte, who everyone hopes will be queen someday. What becomes an honor, soon becomes a horror as she navigates the glittering secrets of court life and of the upper class she thought she knew. Dances, opulent parties and aristocrats with secrets that could tear her apart are only some of the threats that put Hazel's life in danger.

Not to mention what Hazel can be willing to do to get her love back again.

I don't want to spoil the ending, but this book moved a lot better than book 1 did and the pages flew by for me with this one, creating a morbidly happy ending in the end for our apparently emotionally detached surgeon girl. Also, the amount of pregnant women in this book made me wonder if this book wasn't running on its own agenda.

Overall: 4/5 stars

I wasn’t a huge fan of the first book in this duology but I think that might have been on me. I forced myself to read it at the time and I should have come back later. This second entry worked much better for me. I liked the flow of the story and overall plot. I enjoyed Hazel’s intelligence and the society details. Getting her out of Scotland was a nice change.

I thought there was some filler for sure, but it was a nice finish to this story. The ending was a bit rushed but I liked the payoff.