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A review by mybooksarenovel
Immortality: A Love Story by Dana Schwartz
3.0
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 the 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, 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
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 the 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, 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