Of Blood and Honey by Stina Leicht
Series: The Fey and the Fallen, book 1My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I loved this story, it is a full of realism and a wonderful blend of historical fiction, and urban fantasy. The fantastical is a backdrop to the story, more in the vein of magical realism than typical paranormal or Urban fantasy's, but still essential to the story. But the main strength of the book is the characters.
Of Blood and Honey, is a phenomenal debut novel by author Stina Leicht with real characters, fantastic pacing and a great story. The book has an early urban fantasy feel, yet it is edgy, dark and brutal. Where this book differs from many newer gritty and dark fantasies, is the well researched historical aspects of the book, Ireland in the 1970's is what sets the brutality if the book. Like its own antagonist the story of the clash between the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) and the British Army (BA) is the backdrop of the story, weaving the atrocities, struggles and battles that took place in the streets and lives of the people throughout the book.
This is a book of struggles. The typical fantasy trope of good vs evil, is brilliantly entwined by Leicht with the struggles of a young man as he tries to find out who and what he is, the horrific and brutal struggles in Ireland of the 1970's, mixed in with the age old battle of priests vs Fallen Angels and demons, along with the struggle between christianity and the pagan religions and the Fae.
Leicht continues to create a real feel to this story with the typical struggles of the characters as they struggle to stay alive in turbulent times. The main protagonist Liam and all of the side characters are wonderfully written. The people in this story are dark, complex, and feel very real. They are all well defined and actualized as they deal with the everyday troubles we all deal with family, love, marriage and tragedy. The protagonist Liam's struggle with life and his own darker impulses is tragic and heart-rending, there are moments in his life that are difficult to read.
The Troubles (1968-1994) is a fascinating and utterly tragic time period in Irish history. (Although, there isn't much in Irish history that can't be described as tragic.) . . . I guess you can say it's my way of finding a real situation that fits extreme good versus extreme evil.
Stina Leicht, May 9, 2012
I highly recommend this book to fans of magical realism and dark, gritty Urban Fantasy. If you have interest in the turbulent era of the 70's and want a glimpse into the life of that time in Ireland this book really good at pulling the reader into the struggles of that time and place.
If you prefer the less realistic paranormal fantasy this may not be something you will enjoy.
Warnings, this is dark, and the brutality is real, most of the brutality is of the historical human kind and includes rape and torture. ( though written well without any glamorization or belittlement of the victims)
Awards:
Nominee: John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer, 2013
Details:
Series: The Fey and the Fallen, book 1
Published February 1st 2011 by Night Shade Books
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