Just wow! I fell in love with the first book, Anatomy: A Love Story. Hazel is an amazing character. Determined, brilliant, clever, doesn’t play by the rules. Everything I love in a female lead. I was really excited to get an advance audiobook of the second book Immortality: A Love Story from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Like the first book, this did not disappoint. We continue to follow Hazel on her journey as a “physician” which quickly leads to her arrest. Earning a reputation for herself as a female physician. She finds herself specifically requested to be the physician of Princess Charlotte, which saves her from execution.

Hazel ends up uncovering more than she expects and in typical Hazel fashion, she’s determined to get to the bottom of everything.

Never a dull moment, this duology has quickly made its way to the top of my favorites.

I really enjoyed the narrator as well. She kept me engaged the entire time.

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.

On a positive note, the audio narration was pleasant. While it was narrated in a Scottish voice, I was able to speed it up to 2x because the reader's voice was clear and her words well annunciated. The occasional male narrator was also easy to understand and nice to hear. Overall for narration, 5/5.

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. Combined rating of 3.5/5, rounded down to 3/5 for the wonky structure.

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

Dear Immorality; a Love Story,
I absolutely loved Anatomy; A Love Story. It was a unique concept with depth and brilliant characters. It was a tough act to follow up, but you did decent job of it. There were a few things I wasn't the biggest fan of though. I felt that Hazel compromised some of her principles for the sake of love, which felt like a bit of a cop out for me. I loved most of your plot line and the mystery and intrigue that you brought, but your story was a bit all over the place, with no overlaying mystery that Hazel was trying to solve. You were an enjoyable story, but reflecting back on your story, there was a lot that didn't feel like it added to Hazel's story.

Thank you, NetGalley for the Audio Arc.
This installment was a good follow-up to the first title. I will say that I wish the romance piece of the story was a little more prominent. The ending seemed very rushed to me but other than that I am with how it all ended. Hazel is a great character. I know this duology is over but I hope to see Hazel pop up in other stories.

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.

I was provided both a digital and audio ARC of this book via Netgalley. Thank you to Wednesday Books and Macmillan Young Listeners for the opportunity to read this early. As always, all opinions are my own. This book will be publised on February 28, 2023.

The audiobook was well narrated by Mhairi Morrison. She did a good job with the various characters in the story as this is not told from multiple points of view. The second narrator Tim Campbell has a small part and narrates the news articles that are found at the end of chapters. This is a nice touch to let the listener know that you've exited the story proper and are reading a different form of media related to Hazel's story.

This is the second installment of Schwartz's gothic romance following Hazel Sinnett and her pursuit to be a doctor. I would highly recommend reading Anatomy: A Love Story first as it will give you much of the backstory that leads up to the events that take place in this book. This takes place several months after Anatomy ends, Hazel has a steady stream of patients and she is still holding out hope that Jack is alive, though logic tells her he must be dead. After treating a particularly tricky case, Hazel finds herself in jail, but the Crown interjects and hopes that a lady doctor might be just what the sickly princess needs to get well and perform her royal duties. This is how Hazel finds herself as the personal physician of Princess Charlotte and entangled with a secret society that know about Dr. Beecham and his sinister work.

I loved the mix of historical fiction, horror, gothic romance, and a little bit of sci-fi. Much like the first book Hazel finds herself mixed up in things that call into question her own morals and values. At the end of the day she has to follow her heart and do what she feels is right. I really appreciated that she always valued her patients over fame and fortune, and stuck to her moral compass. The book progresses at a slow to medium pace then it picks up toward the middle of the book as new characters are introduced and things start to happen. Hazel finds herself torn between doing what is right and doing what is convenient and right for others. While some of the plot points (I don't want to spoil any of them) wrap up perhaps conveniently or predictably, I don't think I would have wanted them to go any other way. While Anatomy could have stood as a standalone, this answers many of the questions we had at the end of the first book. I know I was completely satisfied with the ending and couldn't stop smiling at the conclusion.

I really loved this book and the duology as a whole! I loved seeing Hazel as a confident and competent young woman in a society that did not allow women to be doctors and scientists. She is a great example for young women who want to pursue careers in STEM. I look forward to reading more from the author in the future!

This is the second book in the Love Story series. Although Immortality does a great recap of the previous book, Anatomy, I think you should read both because they are truly excellent!

Hazel is such a strong character and I loved the juxtaposition of her becoming a doctor/surgeon in the 1800s and her falling in love. There are many "surprises" in this book, so I don't want to give too much away but this is a historical fiction with a hint of mysticism. I loved every bit of the story from prison, to helping royalty, to the club, to the ship and back to the graveyard.

Also, would recommend the audiobook as it is narrated beautifully with her Scottish accent that brings the reader even more into the setting.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC audiobook.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Wednesday books for the audio ARC.

I was eagerly awaiting this book and it did not disappoint! I loved this duology so much and I think I may have liked this even more than the first, and that's saying something.

What I Loved:
-The gothic atmosphere and the gore one would expect from a surgeon in the early 1800's
-How different it was from the first book. The first book she was learning her craft and this one she ends up working in the palace of the king and honing her craft
-The Companions of Death is a secret society that added so much to the story
-The character development was beyond solid
-Great narrator on the audiobook

What I Didn't Love:
-I want a third book! Like I know this is a duology but it could work and I would read it.

I simply loved the first book so I was excited for its sequel. Unfortunately, the sequel did not live up to my expectations. First, what I liked: the story was fast paced, the narrator was excellent, and the narrative moved along nicely and kept me intrigued. Too bad the plot ruined all the positives. Historical fiction (which I love) should not change the facts of history but work with the facts and add more layers or another angle to the story. Since the author was writing about really people, and royalty at that, I despise how she just completely made up Princess Charlotte's premature death, just to propel Hazel's story. If Charlotte married the Czar in real life and died in childbirth, how could the author take such historic liberties? And even if Charlottw had died without marrying in real life, I felt the reason she faked her death and that entire storyline to be beyond ridiculous. Couldn't she have married a prince, and Eliza could have remained a lady in waiting. I felt the big reveal about her fake illness to be silly.

Another thing I disliked was the unnecessary love triangle. The conflict and tension between her and Jack was sufficient without adding another love interest. There were just too many elements to the plot and I felt like the author lost focus.

I am so disappointed, because I like the author's writing and simply loved her first book. I just hated the plot of this one and felt like this was such a wasted opportunity. I will still read her next book and hope for better.

What an amazing addition to this series. Far less dark than the first in the duology but this book definitely has it's moments. The ending of the first book I felt was such a good ending I did not know how the story would continue but it did not disappoint. We pick back up not long after the events of the first book. Hazel is moving on from the 'death' or possible death of Jack and she is trying to just get back to work. When her life gets turned upside down yet again and it takes her somewhere she did not see coming. When she starts to get into the swing of her new life she receives an invitation (or a challenge) to join a secret society.

The one thing I did not love about this story is how rushed the ending felt. Like I said I loved the ending of the first book and this one had so much go on in the last little bit I felt like a little more could have happened earlier on to let us enjoy it a little more. That being said it was a good ending just a little rushed.

Overall, I really enjoyed the continuation of the series and I would recommend this book for anyone who enjoyed the first in the series. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this story!

I don’t typically find myself liking the second book of a duology more than the first, but I guess we can call this book an exception. I loved that we got to follow along with Hazel as she continued her doctor practice (without officially being a doctor). The setting was so easy to settle back into, and I think this is due to reading Anatomy right before reading this one. So, if it’s been awhile since you read book one, you may want to do it again before diving into this one.

Hazel honestly has been put through the wringer as we read this book. My heart broke for her as she was betrayed by one of the people whom she had been so kind as to treat (and to treat for free). I couldn’t believe the betrayal. Everything that happened after this fact had me so intrigued. I can’t say too much in this review because they would all be major spoilers, but joining a secret society in London was not something I ever thought that Hazel would do, but alas here we are. I also just have to say that the secondary characters of this book were incredible, I found myself really loving a lot of them as they were superbly written!

I felt actually quite satisfied with the ending of this book. Hazel earned this ending for herself and I found myself rooting for her as the book came to an end. It wrapped up the whole duology quite nicely with a shiny bow. If you liked Anatomy, I have a feeling you’re really going to like this one, especially since you get some answers you might have been wanting in book one.

⚠️TW: bullying, death, violence, gun violence, sexism, blood, vomit, rape

Thank you @macmillan.audio and @netgalley for this advance copy in exchange for my honest review! All of the thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

I really enjoyed this audiobook! I actually liked this much more than the first book. This book has less of the surgery details (and spoiler, no more kissing in graves). Thank goodness. This book helped resolve the unanswered threads of the first book and it resolved in a way I enjoyed. The book moves very quickly (something I appreciated). And though there were a lot of plot lines to keep track of, it never got off the rails too far. Plus there were several small mysteries to try and puzzle out.

Not to mention, the book cover is even more beautiful than the first!

Thank you to NeyGalley and St. Martin’s Press/ Wednesday Books for providing an ARC of this audiobook.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for this advanced audiobook for my review!

Immortality is a sequel to Anatomy, and follows Hazel Sinnett, an aspiring surgeon in 19th century Scotland. After the events of the previous book, she is called upon to travel to Britain and treat Princess Charlotte, who is suffering from a mysterious illness. While facing all of the same disrespect as before for working as a woman, she must also navigate romance, death, and immortality.

I read the first book even though it didn't seem like my type of thing, because I really enjoy Dana Schwartz's podcast, Noble Blood. In the end, I really enjoyed it! So, when I saw this sequel on Netgalley, I was excited to request it.

I think I really enjoyed both of these books because I knew that, despite the fantastical fictional elements, there was a sound historical foundation to it. Dana’s podcast is very well researched and she is quite knowledgeable. Sometimes, period fiction can seem a little ridiculous when it clearly has a tenuous relation to actual history.

This book includes a few more issues that have always been a part of history, but have not always been talked about as much as they ought, such as abortion and queer romance. Some folks may not care for this, but that's just a glossing over of history As in the first book, the lack of respect for women in Hazel’s time is a primary source of conflict.

This second book was especially excellent to me because I felt very swept up in the world of the royal court and all of the people in Hazel’s circle. I had to keep listening to this one because the escapism was so wonderful.

I wasn't 100% satisfied with how things panned out in the romance department...I had my own ideas about how things should go. but I understand it!

Overall, I may have loved this more than the first book, but both of them were excellent. Looking back, I gave the first book 4 stars and said it wasn't life changing or anything, but I honestly feel like this one deserves 5 stars. I really couldn't stop listening. Maybe it's just that my tastes are changing a little!

The audiobook narrator is also very good, especially navigating a variety of accents.

Even if YA isn't normally for you, give this one a listen...after the first one, of course!

This book was an incredible sequel to Anatomy: A Love Story. Hazel is an amazing character and I loved how much she grew in this. So many new characters were introduced and I loved so many of them. Simon is definitely book boyfriend material. The was a very charming gothic romance story and I devoured the audiobook in one sitting. It was a slow burn that left my heart aching!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this alc in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed Immortality so much more than the first! It might be due to the format I consumed it in, because the narrator for this audiobook is wonderful. That, and the fact that the immortality aspect is no longer sprung on us as a twist and is an accepted fact of this world. The ending to Anatomy really threw me for a loop and detracted my overall enjoyment with the text. It felt so out-of-place after 90% of the book being very historically based.

This book brings that historical fiction quality and seamlessly converses with the fantastical element as well. In this installment, Hazel Sinnett is mourning the loss of Jack, unable to make herself hope or believe he somehow survived. After all, if he had, why has he not tried to reach out? Where is he? Throwing herself into her work, Hazel finds herself in trouble when she's accused of murder and betrayed by one of her patients. Just when she believes she will be wrongly hanged, she's rescued by...The Crown of all things. Swept away to the England, she's assigned to the treatment of Princess Charlotte, who's been refusing to see her male physicians.

Immortality gives Hazel and Jack a more satisfying resolution, and while this follow up book may have been just as effective as a novella, I found myself looking forward to reading each chapter and getting lost in this world.

Also, whoever designed these book covers?? Incredible job. They're so stunning and complement each other perfectly!

🔊Song Pairing: My Immortal - Evanescence (come on so perfect)

💭What I thought would happen:

Anatomy; A Love Story was so weird but appealing, I wasn’t certain if it was going to be an extension of the first book or different characters. FYI - read the first book before this one.

📖What actually happens:

⚠️ Don’t continue if you haven’t read the first.

Hazel is back as a female badass pioneer of surgery, representing women in the medical profession. After performing some back door surgeries, because it’s the 19th century and apparently no man believes women can do what they do…anyways Hazel gets found out and sent to prison/possibly death.

A saviour calls to collect Hazel from capture to treat none other than Princess Charlotte to cure her peculiar ailment. Along the way Hazel meets some colourful, opinionated aristocrats.

🗯Thoughts:

SPOILER FREE 🥰

Okay Hazel is pretty cool. Bright beyond her years, yet not a know-it-all. She’s young but mature and so very curious about the world and all forms of science. A win in my books and a great feminist forward message.

The author has such talents at creative such intense visuals, for some with a weak stomach this may not exactly be ideal. I mean Hazel’s greatest passion is stitching skin like an elegant tulle ball gown 😂

This book is quite out of my comfort zone. I both admire and appreciate its captivity. I wouldn’t say it’s an all time favourite but hell entertainment is peachy keen to me!

This was such a great story from start to finish! Hazel is a truly wonderful main character with a lot of poise but at the same time strong willed. She doesn’t want a man to be happy or to help her be successful, she wants to achieve it herself. Very hard to do in the time period. I loved the atmosphere, the mystery, and the collection of recognizable names that were involved. It was such an entertaining experience! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the audio arc of this fantastic book!

A HUGE thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me both an eARC and advance audiobook of my most anticipated release of 2023.

Dana Schwartz reached into my chest, ripped my heart out, forced me to drink a vial of purple liquid, and stuffed my heart back into my chest. And I thanked her..... Or at least that's how reading this book made me feel.

Immortality: A Love Story by Dana Schwartz is a historical fiction sequel to Anatomy: A love story. Which follows the life of Hazel Sinnet as she navigates a society that demands to negate what she can and cannot do, due to her being a woman. Such as her inability to be a surgeon or anything related to the medical field. But Hazel finds a way in dressing in her brother's clothing and enrolling herself in the most pristine medical school in Edinburgh. And it all goes horribly wrong when her identity is discovered, but it slowly goes right as Dr. Beecham sees her talent as a lovely surgeon. Now, Hazel must not loose her head with all the big wig surgeons or her heart to the lovely grave digger, Jack Currer. Who might just be who she needs in the end.

All I have to say, is that I am most grateful said character lived. And though I very much wanted to simultaneously want to punch and kiss them upon their reentry into the story. I will gladly forgive Schwartz for the characterization, upon review of the grave yard kiss.

I needed this! We get to see Hazel thriving as her role as a doctor, which is all she wanted to be and not what everyone expected of her, and always wondering if her love was out there alive or if he was truly dead. When a twist of fate leads her to helping take care of the Royal Princess her life takes a turn she didn’t know would help her achieve her dreams more. This book was exactly what I wanted to see for Hazel after the vague message she received, potentially from Jack, at the end of the last book and the ending perfectly tied up any loose ends or questions you might’ve had for any character in the book, both old and new. Thank you Dana Schwartz, Macmillan publishing and Netgalley for the audiobook arc

I would like to start off by thanking NetGalley as well as author, Dana Schwartz and Macmillan Audio Publishing (for Wednesday Publishing) [all CREDITS mentioned below] for selecting and sending me an ARC audiobook for my honest review of this incredible sequel! Having been a huge fan of the 1st book in this series ("Anatomy: A Love Story"), I was excited and honored to receive this not-yet-released, gothic romance sequel to review. Truly, I thank you all!

RATING: 4.5 STARS
CREDITS: Macmillan Publishing Group, for Wednesday Books.
PUBLISH DATE: 2/28/23
GENRE: Historical Fiction
NARRATORS: Mhairi Morrison & Tim Campbell

REVIEW: 4.5 Stars
After a cliffhanger ending in the 1st book, "Anatomy: A Love Story", Hazel Sinnett, (a young physician in 19th century Edinburgh studying to be the first female doctor), is left wondering if Jack (the boy she so loves and just tried to save from death by hanging), is alive or dead after giving him a vial of the tincture from Dr. Beecham to make him immortal. Did Jack decide in the last moments prior to his hanging to take the vial?

Hazel remains at her family's Hawthornden Castle, waiting in hopes for Jack to return while also treating patients in her makeshift lab in her basement in the castle, and studying to become the first in her field as a surgeon. After treating a young female in secrecy and saving the woman's life, Hazel is arrested and sentenced to death by hanging. As the clock ticks, she is preparing for the inevitable when she receives word that King George IV requests her presence to come to court and tend to his sick daughter, Princess Charlotte. Princess Charlotte is suffering with an incurable disease, and with no resolve in sight, Hazel is summoned to study and treat her.

Hazel spends time in London at court, and various new characters are introduced. as well as her invitation to the Secret Companions of Death (a society of doctors and chemists).

What transpires is a beautifully anticipated follow-up to the first book. There is mystery, intrigue, suspense, light humor, and a beautiful darkness only Dana Schwartz is able to capture altogether in her writing.

Is Jack alive?
Will Hazel find true love and a happily ever-after?
Is Hazel able to "save" Princess Charlotte?

I highly recommend this sequel! Not only is it an incredible follow-up to the 1st book, it is yet another beautiful dark masterpiece by Dana Schwartz! Get your hands on it 2/28/23!!