And Blue Skies From Pain (The Fey and the Fallen, #2)

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And Blue Skies From Pain (The Fey and the Fallen #2)

by Stina Leicht (Goodreads Author)

4.12 of 5 stars 4.12 · rating details · 128 ratings · 26 reviews

Northern Ireland, 1977. Liam Kelly is many things: a former wheelman for the IRA, a one-time political prisoner, the half-breed son of a mystic Fey warrior and a mortal woman, and a troubled young man literally haunted by the ghosts of his past. Liam has turned his back on his land’s bloody sectarian Troubles, but the war isn’t done with him yet, and neither is an older, m...more

Paperback, 1st Edition, 384 pages

Published March 6th 2012 by Night Shade Books (first published March 1st 2012)

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Dec 10, 2012 Paul Genesse rated it 5 of 5 stars

Review: of Blue Skies from Pain by Stina Leicht (no spoilers)

“And Blue Skies from Pain,” a book of the Fey and the Fallen, the sequel to Stina Leicht’s fantastic novel “of Blood and Honey,” is just as good as the first one. It started right where book 1 left off, though it does have a fascinating prologue featuring Father Murray, and covers an event that weighs heavily into this book. We get to see a mission from when Father Murray was a young man, just starting out in his order, and it involves...more Review: of Blue Skies from Pain by Stina Leicht (no spoilers)

“And Blue Skies from Pain,” a book of the Fey and the Fallen, the sequel to Stina Leicht’s fantastic novel “of Blood and Honey,” is just as good as the first one. It started right where book 1 left off, though it does have a fascinating prologue featuring Father Murray, and covers an event that weighs heavily into this book. We get to see a mission from when Father Murray was a young man, just starting out in his order, and it involves the ongoing war the Catholic Church is fighting against the fallen angels. Father Murray does have some point of view chapters, but the main character is once again, Liam, the former IRA wheelman and half-mortal shape-shifting fey, who has a fondness for punk music, and is quite the outcast in 1970’s Belfast, Ireland during the time of “Troubles.” This series is mostly about Liam, and he has grown quite a bit since his downward spiral in book 1, but he’s still haunted (literally) and can’t face the major loss he suffered less than a year before. He’s got a ways to go before he finds peace (and dare I say, enlightenment). I did love how the novel ended for him.

There is some closure and resolution, but we want to see more.
So, the main thrust of the plot (set up in book 1) is Father Murray trying to convince his superiors that the fey are actually not fallen angels, and the Church should stop killing them indiscriminately, as they have for countless years. Liam agrees to be a test subject and prove that he, and the fey, are not demons. Of course it all goes horribly wrong, and the IRA is not very excited about Liam refusing to work for them anymore as a get-away-car driver.

The main characters are always in danger and keep getting put in situations that make you want to squirm. They get beat up a lot, and Leicht is particularly hard on her characters. “And Blue Skies from Pain” is not as dark as the first book in some respects, but the characters keep getting captured and roughed up. I think that the “getting captured” event has been a little overused in the first two books, but it always seems plausible. I’m just hoping Leicht has some other tricks up her sleeve for the next book, and I’m with an imagination like hers I believe she will come up with even more fiendish ways to make the characters suffer.

This novel did expand and go into more detail regarding the fey, Liam’s people, and touched on the fallen angel war, but there is a lot of ground left to cover. I’m very much looking forward to the next book, and think it might be the juiciest one yet, as the first two have set up a great conflict and established some awesome characters and world-building.
Some of the most notable things in “And Blue Skies from Pain” involve the new secondary characters. I’m very much hoping the American combat nuns will return, (yes, combat nuns) and that the black haired girl, who might be a selkie, will be back.

I’m a big fan of Stina Leicht’s work and very much enjoy her characters, and the fascinating world she’s created. Her vision is how I think dark urban fantasy should be done, not too much spoon-feeding of the readers, and not too much exposition about supernatural things, but with completely believable characters in tough situations.
FIVE STARS, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Paul Genesse
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Mar 04, 2012 Kristina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy http://allthingsurbanfantasy.blogspot...

AND BLUE SKIES FROM PAIN, the second book in Stina Leicht’s The Fey and The Fallen series is beautifully written and brings a supernatural undertone to a violent era in 1970’s Ireland. I was curious about how the paranormal aspects would fit in with such a complex and tumultuous point in history. What I found interesting was the parallels of politics and conflict brought about by mistrust and ingrained prejudices...more Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy http://allthingsurbanfantasy.blogspot...

AND BLUE SKIES FROM PAIN, the second book in Stina Leicht’s The Fey and The Fallen series is beautifully written and brings a supernatural undertone to a violent era in 1970’s Ireland. I was curious about how the paranormal aspects would fit in with such a complex and tumultuous point in history. What I found interesting was the parallels of politics and conflict brought about by mistrust and ingrained prejudices among the Catholic Church with the Fey (which they consider to be demons) and the Protestant and Catholic conflicts in Ireland. Throughout the book the slightest misstep could spell war for the Fey and the Church which masterfully matched the underlying pressures felt by people in Ireland.

Caught in the middle of these brewing issues is the half-mortal/ex-Provisional IRA fighter Liam Kelley. Liam is put through the physical and mental ringer as he faces prison-like isolation, degrading medical tests to prove that he is human, and maintaining a low profile from the IRA who want him dead. Liam was a flawed and conflicted character in part due to his violent past and the tragic loss of his family, but it made him feel all the more real--and sympathetic--to me.

Mixed in with the politics and violence we see some of the punk culture that was around in the 70s (the title is even a part of a Pink Floyd song) The punk subculture was an expression of anarchism, anger, rebellion against authority, and nihilistic views of life. The music and culture was hard and gritty which fits nicely into the background of AND BLUE SKIES WITH PAIN’s setting in Ireland.

I loved Stina Leicht’s world-building and how she so seamlessly mixed the supernatural with actual history. I found this amazing as the Fey storyline could have so easily come off as a jarring contrast. I actually feel more familiar with this time period in Ireland’s history now having read this book and it’s made me want to learn more. AND BLUE SKIES FROM PAIN is a gritty and complex story that had me thinking about it long after I put the book down. (less)

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Apr 03, 2012 Dave rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Except for a couple of parts where Liam exhibits the kind of stubborn, independent behavior I so dislike in characters, this story moved along surprisingly well: not all sequels stand on their own, particularly not when it's obvious there will be more in the series, but this book definitely does. The additional threads tying this book to the next are woven rather well, although there are a couple of places where it seems as though Leicht could have come up with better reasoning for the threads....more

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Apr 23, 2012 Lisa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

I really like the story and the creativity that Stina Leicht brings to her books. The tracks on this bit of history aren't miles deep, making for fresh historical fiction. I think she's a fine writer and I look forward to reading more.

Where I hope that Leicht will do some work in her next book is to work with an editor with an eye for detail. There are too many areas where she knows what she means, but she leaves the reader scratching her head. There are things that need to be "unpacked" so they...more

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Apr 23, 2012 Joseph Cohen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

Stina Leicht's debut novel, 2011's "Of Blood and Honey", was one of my favorite novels of the year, to the extent that I submitted it for a Hugo nomination and Campbell award, and drove many of my friends and my wife crazy with constant recommendations. So the follow-up was very eagerly awaited. I re-read the first book in anticipation, and finished "And Blue Skies From Pain" tonight. And while it would be wrong to call it a disappointment, as it is, on its own, an excellent novel, it doesn't ha...more Stina Leicht's debut novel, 2011's "Of Blood and Honey", was one of my favorite novels of the year, to the extent that I submitted it for a Hugo nomination and Campbell award, and drove many of my friends and my wife crazy with constant recommendations. So the follow-up was very eagerly awaited. I re-read the first book in anticipation, and finished "And Blue Skies From Pain" tonight. And while it would be wrong to call it a disappointment, as it is, on its own, an excellent novel, it doesn't have the same impact as the first book in the series.

(view spoiler)

I think my own letdown was the fact that the book moved away from mortal politics (the BA, RUC, IRA, Provos, Loyalists, Catholics and Protestants), which grounded the first book so firmly in the real world, and moved onto the more fantastic. That is not in itself a bad thing, as the Fey and Church politics are just as intriguing, and parallel the mortal world in many ways. It is just different, and I personally have a tendency to avoid books with some of the tropes that are featured in this book, although they're all done very well here. I think that for many fans of urban fantasy, the books will only improve because of the change of focus. It is still a phenomenal book, one I will continue to recommend, and once more eagerly await the next installment.(less)

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Dec 18, 2012 Molybdenum rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is not a bad book by any stretch. It contains some great character work, some hard hitting plot points, and a very nice last 10 chapters, which may be the best stretch of either of the first two books. Liam's characterization is always dead on, and consistent. The character growth is never forced, no character points are simply orated and then never followed up with actions. These are all difficult things to do, and Leicht did them very well in both this book and the previous one.

The reason...more This is not a bad book by any stretch. It contains some great character work, some hard hitting plot points, and a very nice last 10 chapters, which may be the best stretch of either of the first two books. Liam's characterization is always dead on, and consistent. The character growth is never forced, no character points are simply orated and then never followed up with actions. These are all difficult things to do, and Leicht did them very well in both this book and the previous one.

The reason the last 10 chapters work so well is the series works best when it is firmly in event-reaction mode. Some major event happens, usually terrible for Liam, and he reacts to it, both through his action and his emotional response. This pattern was in play for the entire first book. There were many events, and Liam went through many different emotions, and took many different steps (sometimes rather drastic) as a result of what happened. The damage done to Liam from all these terrible things he went through is shown very well in this book.

I think what happened for the first 2/3rds of this book is that Leicht wrote herself into a bit of a corner. You cannot keep up the pace she was at in the first book. If too many terrible things happen to Liam, it starts to numb the reader after a little while. This numbing was beginning even at the end of the last book. So Leicht had to back off from her greatest strength a little bit. What she chose to do instead was some slow-moving plot progression and a bit of exposition.

The problem is that Liam is neither interesting nor likable enough, nor is the exposition original enough to carry those parts of the book. It's not really Liam's fault that he can't carry the book; the events of the first book have made him angry, depressed and completely untrusting. This, while true to character, still gets monotonous and annoying after not too long.

Leicht really needs to consider what she is going to do to spice up the slower parts of the book. She may need some comic relief at some point, or really throw something creative in there to take the reader through, or maybe focus on another, less damaged character for a little while. She has a good thing going with her action sequences and emotional character work. But her books cannot be all this.

Anyways, the book is still good. If you enjoyed Of Blood and Honey, there's more of that here.(less)

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Aug 14, 2012 Francesca rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction-urban-fantasy, fiction-paranormal-supernatural

4.5/5

Of Blood and Honey and And Blue Skies from Pain (The Fey and the Fallen series) are absolutely amazing!
I read them in a row and couldn’t put them down!

And I am stunned that they are just the author’s debut novels!

Both are awfully compelling, able to enchant and sadden due to an atmosphere that’s ethereal, weird, gloomy, dim but realistic and plausible at the same time, and a dark and gritty story, but also moving, full of magic, emotions, beliefs.

Stina Leich is truly awesome and it’s impres...more

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May 23, 2012 Lucinda rated it 4 of 5 stars

Set in Ireland this novel throws the reader into sudden conflict and war, with the church at its very heart. Being a shape-shifter adds a touch of surprise and a twist to a somewhat interesting tale where the main character is the central focus, aiming not to loose himself or his mind. This story was utterly original and completely new, catering to both those readers who love this particular genre and also chilling fiction and as someone who enjoys fantasy fiction I was completely blown away by...more Set in Ireland this novel throws the reader into sudden conflict and war, with the church at its very heart. Being a shape-shifter adds a touch of surprise and a twist to a somewhat interesting tale where the main character is the central focus, aiming not to loose himself or his mind. This story was utterly original and completely new, catering to both those readers who love this particular genre and also chilling fiction and as someone who enjoys fantasy fiction I was completely blown away by this novel that certainly exceeded all expectations. It was such an intense story I was kept in suspense throughout sitting on the edge of my seat, and that was brought vividly to life by mythology, Ireland’s history and its politics that made it completely authentic. I was spellbound by the outstanding creativity and imagination of the author, who has produced something utterly brilliant and engaging. It was so excited as I was taken on a rollercoaster of a journey from page one, drawn into the storyline by the individual and intriguing characters who sit so realistically within the mind helping you to empathize and relate to the unfolding story. This is fantasy fiction with an edgy twist, that is remarkable and vividly captivating and certainly something that I have not read before. The pace was set and the story kept its momentum throughout, which constantly spoke out to me persuading one to keep reading and find out what is going to happen next. I fell head first into the world that Stina had created, mesmerized by her mix of fantasy and reality and how cleaver and inspired her creative ideas were. This is a novel that is mind-blowing to the core with such uniqueness that it will leave you shocked, surprised and delighted with each page and wanting to read more. As someone who has read quite a lot of different works within this genre I was completely impressed, hence I am in no doubts that many fans of this genre will enjoy this novel as much as I have done. Chilling, spine tingling, mesmerizing and completely engrossing I cannot enthuse enough about this astounding work of fiction that just blew me away, and that still is something lingering within my mind since reading it. A fantastic novel that will surprise and delight you and one that was absolutely fascinating and intriguing. (less)

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Mar 04, 2012 All Things Urban Fantasy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed-by-kristina, march-2012-hotp

Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy

AND BLUE SKIES FROM PAIN, the second book in Stina Leicht’s The Fey and The Fallen series is beautifully written and brings a supernatural undertone to a violent era in 1970’s Ireland. I was curious about how the paranormal aspects would fit in with such a complex and tumultuous point in history. What I found interesting was the parallels of politics and conflict brought about by mistrust and ingrained prejudices among the Catholic Church with the Fey (...more Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy

AND BLUE SKIES FROM PAIN, the second book in Stina Leicht’s The Fey and The Fallen series is beautifully written and brings a supernatural undertone to a violent era in 1970’s Ireland. I was curious about how the paranormal aspects would fit in with such a complex and tumultuous point in history. What I found interesting was the parallels of politics and conflict brought about by mistrust and ingrained prejudices among the Catholic Church with the Fey (which they consider to be demons) and the Protestant and Catholic conflicts in Ireland. Throughout the book the slightest misstep could spell war for the Fey and the Church which masterfully matched the underlying pressures felt by people in Ireland.

Caught in the middle of these brewing issues is the half-mortal/ex-Provisional IRA fighter Liam Kelley. Liam is put through the physical and mental ringer as he faces prison-like isolation, degrading medical tests to prove that he is human, and maintaining a low profile from the IRA who want him dead. Liam was a flawed and conflicted character in part due to his violent past and the tragic loss of his family, but it made him feel all the more real--and sympathetic--to me.

Mixed in with the politics and violence we see some of the punk culture that was around in the 70s (the title is even a part of a Pink Floyd song) The punk subculture was an expression of anarchism, anger, rebellion against authority, and nihilistic views of life. The music and culture was hard and gritty which fits nicely into the background of AND BLUE SKIES WITH PAIN’s setting in Ireland.

I loved Stina Leicht’s world-building and how she so seamlessly mixed the supernatural with actual history. I found this amazing as the Fey storyline could have so easily come off as a jarring contrast. I actually feel more familiar with this time period in Ireland’s history now having read this book and it’s made me want to learn more. AND BLUE SKIES FROM PAIN is a gritty and complex story that had me thinking about it long after I put the book down.

Sexual Content:
Reference to sex(less)

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Jun 28, 2012 Chris Aylott rated it 4 of 5 stars

Don't get haunted in Ireland. The spirits there will knock the piss out of you. Which is just one of Liam Kelly's problems in the second volume of Leicht's "Fey and the Fallen" series.

Liam's a good boy, really. He's trying to keep his head down and stay out of trouble. But the Church, the Fallen, the IRA, Liam's Fey relatives and even his friend Father Murray have other ideas. (We see a lot more of Father Murray in this book, and he turns in another fine performance as the Bruce Willis action h...more

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Nov 05, 2012 Katlet rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, fiction, library

Even though I didn't realize at first that this was the second in the series, I felt like it stood fairly well by itself. I wasn't lost at any point - and it was enough of a teaser of what happened in the past that I want to find the first one.

I thought the world here was well-built. The voice was strong throughout. I'm curious about the intersection between the Fey, the Fallen Angels and the Church that Leicht has created here.

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Apr 29, 2013 Andreea Pausan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Both "Of Blood and Honey" and Blue Skies are great: merciless, cruel, beautiful, true. The writer does not take shortcuts, it plunges you into the middle of the turmoil without hesitation, without excuses. And you find together with the main character pain, shame, helplessness, courage. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

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Jan 18, 2012 Luanne rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: scifi-para

And Blue Skies from Pain is the second in The Fey and The Fallen series.
These books are beautifully written. They are impossible to put down.
The book is set in the time of Ireland's Troubles.
Liam's father is a puca. The Militis Dei think Liam is a demon.
Father Murray is a member of the Militis Dei and believes he is not a demon.
Liam must show the church how that he is not a demon.

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Mar 06, 2013 Roy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Not quite as strong as the first in the series; the novel seems to lose its way a little bit about 2/3 of the way in but recovers to a satisfactory end. Nevertheless, another very enjoyable read by a talented new writer. I await book 3 with impatience.

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Dec 20, 2012 Clyde rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

This book continues the story of Liam, a half-human, half-fey shape changer trying to survive in a vicious multi-sided war. This is urban fantasy with a serious and dark twist.
Good book. I suggest reading Stina Leicht's previous novel, Of Blood and Honey, first.

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Mar 15, 2012 Blixathecat marked it as to-read

I have not read this, but it is on the top of my list. Waiting for the bookstore to deliver. Excellent author and expecting the same caliber as her last book.

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Jun 08, 2012 Kris rated it 3 of 5 stars

I still appreciate the setting and story, unique for a fantasy series, but this one was just a bit all over the place and not as enjoyable to read.

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Jul 29, 2012 Kelli rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ireland, series, fantasy-paranormal

I absolutely loved the first book in this series and the 2nd one was just as awesome. LOVED IT! Can't wait for the next one.

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Jul 05, 2012 Mary V rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

I really liked AND BLUE SKIES FROM PAIN, by Stina Leicht, which I won in a Goodreads give away. It took a while to receive the book but it was well worth the wait. The story has demons, shape shifters, a couple of wars going on, as well as people of all types suffering from guilt associated with their percieved mistakesin the past. I fell in love with main character Liam Kelly, a young man who is trying to set his life straight while reconciling his mortal half with his Fey (immortal) half; whil...more

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Mar 17, 2012 Josiah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

Even harder to put down than the first. I hope it won't be too long for more.

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Oct 07, 2012 Joanna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: supernatural

Phenomenal.

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Dec 09, 2012 Rod rated it 4 of 5 stars

Reall liked this follow up to the frist novel of "The Fey & The Fallen" A fun read, occasionally surprising, nice charactereisations and some really fun action, worth reading.

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Nov 03, 2012 Virginia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: speculative-fiction, read-2012

Gah! So good. Leicht reels you in and beguiles you. So good. The Irish brogue and rhythm flow effortlessly and I am immersed in Ireland, 1977, the Fey, and Catholicism. I can't wait to read more of Leicht's work.

SO GOOD. See? I repeated that thrice so you know it must be true. GO READ IT. Beautifully written, melancholy, and a whole lot of action. WHY ARE YOU STILL HERE?

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Jan 23, 2013 Carol rated it 5 of 5 stars

Fantastically written fiction for adults! Couldn't put it down!

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Dec 23, 2012 Sean rated it 3 of 5 stars

There were some places where the pacing slowed to a crawl. Felt like "Been there. Done that." Still a good read. Glad Liam was showing signs of growing up at the end.

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Aug 18, 2012 Paul rated it 4 of 5 stars

My Functional Nerds Review:

http://functionalnerds.com/2012/04/im...

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May 23, 2013 Pmwolohan added it

Shelves: arc

May 19, 2013 Danny Richardson rated it 4 of 5 stars

May 15, 2013 Andy Harper rated it 4 of 5 stars

May 16, 2013 Katie rated it 5 of 5 stars

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And Blue Skies From Pain (The Fey and the Fallen #2)

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