I liked the story a lot and am thankful for a chance to receive and read this arc. I got attached to the characters and I love the story. It started slow but then I had trouble putting it down.

Hazel Sinnett, grieving the loss of her love to the hangman's noose, dives deeper into her medical studies and doing her best to treat the Eidenburgh locals. Suddenly she is accused of murder and finds herself locked in prison without a person to speak on her behalf. When she stands trial, a patient falsely accuses her and she is sentenced to death. However, at the last minute she is called upon by the Prince to come and treat the heiress princess and cure her from a mysterious illness.

And this takes up an entire first 3rd of the story.

Where Anatomy had a very sinister Frankenstein meets Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde meets Sherlock Holmes meets Jane Austen vibe. Immortality takes in a more Sense and Sensibility meets Marie Antoinette meets Anatomy vibe. Much more political and secret society, less mystery, equal magical medicine. I found this round the plot wasn't as strong as in the first book of this duology.

I also thought protagonist to be a little too perfect. I dont believe that even the most progressive turn of the 19th century upper crust woman of privilage would have found herself to to be so freely inclined to values of radical feminism (a woman physician willing to treat a botched diy abortion) abolition, or queer affirming (maybe willing to look the other way, but not encouraging or celebrating), and sex outside of wedlock in a world where chaperones were so clearly important. Maybe one or two of these, but certainly not all at once. She seemingly had zero flaws and required zero growth. What is the point?

The "love story" panned out for me, I will admit. Though I found it to be infuriating, and I found hazel's dalliance with a second love interest while not being convinced of whether Jack was indeed dead to be maddening and unfair to the nice gentleman.

This was well written. The reason I was upset about most of these things ultimately is because I did grow to care about the characters themselves. When they acted in ways that seemed out of place I cared. I think that is a reflection of good writing.

Thank you to Wednesday Books for the free eArc through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Immortality was a great sequel! I love historical twists in my YA. Kept my interest and I loved the love story.

Dana Schwartz does it again! This is the second and last book in this series, and I think it was pretty much a perfect ending to the story of Hazel Sinnett.

With Jack gone, Hazel throws herself into her work, becoming especially dedicated to treating the impoverished and underprivileged of Edinburgh society. In a cruel twist of fate, her generosity lands her in prison, seemingly with no recourse to prove her innocence. The sickly Princess Charlotte, however, is in dire need of a physician who might be able to understand her symptoms, and Hazel is thrown into this role. Attempting to unravel the complex mysteries of Charlotte, court life, secret societies, and Jack's whereabouts lands Hazel in a precarious position, where she must decide what she truly wants from life and how she can do the most good for those most deserving.

I honestly wasn't sure where this story was going to go when I started it, but I was very pleased by the end! I absolutely loved the reimagining of Princess Charlotte of Wales — what a lovely spin on such a beloved historical figure. Fiction makes all things possible, my friends! Anyways. The addition of another love interest made things REALLY entertaining, and I especially loved the inclusion of the various members of the Companions to the Death.

Like the first book, this one is smooth in pacing and rich in detail, and I simply couldn't put it down. I don't generally like YA genre, but I love these. Thank you to Dana Schwartz, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!

Overall I liked this a lot!! There were a few plot holes but nothing too glaring, and I enjoyed the character development. I’m glad there was resolution to the cliffhanger ending of the last book, bc I was worried that was just going to be glossed over and forgotten about, but that was really satisfyingly done. Simon is by far the best character in the entire series and I stand by that.

Thank you to Dana Schwartz, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an Arc of Immortality.

I first heard of Dana while browsing for more historical podcasts and stumbling over Noble Blood, and was hooked immediately. Dana has such a unique way of telling stories and getting audiences hooked that I subscribed just after the first episode, her writing is no different.

Immortality starts off almost directly where Anatomy ends and it’s not long until you’re thrown straight into the story. I loved Immortality for this reason, it doesn’t feel like it lags anywhere, or that any of the book was given just to waste time for the next plot point to happen.

Hazel’s trip to London and the introduction of new characters was great. Simon was a fantastic new addition and quickly became one of my favorites. The medical “mystery” Hazel is tasked with solving had me guessing the whole time as well up to the reveal.

The only think I found wanting in this sequel were three or four extra scenes between Jack and Hazel. I felt like their reunion and subsequent get together could have used a few more pages.

Overall the story was fantastic and you can see Dana’s love of history shine through all of the words in immortality.

Immortality, the second book in the Anatomy Duology, starts almost where Anatomy left us.

We once again follow Hazel and her journey as a surgeon. Hazel spends a lot of the book proving who she is and I really enjoyed seeing her character grow throughout the book.

There were smaller plots happening that I didn’t love. I felt like some of them didn’t add much to the story, but they also didn’t take anything away from the story either, they were just kind of there. It just didn’t seem to mesh as well as the first book.

However, Immortality was an excellent follow up to Anatomy and this is one of my favorite duologies to date. Immortality was a must read for me this year and it definitely lived up to my expectations.

Immortality: A Love Story
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕/5

Summary:
The second book in a duology where we are reunited with Hazel Sinnet. Hazel is a young woman in the early 1800’s striving to find her place as a respected surgeon. She is unexpectedly requested to serve as physician within the Royal court of England, however there are hidden secrets within and beyond the walls of the palace.

What I Liked About this Book:
- Hazel’s unwavering selflessness, determination, strong character.
- The addition of famous historical figures within the “social club”. It was a brilliant idea.
- I appreciated the insightful use of Victorian remedies, tonics, diagnostic techniques.
- Dana was able to create a well researched world of 19th century society.
- Each character served a purpose to the story.
- The way in which Dana captured a misogynistic society while also supporting a feminist movement.

What Could Have been Improved:

- I found dual plots to the story and I wasn’t sure which was to be the dominant one.
- Iona just seemed to disappear altogether after Hazel’s arrest which was odd because of their strong relationship.
- The relationship between Hazel and Simon could have been explored further.
- Some may find the treatments for the immortals a bit outlandish.

Conclusion:

I absolutely adored the first book and this follow up did not fail to impress. Hazel is a memorable character who is dauntless and inspiring.
I felt a similarity between the persecution of women in that century and the current state of our society today. How sad that is.
I couldn’t help noticing the fabulous similarities between Hazel and Audrey Rose Wadsworth ( Stalking Jack The Ripper) series by Kerri Maniscalco!
I highly recommend reading this captivating second book.

Thank you to @wednesdaybooks @danaschwartzzz and @netgalley for the opportunity to review this book.

Immortality: A Love Story by Dana Schwartz
The Anatomy Duology #2
YA Fantasy
Publication Date: February 7, 2022

Hazel finds herself in prison as a result of her profession. At the last hour she is rescued by the royal family and thrust into the spotlight as the physician tasked with seeking out Princess Charlotte’s mystery illness.

Immortality lacked a sense of identity, to me at least. It tried to be many things but never really successfully executed any. I prefer a book with one main storyline that way the story builds momentum. Having several small plots had me wondering what the purpose of many of them were. SPOILERS AHEAD! The most obvious being the story in the beginning where Hazel helps a woman aborting her pregnancy and ends up in jail. You would think after a prolonged stay in prison, long enough where it states that Hazel starts to lose body mass, that it would have some sort of profound effect on future decisions Hazel makes or feelings but the plot has absolutely no bearing on anything else that happens. The royal family could have compelled her attendance without having to break her out of prison first.

I also hope in the final version there has been some blending with respect to transitions between scenes. There is one where Hazel invites a character to accompany her to a meeting later that evening and then there is a break and it is that evening and they are attending said meeting. Couldn’t the characters have just traveled directly to that meeting since nothing took place in between?

The concept of the story and meaning behind it was really cute and I liked the author’s inclusion of more diverse characters. The duology as a whole is a great feminist gothic tale, I just preferred the execution of the former novel better.

Thank you to Wednesday Books for providing an advanced reading copy through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed diving back into this world. I liked the downs and up's that Hazel goes through. There was less medical stuff in the second book but the romances were very good. A very good comfort read.
I enjoy the happy endings and am glad that the characters all seem to be happy. I'm not sure if there will be a book four but I'm here for it. So much potential for more.

Thank you netgallery for the chance to read this ARC.

Immortality, the sequel to Anatomy, picks up right where the first book left off. And boy did I love getting more time with our badass female surgeon Hazel.

I read this book in one sitting. I was pleasantly surprised by some of the plot twists and turns throughout the book. I loved the Outlander, Bridgerton, and Tuck Everlasting vibes throughout this unique story.

If you like a bit of mystery, historical romance, and nerd out for stories about women in STEM, you will definitely enjoy this read! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

An improvement from Anatomy, but coming from me, that's not exactly a glowing review.

Anatomy was one of my most anticipated books of 2022. (Historical! Romance! Gorgeous cover!) It was also my most disappointing. The plotting was loose and chaotic, with so many missed opportunities for cohesive storytelling. For my review in my journal, I created an outline of how Anatomy SHOULD have developed. Yes, I was that pettily disappointed.
On that note, Immortality is an infinitely better book. The plot is tighter and more engaging, and the new characters were useful new actors in this medical theater. Hazel remains a well-developed protagonist, and the best part of this duology. This book further cemented Schwartz as an author to watch.

One of the most glaring issues of Immortality is Dr. Ferris. He's such a bland romance rival, to be played by James Marsden (the king of cinematic rejected love interests). His jostling for Hazel's affection is sad at best, tedious at worst. He is crucial to the resolution of one plotline, but he doesn't need to be a love interest for that to work.
The other major issue is continued plot incoherency. Prime example: In Immortality, a woman named Florence Ellis turns Hazel into the Scottish police. Later on, Jack chooses "Ellis" as his new last name, as a means of concealing his identity. So, there are 2 characters with the same last name; shouldn't there be some connection, some use for this? Instead, it really means nothing.
This is my biggest issue with Schwartz' writing. There are many of these loose narrative threads in the story, and not because Schwartz abandons ideas, but because she is literally missing these moments of satisfaction that already exist. Maybe Florence Ellis returns to the plot, and is willing to pretend that Jack is a relative of her husband's, and this helps conceal identity as he returns to England, thus also giving her absolution for what she did to Hazel. Now, THAT would have been satisfying!
There were other plot events that followed this problem: Hazel's shock at her arrest and the reveal about Charlotte and Eliza come to mind. Too many grammatical errors also malign readability.

Overall, an improvement from the first book. Hopefully, Schwartz will continue to make progress as a fiction author.

I had some issues with the first book in this duology, Anatomy: A Love Story. However, this second book completely won me over. Something about Hazel's character felt more lived in this time around, and all of the characters in general struck me far more. I'm not sure if I really and genuinely cared for Jack as much in this book, nor the relationship between him and Hazel, but I did find there to be a marked improvement between the two books.

Immortality, A Love Story, is the sequel to Anatomy, A Love Story, by Dana Schwartz, and together the author is calling them a Duology.

It’s 1818 in Edinburgh. Teenaged Hazel Sinnett is continuing her practice of local medicine after both the presumably immortal Dr. Beecham, her mentor, and Jack, the love who she may have saved from the gallows or not, have fled to America if they are still alive. Hazel has gained a reputation of excellence for what she does instead of the brutish ways of other surgeons. Her small hands, after years of embroidery practice, can stitch a wound and almost leave no scar. Her continuing efforts to find a cure for the often fatal Roman fever have ameliorated the pain of many. Hazel might not be marriage material, but her excellent skills have created a demand for her intricate incision skills and diagnostic competence.

Unfortunately, Hazel is arrested after helping a young woman who appeared on her doorstep recover from a self-administered abortion, accused of murder, sentenced to death, and thrown into prison to await her fate without anyone to defend her.

Just as Hazel thinks she’s being led to a gallows, a summons comes on behalf of Princess Charlotte, presumptive heiress to the throne of England, but also another lonely girl, barely out of her teens. Charlotte survived Roman fever but now has some undiagnosed malaise and is tired of being prodded and poked by old men. The hope is that the princess will welcome a young woman as a contemporary instead.

Jack still occupies an outsized place in Hazel’s heart no matter what her circumstances.

As Hazel treats the Princess, she also makes acquaintances with a young Swedish royal physician, Dr. Simon van Ferris and a social group of artists, the Companions to the Death Society (which includes the reckless poet Lord Byron). A group with mysterious connections to her past.

This is a satisfying sequel to Anatomy, A Love Story,but I feel it’s necessary to have read the first book to enjoy the nuances and passion of the second narrative. The author details the struggles and expectations of women attempting to enter medicine and, at its heart, still constructs a simmering love story. It’s hard not to root for Hazel. 4 stars! Previous fans will be absolutely thrilled!

A special shout-out to the amazing cover design by Kerri Resnick!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): NO But both Hazel and Simon have unrealistic amber eye colors.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO Hazel makes extensive use of “wort flower root” to treat the fictional Roman fever, probably St. John’s Wort, which was used in traditional European medicine, as well as mulberry, nettle, thyme, catmint, fennel and mallow.

I was super excited to read this, so I was super pumped when I got my hands on this ARC. I thought the first book was pretty solid, but this one was SO much fun. I love Hazel and her strong “I don’t need a man” energy. Immortality makes it clear from the start that Hazel’s career is important to her. But not for money, but because she wants to help people.

I really wanted Immortality to leave romance in the dust, showcasing that Hazel didn’t need to get married and have children to be a whole woman. I mean, come on! She complains about being a wife for like, half the book. For that reason, I can’t give it five stars.

That aside, Princess Charlotte was a great character and the new setting was super fun. The companions of the death were also super interesting.

Honestly, I would read a whole book of Hazel doing science and surgery and generally being a bad bitch. Always love me a strong female character, and she’s one of the best.

posted on goodreads 10/29

Immortality: A Love Story is the sequel to Anatomy: A Love Story. I really enjoyed them both. Immortality once again finds us following Hazel Sinnett, who is now alone, and working as a surgeon at Hawthornden Castle. A sequence of awful events finds her imprisoned until she is requested to be the personal physician of Princess Charlotte. There she meets a new character I really enjoyed, Simon. She also runs into a mysterious group called the Companions to the Death. This was the perfect follow-up to Immortality and I loved the ending. My only complaint is that it feels like it is over much too soon. I look forward to reading more by this amazingly talented author.

I was truly happy to continue on Hazel’s journey as a surgeon and a woman, to see her grappling with medical dilemmas and social issues in “Immortality: A Love Story.” But that being said, I had three problems with this sequel to “Anatomy: A Love Story.” I’m not fond of false dichotomies (marriage or independence, nothing in between); I thought the twist in the Princess Charlotte subplot was unnecessary; and while I loved Jack, I like Simon better and love triangles are officially the worst. But in tone, pace, and theme, this book is on par with its predecessor and I think Dana Schwartz’s audience will continue to be pleased with her endeavors.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin Press for the ARC. I was so excited for this sequel. I loved Anatomy and I just felt Hazel and Jack’s story wasn’t over yet. This one gets 4.5 stars from me but I rounded up. Hazel is just as great a character in this book as in the first. I liked most of the new characters too. The Companions to the Death weren’t my favourite but I get why they are part of this book. The ending was just what I needed though, just as I hoped when I finished the first book. I’m sad this was the end of their story but I loved the journey.

I enjoyed the first book in this series and was looking forward to the final book in the series. This picks up shortly after the end of the first book as we follow Hazel as she is working around her town and treating patients. After one night of treating a patient leads to Hazel's arrest. After spending some time in prison Hazel is released at the Kings request to be the physician to Princess Charlotte.

Hazel is a strong-willed character who is determined to become a surgeon at a time where it was unthinkable for a woman to do so. While working at the royal court Hazel works to find out what ails Princess Charlotte and is soon invited to join a secret society known as the Companions to the Death. I liked seeing Hazel work around the court and try to push through boundaries and work with the members of the court. I also enjoyed the return of Jack and was interested to hear his story of what happened to him since the last time he saw Hazel.

There are some twists along the way as well as betrayal. Overall, a good ending to the series.

Immortality: A Love Story by Dana Schwartz is the second book in this duology following Hazel Sinnet, a young woman in the early
1800’s who dreams of being a surgeon. This book takes place about a year after the events of the first book which you have to read before getting into this book.

I got approved for this arc without reading the first book so I was lucky enough to be able to binge both books in two days and I loved it. I love seeing a strong female character who is willing to really push herself to achieve her dreams. I think if you enjoyed the “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder” series and also love historical stories, this duology will be perfect for you.

The author is able to seemlessly mix real historical events with the fictional additions to her stories. I found myself googling stuff more than once because I wasn’t sure if it actually happened or not. I love the author’s notes at the end of her books because it helps to add another layer to her books. Often, the more outlandish things in the stories are the ones that are actually true and it is so crazy to think about.

These books are beautifully written in a way the doesn’t feel heavy handed. I’m not the biggest fan of historical stories just because I feel like it’s hard for me to be absorbed into the story but this book was not like that. I found it very hard to put down. The mix of Hazel learning how to be a surgeon and the mysteries going on make both of the books in this series compulsively readable. Some of the villain characters do seem a little mustache twirly but I feel like it makes sense in the setting of the book.

I really loved this book and can’t wait until I can get my hands on a physical copy.