Thank you to Wednesday Books for sharing a copy in exchange for my honest review.
Edinburgh, 1817. 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, the university will allow her to enroll. Without official lessons, though, Hazel will need more than just her books – she’ll need bodies to study, corpses to dissect. Lucky that she’s made the acquaintance of someone who digs them up for a living, then. But Jack has his own problems: strange men have been seen skulking around cemeteries, his friends are disappearing off the streets. Hazel and Jack work together to uncover the secrets buried not just in unmarked graves, but in the very heart of Edinburgh society. This deliciously creepy Gothic tale about a female surgeon, the resurrection man supplying her with bodies, and all the magical horrors they face is sure to haunt readers in the best of ways. Anatomy certainly delivers on compelling characters--Hazel is ambitious, relentless, and definitely reliant on luck and privilege as she attempts to navigate the wealthy, male society of medicine in Edinburgh. She was just plucky enough to get into some terrifying scrapes, but empathetic in using her surgical skills and country home resources to help others. I rather liked the challenge she set to the instructors at Dr. Beecham's lectures. That provides a fantastic lesson from the outset in never giving up on your goals despite facing ridicule from classmates and authorities. The graveside romance aspect comes on a bit strong at moments--not sure I would call kissing in a grave the most romantic thing I've ever read--but Hazel and Jack fit well together, and their partnership seemed borne out of genuine attraction rather than instalove, which I appreciated. Pacing was spot on throughout the novel, and the last quarter is packed with exciting reveals. I always appreciated Schwartz's attention to keeping page count moderate. Anatomy never drags, and each scene feels like it takes the proper length of emotional time to process. I sped through the novel in a day because I didn't want to stop reading! There are some fascinating parallels between Hazel's world in 19th century Scotland and the modern day in regards to who is viewed as medically expendable, and whose lives are worth saving. The conspiracy that Hazel discovers is far beyond the scope of malice evident in contemporary healthcare systems, but the underlying premise is the same. Anatomy is not just a love story, it's also a book about systemic inequality and the difference in care between the rich and poor residents of a city. Overall, I'm giving Anatomy 4/5 stars, and recommending it to any reader craving a magical Gothic mystery.
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The BaronessHey, I'm Shreya! I love to read, write, travel, and drink tea. Disclosure: I am an affiliate of bookshop.org and I will earn a small commission if you click the above link and make a purchase.
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