DNF 17%
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I almost dropped this book in the prologue, but told myself I'd give it an honest go. I made it until partway through the third chapter and couldn't get any further. I wanted to like the book - the cover is gorgeous, the plot sounded intriguing - but the writing was flat and juvenile, and it desperately needed an editor. The pacing was off - there wasn't time for any of what should have been an emotional scene to develop, and what little development there was is told rather than shown to us.

Ultimately it might be something I try again when I have more patience, but at the moment I'm dropping it.

The premise sounds very interesting but unfortunately I did not connect with any of the characters and felt there was minimal world building to bring the reader into the plot. All the scenes felt rushed and lacking depth so I was not invested in the story. Unfortunately not one I would recommend.

"Norcliff" is a wonderful and romantic fantasy. It has all the elements that we all love about romantasies: a strong female main character, lots of fighting, epic battles, and sweet romance and banter in between.

Erin is a solid character who has to go through loss and betrayal before she finds inner peace. After her fiancé is brutally murdered and her parents kidnapped, Erin is faced with two choices. Either she gives in to the demands of her kidnapper, who is demanding her hand in marriage, or she chooses her own individual path. Raised as a fighter, Erin shows steadfastness despite having to deal with new situations and finds new allies and enemies on her path to justice.

My highlight of the story was actually the romance between Erin and Hugo! The two are very sweet and take it slow, which is exactly what Erin needs after the traumatic events. I also really enjoyed learning more about the meanings of the flowers, which was very special in itself! It was such a sweet moment and created so much cuteness! I also loved the other romance in the book, which was also a sweet surprise!

Besides the main characters, which I really liked, I have to admit that I felt the story lacked some structure, (sometimes) logic and a main plot. The author has a wonderful writing style that transports you to another world, which is truly wonderful, but the plot suddenly takes a different direction and events that were so important at the beginning are picked up again in the last 10 percent of the book. The enemies seemed superficial to me - especially the prince. The ending scene was a little disappointment because it was over in two minutes. I just hoped for a strong and empowering moment, but it felt so flat.

All in all "Norcliff" is a adventurous romantasy,which is a perfect book for in between.

"Norcliff" by K.A. Connolly is a captivating tale of loss, resilience, and determination. The story centers on Erin Hart, who faces an unimaginable tragedy when she loses her fiancé and parents on her wedding day. To save her parents, Erin must navigate the demands of the oppressive Mortons, with Ardent Morton insisting on marriage to seize control of her home, Norcliff.
Connolly's portrayal of Erin's grief and strength is both poignant and inspiring. Erin's journey to seek aid from King Ulrich and the nobles at court is fraught with peril, with the threat of bandits adding urgency to her mission. The antagonist, Ardent Morton, is a compellingly detestable character whose machinations keep the tension high throughout the story.
The writing is vivid and immersive, bringing the world of Norcliff to life with rich detail and emotion. The blend of political intrigue, personal struggle, and looming danger makes "Norcliff" a compelling read. The archaic tone of the dialogues adds an authentic medieval feel, enhancing the overall experience.
The romance in the story is well-crafted, with a natural and deep connection between the characters. The power balance is equal, and the relationship develops organically without resorting to common tropes.
"Norcliff" is a highly enjoyable read. It feels like one of those classic, epic ballads, filled with adventure, emotion, and a strong, relatable heroine. Erin's journey is one of empowerment and courage, making this book a must-read for fans of medieval struggles and triumphs.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this amazing book. This review has also been posted on Goodreads and StoryGraph.

"Norcliff" by K.A. Connolly is a gripping tale of loss, resilience, and fierce determination. The story plunges you into Erin Hart's world as she faces unimaginable tragedy on what should have been the happiest day of her life. Connolly's portrayal of Erin's grief and subsequent resolve is both poignant and inspiring, drawing you into her struggle against the oppressive Mortons. The antagonist, Ardent Morton, is deliciously detestable, and his demand for Erin's hand in marriage adds a layer of tension that keeps you on the edge of your seat. As Erin navigates treacherous political waters and seeks aid from King Ulrich, the stakes feel palpably high. The looming threat of bandits only intensifies the urgency of her mission. Connolly's writing is vivid, bringing the world of Norcliff and its challenges to life with rich detail and emotion. The blend of political intrigue, personal struggle, and looming danger makes "Norcliff" a compelling read. Erin's journey is one of empowerment and courage, making this book a must-read for fans of strong, determined heroines facing insurmountable odds. Highly recommended for those who enjoy tales of medieval struggle and triumph!

A gorgeously detailed, endearing and heartwarming adventure with a lovely romantic heart.

Thank you to the author and publisher for the chance to read the ARC.

I would give the book 4.5 but I rounded up because I really really enjoyed it! Overall, the book felt like reading one of those good, old, epic ballads! Highly recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review!

Norcliff was a cute book with a courageous female protagonist. It is a quick read, but that may be to the detriment of the story as interesting plot points are brought up and discarded or resolved very quickly. The story is interesting, but moves almost too quickly. Overall an enjoyable, but forgettable read.

This book is a good read for an early teen reader who wants an intro to speculative fiction romances. There is a couple of darker themes but they are covered at a high level so a younger audience would likely be okay reading them.

Things I liked about this book
- Erin is a strong, resilient character
- The message of not judging people from their past
- Erin’s friendship with Jax & Liana


Things that could be improved
- Middle-grade / Young adult genre would be a better fit than New Adult
- I got quite thrown off by the timing as at the end Erin mentions it's only been "days" since she's met Hugo but they have done a lot of travelling & fought multiple battles in that time.

I've given this 3 stars based on recommending it for a teenager, not an adult.

Thank you K.A. Connolly for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

A beautifully written tale of love, loss, and triumph. Norcliff starts out with so much pain for our Heroine Erin Hart losing both her betrothed and her beloved parents. Through Erin's epic journey, she not only finds strength in her self, but in the community she builds to help her along the way.

I thoroughly enjoyed Norcliff and am happy to see what K.A. Connolly has in store for us next!

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.