Information:
- Author: Dana Schwartz
- Genre: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Romance
- Page count: 320
- Year of Publication: 2022
Read This If You Like:
- Historical fiction (with mystery subplots and romance)
- Acquaintances to Lovers (If that’s even a thing)
- Gothic romance
- Large questions about death and mortality
- Medical work
- 1800s Scotland
- Strong female characters fighting against expectations
- Very… interesting makeout scenes (Not spoiling anything about that!)
Spoiler-Free Summary:
Edinburgh, 1817. Hazel Sinnet may be part of one of the most influential families in Scotland, but she would rather become a surgeon than partake in her arranged marriage. When she is kicked out of the lecture of Dr. Beecham, a famous surgeon, as Hazel is the wrong gender, she makes a bet with him- if she works on her own to pass the surgeon exam, she can continue her medical career. Only problem is, Hazel will need one special component- corpses. Luckily, she’s made an acquaintance with Jack Currer, a resurrection man (grave digger) whose only goal is to survive when it is too easy to die in Edinburgh- especially with the return of the deady Roman Fever, the strange men seen in cemetaries, and the sudden disappearances of many of Jack’s friends. As they work to get Hazel to pass the medical exam, they also find deadly secrets in the center of Edinburgh society.
Review/Opinions:
This book is a must read for anyone who loves gothic stories. This book falls into many genres, and it’s hard to tell which the main one is. Anatomy: A Love Story is obviously a historical fiction, based on the setting and topics. But it also has a large romance subplot (since “A Love Story” is in the title”), and it’s also a mystery story.
The setting of the 1800s Edinburgh was amazingly developed. We got a look of many interesting topics of the past, including the luxurious parties of the high society that Hazel belongs to, and the “criminal” life of the resurrection men who dig up dead bodies to sell on the market. What was most eye-opening was the descriptions of 1800s medical practices- they will be disturbing to some, and others will be captivated.
The character development was also amazing. Hazel was a thoughtful exploration of gender roles during the time, as she was expected to marry since she’s part of such a wealthy family. However, she wants to do a more unexpected career as a surgeon, which society disapproves on for women. Meanwhile, Jack isn’t as rich as Hazel and has a tougher job as an illegal resurrection man, and is simply trying to survive. Their romance is very sweet and well developed too.
The ending is one of the most divisive parts of the book. Some people find that it feels out of place for being too unexpected, while I found it one of the most shocking revelations I’ve ever read. The other part of the ending, however, is somewhat tragic, yet still is a perfect ending. There are a lot of plot holes in the ending, but there is a sequel to explain them more.
Overall, any fan of gothic books or historical fiction will adore this lovely read. It has become one of my favorite books ever, with its unique plot and blending of genres.
This book is the first in a duology, the second book is “Immortality: A Love Story”. I found the sequel to be as amazing as the first book, if not better. It has the same level of twists as the original and is probably my favorite sequel of all time.
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