Clairmont by Lesley McDowell - 3/5

This novel follows Claire Clairmont from the fateful summer of 1816 at Lake Geneva, where she visits Lord Byron with Mary and Percy Shelley. From that moment, her life is shaped by the men around her. A forgotten woman overshadowed by literary giants, Claire's story is one of betrayal, sisterhood, and survival.

McDowell’s writing is sharp, weaving themes of motherhood, power, and toxic male influence. The complex dynamic between Claire and Mary is one of the novel’s strongest elements, their bond strained by the men who manipulate them. The novel highlights how women are pitted against each other while men escape blame.

Byron, the ultimate poison, infects everyone he meets, figuratively and literally. The novel captures the era’s misogyny with unsettling accuracy, making it painfully relevant. With vivid prose and haunting themes, McDowell crafts a powerful read.