Liam never knew who his father was. The town of Derry had always assumed that he was the bastard of a protestant - his mother never spoke of him, and Liam assumed he was dead. But when the war between the fallen and the fey began to heat up, Liam and his family are pulled into a conflict that they didn't know existed. A centuries old conflict between supernatural forces seems to mirror the political divisions in 1970's era Ireland, and Liam is thrown headlong into both conflicts! Only the direct intervention of Liam's real father, and a secret catholic order dedicated to fighting "The Fallen" can save Liam... from the mundane and supernatural forces around him, and from the darkness that lurks within him.
Of Blood and Honey
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Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Set in the Ireland of the Troubles, before the recent détente, this fraught debut captures the backdrop of tension and choosing sides that overlays even the smallest act. The lingering effects of the Kesh and Malone prisons are gut-wrenchingly convincing. Less developed are the magical elements. Former prisoner Liam's ignorance of his fae side makes sense, as his mother, Kathleen, and mentor, Father Murray, seek to protect him, but Leicht only introduces one full-fledged fae, Liam's father, and his offstage war with the Redcap is more told than shown. Liam's marriage to Mary Kate is a believable complex of love, lust, pride, anger and forgiveness, but the really pivotal relationship is with Father Murray, a member of an arm of the church that kills the fae in the belief that they are Fallen. Perhaps later books will expand the intriguing premise. (Feb.)
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
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More About the Author
Stina Leicht is a 2012 Campbell Award nominee. Her debut novel Of Blood and Honey, a historical Fantasy with an Irish Crime edge set in 1970s Northern Ireland, was released by Night Shade books in February 2011 and was short-listed for the Crawford Award in 2012. The sequel, And Blue Skies from Pain is in bookstores as of March 2012. She also has a flash fiction piece in Ann and Jeff VanderMeer's surreal anthology Last Drink Bird Head.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
There aren't many fantasy novels I would characterize as brilliant. This is one of the few.
I picked up this book with quite a bit of trepidation. I've done a lot of reading on Northern Irish politics over the years, and I didn't want to see the Troubles treated as some sort of flashy backdrop to a shallow and simpleminded fantasy plot. I needn't have worried. Ms. Leicht interweaves the novel's fantasy elements seamlessly into a depiction of time and place that feels absolutely real. Now, I'm not Irish, and I imagine there are things that one could quibble with, but the author's instincts and sympathies are sound and she certainly gets the bigger picture right. The situation is complex and ugly and frequently impossible, and Ms. Leicht has taken all of that on and used it to create an understated masterpiece. On top of all that, her characters are real people, nuanced, and if they don't break your heart from time to time you're not paying attention.
It's clear that Ms. Leicht is planning on at least one sequel to this book, as there are questions left unanswered at the end regarding Liam's fate as well as the strategy and intentions of the Fallen. This is excellent news. I can't recommend this novel highly enough, really, and I'm looking forward to the next volume with a level of anticipation I haven't felt for a book in years.
I picked up this book with quite a bit of trepidation. I've done a lot of reading on Northern Irish politics over the years, and I didn't want to see the Troubles treated as some sort of flashy backdrop to a shallow and simpleminded fantasy plot. I needn't have worried. Ms. Leicht interweaves the novel's fantasy elements seamlessly into a depiction of time and place that feels absolutely real. Now, I'm not Irish, and I imagine there are things that one could quibble with, but the author's instincts and sympathies are sound and she certainly gets the bigger picture right. The situation is complex and ugly and frequently impossible, and Ms. Leicht has taken all of that on and used it to create an understated masterpiece. On top of all that, her characters are real people, nuanced, and if they don't break your heart from time to time you're not paying attention.
It's clear that Ms. Leicht is planning on at least one sequel to this book, as there are questions left unanswered at the end regarding Liam's fate as well as the strategy and intentions of the Fallen. This is excellent news. I can't recommend this novel highly enough, really, and I'm looking forward to the next volume with a level of anticipation I haven't felt for a book in years.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Of Blood and Honey(The Fey and the Fallen Bk #1) {E-copy for review}
April 16, 2011
Format:Kindle Edition
Read from April 13 to 15, 2011
Of Blood and Honey is a debut novel you do not want to miss reading... Dark, gritty urban fantasy full of magic, myth and very real horrors that mankind as well as the supernatural inflicted on each other... I was drawn in to this story of Liam, his mother Kathleen, step father Patrick and his "Fey" father Bran from the start... Not only is there quite a bit of history gleaned about the infamous Irish IRA and also the British Armies conflicts in the 1970's but there is a brilliantly descriptive story of the fight of good against evil as well!
Fantasy has always been one of my favorite genres, this particular fantasy however has teeth and claws that rend and tear just like the beast that is described within the story! Your journey in reading this book is not going to be easy or fun or even sometimes bearable but it will be compelling and interesting and most of all well worth your time...
I had not heard of the author until came across Night Shade Books offer on Twitter or Facebook for a free copy in exchange for a review of the book and after spending time within the imagination of author Stina Leicht am very glad that I had the opportunity to read this first book in her new series... This is a "thinking person's" book, it is not meant for those faint of heart when faced with episodes of brutality and it is certainly not a book that can be put down once started... You have to read it all the way through as it hooks you and you have to know how things turn out for Liam and his family and friends!
I am looking forward to finding more work on this series in the future from this author
Of Blood and Honey is a debut novel you do not want to miss reading... Dark, gritty urban fantasy full of magic, myth and very real horrors that mankind as well as the supernatural inflicted on each other... I was drawn in to this story of Liam, his mother Kathleen, step father Patrick and his "Fey" father Bran from the start... Not only is there quite a bit of history gleaned about the infamous Irish IRA and also the British Armies conflicts in the 1970's but there is a brilliantly descriptive story of the fight of good against evil as well!
Fantasy has always been one of my favorite genres, this particular fantasy however has teeth and claws that rend and tear just like the beast that is described within the story! Your journey in reading this book is not going to be easy or fun or even sometimes bearable but it will be compelling and interesting and most of all well worth your time...
I had not heard of the author until came across Night Shade Books offer on Twitter or Facebook for a free copy in exchange for a review of the book and after spending time within the imagination of author Stina Leicht am very glad that I had the opportunity to read this first book in her new series... This is a "thinking person's" book, it is not meant for those faint of heart when faced with episodes of brutality and it is certainly not a book that can be put down once started... You have to read it all the way through as it hooks you and you have to know how things turn out for Liam and his family and friends!
I am looking forward to finding more work on this series in the future from this author
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Julia Dvorin
Format:Paperback
I think I went into this book not quite realizing how dark and grim it was going to be, and dark and grim is not my preferred type of reading. I must admit I had a hard time getting through the book (especially the fairly graphic rape, torture and murder parts), but it was well told enough and the characters were compelling enough that I kept going and finished it because I really did want to know what happened. I did learn a lot and enjoyed (if that's the right word) the setting of 1970's war-torn Ireland, and was intrigued by the idea of a war between the Fey and the Fallen, though we really only got tantalizing clues through most of the book (I'm guessing there will be sequels). Overall I'd say it was a very well done book, just not my cuppa.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Campbell award nominee for a reason.
I've put off writing this review for too long.
I did that for several reasons. One, the book is written by a friend of mine. Read more
I did that for several reasons. One, the book is written by a friend of mine. Read more
Published 8 days ago by K. McCauley
4.0 out of 5 stars
Liam
Great story for when you want to step out of the norm. You feel so sad for Liam and his bride, but know from the beginning that his story is too tragic for a happily ever after. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Bkp
4.0 out of 5 stars
Was not able to put this book down!
Fascinating characters and a great story. Mixing of truth and fiction impeccable. Thoroughly enjoyed this book.it is a must read.
Published 2 months ago by Linda R Lee
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful and powerful
Of Blood and Honey is a beautifully written, powerful book.
The book is set in Northern Ireland in the 1970s, and follows the young adulthood of Liam Kelly. Read more
The book is set in Northern Ireland in the 1970s, and follows the young adulthood of Liam Kelly. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Eric D. Honaker
4.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting
This story is full of heartache, and made me sad. However, the elements of folklore tied to the unrest in Ireland were very interesting. Fascinating story.
Published 5 months ago by Kelli Edmondson
4.0 out of 5 stars
Dark Fantasy Not for the Faint of Heart
This gripping novel is set in Northern Ireland in the 1970s, at the height of "the troubles," the conflict between Catholics and Protestants. Read more
Published 6 months ago by S. Magliocco
5.0 out of 5 stars
FASCINATING AND BRILLIANT DARK URBAN FANTASY
Review: of Blood and Honey by Stina Leicht
(Minor Spoilers Present)
This first novel in the Fey and the Fallen series, of Blood and Honey, had my attention from the... Read more
(Minor Spoilers Present)
This first novel in the Fey and the Fallen series, of Blood and Honey, had my attention from the... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Paul Genesse
1.0 out of 5 stars
disappointed
This book was not in any way what I expected it to be about. I thought is was a book of other worldly creatures but instead turned out to be almost completely about the political... Read more
Published 7 months ago by judy c henney
4.0 out of 5 stars
A dark and lovely book
I picked this up after seeing it in a "Big Idea" entry on Whatever. I was intrigued even though I am not the biggest fan of dark urban fantasy. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Kathryne Kieser
5.0 out of 5 stars
Impressive debut
I picked this up because the author was nominated for the Campbell award, and I couldn't put it down. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Emily
