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!

Norcliff was a wonderful book to read about the power of love, family, friendship and most of all, the strength of women.

Whilst they all go through things that would make anyone want to curl up and note face, all the characters do indeed rise up to face the challenge and fall in love with others and themselves even more.

I think this book has a really great story, but it feels super rushed. SO MUCH happens within just a few days that it makes it really hard to connect with the characters. They all are fairly complex and I wish we got more time learning about their histories and more of their personalities. Everything seems almost too convenient for the MC, she does fight for aid but it isn't super difficult for her.

The romance is what gets me, there was not enough time between the two for them to believably fall in love. I understand the whole "love at first sight" trope, but this just felt a little ridiculous. If the story had taken place over the course of a few months it would have felt more realistic.

All in all it's not a bad book and I did enjoy the story, I just wish the timeline had been longer so each event didn't feel smashed together.

The prologue of this book was very well-written and really hooked me, but the next couple of chapters convinced me not to finish it. The pacing was much too fast - to the point where I wasn't sure what had just happened. The characters had very little time to react to what had happened to them, which is a big deal considering our main character lost her fiance and parents on her wedding day.

I think this book felt rushed, and the characters were quite shallow. Any attempts at deepening them felt extremely forced. The antagonists were cheesy in their evil.

Did not finish.

Norcliff by KA Connolly was a beautiful story with beautiful characters. Following Erin on her journey to protect not just her family, but her land and her people from attack from enemies near and far was a harrowing read. The dialogue between characters was impeccably engaging and overwhelmingly romantic at times. It felt authentic and charming.
I wish more time could have been spent in some areas, particularly with the battle scenes. Reading about Erin putting the skills taught by Jax to use was riveting and I would have loved even more!

DELIGHTFUL. Norcliff had absolutely everything I was looking for - a strong emotional center, romance that sweeps me off of my feet, action and adventure, and fantasy elements that swept me away. It scratched a Princess Bride itch that I've had for quite awhile, and I'm so glad I found it!

Beyond its compelling storyline, the book stands out for its insightful commentary on the human condition, weaving philosophical questions into the fabric of its narrative. The author's skillful use of language not only enriches the text but also elevates the reader's experience, offering new perspectives on familiar themes. Whether it's the intricate dynamics of relationships, the exploration of identity, or the confrontation with ethical dilemmas, this book tackles complex issues with sensitivity and intelligence. It's a testament to the power of storytelling to illuminate the nuances of life, making it a valuable addition to any book lover's collection. Regardless of genre, this is a work that resonates on multiple levels, affirming the enduring impact of well-crafted literature. In essence, much of the content is easy to relate with.

Norcliff was very fun to read. I enjoyed seeing Erin find her strength after going through such a devastating loss

K.A. Connolly did a great job being descriptive and setting the scenes for the era the book is set in

The balance between fantasy and romance is amazing especially for those who like romance books but don't care for it being thrown in their face every page

All in all Norcliff is a nice short read for those who are just diving in fantasy romance or those who already love it. I'd even say teens could read and enjoy the book as well

Thank you K.A. Connolly for allowing me to read the ARC!

Good start, premise, idea/framework, but I think this book needs a lot of work on tone. It could use an editor for tone, grammar, dialogue uniformity, and more.
There is mismatch between setting and the dialogue. The dialogue often takes me out of the supposedly Middle Ages esque world. For example “yeah”. I also found it trite and difficult to get invested in.
There was a lot of telling instead of showing and much was under developed leaving me to be confused about the world and disconnected from both the plot and characters.
Also the initial convos with Hugo and all the milords and miladies was very stilted and odd. Also Hugo’s name confused me in the context of all the other bridgerton esque names. It hurt any sense of setting or time even as a fantasy.
Pacing also needs to be worked on. I have no invested in Jax, Erin, or Liana as a result of the pacing as well. We were told a lot and expected to just take it at face value.
Finally there are some inconsistencies that need to be worked on to ensure a consistent and cohesive story.

This book has me feeling everything; the tension, the fear, the betrayal, the grief, the loss. Everything that the characters felt was only heightened by the imagery. It’s a perfect read for those wanting a NA fantasy with minimal romance, but all of the tension and emotion of a full-blown romance.

I liked the story of this book. It was good to read it. I rated it 4 stars because not everything was as I thought, but I recommend everyone to read this.

Norcliff was a captivating read, skillfully intertwining a well-crafted plot with characters that truly left their mark on me. Erin, the main protagonist, emerged as an exemplar of strength and resilience, embodying the essence of female empowerment throughout the narrative.

Among all the characters, Madame Neigley captured my interest with her unwavering confidence and strength of character, leaving me eager for further exploration of her backstory, if possible.

For those who love fantasy, royalty, and thrilling battles, I highly recommend Norcliff as a journey into a world of enchantment and intrigue. Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC!