Week 20 Review: Anatomy

From Goodreads:

Dana Schwartz's Anatomy: A Love Story is a gothic tale full of mystery and romance.

Hazel Sinnett is a lady who wants to be a surgeon more than she wants to marry.

Jack Currer is a resurrection man who's just trying to survive in a city where it's too easy to die.

When the two of them have a chance encounter outside the Edinburgh Anatomist's Society, Hazel thinks nothing of it at first. But after she gets kicked out of renowned surgeon Dr. Beecham's lectures for being the wrong gender, she realizes that her new acquaintance might be more helpful than she first thought. Because Hazel has made a deal with Dr. Beecham: if she can pass the medical examination on her own, Beecham will allow her to continue her medical career. Without official lessons, though, Hazel will need more than just her books—she'll need corpses to study.

Lucky that she's made the acquaintance of someone who digs them up for a living.

But Jack has his own problems: strange men have been seen skulking around cemeteries, his friends are disappearing off the streets, and the dreaded Roman Fever, which wiped out thousands a few years ago, is back with a vengeance. Nobody important cares—until Hazel.

Now, Hazel and Jack must work together to uncover the secrets buried not just in unmarked graves, but in the very heart of Edinburgh society. 

My Review:
Man, this book was a really incredible read! I loved how it danced on the edge of darkness, what with the body snatching and all, but didn't descend! The idea of a woman surgeon, at this point in time, is so far fetched, and Hazel has a lot of obstacles, and I loved how she faced them! 

The way this book was told was pretty great, in 3rd person-we mainly followed Hazel, we had some of Jack's perspectives, and sometimes, we'd get a little something that they didn't see. One case, just because she wasn't looking, but it gave us the reader an idea of what was to come which was really great!

I felt badly for Hazel, what she wants isn't allowed, given that she's a woman, and of noble birth on top of that. Add to that her older brother died of something she survived, and so her mom is obsessed with the health of her youngest child, and her dad's not there. And she's basically expected to marry her cousin. But it does give her some unique opportunities. 

That ending though, that was totally unexpected. I really enjoyed how Hazel solved it, but oh, that the way that things were resolved? That was pretty unexpected and pretty bittersweet. And had me so angry at her now ex-fiancé! 

I had a great time reading this book, and I can't wait to read more by Dana Schwartz! 

Author: Dana Schwartz
Read: May 18th, 2022
Source: NetGalley
Reason Why: Sounded really great, and it's a Historical Fiction 2022 Book and a SAC 2022 Book!
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Published: January 18th 2022

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars