I don't usually have a lot of faith in sequels, but Schwartz did such a fantastic job with this one! All the elements- the betrayal, the princess, the new doctor, the "resurrection" of Jack, PLUS a secret society made for SUCH an engrossing read!

When the first book ended I was truly surprised I couldn’t believe that was how it was going to end. Imagine how thrilled I was when I found out a SQL was in fact happening. Immortality a love story starts with Hazel in prison and we the reader are left wondering how is this going to move forward and just as she’s about to be hanged she saved at the very last second. And so our story continues! Hazel is just as captivating a character here as she was in the first book and I loved getting to spend more time either again.

She’s brought to help heal princess Charlotte from a serious fever the historical detail was just so so good. If you listen to Dana Schwartz’s podcast ,Noble Blood, then you know her research is excellent and that really shines through so I’m really interested to see what comes next for this promising author who has a clear voice with hopefully more stories to come!

This was a rare case for me where I enjoyed the sequel more than the first book in the series! I had the pleasure of reading Anatomy: A Love Story and Immortality: A Love Story back-to-back and I HIGHLY recommend it if you can. You don’t realize the beauty of a buildup Dana Schwartz is creating in the first book until you finish the second one. I loved it.

I am going to skip the synopsis so as to not give away any spoilers, but you pick up pretty much where we were left at the end of the first book. I really grew to love Hazel and what she stands for through this second book. The mix of the strong female main character, the historical fiction aspect, and the romance thrown in was the perfect combination here.

As a nurse, I was drawn to this story more than some may be. I LOVED the medical aspect SO MUCH! Medical history has always fascinated me and to find it in this story was so fun. So, if this is your jam, definitely pick this duology up.

This story felt more fast paced and action filled then Anatomy. Expect twists and turns, side stories that I loved, character growth, and so much more.

The ending was beautiful. ALL THE FEELS! I am so sad this world is over, and I will definitely be looking out for more work from Dana!

Pick up this duology if you enjoy:
-Strong female main characters
-Historical fiction mixed with a little extra “magic”
-Some appearances from real characters from history
-A plot that keeps you waiting in a good way
-A good duology (The perfect series length in my opinion!)
-Beautiful unique book covers to add to your shelves

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thank you @netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC to read and review.

Hazel Sinnett is Britain’s first female doctor, and working in a man’s profession in the early 1800s as a women brings a lot of attention, good and bad. She is hired to treat the Princess of Wales, Charlotte, for her mysterious illness. While in London she is invited to join the even more mysterious society Companions of Death with their illustrious members like M. and Mme. Lavoisier, Lord Byron, and Benjamin Banneker. However, while in London she also exposes some malicious intentions which bring trouble on herself.

I really liked the incorporation of historical figures into this story. I knew of them already, but I found myself researching further into them and their place at turn of the 19th century. Since I had not read the first novel “Anatomy: A Love Story” I was having to play catch up and figure out some of the characters and infer about their previous tale in “Anatomy”. For this reason I gave it 3 stars instead of 4, because it is written in a way that it is very important that you read the stories in succession, not independent of each other.

Themes: 💀☠️🦾🦿🧠👸🏻👩‍❤️‍👩👩‍❤️‍👨🪡🪬🩺🧪📗🇬🇧

My feelings: 😀🥸🤓🫡😀👍🏻

#netgalley
#readmorebooks
#readmorebooksbywomen
#youngadult
#historicalfiction
#goodreads
#readersofinstagram
#mybookisife

IMMORTALITY: A LOVE STORY by Dana Schwartz is a Young Adult Fantasy Romance that's set in 1817 Edinburgh, Scotland and later moves to London. It's the sequel to ANATOMY: A LOVE STORY and stars Hazel Sinnett, a young woman who is skilled at healing and performing operations. And yet, the patriarchy still won't grant her the right to call herself doctor. I found this story to be engrossing, the characters well-constructed, and the plot enjoyable and twisty in the best way. Before I gush some more, let's jump to the setup.

Still reeling from recent events, Hazel doesn't know if the man she loves, Jack, has survived his almost-execution using a vial of immortality serum given to her by the detestable Dr. Beecham. Not one to sit around and wait for her future, Hazel treats patients out of her family's ancestral home, Hawthornden Castle. When she saves a patient's life after the patient has done something to herself that's illegal, Hazel is arrested and imprisoned. It seems that Hazel will die in prison, but then a letter arrives asking her to be the personal physician of King George III's daughter, Princess Charlotte. She's whisked away to London where she must finagle royal court politics, an attractive celebrity doctor, and the enigmatic club known as The Companions of Death.

One of my favorite aspects of the previous book was its setting, so I enjoyed returning to Edinburgh and to Hawthornden Castle. Along with Hazel, I missed Jack. I thought Ms. Schwartz did a great job evoking the feelings of loneliness and anxiety Hazel felt. We didn't stay here for the entire book, as Hazel was imprisoned, and then whisked off to London. I enjoyed the setting of Regency London, but I missed Edinburgh. As a side note, I think the author did a great job capturing the injustice of Hazel's arrest and subsequent imprisonment for a crime she didn't commit. It was eerily reminiscent of what's happening in the US and other countries current day.

The inciting incident is the arrival of the letter requesting Hazel's presence as Princess Charlotte's physician. If I had to fault the novel for anything, it would be that too much time elapsed before Hazel was freed from prison and the plot moved to the second act set in London. Also: I wanted to see Jack sooner. I understand that there had to be a setup for the world of London and all of its intrigues, but my little shipper heart yearned for him and Hazel to reunite.

Speaking of shipping... hello there, Dr. Simon von Ferris! An admitted Hazel/Jack shipper, I had my doubts when this character was introduced. But Ms. Schwartz? You did it. I found myself cheering for Hazel and the celebrity doctor to get together. Maybe Jack's extended absence stepped me down that path. I found Simon to be a well-crafted, well-rounded character. He had his faults, but he had his head and his heart in the right place. It was refreshing to meet a man in this world who stood beside a fellow colleague, even though she's a woman. He was really attractive, too, except for the mustache (which, yes, I know, is period appropriate).

Without giving anything away, there was a romance subplot involving Princess Charlotte that I absolutely loved. The demonstration of Hazel's skill as a physician both involving the Princess's story, and one other, was well-written and plotted. They were mini-mysteries embedded in the story. The closure on the Princess's story was satisfying and also demonstrated how far Hazel will go to help her patients.

The Companions of Death introduced the readers to many famous people from history. I found the club quite macabre, which I think is the point, but so many famous people involved pulled me out of the story a little. Overall, I thought the club a smart addition to the story and an explanation for Dr. Beecham and his findings.

Jack's late return bothered me a bit, as I previously mentioned. But when he did return, it was very realistic that he'd been through A LOT. I'll leave it at that to avoid major spoilers. His reactions to everything felt spot-on and he had my sympathy throughout the story.

Before I sum up my review of this book, I would be remiss if I didn't mention how much I love the cover. It echoes the clever cover of ANATOMY, but I think it's even better. Bravo to the illustrator, Zach Meyer!

IMMORTALITY: A LOVE STORY is a well-written YA Fantasy Romance which addresses past and current societal issues while taking the reader on an entertaining, sometimes slightly gory, sometimes romantic, journey. I really enjoyed it. Run, don't walk, to pre-order this strong finish to this entertaining deology!

Thank you to Netgally and St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books for providing me with an eARC of this book for my honest feedback.

A great sequel to Anatomy. Hazel is back treating patients young and old alike. Lots of history in this novel, but I feel like giving any kind of detail would be a spoiler!

Was a little long and repetitive in the middle where Hazel had a long-treated patient she works with. Not quite a 5 for this reason, but a strong 4.5. Funny, charming, and a feminist book at heart.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the opportunity to review the ARC.

I love this author’s storytelling. I love the setting and the main character, Hazel. She is such a delight. I love the historical fiction aspect of this, as well as the medical aspects. This is a YA book, which I typically do not read, but I do love this author. I will definitely read her again if she publishes more!

Jack has been hanged. Hazel has moved on in her medical practice. After being wrongfully accused of a crime Hazel finds herself in London, treating the princess.

I could (and probably will) read this duology several times. The characters are so well written and the story is heartwarming and interesting. I cannot wait for this to release so I can listen to the audiobook!

Release day is Feb 28, 2023 so you've got some time to read Anatomy: A Love Story before this sequel comes out. Big thank to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and Wednesday Books for this ARC!

I wanted to enjoy this but was overly unimpressed with the relationships, the dynamic, and the plot felt convoluted.

Immortality: A Love Story is the continuing tale of Hazel Sinnett and her life as a female physician in Regency era Scotland and London. While it's mostly a contained story, I highly recommend reading Anatomy: A Love Story first to fully understand the characters and storyline.
Much like Anatomy, Immortality is an interesting combo of historical fiction and science fiction. Many of the side characters are actual historical figures, although the author does admittedly play a fast and loose with their real stories (somewhat expected for a science fiction tinged booked!) Reading this book did inspire me to do some googling to see what their actual stories were! They way the ending of the book is written, it does feel like this will be our last check-in with Dr. Sinnett, but I would be happy to read more.
Is it the most historically accurate? No.
Is the twist ended a little much? Yes.
Is it still a worthwhile read? I think so!
While I received an ARC of Anatomy: A Love Story for free, this had no bearing on my rating and review. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books!

I enjoyed reading this book, it was better than the first one. It so well written, great descriptive writing with an amazing plot. I couldn't get enough of this book. If you read the first, you'll definitely want to pick up this one, you won't be able to put it down.

Immortality: a love story
To Be Published: February 28, 2023
Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Supernatural
Trigger warnings: Graphic depiction of human anatomy; medical procedures
5/5 Stars
Summary from Amazon:
Beecham has disappeared. Is Jack alive or dead? Hazel does not know, but she is determined to carry on her medical practice in Hawthorden Castle until she finds out.
When saving a life leads to her arrest, Hazel seems doomed to rot in prison until a message intervenes: Hazel has been specifically requested to be the personal physician of Princess Charlotte, the sickly granddaughter of King George III. Soon Hazel is dragged into the glamor and romance of a court where everyone has something to hide, especially the enigmatic, brilliant members of a social club known as the Companions to the Death.

As Hazel’s work entangles her more and more with the British court, she realizes that her own future as a surgeon isn't the only thing at stake for her. Malicious forces are at work in the monarchy, and Hazel may be the only one capable of setting things right.
Review: Hazel is swept away to court, where new characters based on actual historical figures live, and where she must solve medical mysteries in order to continue to survive and be free. Hazel is also invited to join a secret society The Companions to the Death – she is unsure of their motives or purpose. Hazel also learns the fate of Jack Currer. Will Hazel continue to pursue her dreams of being a surgeon or follow a different destiny? The stunning finale to the Anatomy Duology is full of surprises for the reader. Anatomy: a love story was a slow burn and Immortality picks up the pace with suspense, action. Hazel Sinnett is a character that will inspire young women to dream for more and to achieve their goals in life.

This is an excellent follow up to Anatomy, it makes for a very fun sequel and I think fans of the first novel will really like it. However, the tone of this book is quite different, it's much more fantastical than the first, which up until the very end, felt quite grounded in reality. I still liked this book, but it was a very different reading experience that the first book. Dana Schwartz's love of history is certainly on display again, it felt well researched, but it was also fun to see her play around with the real history. I think it's a can't miss book for fans of Anatomy!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me a complimentary ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Immortality continues the story of Hazel Sinnett which began in the book Anatomy. The cover art continues to wow, but the story is also wow worthy as well. In this follow-up, Hazel is wrongfully accused of murder and is saved from death by becoming the doctor tending to Princess Charlotte who is suffering from an unknown illness. Questions still abound around whether Jack is still alive as well as Beecham.

Overall, this was a worthy follow-up and kept the story moving. I found myself enjoying this book a bit more than Anatomy, but it was most likely because there was less need to world build and you can get right into the story since there is a familiarity with the characters and setting.

I can't recommend both Anatomy and Immortality enough!

I have a soft spot for a good gothic romance, so I love Dana Schwartz's macabre royal history podcast, Noble Blood, and her novel Anatomy: A Love Story. When I heard the announcement for its sequel, Immortality: A Love Story, I was excited to spend more time with Hazel in atmospheric 19th century Edinburgh and pick up the unanswered questions from the first novel.

I had high expectations for this sequel, which partially explains why I had trouble settling into the story. After Anatomy's epilogue, I was convinced that Jack had survived his hanging, and I had the sense that Hazel shared the same faith. In Immortality's opening, I was surprised to see her certainty wavering, and confused to the point of distraction because the contents of the unsigned letter Hazel receives that hints at Jack's survival had changed. In Anatomy's epilogue, the note reads, "My beating heart is still yours, and I'll be waiting for you," while in the proofs I received of Immortality, the note is a far less romantic but more direct request to "find me in America." I felt that Hazel's uncertainty about how to proceed makes more sense with the original missive.

Continuity issues aside, I felt that Immortality struggled to find its footing. The first third or so of the novel focuses on Hazel's imprisonment for assisting a young woman with an abortion. I found this plot arc jarring, especially since it largely serves as a plot device to get Hazel to London, where the bulk of the novel's action occurs. Hazel's arrest and imprisonment are barely mentioned afterwards, with minimal impact on the subsequent plot.

Once Hazel arrives in London, the novel finally settles into its three main plotlines: Hazel treats Princess Charlotte for a mysterious illness, meets a secret society of immortals who have all taken Dr. Beecham's tincture, and faces a choice between Jack and a new love interest. I was initially worried by the introduction of a love triangle, but I really enjoyed how Schwartz plays with the plot device. Instead of the superficial drama of "who will she choose?," each love interest represents a different type of future Hazel could lead. As such, this decision becomes a major turning point for Hazel, in which she must decide whether to follow the passion of her first love, despite the doubt and distance, into a romantic, wild unknown, or establish herself in society with a peer and colleague who respects and supports her work as a collaborator.

I most enjoyed the alternate histories woven throughout the novel. I was happy to see Princess Charlotte get a happy ending. Pure wish fulfillment for anyone who wants more for a historical heroine who is largely remembered in tragedy. I found the introduction of the Companions to the Death an especially rich development. The members' immortality allows different intellectuals of the 18th and 19th century to cross paths and converse. I love the allure of a secret society, and the fantasy of all of these figures in the same room is good fun. I especially loved Lord Byron's appearance among the members; his characterization as a self-absorbed drama queen felt like a treat especially for me. Most compellingly, the return of Dr. Beecham's immortality tincture allows the story to pick up the ethical questions surrounding immortality, beyond its individual ramifications, by revealing a scheme to control political outcomes.

This novel ended up being very different from what I had expected. Hazel's relocation to London society gives the novel a more Bridgerton feel. While I enjoyed it, I missed the gothic elements. Despite this tonal change and sometimes unwieldy plot pacing, I was happy to spend more time with these characters.

Was so excited to get a copy this book in my hands! Just could not wait to read this one! It did not disappoint, even better than the first book in the series!

I read in from start to finish in one sitting! Give yourself a big block if time, you will not want to put it down!

Love the characters Hazel, Jack and Simon so much! Just WOW! A five star plus book for sure. #1 bestseller!

Highly, highly recommend

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/ Wednesday Books for granting me an advance copy of this book in exchange my honest opinions.

3.5/5 stars (rounded up to 4)

——

Immortality: A Love Story picks up where Anatomy leaves us: Hazel is trying to make her way as a surgeon, running her small clinic from her home and mourning the possibility of her love story with Jack. When she’s charged with murder, nothing seems to be going her way until a stroke of luck places her as the personal physician to Princess Charlotte, the beloved but sickly granddaughter to the King. But the whirlwind of the British Court hides much behind its starry exterior. Introducing new characters, like the charming Simon, doctor to the mad King, this book was a wonderful addition to the Anatomy world. While I was content with the ending of Anatomy, I found myself genuinely curious about where this new adventure would take us.

What I love about this book is the gothic, sometimes spooky, vibe to the 1800s London-Scotland backdrop. This book doesn’t shy away from the morbid or from having a little gore. The introduction of the bright lights of London help offset the heavy feel of Edinburgh. There is this feel of Tuck Everlasting meets Jane Austen with just a dash of Gilmore Girls (anyone else just get that vibe from these books?). The addition of these new characters helped offset the impossibility of Jack’s immortality by introducing more immortal folks, showing how deep within society immortality thrives and influences.

What I didn’t love was Hazel and her romance with Jack. While Hazel is certainly a flawed character, she seems too perfect for the timeline and setting she’s thrown into. She’s headstrong and resilient, which I love, but the impossibility of a respected female surgeon in the 19th century is just that - impossible. For her not to have to continue to disguise herself as a man to do her work is just unrealistic, even for a fantasy novel where immortality thrives. I like the push back of society towards her with her imprisonment in this novel, but hired by British nobility to serve the Princess? I just can’t see it. I wanted to see more push back, more skepticism towards her from the British monarch (okay there is some) and from society for being a female surgeon. Despite all that, I loved how Anatomy ended with such an emphasis on Hazel’s work. She didn’t need this overwhelming love to be whole because she had her true love of work. To reverse that in this book and make her have that romantic happy ending with a man just killed it for me. I wanted the love story to be with her work, not a happily ever after. But that’s just me.

Overall, this book is perfect for every lover of gothic romance, historical fantasy, medicine/anatomy, and the impossible.

**Thank you, Netgalley and publisher, for giving me an electronic ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.**

Immortality: A Love Story by Dana Schwartz was a great conclusion to Hazel and Jack, I loved the journey and how Hazel grew into herself more away from home. Im glad that we weren't left to wonder about the other characters at the end, we got to see where they ended up.

I loved this book and this cover is amazing! My second book from this author and I'm so glad I got to read this. Such descriptive writing and a beautiful story. Can't wait for another!

Thank you NetGalley and Dana Schwartz!

I was so happy to receive this ARC as I was on the edge of my seat after finishing Anatomy: A Love Story. If you enjoyed the first book or haven’t taken a look at it yet but enjoy historical fiction and romance, this is perfect for you. Beyond the classic features of a historical fiction romance, this book has beautiful language and a heroine who will stop at nothing to pursue her dreams. I also loved the push and pull between science and magic in this book as it’s always fun to examine the way that concepts intertwine, especially in fiction. I can’t wait until the release to share some quotes that I loved but until then add this to your tbrs.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.