And Blue Skies from Pain by Stina Leicht

And Blue Skies from Pain (A Book of the Fey and Fallen) - Stina Leicht, 300 pages

The second book in the series does not disappoint.  Leicht creates extremely realistic characters and drama that give a gritty truth to the dangers of Ireland during the Troubles in the 1970s.  The fantasy elements of the war between the Fey and the Fallen and the Church form an added layer of drama that doesn't detract from the whole.  Liam has served as a driver for the IRA, gone to prison for being in the wrong place at the wrong time and suffered numerous personal tragedies. He has vowed to not be drawn back into the sectarian violence but soon finds himself as a pawn in the larger paranormal war.  If you are fan of the truly truly reluctant hero, you will love this series.

Of Blood and Honey by Stina Leicht

Of Blood and Honey (A Book of the Fey and the Fallen) by Stina Leicht, 296 pages

This book layers urban fantasy elements into the Irish Troubles in the 1970s.  Liam doesn't know who his father is, and always assumed it was a Protestant who wouldn't stay with his Catholic mother.  Liam is faced with trying to stay safe and find work during the bloody conflicts between rival Irish religious factions that make it extremely unsafe to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.  The war between the Fallen and Fey pulls Liam into another centuries old conflict that will force Liam to discover his true heritage.  There are definite adult themes in this book involving violence, abuse and religion.  Leicht is very effective in injecting fantasy elements involving the Fallen, the Fey and even assassins for the Catholic church into the vivid descriptions of life in Ireland during the Troubles.