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.

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!!