Immortality: A Love Story by Dana Schwartz
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Web ID: 16223700Great sequel!
Review of Immortality by Dana Schwartz: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Immortality delivers another atmospheric and gothic-tinged adventure with Hazel at its heart. Dana Schwartz continues to blend historical fiction with dark fantasy in a way that feels both dramatic and haunting. One of the highlights of this sequel was the introduction of real historical figures - adding depth and a clever twist to the world-building. Hazel remains a strong, driven protagonist, and her journey through medicine, mystery, and the supernatural kept me turning the pages. While the central twist wasn’t entirely surprising, it was executed well enough to still feel satisfying. The pacing picked up in the second half and the themes of power, mortality, and agency continued to resonate. It’s a solid 4-star read with bonus points for the cameos from actual historical figures. I love when fiction blends with fact. 🧠 4-stars for gothic drama and historical cameos! 🧠 The twist? Saw it coming. Still loved it. 🧠 Dana Schwartz knows how to make science spooky and stylish. 🧠 If Anatomy reeled you in, Immortality will finish the job!
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Historical fiction fantasy!
18yo Hazel lives in her family’s manor and continues to help those in need of medical care until she’s arrested for murder. She’s released and brought to the ailing princess to heal her. Hazel still has to fight the societal standards that believe a woman isn’t capable of intelligent work, let alone being a doctor. While at the palace treating the Princess, Hazel receives an invitation to a Companions to the Death meeting. She’s astonished at what she discovers! Likes/dislikes: The romance is sweet. Intense parts kept me glued to the pages. I wish there was a third book in this series. Mature Content: PG-13 for kissing. Language: PG for 6 swears and no f-words. Violence: PG-13 for bloody death. Ethnicity: The ethnicity is predominantly white with mention of a Black man.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
a great completion to a duo logy
Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing an early copy in exchange for an honest review! *4.5 STARS* I would say this is a pretty lovely great close to the duology. Just like Anatomy, this book was the perfect amount of mystery, gore, and romance stitched together (pun intended) that made it a very enjoyable adventure. The author's bending of history/historical figures made it fun and I especially adored her addition of Princess Charlotte of Wales. I don't want to give any spoilers, but her ending was much lovelier than in real life and I appreciate who her romantic partner was. As sad as it made me, I loved that whether Jack died or not is a mystery for a good deal of the book (you'll have to read it to find out), especially since you assume that he lives at the end of book one after writing Hazel a letter. Well, Dana Schwartz will flip that all on its head, because did Jack actually write that letter? I was surprised at first that the author decided to do that, but it really made Hazel's journey and grief that much more unique and engaging. It also welcomes the possibility for new relationships in Hazel's life. I loved Hazel and Eliza's easy camaraderie. They were such fast friends and a happy dose of female friendship. I also adored Simon. He was so sassy, yet classy, and the biggest cinnamon roll. I would marry that man in a heartbeat. I really enjoyed that the author did not make him overbearing or aggressively manly. He was intelligent and caring and didn't feel threatened by Hazel being a female physician. I loved him and Hazel together so much I was torn between wanting them to be together and feeling guilty I wanted them to be together because I was holding out hope for Jack! Honestly, best part of the book for me! I also have to give a shout out to the Companions of Death - such a cool addition for a historical fiction junkie like me! I wish I could say more about them, but wanted to leave a spoiler free review as always! I didn't get the full 5 stars for me for the same reason I gave in my review of Anatomy. I didn't feel like Hazel felt the consequences of a lot of her actions of being a well-known and unmarried woman of the ton (wandering around by herself, being with men without a chaperone, etc.) It was just so unheard of regarding a lady of her class. She faces more consequences in this book, but for smaller parts of the story that historical reality falls at the wayside. However, it's not enough to take you out the story and I appreciate that Schwartz did put more stress on Hazel "acting correctly" in society this go around. Overall, fantastic YA read and cannot wait to buy the hardback to join Anatomy on my shelves!
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Loved this story
I loved the story. She writes it so well . I look forward to other reads by this author.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Great Gothic features
This sequel to Anatomy leans into the grotesque Gothic vibes of the first book. It's got mysterious societies, grisly injuries, and a potion that can provide immortality. When Hazel is arrested for helping a woman who is experiencing a miscarriage, she loses all hope. But then a royal servant whisks her away to provide care for Princess Charlotte, the heir of the throne of England, who's suffering a mysterious illness. At the palace, Hazel attracts all kinds of attention, but especially from the doctor whose lab she shares. Hazel finds herself in a love triangle between the very-present and attentive doctor Simon and the absent Jack. When she gets an invitation to join a secret society made up of the elite, the Companions of Death, it seems the world is opening up to her, if only she could forget her lost love Jack. This book fell a little short of the excellence of the first one for me, with a looser plot, but I was still glad to find out the ending of Hazel and Jack's story. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Entertaining Conclusion to this Duology
This is the conclusion of a duology, the first of which I read back in Feb. While I do remember the gist of the storyline of the first, I do wish I had been able to read them back-to-back just to have all the smaller details fresh. Hazel is a young surgeon living in Edinburgh who is determined to break into a man’s world. Following the hanging of Jack, the love of her life, she throws herself back into her work of healing until she is arrested for treating one of her patients. She is finally freed to treat Princess Charlotte in London and goes from despair to the glamour at court. As she meets new friends, she is also drawn into a secret society of immortals (who she is finally able to confirm as real), who invite her to join them as they strive to “guide” their country in the proper direction. And so begins her struggles with literal life/death decisions of following her heart or her mind…choosing what’s hard or what’s easy. I enjoyed this one but not quite as much as its predecessor. I felt more of a disconnect from the mains, especially during their lives in London. They seemed “off” from how I originally saw them previously. And as the storyline wrapped up, it seemed too convenient and quick, and the epilogue very broad and general…not as satisfying as I would have liked/expected. But still, well-written and entertaining. My sincere thanks to the author, NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing the free early arc for review. The opinions are strictly my own.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Strong Continuation to a Fun Series
The cover for this book is every bit as exquisite as the first book in the duology was. They are creative and eye-catching. So clever. With this being the second book and a follow up to Anatomy, I eagerly awaited it. The last book left the readers with a bit of a cliffhanger and I was curious to see how things resolved themselves. This book picks up where the last one left off with Hazel Sinnett continuing to pursue her medical goals while still pondering her love, Jack's fate. Hazel puts herself out there though and doesn't turn anyone away when treatment is needed. This tends to put her at potential risk that can endanger all she holds dear. As her adventure continues, Hazel will have the opportunity to meet many interesting people including royalty, members of a secret society and more. This was a fun and satisfying follow-up to the first book and it provides a solid and satisfying conclusion. AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: The audio narration was simply wonderful. The different accents were done well and it helped immensely when it came to differentiation between characters - - especially with the secret society members. I find that a good audiobook truly helps me escape into the story. This one was truly enjoyable. 5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley for both the early review copies of the ebook and the audiobook. I voluntarily chose to read and listen to them and write a review. The opinions contained within are my own.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
A Fun, Intriguing Sequel
We return to Edinburgh, where Hazel Sinnett, a rare woman surgeon, is working on real people instead of bodies this time around. At least until she's arrested and soon after sent to attend as doctor to the ill Princess Charlotte. She discovers many secrets while at court, including a magnetic society filled with interesting people who are a little different than than others. She also meets handsome doctors and pompous royalty, all while her mind continues to stray to one person. After all, this is...: a Love Story. This book was an incredible sequel to Anatomy: A Love Story. I adore Hazel as a character. Like many woman of her time period, she's constrained by society's rules for what is believed to be a woman's purpose, but she doesn't let it stop her. She utilizes her intelligence to help people, even when it's dangerous. I enjoyed seeing her grow more in this book, where shes not as afraid of societal obstacles and she fights harder for what she believes in and cares for. All of the new characters we were introduced to were super intriguing as well. Each interpretation of real people was incredible and I feel like I could honestly imagine some of them in the situations we get to see them in. Also, Simon was a man after my own heart. Anyways, this was an amazing book, a well deserved 5 star sequel in my opinion. Great storyline, pacing and fascinating characters that keep you hooked! Highly recommend! Thank you St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books and Net Galley for the chance to read this amazing arc!
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com