Norcliff was a lovely short read that explores the MFC Erin on her journey into all things war and politics after her big day is far from expected. Friendships and allegiances are made and Erin’s journey from lady to leader makes for a fantastic read!

I thought that Norcliff started off extremely strong and had a wonderful story, but as I was getting closer to the end I wasn't sure how everything would get sorted out. I feel like it got kinda rushed, still finished strong but fast. I loved Erin, she took no crap and stood her ground, she was loveable and flawed. I hope there is more to this series so I can read more.

First of all, i’d like to show appreciation for this front cover art work. Beautiful design, really catches the eye. Wonderful.
I had high hopes when starting this book, unfortunately, it didn’t quite hit them.
The main character, brilliantly written, however, I feel like there could have been so much more from her.
Similarly, the world building. The basics are all here, but that’s also where it stops, the basics.
It could have been built on so much more, which in turn would have provided a more immersive experience.
The bones of a great story are all here, however, it could have done with more attention to detail & character development to really bring it to life.

I loved the premise of the story and our main character Erin was courageous and cunning. However I wish we got more world building to expand on the details of the story more. All in all an interesting story!

DNF - got to chapter 10 in a night and couldn't take anymore.

The premise was brilliant, secretly trained ladies in a knight/medieval style world one being a 'foundling' but nothing was built on! If it were a short story, I could understand the need for the bare essentials in world building or lore but it was essentially exposition and then dialogue repeating the point.

At first, I thought the pacing was my own fault but had to realise that in the space of a chapter there was a new ally and potential love interest coming from 4 lines (and four dance steps) that led to the next plot point.

Was excited to read this but alas, it was not to be.

Interesting story, but I personally wanted more of the characters, more worldbuilding and more of story 🩶 I really liked Erin!

Brilliant book with a strong female lead. Lady Erin knows what it is to lose everything that’s dear to her and to fight for those she loves. I could picture Lady Erin and her friends as they travelled to find the help they needed. The friendships between the characters is something I really enjoyed.

As a sucker for these kinds of stories I was enamoured by this world and its characters. I enjoyed Connolly's take on this world and thought she did well to set her characters apart from others that litter books of this time period. It is not perfect, but this is an enjoyable adventure.

Norcliff was an engaging book, expertly weaving a well-crafted plot with characters that actually left an impression on me. Erin, the primary character, developed as a symbol of strength and resilience, expressing the essence of female empowerment throughout the story.

Madame Neigley, out of all the characters, piqued my interest with her unwavering confidence and strength of character, making me anxious to learn more about her past.

Norcliff is a must-read for anybody who enjoys fantasy, nobility, and exciting warfare.

I had the pleasure to read this ARC through NetGalley, so thank you!

I would give the book 4.5 but I rounded up because I really really enjoyed it!
First of all, I appreciate it being written in the third person instead of from two first person perspectives which is so common today. The descriptions are beautiful and I actually enjoyed the archaic tone of dialogues. The main character is lovable, relatable and believable, and for once the romantic interest isn't a billion years old elf/fae lord. The power balance between them is equal, the romance grows naturally, and even if there is zero spice, the connection between them is deep and so wonderful.
I think the story deserves more elaboration, more history. The ending is abrupt, we are left in the dark as to how anything other than the romance is resolved, and the transition between events is a bit sharp. The events happen too fast, everyone always knows exactly what they're going to do and it's immediately successful. All of these, however, don't take away too much from the book and I think we're yet to read K.A. Connolly's best work - and I am excited to read whatever she writes!
Overall, the book felt like reading one of those good, old, epic ballads! Highly recommend.

First of all I want to say I LOVE THE COVER! it’s so beautiful

Anyway onto the review 👀

I think this was an interesting and captivating read although at times I felt it to be a bit rushed. I really liked the MC Erin I thought she was written very well but some of the other characters that were supposed to be *powerful* never seem to get mentioned ago they were kind of just mentioned and forgotten about which was kinda confusing.

I did really like the story itself it was really easy to follow along with a MC that is a free spirit that we can all grow to love.

Overall a 3/3.4 star read xxx

This very short fantasy one-off read like a YA novel. Now, that isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I felt like the author was attempting to touch on some very adult themes throughout the book, but at a YA level. Meaning, there is a trigger warning at the beginning of the book that explains that there are a few points in the novel that the author touches on sexual harassment/minor sexual assault. Unfortunately, it felt as though I was reading a YA novel, and then, all of a sudden, here is a very adult theme of sexual assault being, more or less, explained to an adult.
Furthermore, I felt like the majority of the story line was extremely predictable. However, there were a few details towards the end that did shock me a little bit. I stated on my BookMory account that I was unprepared for a significant event to happen at the 97% mark.
I would have also liked to have an epilogue due to the fact that I felt that certain characters received character building when they were first brought in, but they had a lack luster amount towards the end. (Also, I would have liked an epilogue for my own selfish reason of wanting to know what happened between two certain characters.) In addition, I felt that several key points of the story are, more or less, ignored or forgotten as the story goes on. Although the author returned to these subjects, they get kind of tossed aside until the author deems them necessary again.
Overall, I did not hate this read, but I really didn't love it either. I really wasn't on the edge of my seat until maybe the last chapter or two. A lot of big events felt very predictable. And I would have loved a map to further understand the lay of the land of this fantasy novel (however, I do understand that this has not been released, so the author may not have one crafted).
In conclusion, this is not a bad read. I, personally, would not recommend this to someone unless they are just starting out in the world of fantasy and want to dip their toe into the possibilities that the genre holds.

Title: Norcliff by K.A. Connolly

Release date: December, 1st, 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Stars

A Thrilling Tale of Resilience and Romance!

"Norcliff" by K.A. Connolly is a captivating adventure that swept me off my feet from the very beginning!

Erin Hart's journey, marked by devastating loss and fierce determination, is beautifully crafted and left a lasting impression on me.

Erin's world shatters when she loses her fiancé and parents on what should have been the happiest day of her life. With her parents held hostage by the ruthless Mortons, Erin faces an impossible choice: bow to their demands or gather allies and fight for her freedom. Ardent Morton’s sinister proposal adds another layer of tension, making Erin’s fight for Norcliff all the more compelling.

Connolly masterfully blends a rich, historical setting with vivid descriptions that draw you into Erin’s tumultuous journey. As she travels to seek aid from King Ulrich and the nobles, the looming threats of bandits and political intrigue keep you on the edge of your seat.

What truly shines in "Norcliff" is Erin's character.

Despite the immense pressure and grief, she emerges as a resilient and formidable heroine. Her growth and determination are inspiring, making her a character you can't help but root for.

Whether you're new to fantasy romance or a seasoned fan, "Norcliff" is a delightful short read that delivers on all fronts.

Its well-woven plot and memorable characters make it a must-read.

Even teens will find themselves enchanted by Erin’s story of courage and love. Highly recommend diving into this enchanting tale!

Thank you to The Author K.A. Connolly & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read the eARC in exchange for a review.

"That's the nature of hunger. It devours. Take care that nobody devours you. Only you can protect yourself from that."

The story follows Lady Erin, who finds herself on her wedding day facing the tragic death of her fiancé and the kidnapping of her parents by Lord Morton. Instead of succumbing to the devastation, Erin immediately takes action to fight for herself and her family, determined to find a solution to her predicament.

I always enjoy fast-paced stories, and this one did not disappoint. I particularly loved the exploration of the meaning of flowers, a detail rarely highlighted in the books I usually read.

I'm not sure if this is a standalone, but I would definitely be interested in another story centered on Jax's character and his past.

~ 3.5 ⭐️

DNF at ~30%
Thanks to NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

First, the cover art for this book - gorgeous. Everything else - honestly not great, in my opinion. I was intrigued the cover and the description and am also a sucker for our badass warrior type women in leading roles. This was just not it for me.

In general, I had issues with the pacing and the writing style, which is why this is a DNF.

Pacing: Very early in the story, our FMC experiences some pretty traumatic stuff - her fiance is killed the day of their wedding and she sobs over his dead body. But then like two paragraphs later, she is laughing uncontrollably at something kind of dumb. While I get that trauma responses are a thing, the writing doesn't really set it up that way and it makes everything seem really superficial. Like, I could care less that the fiance died, cause I have not emotional attachment to them as a couple and the character reactions don't provide any depth to make me care about it. Also, it apparently all happened cause a trusted advisor betrayed them, but because we have no context for who anyone is yet and the character reactions are so shallow, I'm not sure why it is even mentioned. Then almost immediately, our characters whisk off to the king to ask for help with the kidnapping of her parents, but then the king's son does prick-y things and suddenly its all about revenge on him. (And while like, the prince is a jerk and kissing without consent is still gross, it doesn't feel like enough happened to warrant like scorched earth take down). We also get no sense of world building beyond that the area of Norcliff is generally remote. And the political intrigue feels like high school - our FMC goes from being the nice girl everyone wants to help cause her parents are kidnapped to the tramp who tried to seduce the prince in one day(like...what?) And all these events happen in the first 20% of the book, so none of these plot points are given time to breath or develop and the characters all seem very 2-dimensional.

Writing style: related to my issues with pacing, it sometimes felt like the writing was not reflective of what was actually happening. The story would be telling me one thing (trauma! harassment!) but the tone of the text was telling me something else (no big deal). It felt like the author was just reaching for a thesaurus to mix up words, resulting is uneven prose.

The plot for this book had potential but fell a little short for me. It felt rushed and choppy. I would’ve loved to see more character development of Erin and Liana.

Thank you NetGalley and K.A.Connolly for this ARC in exchange for a honest review.

Norcliff is a tale of grief, integrity, a fight against time where Erin must do everything in her power to save everyone dear to her.

Erin is not like other ladies of her time. She's a free spirit that since infancy has been trained with swords, daggers and horseback riding - in other words - hobbies considered not particularly lady-like. She has a very keen sense of justice and love towards her lands that are nothing but commendable throughout the whole story.

What didn't really tune with me was how *rushed* this book felt, and how certain characters are introduced as powerful allies only to never be mentioned again (and if mentioned only towards the end, once), main example being the poisoner which we are introduced relatively early only to be mentioned once at the end.

Taking out some editing errors, spacing between words missing being the most common mistakes, there are some terms gotten wrong in terms of hierarchy. The prince can't be called majesty, only the king can be addressed as such, or else it could be considered a matter of treason.

I liked a lot the main story per see and the pen of Connolly, es there could have been scenes done better but the way Erin was created simply felt right. Another thing I appreciated a lot was the way Hugo and Erin slowly started warming up to each other throughout the book. I do believe the ending could have been more epic as how the story was heading but I really cannot complain.

Or real thing I would change would be that this book isn't a NA but more of a YA.

Taking that out 3.5/5 stars. + the COVER IS SIMPLY SO PRETTY

This was a cute little book about the grief of our main character. I found this book quite simplistic in its characters and themes. For most of the book it felt like a young YA book and not NA as which it was being marketed as. Once I got over that mismatch in my mind I was enjoying the book.

I was enamored from the beginning. The characters were all done so well and the twists were unexpected and had me shocked. 10/10 recommend.

Oh, I loved this! A thrilling and captivating story with several twists I didn't see coming. I loved the strong female lead, Erin is a true badass and she is not to be meddled with.

I could hardly put this book down, and I would LOVE a physical copy.

My compliments to the writer. You're going places!