[b:Anatomy: A Love Story|57917042|Anatomy A Love Story|Dana Schwartz|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1621454828l/57917042._SY75_.jpg|75463268] is a feminist gothic historical romance that truly delivers. At first glance, there's everything to love about this novel — a stunning cover, engaging title and an intriguing description to match.
The novel follows Hazel Sinnett, a determined, yet privileged young woman who wants nothing more than to be a surgeon. This, of course, is in contradiction of 1800s social norms that think her only purpose is to marry a nobleman she's been "engaged to since birth," raise children and attend social events. Hazel sets out to crawl her way into the field by posing as a man to attend classes to become a surgeon. Along the way, she meets the struggling Jack Currer, a resurrectionist who digs up graves and sells the bodies to medical facilities for studies. Hazel enlists Jack's services so she can study and their professional relationship soon evolves into something much more. But their romance isn't the focus. In fact, it doesn't start until about halfway through the novel and is secondary to the raging Roman plague and a mysterious force that seems to be abducting the city's lower-class population and returning them maimed. In short, there's quite a lot going on in this novel!
Anatomy is beautiful and immersive. It's dark, mysterious and tinged with classical Gothic elements. Our heroine, Hazel, is so wonderfully determined and real, as is her counterpart, Jack. Author [a:Dana Schwartz|15485047|Dana Schwartz|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1624475222p2/15485047.jpg] does a tremendous job of creating complex characters and arcs in this relatively fast-paced read. The ending comes quick, but it fits so well into the book and leaves me hoping for a sequel.
A huge thank you to NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.