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deebee223's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Violence, Medical content, Body horror, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
Moderate: Kidnapping
Minor: Abandonment, Animal death, and Stalking
maggies's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
A great 100th book of the year! Hazel and Jack were adorable, clever, and ahead of their time. The plot is well-paced, with plenty of ups and downs for both Hazel and Jack, and the final conflict was perfectly tense. I really enjoyed the audiobook narration as well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Body horror
Moderate: Death, Grief, Medical content, Murder, Abandonment, Blood, and Child death
akswhy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Come for the spooky premise, stay for the feminism, romance, and mystery.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Blood, Medical trauma, and Medical content
Moderate: Child death and Abandonment
lizgriffinwords's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
3.5 stars rounded up. While there were some elements I enjoyed and there wasn’t anything inherently wrong with this book (except the head-hopping and the ending out of left field), I was left feeling dissatisfied. My favorite aspect of the book was how tangible and sensory the setting of Edinburgh felt.
The pacing was a bit off, not picking up in what felt like the main plot until 45% of the way in. I could have done without Jack’s POV altogether — his chapters were sparse and short, felt like a late-in-the-process insert. Hazel had a good balance of realistic nativity and feminist ambition, but altogether… a book that didn’t live up to its amazing cover.
CW: Medical horror (including eye horror), gore/blood, disease, parental abandonment, grief, pregnancy/childbirth
The pacing was a bit off, not picking up in what felt like the main plot until 45% of the way in. I could have done without Jack’s POV altogether — his chapters were sparse and short, felt like a late-in-the-process insert. Hazel had a good balance of realistic nativity and feminist ambition, but altogether… a book that didn’t live up to its amazing cover.
CW: Medical horror (including eye horror), gore/blood, disease, parental abandonment, grief, pregnancy/childbirth
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Gore, Blood, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Classism, Misogyny, Abandonment, Child death, Death, and Grief
Minor: Pregnancy and Child abuse
yomireads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
A quick and fun read that blends science in magic with YA prose. Each character feels well formed, though theres little emphasis on emotional growth or turmoil in spite of the heavy topics of death and abandonment being at the forefront. There are a lot of under explored concepts that could have been expounded into very compelling books on their own, which gave the pacing a bit of a chaotic feel, so when plot twists come it feels somewhat rushed. And it was a big letdown that the climax ignored its promised buildup to the test only for her not to go. I ate this book up, and really enjoyed the prose style in spite of these short comings though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Sexism, Child death, and Abandonment
bandysbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I was a bit torn about reading this book. I’m not the biggest romance reader, but I do love historical fiction…particularly when it’s set in Edinburgh (one of my real life favorite cities). I decided to go in with an open mind and give it a solid try.
I was mostly pleased with this story and particularly enjoyed the bits about medical practice in Scotland. I recognized bits about the development of “ether” as this also features prominently in The Way of All Flesh which I’ve read prior. I will say that some plot points struck me as a bit similar to that story as they both feature the poor of Edinburgh being murdered in horrific ways and with possible links to medical practice.
That said, I loved the main character in Anatomy. She is spunky, resilient, clever, and determined. She finds loopholes for everything that could potentially stand in her way. I appreciated that although she does have an innate talent for medicine, she also literally grows up studying it and continues to be studious throughout her career. Her talent helps, but she earns her reputation through hard work.
The romance was fine. I felt it was fairly realistic and not overly sweet. Both characters seem authentic for their ages, class, and the situation.
The only major downside in this book for me is when it deterred from reality. The magical reveal made what was an engaging plot seem silly and cheapened the ending. I wish it had been edited out honestly.
All in all, a good read most of the way with an ending that just didn't quite get me there.
I was mostly pleased with this story and particularly enjoyed the bits about medical practice in Scotland. I recognized bits about the development of “ether” as this also features prominently in The Way of All Flesh which I’ve read prior. I will say that some plot points struck me as a bit similar to that story as they both feature the poor of Edinburgh being murdered in horrific ways and with possible links to medical practice.
That said, I loved the main character in Anatomy. She is spunky, resilient, clever, and determined. She finds loopholes for everything that could potentially stand in her way. I appreciated that although she does have an innate talent for medicine, she also literally grows up studying it and continues to be studious throughout her career. Her talent helps, but she earns her reputation through hard work.
The romance was fine. I felt it was fairly realistic and not overly sweet. Both characters seem authentic for their ages, class, and the situation.
The only major downside in this book for me is when it deterred from reality. The magical reveal made what was an engaging plot seem silly and cheapened the ending. I wish it had been edited out honestly.
All in all, a good read most of the way with an ending that just didn't quite get me there.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Terminal illness, Torture, Kidnapping, Medical content, Abandonment, Blood, Chronic illness, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, and Murder
frantically's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
As a fan of both women's and medical history, I was so excited to read this book!
Hazel was really a character you could feel for and with — she's got her goals and she's trying so hard to get to them but the world around always makes that harder. She gets frustrated, she makes stupid decisions but it's all really understandable.
I wasn't really feeling the romance — I liked the characters individually but I didn't see enough chemistry between them. I don't like how their story ended, which is one of my few complaints. I was happy enough, though, to ignore the romantic aspects, as long as I got my history 😉
The ending was a bit rushed imo, there were just too many conclusions in to little time, which is why this isn't a clean 4 stars.
P.S.: The audiobook was amazing, so if you can, please listen to it!
Hazel was really a character you could feel for and with — she's got her goals and she's trying so hard to get to them but the world around always makes that harder. She gets frustrated, she makes stupid decisions but it's all really understandable.
I wasn't really feeling the romance — I liked the characters individually but I didn't see enough chemistry between them. I don't like how their story ended, which is one of my few complaints. I was happy enough, though, to ignore the romantic aspects, as long as I got my history 😉
The ending was a bit rushed imo, there were just too many conclusions in to little time, which is why this isn't a clean 4 stars.
P.S.: The audiobook was amazing, so if you can, please listen to it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Classism, Kidnapping, Child death, Medical content, and Death
Moderate: Murder, Trafficking, and Blood
Minor: Pregnancy and Abandonment
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