I only knew the briefest outline of the events surrounding this before starting the book and in all honesty I think the author is so knowledgeable on the subject that it would benefit from more explanation for those who need a little more background. We are taken straight into the action with an assumption we know the characters and their nicknames etc, and I was a little lost at the beginning. This is one I'll revisit after a little more reading up on the historical background, to get the best from the story. Four stars as a holding review

Claire Clairmont is not her stepsister. She's not a talented writer, she's not married to a famous poet, she's the lover of great men. In 1816 Percy Shelley, his wife Mary and her sister Claire descend on Lake Geneva to visit Lord Byron. The famous rake has abandoned his wife and child and escaped debt and notoriety in England. Now Claire has come under his seductive influence and she is pregnant with his child. Tragedy strikes and Claire falls from sensual highs to having to make her own way in the world.

I did like the idea of this story, the young Claire becomes sexually aware and the plaything for two of the greatest poets of their age. The story shifts between Claire as a young teenager, Claire working in Russia and Claire in Paris and the thread that runs through is the idea that Claire was a muse to heroes and a fallen woman as well. I actually found the scenes with Byron rather disturbing, they felt more like abuse than love but this is a well-written book.

*I’m very bored with being a muse,’ she said. ‘And I was muse to the best.’

Claire Clairmont’s life has always been ripe for a novel. Godwin’s stepdaughter, Byron’s lover, and Shelley’s sister-in-law, she was a key part of the famous holiday near Lake Geneva where her stepsister Mary first created Frankenstein after both girls ran away from their family in England. Lesley McDowell was inspired by a fragmentary memoir where Clairmont described Byron and Shelley as ‘monsters of lying, meanness, cruelty and treachery’ and depicts them accordingly. The novel starts in medias res in Switzerland with Claire already pregnant with Byron’s child - when it would have benefitted from covering how they met and became involved. Was it just their unconventional parents and step parents that led to Mary and Claire eschewing nineteenth century norms and starting relationships with married men? How did Mary create of one of history’s greatest novels as a woman in the Regency period? What happened to Claire’s own lost book? The novel jumps through three time periods of Claire’s life but her time in Russia in the 1820s and Paris in the 1840s will never be as compelling as Geneva in 1816 with three of Britain’s literary greats embroiled in various love triangles. Tragedy strikes the family, and Claire struggles to secure her legacy, find happiness or answers for Byron’s behaviour. This novel is well written but I finished it unsure I know Claire Clairmont any better.

Clairmont tells a wonderful story that will appeal to literature history lovers as it has such charm and delves in to both Byron and The Shelleys lives.
What makes this book quite hard to read is the writing style as it distracts from fantastic story being told.

I restarted reading this book a few times, it was quite confusing and I had to go back and see if it was just me. Unfortunately this did rather spoil the reading experience. The story itself is so interesting but the way it was told made me struggle to love it.

Having been really looking forward to starting this book, I have to admit that at the beginning I wasn’t entirely sure I was going to enjoy it. It felt a little bit chaotic with the back and forth between the three time frames and some of the scenes felt rather disturbing even though they’re not explicit. However, I’m so glad I kept reading beyond the first chapters because I found by the time I was nearly halfway through I just couldn’t put the book down. It became quite addictive and compelling and I became completely absorbed in Claire’s story. I’d been a little unsure as to the relevance of the later parts of her life, Russia and Paris, but everything fell into place perfectly, although without doubt the power of the story for me is with her interlude with Shelley and Byron. All in all an engaging, if dark, story.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher, Headline, Wildfire for an arc in exchange for a review.

Sadly I found this book difficult to read and even though I tried several times to get into the book it did not engage me

Like many people I know the brief outline of Byrons story and his relationship with the Shelleys. And like most people I knew absolutely nothing about Claire Clairmont

This book definitely sounded of interest to me but unfortunately I found it quite hard work. The writing style is quite jumpy and jarring and it took a lot of concentration and flicking back and forth between pages to get a grasp of what was happening.

Once I got into the rhythm of it though it is quite a story and the writing really is quite beautiful in places. All the characters are really unlikeable - selfish, arrogant and self absorbed but that feels quite true to form so actually in this case added to the story for me.

Definitely felt frustrated and outraged on Claires behalf at several points as Byrons treatment of her was often really shocking. At other times though I just wanted to give her a shake!

All in all I’m glad I stuck with this one but didn’t enjoy it quite as much as I hoped. I think that people who have a more in depth knowledge of Byron & company will have an easier time with this one.

I loved this story of Claire Clairmont, previously seen as a hanger on and extra in the great Byron/Shelley story. Coerced and corrupted as she was at an early age, then discarded and mistreated by both Byron and Shelley,

Lesley McDowell takes the time to flesh out Claire's story and follow her past that summer, and succeeds in filling in the many blanks surrounding her.

I am very familiar with the Byron/Shelley relationship and other books that have rendered them and their circle, and this one felt like a welcome addition to the rounding out of a fascinating time and circumstance that continues to absorb people today.

Claire is made the centre of her story at last, and she shines through as a survivor and a compassionate woman through many challenging times.

I was so excited to get my hands on this one but I’m sad to say that it just wasn’t for me. The writing style was a bit too jumpy and it made the multiple timelines feel chaotic, even though they shouldn’t be complicated to follow normally. I gave it a good go but had to DNF after around 30% (this is reflected in the stars for my review).

That being said, I’d still recommend this one if you’re a fan of historical fiction because the writing style might be exactly what someone else loves! The plot itself was interesting, especially if you have some prior historical knowledge of the characters. Just a shame that it wasn’t the book for me!

Thank you to net gallery and headline for this arc in exchange of an honest review.

Unfortunately I did not enjoy the writing style and could not get into the book which is why I ended up dnfing early on.

Having recently had a gothic book binge, and reading the novel Mary centring around her creation of Frankenstein, I was looking forward to reading this book. However, sadly for me it did not deliver. The writing itself was beautiful and very prosaic, but sadly this alone couldn’t save it from a fairly confused plot line with multiple timelines and characters who were known by multiple names.

I recently had the pleasure of delving into this book, and I am beyond impressed with the mesmerizing world that the author has crafted. From start to finish, the intricate plot weaves a tapestry of suspense, emotion, and unexpected twists that kept me eagerly turning the pages.

One of the standout features of this book is undoubtedly its characters. Each one is meticulously developed, breathing life into the narrative with their unique personalities, motivations, and flaws. The protagonists are not just names on paper; they are relatable, complex individuals with whom readers can form a genuine connection. The antagonist, too, is not a mere foil but a multi-dimensional force that adds depth to the story. The author's ability to create such well-rounded characters is a testament to their storytelling prowess.

The plot unfolds seamlessly, drawing the reader into a richly layered narrative that expertly balances tension, drama, and moments of poignant reflection. The pacing is impeccable, maintaining a perfect rhythm that keeps the reader engaged without sacrificing the depth of the story. The author skillfully navigates through various plot arcs, interweaving them with finesse to create a cohesive and satisfying whole.

What sets this book apart is its ability to tackle profound themes while maintaining an accessible and engaging narrative. The book seamlessly combines suspense and emotional depth, making it a truly immersive experience. The author's prose is both elegant and evocative, painting vivid imagery that lingers in the reader's mind long after the final page is turned.

As I reached the conclusion, I found myself yearning for more from this talented author. Their ability to craft a gripping plot and bring characters to life is truly commendable. I eagerly anticipate future works and would wholeheartedly recommend this book to any reader who appreciates a masterfully told tale. If you're searching for a book that seamlessly blends captivating characters with a compelling plot, this is a shining example. I can't wait to explore more literary worlds crafted by this exceptional storyteller.

Clairmont follows Claire Clairmont, the stepsister of Mary Shelley during three pivotal moments in her life. Determined to follow her own path and inspired by the life of Mary's mother, Mary Wollstonecraft, Claire attempts to live her life her way but can she ever escape the orbit of Mary Shelley, Percy Shelley and Lord Byron?

This novel is a bundle of contradictions that really works well on some levels and not so well on others. Narratively it feels quote chaotic: you are thrown into the story from the start and it took me a good third of the book to get my bearings. It fits the characters is explores perfectly as their lives are a bundle of chaos but it does not make it flow which I missed. I think you also need to know about the events that happened that summer on the Lake. I am fascinated by Mary Shelley and have read about her so the characters, places and timelines were familiar but I think you would struggle if you didn't really know much about the Shelleys, Claire and Byron.

That said, it is a novel that stays with you and gives you so much food for thought. From my reading, I always thought Byron and Percy Shelley were massive narcissists. Their progressive ideals of free love and autonomy were an excuse to treat their partners abominably, Mary Shelley surpassed them and was the mother of science fiction and yet her life was centred around preserving and developing Percy Shelley's reputation. Clairmont reinforced this view and the depth of Byron's cruelty is quite staggering. You root for Claire to escape them whilst at the same time understanding that she can never escape them for good.

This is what I mean when I say it stays with you! I could literally go on and on and that is why I think its positive qualities outplay the slightly chaotic narrative.

Sadly it is a DNF for me. I found the writing to be a little disorderly. I was very much looking forward to reading this but it was however not for me. Thank you for the eArc.

I hate to say this but I really did not enjoy this story whatsoever. I struggled with the characters especially Albe. Claire was extremely complex and very volatile. The plot was easy to understand but there seemed to be so much going on all of the time. There were three different timelines, I read what time they were as the date would always be there to see, but it was hard for me to follow. There seemed to be lots of other characters coming into the story too, so too much going on for me.
As I always say, someone else may come along and really love it. The amount of time and work that goes into writing these books is also a factor why I feel awful that I haven’t enjoyed the story. So sorry.
Many thanks to Headline for giving me this advance copy for my review consideration via Netgalley.
#Netgalley, #headlineBooks, #lesleyWrites.

Clairmont is beautifully written, bordering on poetic. And as a huge historical fiction fan I was determined to love this.
However I found the story quite jumpy and there wasn't a huge amount of set up in this book to cling on to intially. It took me quite a few chapters to figure out people nicknames and who the characters were.

I do like that the book was split into 3 parts, each in a different place in time and in Claires life, and as the book went on I started to enjoy this more. The characters though were quite brutal to each other and there was nothing loveable or relatable in them for me.

I was so intrigued by the premise because Frankinstein is an amazing book. And I couldn't wait to have some insight into the women behind the story. But I felt this book was more suited to people that knew a bit about this dynamic and the people before hand.

In conclusion a good Historical fiction read but would have been more enjoyable if I'd been up to date on my knowledge of Shelley and Byron before hand.

I really wanted to like this book, but it's too chaotic to follow and made it a huge struggle to read. I ended up giving it up.

Due to different timelines and many characters and different names for the same characters, it is very hard to follow. I hope many others will find it easier to read and will enjoy it.

I do enjoy fiction based on fact and I found this I knew quite a bit about the main characters before reading this and I think this will have helped my enjoyment as there are a lot of characters, many with nicknames, in the book. This novel is told from the perspective of Claire Clairmont, stepsister to Mary Shelley, nee Godwin, who is married to Percy Bysshe Shelley. Written in three timelines this is a descriptive almost poetic book.

Briefly, in 1816 (the year without a summer) Claire persuaded the Shelley’s to travel to Geneva, where Lord Byron, is staying with his friend John Polidori. She is obsessed with him, and pregnant, but her love is unrequited. In the mid 1820’s Claire travelled to Russia working as a governess in St Petersburg and Moscow. The 1840’s were in part spent in Paris and Claire is still making mistakes that will haunt her.

Claire is quite a complex character, attention seeking and lacking self assurance at the start but growing in confidence over the years. She certainly lived an interesting life! Her life is full of narcissistic people, in particular Albe, Lord Byron who comes across as selfish and cruel. But somehow Claire seems to find some way to deal with everything that is thrown at her. There is a lot of sadness and abuse in the book making for very emotional moments. A well written and compelling read about a riveting, if not always pleasant, group of characters and a fascinating period of history in the Arts.

DNF @25%

Sadly this book was not for me. I don't feel as if I knew enough about the Shelley/Byron story in advance of attempting to read this, and it put me at a huge disadvantage. I was confused from the outset as to who each character was (lots of pet names, and as the story moved timeline, names seemed to change), and never managed to get it straight. I also struggled with the style of writing - it was beautifully poetic, but due to my confusion over characters, it made it hard to appreciate fully.

I do think it will appeal to those who know more about the gothic authors featured, and I am sure there will be many readers who will love the book. Unfortunately it was not for me.