Objectively Immortality: A Love Story is well written and I would consider it a "good story", but something about it just didn't grab me the way I wanted! The chemistry between the characters is missing and I general, there seems to be no established relationship (despite us knowing it is) and feel like this would have served better as an anthology rather than a continuation of the story. This one just wasn't for me.

I read Anatomy on vacation and breezed through it in a few hours. It wasn’t quite what I expected (don’t ask me what I was expecting, I don’t know) but I enjoyed it well enough. I waffled between 3 and 4, and wasn’t sure if I would read this one because of how I felt about the first. I’m so glad I did! I don’t know if it’s because I read Anatomy and listened to Immortality, but I really enjoyed Immortality! I actually liked the ‘filler’ other people mentioned. I liked the little club, the princess, the doctor. I wasn’t a huge fan of Jack in the first book (didn’t like or dislike him) and I kind of wanted her to stay with the doctor lol but ultimately I liked the way it ended. I would read another book from this author, this duology was a unique spin on historical fiction and I enjoyed the writing. And the covers are stunning!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the e-copy in exchange for review.
I recently read Anatomy and absolutely enjoyed it, so was quite excited to have the opportunity to read Immortality. This duology was exciting and fun, and the continuation and ultimate culmination of Hazel’s story was perfect. The new characters introduce in the London setting were so fun.

Immortality: A Love Story
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Historical Romance
Format: Kindle eBook and Audiobook
Date Published: 2/28/23
Author: Dana Schwartz
GR: 4.03

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

My Thoughts: While I LOVED Anatomy, I was not happy with the ending, I had so many unanswered questions at the end, was left a tad disappointed, and was beyond excited when I heard about a follow up book. Immortality is the second in The Anatomy Duology series. This second book did not disappoint. While it is a series book, it could be read as a standalone, however, to get the full immersive experience, I would recommend reading both. The covers are both books are just fantastic. In this novel, we meet up with Hazel wondering what happened with her. The story does a great job at catch up from the prior novel.

The story is narrated by Hazel, in her POV. Hazel is a very independent women in the 1800’s practicing as a ‘doctor.’ She is strong and courageous. Hazel, while caring for the Princess, joins a secret group, realizing it may not be what it seems. We follow Hazel through the ups and downs. While Hazel was developed well in the first novel, the continuation of her character, with even more development was just brilliant. The character development was spot on, had depth, an aspect of mystery, witty banter, and creatively done. The author’s writing style is complex, multifaceted, historical, humorous, thought provoking, and just brilliant. The author’s take on feminism is just brilliant.

I normally do not like historical books but really loved this duo. I devoured this book in under 48 hours. The story kept me on the edge with a wonderful ending, the perfect ending. I would highly recommend both books!

3.5 stars rounded up to 4. I loved the addition of Princess Charlotte, Eliza, and Simon, but I wish Hazel had more time with Jack in this book. All in all, still an enjoyable read!

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

I was really looking forward to Immortality after reading Anatomy last year. I thought this was a fun sequel and enjoyed the monarchy being included in the story. The gothic and sort of gory vibes are so unique to what I read, so it was fun to jump back into Dana's world. The ending was also satisfying.

Everything I loved about Hazel and Jack in the first book is missing in this book. Hazel does not appear to be strong minded or confident, and the partnership, beautiful friendship, deep love and commitment she had with Jack feels more like strangers forcing themselves to be together because they think they should. I had a very hard time believing their love for one another and the overall story line was too far-fetched and unbelievable. The first half of the book felt like filler and I had to work hard to finish the book.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Dana Schwartz does it again. I loved the first book in this series and much like the first one I could not put this down and felt myself going through with drawls in between readings. Our main heroine is still working in the medical area and finds herself in a bit of trouble and then in a situation only she would be able to get herself out of. Love that it is in its own way a love story but she is not left to be perceived as helpless nor does the story just revolve around that. So refreshing. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I had high hopes for "Immortality: A Love Story" after reading "Anatomy" last year and I was not disappointed! This is a beautiful follow-up to the first book in Hazel's story. The character arc is strong and the story is captivating. I, personally, was so satisfied to see Hazel and Jack get their happy ending.
3.75/5

I had high hope for this one just like the first, and it did not disappoint!!
I will admit there was a point where it was losing me in the beginning, but I found it was just because I had to immerse myself if the world again.
Following Hazel into London was quite a change as well! I loved seeing her in contrast to these even more noble nobles and these fancy parties.
This one was full of so many twists and turns and truly lives up to the subtitle of “A Love Story”.

Thank you NetGalley for the free ARC in return for an honest review.

What was great about the first book was it was about a woman who poses as a man to take medical classes, and she gains success despite being caught. There was some romance, gravedigging, a vial of immortality potion and an immortal surgeon nemesis to Hazel with limbs falling off. It was an intriguing story with a strong female character.

Book two started off with promise, but after Hazel makes it to London, meets a clandestine groups of immortals, and a supportive doctor to mad King George, the stakes are quite a bit lower and the suspense is replaced with a realization the story with end happily ever after for everyone. Perhaps duo logo would have been better off as one book that ended quite a bit earlier.

This brought back all the gothic feels of the first book in the duo with the dark Scottish setting and then she even brought out the royal family. It was filled with surprises and the story took turns I really didn't expect. However, we did get to dig up some bodies in the name of science and there was many a medical mystery to solve. This also had more romance than I was expecting. I do think at certain times this was a little forced but overall made the book not as dark. It was still a fantastic story and definitely unique.

Dana Schwartz did not disappoint. I really loved this book. It was intimate without being invasive and emotional without being weepy.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, & Wednesday Books for a copy of this book & audiobook.

I'm a long-term admirer of Dana Schwartz and if you haven't read her memoir, Choose Your Own Disaster, you must. Like now. Go!!

So I was quick to pick up the first book in this set, Anatomy, and found I fell so quickly into the world of eighteenth-century Scotland that she is showcasing so beautifully here. As an aside, I loved the concentration of that book in Scotland, not England. Fantastic, And the first female physician story she builds here is so well done, with beautiful examples of the transgressing of gender lines in ideological and real physical scenes. This second book takes our heroine down into London, a miraculous rescue, seemingly out of nowhere (foreshadowing alert!) which lands her as the personal physician to the future-queen of England, Princess Caroline. Cue the shenanigans!!

This was a fantastic little counterfactual history, queering the story of the sickly Princess Caroline whose Queendom had the potential to re-shape Britain. It's a fantastic reclamation for that historical figure and a welcome next chapter to Hazel, our female physician's story.

Calling all the pre-med girlies with a history minor — this is an extremely niche audience, but you will love this series! NOT for the squeamish! Medical jargon in the 1800s is truly not my thing, but I really love Hazel and Jack and this sequel was better than the OG, IMO!

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my review copy! After receiving a review copy of Schwartz's previous tale, Anatomy, I was very excited to be able to read this one as well!

While I enjoyed this extension of Hazel's story, it wasn't quite as fast-paced as Anatomy. It took me a bit longer to get through, and while I truly love the writing style and description, it just felt a bit shorter for me. Still a recommended read, though, for sure!

3.5 stars rounded up to 4!

Honestly, I really enjoyed this duology. I think it's safe to say I loved the first book more, but I was so excited to see where this story would go that I don't even mind not being completely in love with this second book! Is it a perfect story? No. Could I be more critical? Sure. Do I want to remove an entire star because of Byron being made immortal? Absolutely! But all in all, the vibes for this gothic fantasy romance duology scratched an itch for me! And I still can't get enough of these gorgeous covers. I want to order them as prints and frame them!

An absolutely stellar end to this wonderful duology. I loved this book. The character development is wonderful, the new characters we meet all add to the tale, and the pacing was just the right mix so that I never really felt able to put it down even when things were calm.

Hazel is such a great protagonist and her story with Jack is so lovely you can’t help but love them both, individually and as a couple. The setting change from Edinburgh to London was interesting too, thrusting Hazel into a bigger role and making her decisions history-changing.

I received a free ebook copy of the novel as a reviewer but I enjoyed it so much that I’ve already ordered a physical copy of my own. I can’t give a better endorsement than that. I absolutely recommend this book to any historical fiction or romance reader.


Note: I received a free electronic edition of this book via NetGalley in exchange for the honest review above. I would like to thank them, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to do so.

This is a 3.5-star rating!

The story was exciting and definitely enjoyable. I was honestly expecting more, and it was slightly disappointing after the hype. I enjoyed the lore but wished it was more apparent.

The love aspect of the story was lacking. If that would've been better developed, I may have enjoyed it more. I wouldn’t have minded had it not been labeled “a love story.” I think it should have just been a fantasy book, but that's me! I'll definitely be reading book two because I'm interested.

I had a nice time reading this book. I needed continuation after the ending of the previous book. It's a perfect read for someone who loved Anatomy.