A sequel to a debut novel that delivers! I really enjoyed Immortality; the pacing was faster than Anatomy, the stakes were high, and I liked the characters. I tend to favor Adult over YA, but this story was still mature, macabre, and mysterious enough to keep me entertained. I definitely would have enjoyed this duology as a teen. There isn’t a cliffhanger at the end like the first book had. There are still some unanswered questions, but nothing to truly agonize over.

I’m a big fan of Dana Schwartz and her Noble Blood podcast. It makes reading these books even more fun when you get to draw comparisons between them and real-life history.

(Also, the cover art for this series is extraordinary! I love the Reese’s Book Club journey for the author, but I really hope this sequel doesn’t come with the PRINTED ON book club sticker.)

Pub date: 28 February 2023

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC

Hazel Sinnett is a doctor who is still reeling from the events of the past year in which her mentor turned out to be an immortal killer and her beloved was hanged and accused of being a murderer... and the fact that she gave him a veil that turned him into an immortal. She’s been waiting for Jack to find her, to come back to her... but it’s been months and not a single word or visit. he spends her day wondering if he is alive or dead. She takes patients and maintains Hathornden Castle. When saving a life leads to her arrest Hazel thinks she is going to be sentenced to rot in prison... until she is specifically sent to be the personal physician to the beloved Princess Charlotte, the sickly granddaughter of King George III. While Charlotte’s disease eludes Hazel, Hazel soon finds herself being attracted to a new doctor and being drawn into the mysterious club known as the Companions of Death. Charlotte begins a sort of romance with the brilliant doctor Simon while still in love with Jack, she’s flipping between her feelings for the both of them, and then there is the mysterious social club that calls to her... all of the members who are famous people who are now immortals including Voltaire and Byron. Then Hazel’s life completely changes when she spots Jack, very much alive and avoiding her. She is going to hold onto him no matter what and demands that he explain why he has left her this whole time. Jack can’t see a future for them when he is immortal and she is very mortal, he can’t watch her die, he doesn’t want her brilliant future as a surgeon to be weighed down by someone who has nothing to give her, but Hazel won’t have any of that. Jack has her entire heart and the only way he says they can be together is if she can undo his immortality. When Hazel realizes that the princess’s illness isn’t actually an illness but something much more difficult, she is determined to help her and that means getting Jack to help her do what they do best... retrieve a dead body. Meanwhile, Jack and Hazel must find a way to create a future together, which might be threatened by the Companions of Death when Hazel inadvertently ruins one of their plains... and one of their members might be out for her death... but Hazel has a little secret up her sleeve, and after all this is a love story. This was the sequel to the first book and though it definitely wraps up everything nicely and sweetly, it was a bit harder to get into this one than the first book. This one suffered from the issue that many sequel books do, pacing, lack of story and overall motivations. The first third of the book deals with Hazel helping the princess and her new love and it definitely feels slow and a bit bogged down, but it definitely picks up by the end when Jack makes a return. I did enjoy the ending of the book as Jack and Hazel do get the happily ever after they deserve and overall the series was a great one to read.

*Thanks Netgalley and St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

I wish I didn’t have a life to live so that I could have read this from start to finish. I did enjoy how the author wrote and played with some historical events to make her story more worthy. I also enjoyed how she connected the first book into this book. Love = immortal. Some things you never see coming. Hazel never gave up on what she wanted and what she believed to be true.

Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for allowing me to read the ARC for my honest review.

Thanks to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for the advanced readers copy.

Immortality begins right after the events in Anatomy. Hazel is struggling with Jack's death, or is he dead? She continues helping those in need but has found that she is lonely. She dives into her work, especially writing her treatise. After helping a woman in need and saving her life, Hazel finds herself in an impossible position. She is saved by an unlikely person and whisked away to a new life. Hazel uncovers many mysteries and reunites with someone unexpected. Will she have the life she's always dreamed about?

I really enjoyed this book! It has a slightly different feel than the first book IMO but it was still so rich. This one definitely has more of a Historical Fiction feel. Great duology!

Immortality begins where Anatomy ended, with Hazel’s grief, not knowing if Jack is alive or dead. But in true Hazel spirit, she knows her purpose. Despite the loss of her love, she continues her work as a physician and her work on a medical book for the common people.
Due to a surprise patient who shows up at her home (and who’s life she saves), Hazel is arrested and found guilty of a crime. Just when she’s sure she is headed towards her punishment, she’s whisked away to London to be employed as a physician to the Princess Charlotte, granddaughter of King George III.
Hazel adjusts to life around the royal court, and continues her work. She also gets invited to join the Companions to the Death society-a group of profound minds who offer her a once in a lifetime opportunity. But, Hazel learns that saving a life is not always as easy as curing a sickness.

Hazel is the heroine I wish I could have had a long time ago. She has her own moral and ethical compass which make her actions are ahead of her time. She thrives through many circumstances that should have hurt her social and professional standing.

I absolutely loved this story; just as much as I loved Anatomy. The twists and turns were heart pounding and riveting. The relationships, while complex, were beautifully built. The plot tangles and untangles masterfully.

And finally, I really enjoyed the author’s note at the end.

Thank you NetGalley, Wednesday Books, and Dana Schwartz for the digital galley.

I really enjoyed this book! It was really… strange, but in a totally good way! I definitely highly recommend!

Thanks #netgalley

This is a sequel to Dana Schwartz. Anatomy: a love story

The book was descriptive and I like her writing style . It was slow to get into. It did answer some questions . I love hazel she’s smart and resourceful. I prefer book one . If you want answers you should read this

I really enjoyed the first installment Anatomy and this follow up didn't disappoint. It follows Jack and Hazel's story from the events of the first book. A bit of romance and a triangle but overall more substantial and thought provoking than your typical YA romance. I enjoy Dana Schwart's writing style and pacing.

I genuinely enjoyed this series, the world building was so vivid and I couldn’t get enough of Hazel’s story. All in all a great quick read.

The first book in this series has been on my TBR since it came out, but I never got around to reading it. When I got approved for this book I hurried and bought the first one so I would be all caught up. I am so glad I read both of these books! I loved Hazel's character. Her drive to follow her dreams and to eschew society's expectations of her were so awesome to read in a Young Adult book. I love that she was always ready to press through hard times to continue the good work she knew she was doing. The immortality arc was interesting, but for me, it played second fiddle to the "I'm a doctor, dammit" storyline. I also liked the Jack storyline, although I kind of liked the other guy too. All in all, this was a fun and quick read that I would absolutely pass on to my teenagers to read!

I loved Anatomy! Absolutely loved it. I’m going to give this one 4 stars because some things just bugged me - not enough to turn me off of the book, but enough to annoy me a wee bit.
First of all, the beginning of the story was a bit slow. It felt like it was talking forever for anything to happen. And then when something finally happens - hazel being arrested for something she didn’t do - it seems to take forever for that to be resolved. When that whole incident is finally swept under the rug, the real adventure begins - and I rather quite enjoyed it.
Hazel is swept off to London to help figure out what is wrong with princess Charlotte. Here is where she meets a secret society of immortals (some very interesting plot points surrounding this group) and the absolutely wonderful Simon.
The second part that bothered me is the love interests. Simon is a great catch (but he isn’t Jack). Just as Hazel begins to fall for Simon, Jack reappears. The reader knows right away how this will play out, but oh boy did ever hope for an alternate ending. I really did.
Overall, I did find it quite predictable, however, it did not disappoint. there is still much to like about it - interesting twist of what happened to princess Charlotte (alternate history is always fun).
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me an e-Arc. The opinions expressed are my own honest opinions.

I can't get over how much I loved this! There is a little something in here for everyone: love, politics, history, sci-fi, a touch of horror, etc. Even the cover is downright gorgeous!

Anyway, I'll wait patiently while someone decides to make this into a movie. If anyone needs casting recommendations, I'll be over here!

Immortality: A Love Story is the perfect ending to this duology. I The world building through the eyes of Hazel Sinnet was so perfectly developed that I could picture it so vividly. I love the way Hazel stands up for herself and always works out a way to get through whatever is thrown at her, and this book shows that even more so than the first one. The pacing, the ode to feminism, fantasy and adventure are what kept me flipping pages. I adored this duology and will be recommending it to anyone I can.

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest opinion.

I loved this once Jack came back. The beginning was slow and I was bummed there was no Jack. Overall, love this duology, just try to be more patient than I. Love the interlocking storylines and the real histories thrown in. Great fun.

I liked this but it was definitely its own story that just felt a little different than the first. I liked the ending!

5/5 stars
Recommended if you like: fantasy, Gothic romance, magic, medicine, historical fantasy, secret societies

This review has been posted to Goodreads and has been posted to my review blog as of 11/8 and to Instagram as of 11/17.

This book opens almost a year after the close of the last one, with Hazel working as a surgeon and Jack presumed dead by everyone except maybe Hazel. Poor Hazel is having a hard time in this one. She's enjoying being a surgeon and chasing her dream, but is also realizing how lonely her life is now that so few people want to associate with a woman doctor. Things only get worse for her when one of her patients accuses her of murder to save her own skin (why she didn't rat on the other doctor/medic instead of or even alongside Hazel I don't know) and Hazel gets to spend several horrible weeks in prison. Things do get better though and, aside from the occasional death threat, Hazel enjoys her time in the royal household, working on her medical treatise and meeting with other intellectuals. During her time in London, Hazel gets the chance to decide who she wants to be and the kinds of values she wants to have.

For the other characters, the other doctor-in-resident with the royal household is Simon. He comes off as abrasive and condescending at first, but he gets better and he and Hazel actually become friends. Simon is supportive of Hazel's ventures and encourages her medical pursuits. For her part, Hazel likes Simon as a friend and confidante and later something more. I liked Simon and thought he actually seemed like a decent guy who would be happy to run a medical practice with Hazel if given the chance.

Of course, though, we also have Jack make a reappearance. Right off the bat it's clear he isn't the same person who 'died' at the end of Anatomy. He's harder and more closed off, and he understands better the burden of immortality. When it comes to Hazel, he's insistent he doesn't want to watch her grow old and die while he remains forever young. There's a love triangle situation going on a little bit with Simon and Jack, but I actually didn't mind it and I think I would've been satisfied with either outcome.

In terms of plot we have the Companions to Death group and the princess' illness (and Simon's own dealings with the king's illness). The princess is quite reticent to Hazel examining her at first but eventually gives in and allows her to conduct an examination and try to figure out what's wrong with her. It actually doesn't take Hazel very long to figure it out, but that then leads her to a secondary plot involving the princess in hopes of coming up with a different outcome.

The Companions to the Death come up almost immediately after Hazel arrives in London and she's immediately fascinated by them. She remains interested when she's introduced to the group, but she's hesitant to accept their offer to join them, which comes with the attached string of immortality. However, she's more than happy to remain as an honorary member as their retainer surgeon. Another review suggested some similarities to Death Becomes Her, which I've never seen but I did look it up and agree wholeheartedly with that comparison (this book just lacks the satire element of DBH). One thing I thought was interesting was that Hazel got over her wariness with the group fairly quickly, and perhaps it's because I have the benefit of being a reader of the book and not a character, that felt very...naïve to me. Some of the group members felt more trustworthy than others, but there were some in particular that radiated a more sinister vibe, and I wondered how Hazel didn't also feel that.

I don't totally know how I feel about the ending. On the one hand I'm happy that things worked out for Hazel and the other characters. But on the other hand I don't know how to feel about Hazel's decision at the end, which is probably why it took me so long to finally write this review.

I also wanted to mention that Hazel's 'crime' is shockingly relevant to today (though more in the US right now than in the UK). You don't really see abortion talked about a lot in literature, and especially not YA literature. I was happy to see it included in the book even though I'm sure it was written before Roe was overturned.

Overall I enjoyed this book. It was entertaining to read and I liked the parts where Hazel figures out medical stuff and the parts with the Companions to the Death.

I love this story and I love Hazel Sinnett. If you're a fan of Enola Holmes or Stalking Jack the Ripper and you haven't read this series.... What is wrong with you haha. This series is so good. Full of twists and turns, historical settings, romance, and a whole lot of mystery. This book was quicker than the first plot wise. I read this so fast and could not put. it down. This was an incredible continuation and I *think*??? end to the series.

I really enjoyed this one! The first book in the series was very good and unique. This was a great addition.

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. One of the rare instances where I actually like the sequel to a book just as much, if not MORE than the original. Reading about historical medicine PLUS "secret societies" and we get to meet actual historical figures? Love it. A more formal review will be available on my IG/TikTok and Goodreads.

I requested this from NetGalley because I loved the covers of this duology, but now I love Hazel too. 🥹

I definitely would have rated this book higher if there had been more scenes of Hazel actually practicing medicine similar to the first book.

The ending? *chef’s kiss* I would love a third, but cannot complain.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!