Flight from Death

Fly by Night #1

by Yasmine Galenorn

From New York Times bestselling author Yasmine Galenorn comes an all-new series set in the realm of her Otherworld novels.

I’m Shimmer, a blue dragon shifter. Thanks to a mistake, I was exiled from the Dragon Reaches and sentenced to work for Alex Radcliffe, a vampire who owns the Fly by Night Magical Investigations Agency. Now, not only do I have to adapt to Earthside culture, but every time I turn around, somebody’s trying to kill us. And worse, Alex is as gorgeous as he is exasperating. But you know what they say: All’s fair in love and bounty hunting…

When an old friend of Alex contacts him about a haunting at the High Tide Bed & Breakfast in Port Townsend, Washington, we think we’re on a simple ghost hunt. But our investigation quickly transforms into a deadly fight as we uncover an eighty-year-old murder, a cursed house, and a dark force trapping the spirits within. To stop impending disaster we must break the curse and lay the angry spirits to rest.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Fantasy, Dragons, Vampires, Paranormal Romance, Romance

300 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 7, 2015

About the author

NOTE: I SELDOM visit Goodreads and do very little here. Please see my website for more information on my work: https://galenorn.com

New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and USA Today bestselling author Yasmine Galenorn writes urban fantasy and paranormal romance, and is the author of over 80 books & numerous series, including the Wild Hunt Series, the Moonshadow Bay Series, the Fury Unbound Series, the Otherworld Series, the Bewitching Bedlam Series, and more. She wrote for trad publishers for 20 years until she went indie in 2016.

She’s also written nonfiction metaphysical books. She is the 2011 Career Achievement Award Winner in Urban Fantasy, given by RT Magazine. Yasmine has been in the Craft since 1980, is a shamanic witch and High Priestess. She describes her life as a blend of teacups and tattoos. She lives in Kirkland, WA, with her husband Samwise and their cats. Yasmine can be reached via her web site at Galenorn.com. Sign up for her newsletter at: http://galenorn.com/newsletter/

NOTE: ALWAYS check the website and blog, and please sign up for her newsletter there to keep current with new and upcoming releases. Facebook, Goodreads, and Twitter are NOT viable places to find out all this information.

Reviews

[☕️Kimberly (Caffeinated Reviewer) · Rating 3 out of 5]

So a dragon, a vampire and werewolf walk into an Inn….

Shimmer is a blue dragon shifter, who has been exiled from the Dragon Reaches for five years and sentences to work Earthside with Alex Radcliffe. Alex is a vampire who owns the Fly by Night Magical Investigation Agency. I love the set-up and right away I am hooked.

Galenorn does a wonderful job of explaining this world where humans and the supernatural live together. Shimmer’s backstory and reason for exile are explained, but we also get a mystery about her parentage that I suspect will be an overall story arc with each book dealing with a new case for the Agency. Right away, I like the set up.

Alex’s friend Patrick recently renovated the Tide Bed & Breakfast in Port Townsend, Washington.  He was all set to open but strange activities that are more than a simple haunting have him asking for help. Alex takes Shimmer and Ralph an adorable, caffeinated computer geek who also happens to be a werewolf with him for this assignment.

I loved how the author managed to set a nice pace for the tale while weaving in the worldbuilding. So often book one in an urban fantasy is weighed down by building the world in the first half and just when things are getting good, it ends. Such was not the case it Flight by Death. From the beginning, I was drawn in and had a good sense of things.

The mystery was fascinating and suspenseful. A simple haunting turns into an eighty year old mystery. Add in a gypsy curse and dark supernatural creatures holding spirits and you have the makings for an intense action-packed read. It also introduced unusual supernatural creatures, a witch and a spirit walker. Did I mention ghosts? Yep, there are many spirits in Port Townsend and not all of them are happy. We see a lot of different supernatural creatures and learn a little lore.

I enjoyed the characters in Flight from Death but wish they were more fleshed out. We learned the most detail about Shimmer, but Alex, Ralph and Patrick have me curious to learn more. Bette, the agencies secretary is a snake-shifter who made me laugh and I loved page time with this snarky woman. Chai, a jinni whose like a brother to Shimmer added to the tale from knowledge, humor and badassery. Shimmer has issues, but the girl is not afraid to take on a challenge, ok she is afraid but she gets it done without falling apart and I liked her spunk.

There is a mild romance as mentioned in the synopsis between Shimmer and Alex. I got off to bad start with Alex due to something he said and never really regained my footing with the romance. Alex was dating someone else. The relationship had turned sour sometime ago and he finally broke it off. (before acknowledging feelings for Shimmer) After, he made a statement about how he had been attracted to Shimmer for a while and that when he was with the "other girl" he was thinking of Shimmer. This is a huge turn-off for me, and I never completely recovered. Thankfully, this thread took a serious backseat to the case. It is not dead in the water for me, but I need a lot more convincing.

Copy provided by publisher, This review was originally posted on Caffeinated Book Reviewer

[All Things Urban Fantasy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy.

While not exactly what I expected, FLIGHT FROM DEATH is an interesting, mysterious urban fantasy with ghosts and spooky creatures galore! With creative mythology and great characters, FLIGHT FROM DEATH is a good start to what seems to be a promising series.

My biggest complaint is that though this is the first in the Fly by Night series, I kept feeling that I missed some crucial action before this book started. The characters made repeated references to situations before the book, and it felt as if the author expected the reader to already know about these situations. Now, they may be in the Otherworld series, as this is a spin-off, but since this is a new series I was hoping to come in fresh. The other aspect that bothered me was the relationship between Shimmer and her boss, Alex. Alex has just broken up with his girlfriend as the book starts, and yet jumps into bed with Shimmer not three days later. While there was clearly sexual tension between the two, it bothers me that it developed so fast.

What I especially enjoyed about FLIGHT FROM DEATH was learning about Shimmer's backstory, and how she came to be where she was. It was interesting to learn about the dragon mythology that Galenorn has created, and I enjoyed the flashbacks. I also very much enjoyed the creatures that Galenorn created - creepy and fascinating at the same time, this gang isn't fighting your typical paranormal bad guy. And what a gang it is! A dragon, two vampires, a werewolf who faints at the sight of blood, a djinn, and a witch all make up this crew. They were super fun to get to know, all with their own unique personalities and quirks.

I know that I'm excited to learn about the next case that Shimmer and Alex take on, and despite my complaints, I'll be around for book two in this series. Worth the time, FLIGHT FROM DEATH is a great urban fantasy mystery combo that has action, humor and some sexual tension, basically, something for everyone!

Sexual content: Sex scene

[Ivy · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 🌟

Enjoyed the introduction of Shimmer, Alex, Ralph, and the others. Liked that Shimmer is a dragon. Glad that Alex and Patrick were able to fix their relationship. The forest wights were very interesting. Hope Shimmer's relationship with Alex works. Dragon culture seems to be interesting too.

Can't wait to read Flight from Mayhem!!!

[Marta Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a fan of this authors Otherworld series then you will remember meeting Shimmer in the previous book Flight From Hell but fear not Shimmer does kind of explain herself as this story rolls along . Shimmer is a blue dragon but she has been banned from the dragon realm for five years as punishment but not everything is as it seems and although we get some information the author cunningly teases the reader making this story even more curious and engaging.
So here is Shimmer Earthside and working for Alex who runs Fly by Night Magical Investigations Agency which is quite a mouthful but then again Alex is a vampire! He also happens to be pretty laid back and easy on the eye! A case comes in about a haunted Bed and Breakfast but when they arrive so much more is going on! Ghosts are the least of their problems as there's a gypsy curse to contend with and then of course there's something far worse in the basement ! All in a days work? Shimmers first case is about to get very messy indeed!
I love Shimmer, we know that she's suffered and wants nothing more than to be part of a family and it's plain to the reader that she is creating her own Earthside from the friends she is making. Her past is stalking her though and I'm pretty sure the author has quite an emotional journey up her sleeve. As for the supporting characters well let's say they add greatly to the plot without bogging it down and each felt like they had a part to play. I loved a were who fainted at the sight of blood and there's even a djinn with secrets to discover . As for Alex well Shimmer may be attracted but she's not too stupid to live and treads warily playing her cards pretty close to her (apparently bountiful) chest!
There was so much going on in this story and although connected to the Otherworld series it works easily as a standalone . A fast moving story that's written in a way that easily pulls the reader in. lots of action and danger and the author has really let her imagination run wild with the creatures she introduces here. I'm keen to read more and if you enjoy urban fantasy with a spot of romance then this book should be on your to be read pile
I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review

[Stephine · Rating 5 out of 5]

All’s fair in love and bounty hunting when Shimmer is exiled Earthside and sentenced to work for Alex Radcliffe, especially when a curse, angry spirits and a dark force are involved in this fantastic new series.

When an old friend needs help, Alex, Shimmer and Ralph head to High Tide Bed & Breakfast in Port Townsend to help but this case may be too much for the trio to handle and the reader gets pulled into all the intrigue and excitement just as other characters get pulled in to help stop a very dark force that is trapping spirits in the cursed house. These characters are strong, enchanting and thrill readers with their charisma and daring while the fast paced and smooth flowing plot keeps readers shivering in anticipation with suspense, excitement and romance. Speaking of romance, this is an urban fantasy but Yasmine Galenorn knows how to make readers burn and believe me the heat between Alex and Shimmer is exploding with passion and this is just the beginning of this hot romance.

Danger and excitement are everywhere in this spine tingling story as Shimmer and crew are attacked by floating objects and spooky voices tell them to ‘get out’ but things aren’t what they seem and the more they learn the more deadly the case gets. Vivid imagery provided by the well written scenes and details bring this story to life while the very engaging events ensnare the reader and refuse to let go which guarantees the reader can’t put the book down…I certainly couldn’t.

This exciting new series promises to be fun, hot, mysterious, dangerous and full of adventure and suspense and the fascinating characters will ensure that the readers want to visit often. I was quite taken with Shimmer, her past is one that shows just how strong she has to be to have survived but she has such a vulnerable air about her that you just want to protect her right along with Alex (even if she is a dragon) and the other characters are just as attention grabbing with odd quirks and charms that you don’t want to miss.
- Eva

[Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Right from page one, I was hooked by this book. I was immediately intrigued by the paranormal world that Yasmine created in this book. I wanted to learn more and more about all of the paranormal creatures. Yasmine also created a very addicting mystery plot line. I engrossed in the mystery, and I wanted to learn the answer behind the mystery as much as the main characters did. The mystery did scared me a little bit, but I still really enjoyed it. There were a few times thought out the book when I felt like the dialogue and scenarios dragged a little bit. However, as a whole, I felt like this book was well paced.

I really enjoyed the main character, Shimmer. She was strong and independent, but she knew when she needed to lean on her friends. Shimmer never annoyed me in this book. I admired her character a lot in this book. I definitely would like to read more books about her in the future. I also enjoyed a lot of the side characters. There was an elicit cast of characters, and I found myself liking almost all of them. My favorite side character was Ralph. I would love to see him find love in a future book.

Speaking of romance, I felt like the romance in this book was a little lack luster. The romance between Shimmer and Alex felt very sudden to me. I understood that they had history together, but I think I would have enjoyed the romance more if the history was better explained in the book. I wish the romance would have had more of a build up to it. I was also hoping for more romantic moments between Alex and Shimmer. I wanted to see more cute glances, blushing, and smiling. Alex and Shimmer definitely had chemistry, but I thought their relationship just needed more development.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The book had a great paranormal aspect to it, and I loved the mystery plot line. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves paranormal books.



4 / 5 Fangs

*This book was given to me in exchange for a honest review*

[Angie Elle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to BERKLEY and Netgalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 stars

Let me start off by saying that I really wanted to love this book. I’m finishing up a series right now where the world is so interesting and intricate, and I was hoping to follow it up with another series that had more of the same. Unfortunately, this fell short for me. Flight from Death is a story about Shimmer the dragon shifter who has been cast out of the Dragon Reaches and is now Earthside. She is trying to rebuild her life, and for the first time ever, forge friendships, while she’s employed at Fly by Night Magical Investigations Agency, a company that deals with the paranormal.

Here's what I did like about the book:

The fact that Shimmer was a dragon shifter. I’ve never read about dragon shifters before, so this was a brand new concept for me. I was excited to see what characteristics Shimmer would be given. That wasn’t explored as much as I would have liked, but the parts that were explored were interesting.

Some of the secondary characters – Chai, a djinn who tries like heck to discourage you from making any wishes because he knows he has it in him to twist the nature of your wish; Ralph, the co-worker who is technically savvy, crushing on Shimmer, and oh, he’s also a wolf shifter who faints at the sight of blood (which I can’t help but love); and Tonya, the human witch who helps the gang at Fly by Night Magical Investigations Agency in their quest to rid the area of evil spirits.

All around us, I could feel creatures hidden in the shadows, and they watched us as we crawled down the road. Not all of them were friendly, and some of them felt downright dangerous. The land here was old, and humans were young, and the creatures lurking in the shadows knew that they were truly the ones at the top of the totem pole. Sometimes, Earthside seemed even more daunting than the Dragon Reaches.

Parts of the plot. I like the idea of the paranormal investigative agency, as well as the humans who were called in to help. I thought they were more interesting than any of the main characters in this story, and it makes me think that maybe this book could have been better had it been an all human team fighting paranormal forces.

The physical descriptions of the different creatures. It was so detailed that I was able to get a precise picture of them in my head.

What didn’t work for me:

From the get-go, I felt like I was missing something. There were several things mentioned that I thought I should know about, but I didn’t. When I looked up the series on Goodreads, there was a novella that came before this full-length novel. I may go back and check it out; I’m still undecided on that. But when I pick up the first book in the series, I don’t want there to be any prep work. It’s one thing if the story is written to give you more information on a character, but when you feel like you’re missing information on major events in the very first book of a series, that’s a turn-off. For me, anyway.

The main characters. We got more information on Shimmer than we did on Alex, the owner of Fly by Night Magical Investigations Agency, but I didn’t think either of them were very memorable. I get that this is a series, so things may be hashed out over several books, but as a reader, I didn’t get enough information about the characters to feel invested in them. That’s something I need if I’m going to continue with a series.

The lack of chemistry between Shimmer and Alex. I just didn’t see the attraction between them. The words were there, but there was nothing leading up to it, no emotion, no boom moment where it felt like they just wanted each other so badly they couldn’t help themselves. And I there’s a reason for this. Shimmer mentions how dragons are sexual creatures. She hasn’t had it in a while, and she needs to get her some. And fast. From there, her relationship with Alex seemed to escalate not because she was attracted to him, but because he was there. He was convenient. I didn’t find that sexy. Alex, on the other hand, makes the declaration that all women dream of hearing – when I was kissing my ex-girlfriend (who he did break up with at the beginning of the book, no cheating here,) I was thinking of you. Say what? And who the hell are you thinking of when you’re kissing me? That just doesn’t work for me if I’m supposed to believe they’re about to begin an all-consuming love affair.

The pacing. There were times when this book felt like it was just trudging along. The end, especially, felt like it was drawn out and could have been condensed. There was also a scene that felt so out of place where there were two battles going on. Alex was in one of them, and Shimmer was in the other. And she stops to reflect on how sensual it is when a vampire is biting his prey. While she’s battling for her life!

Overall, there were things I enjoyed about this book, and things that just didn’t work for me. At this point, I am undecided about whether or not I will be continuing the series.

This review was originally posted at Badass Book Reviews.

[Dark Faerie Tales · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: Alex and Shimmer must discover the cause of a haunting at a bed and breakfast before it has to close for good in this entertaining first book in Yasmine Galenorn’s new series.

Opening Sentence: “Hurry up, damn it!”

The Review:

Shimmer has been exiled from the Dragon Reaches, banished Earthside for a term of five years, during which she must work for Alex, a vampire who runs the Fly by Night Investigations Agency. While her time Earthside thus far has not been easy, Shimmer is starting to acclimate nicely, albeit with some very unprofessional feelings for her boss. The agency’s latest case involves a possible haunting at a bed and breakfast run by Alex’s former friend Patrick. The minute they arrive at the bed and breakfast, Shimmer can feel a difference in the atmosphere, almost as if a cloud is hanging over the place. It doesn’t take long for attacks to begin occurring. It’s now up to Alex, Shimmer, and some friends to figure out what is causing the haunting/attacks and how to stop it before someone loses their life.

Yasmine Galenorn’s books are growing on me. I didn’t really like the Indigo Court series, but I’ve enjoyed the Otherworld books I’ve read, and since this series is a spinoff from that one, I figured I may enjoy this one as well. All in all, my instinct was correct. This was a very enjoyable first book in a series, and you don’t necessarily have to have read the Otherworld series to follow what’s going on. While it was enjoyable though, it did have some slow moments. There were a lot of times where it felt like not much was going on. The book is at its best when dealing with the ghosts and their actions. There are some great spooky moments.

As for Shimmer, I really liked her as a main character. I’m very intrigued by her past and hope we get to see/learn more about what happened to her in the Dragon Reaches. I also just find the fact that she’s a dragon very cool. You don’t get many of those in urban fantasy. On that same subject, I also loved the side character of Chai, who is a djinn. I loved how much thought had to be put into asking/telling Chai to do anything in order to avoid making a wish. I’m curious to find out if he is all that he seems or if he has some ulterior motives for turning up.

All in all, this was a strong book. While it had slow moments, it did keep my attention much of the time and moved at a good pace. It has a great main character as well as entertaining side characters. I’m very much looking forward to continuing the series!

Notable Scene:

I glanced at the clock. Eight thirty. Feeling charitable, I rinsed off our breakfast dishes and stuck them in the dish washer. As I was bending over, somebody pinched my butt.

Hard.

Startled, I stood up so fast I clipped the top of my head on the counter. With a groan, I leaned against the granite, wincing. “Enough, already. Stop it.”

A low laugh echoed through the kitchen and as I glanced into the sink, I saw a bubble of blood rising from the drain.

“Holy fuck – stop it. Just stop it!”

The laughter continued and I slammed the dishwasher door shut and backed away. As I turned around, a plat flew off one of the shelves and whirled past me, just missing me.

I ducked as a teacup followed suit.

“Get out . . . ” The voice rumbled low as the lights in the kitchen flickered off and on. Easing back, I stepped out of the room and waited. A moment later, the heavy atmosphere vanished and I eased my way back in. The energy had lightened and when I glanced into the sink, it was clear – no sign of blood.

I turned on the dishwasher and went in to wake Ralph. If we didn’t do something soon, Patrick’s vision of a bed-and-breakfast would remain just that.

FTC Advisory: Penguin/Berkley provided me with a copy of Flight from Death. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.

[Simply Love Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leigh's review posted at Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews

3.75 stars

This was a new series and a new author for me, and I was not disappointed. The writing was clean and kept me enthralled, and the characters were so diverse and interesting, I was never sure what type of supernatural creature was going to pop up next. A cross between True Blood and an episode of Ghost Adventures, I was thrown into a world of horror and fantasy with a bit of romance worked in for good measure!

Shimmer was one of the strongest female characters I have seen in a while. As a water dragon that has been exiled from her home in the Dragon Reaches, Shimmer is a sweet combination of kick ass and broken. She is used to dealing with anything that comes her way and relying on herself, but longs for a family and a sense of belonging. Which she seems to have found with her makeshift family at the Fly By Night Magical Investigations Agency. Along with her boss and love interest vampire, Alex, her co-workers (a snake shifter and a werewolf), and her best friend (a pretty hot genie), they are called to investigate the haunting of a bed and breakfast and rid the premises of evil creatures.

While I genuinely enjoyed the paranormal and urban fantasy aspects of the book, I felt a bit cheated in the romance department. I wanted to see more of the relationship between Shimmer and Alex, but it seemed to be relegated to the back burner. While the story certainly stood on its own without the romance, I was hoping for more between these two. I didn’t even get to feel the buildup between Shimmer and Alex because it apparently happened in a previous novel. While this is the first in a series, it is a spin-off of another that introduced many of these characters. And while Ms. Galenorn did a wonderful job of providing enough background so that I understood what was happening, I still feel as if I missed the build up in the relationship between Shimmer and Alex which culminated in this book.

If you are looking for a heavy romance, this may not be the perfect fit, but if you are into urban fantasy, this book certainly delivers. Dragons, weres,,vampires and witches galore make this a fun read.

Review copy provided for an honest review.

[These Violent Delights (Robin) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought that this book was okay, and honestly I feel like 4 stars is quite generous, but for whatever reason I decided to rate it that way.

There were many times I felt like the story dragged on, even when there was action! I don't know if it was Yasmine's writing style or that I wasn't in the mood to read this type of book.

I think I like Shimmer, but I don't know. Hopefully when the sequel comes out, Shimmer will have more depth and personality.

I really disliked the vampires in this book. They're definitely not what I imagine vampires to act and talk like. Vampires I picture are Vlad, Bones, Cat, Ian, etc in Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress world. I guess that maybe I'm just picky.

I also really didn't like Shimmer and Alex's romance. I completely do not ship them!

Otherwise, I really liked the overall concept and ideas from this book. Hope the sequel will be much better!

[Mad-Bibliobimbo · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hate giving authors bad reviews. I will be honest here and say that I did not finish it... I couldn't get past the GOD AWFUL writing. I had to check the age of the author, it was so immature and weak I was just plain BORED.

Sorry, feel bad but it's just not good.

[Parajunkee · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

[Dhfan4life · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alrighty, just finished this one today as I was just dying to get to know more about Shimmer, our first real chica dragon in Galenorn's world of various nature, supernatural/paranormal characters and creatures. She was under a charm last time we saw her from Flight from Hell, out to take out her vampy boss Alex Radcliffe. But after she was saved and cured by our favorite D'Artiago sisters in arms, there was much more to be learned about this character. I mean who wouldn't want to learn more about the chick that once dated the half titan half demi God known as Carter right? Right. So on to my review of THIS book.

Mini synopsis:

Our girl Shimmer and her Boss Alex the vamp, and co-worker Ralph the werewolf are tasked with helping out an old buddy of Alex's do a little ghost extermination out at his B & B. However as these stories are want to show/prove, this simple little mission ain't all that simple. To say the least much action ensues for this trio that definitely made me glad they were a magical investigation group. Otherwise somebody might not have made it through this case....alive.

What I liked:

Since I have some friends hoping to read this book. I won't be as spoiler-y as I usually am.

So I will say that for those that have read the D'Artiago sister books, you'll be intrigued to know that Shimmer is actually somewhat a combination of all 3 of the sisters. Touch of fashion and magic of Camille, height and wardrobe for the actual getting out in the field adventures like Delilah, and that bit of an edge, sexual fluidity, and to some extent given Shimmer's lack of unsurety about whom her family is almost like Menolly(which not knowing whom her fam is, isn't a thing for Menolly's character. But it was mentioned often enough about them not being sure where her reddish hair came from as Camille took after their father in looks and Delilah took after their mom. So figured there was something there about that).

So far, I have to say that I'm really enjoying the smaller team of the Fly by Night investigation team. So far it's just the 4 of them, Bette the snakey shifter receptionist, Alex the vamp/boss/lead guy on the cases, Ralph the werewolf/techy guy and well Shimmer. She's indentured of a sort to Alex for 5 years, do to some not so wise choices when she was back home in the Dragon Reaches. But she is proving to be pretty good muscle on the team too. I really hope the team doesn't get too cluttered. I mean I love a good bit of friendship and aid along the way that we have seen in the Otherworld books, but sometimes it got too cluttered sometimes. Don't want to see that happen and things detract too much from Shimmer finding her way in not just Seattle but in general.

I also enjoyed the more organic friendships that Shimmer has in Chai and Stacy. Neither really seemed to be case related but genuine friends Shimmer met both in the Dragon Reaches and Earthside. And speaking of that, I for once have to say that I really enjoyed the humans with magic aspect to this first story. Usually I'm one to feel like humans are often the cannon fodder of a paranormal story if they aren't the romantic lead. And even if they are the romantic lead they need to constantly be rescued. Which gets to be rather annoying at times. So humans with their own magic makes things very intriguing.

And although this is a spin-off series to the main Otherworld books. I have to say I kind of like that this series is showing there is other things going on in the same city and is not so bogged down with the stress of fighting the big end game fight with Shadow Wing and crew. So breathes life into the same setting.

What I didn't like:

Not giving too much away, I was not a fan of how a new relationship was handled between two characters. When they both knew a mutual third party/friend had a crush on one of them. Neither one of them even really talked to said third party about it, til the third party brought it up themselves. And did them a KINDNESS by being cool with them hooking up and saying "whatevs" about it. I still felt it was uber rude to not say anything before hand.

Galenorn's need to beat a dead horse about particular things about her characters. Well known examples being Camille's forever backfiring magic that everyone cracks on her for, Delilah's freak outs and turning into her house cat form. And at the present in this story, Ralph, the werewolf, who faints at the sight of blood during a fight. A bit of light ribbing I understand, a joke or two is cool. But for the love of all that is holy, why does Ralph have to be reduced to the lightweight all the time? He's a great character and without him, they wouldn't have most of the info they did. So why keep down playing what he CAN do with one thing he can't really help? Love ya Galenorn but please stop doing this to your allies in your stories.

Love Chai as a character. Very mysterious and likely has as good a story as Shimmer going forward. But as a free Djinn/street name genie that broke away from any kind of enslavement where he was from. How his character was handled as he carried on throughout the book just read like he was right UNDER enslavement again. I won't get too heavily into what I mean by that as it is pretty self evident. But yea, I hope in the next book Chai is evolved out of this mannerism as well.

Would I recommend it?:

Yep, I would. Been a long time since I've seen a vamp around that is from Australia. Give a rest to the brits for a change. And in general anyone that enjoys a good bit of investigation going on with a bit of a ghostly twist to it as well. And can't forget a female dragon learning how to cope earthside. Likely to lead interesting experiences right?

[Victoria (nocturnalintimacy) · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF.

This was a recommendation from Goodreads (if you liked this, you may like that). I was excited when my library actually had the book. Anyway...I gave up at 20%.

I didn't like the writing, and the romance was forced and unnatural. The world-building was this weird as-you-go style, and the main character came across as so young, that it felt like the entire book was narrated by a 14-year-old girl. Any interest the plot held was overwhelmed by all of my other issues with the book.

[Ami · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Some authors have been around for a long time but I have not had the chance to read their books because, well, I feel too lazy to catch up with their collection. Such was the case with Yasmine Galenorn who is popular with her Otherworld series (there are 17 books to date!). Luckily, this year, she releases “ Flight from Death ” which is the first book of a new series, albeit set in the realm of Otherworld. What makes me quite excited about this book is the fact that the heroine, Shimmer, is a blue DRAGON shifter. How cool is that? Usually we have male dragons, but this time, we have a heroine dragon!

I don’t know whether Shimmer and Alex have appeared previously in any of the Otherworld books; there were some references about an incident that happened off page that kept being brought up. However, overall, I thought the story was working really well as a stand-alone. I didn’t feel lost at all, probably also because the supernatural creatures in this story are quite commonly found and they retain their well-known traits.

Shimmer and her boss (love interest) Alex, along with Ralph, the werewolf techno geek, went to help Alex’s friend, whose bed-and-breakfast was being haunted. The ghost-hunting soon became more complex when it turned out that the nature of the ghost was more evil than expected. In addition, there was a Gypsy curse involved which complicated things further.

I did like Shimmer as a heroine. She couldn’t shift into a dragon unless she was in the water, which means that she spent the majority of her time in this book as a human. But I thought she was quite strong and likeable. I could feel her somber mood, being exiled on Earth like so. I hope she could see that Earth wasn’t so bad after all; she had friends and she could try to get into the water more often. Having said that, I also wanted her to be more bad-ass – hey, she is a dragon after all! For majority of the time, I thought Shimmer was still trying to find her way on Earth, that she didn’t really show a lot of power and came across as rather ordinary.

As for the main hero, Alex Radcliffe was pretty bland. To be honest, he was neither memorable nor intriguing for me. I don’t mind a non-Alpha hero, but there was nothing in Alex that I found interesting. On top of that, being a vampire who needed his rest, Alex was missing in some of the major moments in the book – when the action took time during the day.

In fact, I found myself being more charmed with the secondary character, most notably Chai the jinn. I wanted to know more about his history and power. He was a pivotal character when it came to banishing the creature they hunted. In that sense, I even felt that Chai was more resourceful than Alex.

I was pretty let down with the conflict resolution though. The build-up was quite suspenseful and this creature seemed to be really scary and powerful. However, the final fight was really quick and easy. I was expecting fireworks and all I got was sparks.

I also didn’t enjoy the romance – I thought it was forced and rushed. I wouldn’t mind Shimmer and Alex being together, but I missed the progress and tension. Suddenly Alex was available, and Shimmer acknowledged the attraction, and bam, they were a couple. It was missing the ingredients that made me feel invested for them.

As a start of a new series, I thought it was pretty decent. Overall, I did like it. I liked the friendship and the group feel among these characters. I think I might keep my eyes on the sequel.



A Guest Review for The Blogger Girls



The ARC is provided by the publisher for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave it 3.5 stars

I enjoy dragon books and I was really excited to see that FLIGHT FROM DEATH featured a FEMALE dragon as its heroine. The fly by night series is set in the Otherworld. I have not completed Yasmine's Otherworld series and there were a few mentions of stuff happening between Alex and Shimmer that seem to have appeared in a previous book (Otherworld #15.5; Fly by Night, #0.5), so I wanted to mention that so you know going in. I don't feel it took anything away from the story and I wasn't really lost, but it probably would be nice to have read it going in.

Shimmer is an interesting character. She has been exiled from the Dragon Reaches and stripped of most of her magic. She's working at the Fly By Night Magical Investigations Agency during her punishment, but she actually likes working there. I thought she was a strong character. We learn about her in little bits throughout the book instead of finding out everything we needed to know in the beginning.

There is some romance between Shimmer and Alex. We find out in the beginning of the book that Shimmer is drawn to Alex and then find out the feelings are returned a tad bit later in the story. They don't really have time to be together with the case they are working, but when they do find time, they are as hot together as you would imagine after meeting them.

I think I might have went into FLIGHT FROM DEATH with too high of expectations. I thought the book was interesting, but I wasn't totally sold on it. I liked the main character and some of the secondary characters definitely kept things interesting. I had a hard time getting completely into the case the characters were working and the resolution didn't blow my mind. I however did like the book enough to want to read book 2, so I say that the start of the Fly by Night series was nice.

* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a great start to a new series that is set in the author's Otherworld series. Being that the world is the same it there isn't a big info dump on the rules, just on new creatures that are introduced.

I really like Shimmer. She seems to have gotten the shaft in the Dragon Realm, but not as bad as she could have. I have a feeling that at some point we will learn more about Shimmer's heritage and it will be big. In the mean time I like the new family that Shimmer seems to be building around her and how she is fitting in earthside.

The case that Shimmer ends up working on was crazy. At first glance it seemed fairly upfront, but nothing could be further from the truth. At one time of another everyone is in danger, no matter how powerful of a Supe they are. I loved that at one point how Shimmer and Ralph have to save Alex, him being clueless until he could "wake" up. Even the locals that they pulled in were a good fit for the group, each bringing their own specialty.

I was glad to see this one end in a good way for everyone. I have a feeling that Tanya and a certain spiritwalker will start something, that Patrick's B&B will be a big success and that Shimmer is only just started some great things at Fly by Night.

[Babs | babs_reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

The synopsis of this book had me hooked; what's better than an exiled dragon teamed up with a vampire and a werewolf on a ghost hunt?

Right from the first page I was intrigued. Although, names are usually a huge deal to me, I had to look past her name...Shimmer. It was a little overkill to me.

It was a great supernatural world that held me in suspense as I read to unravel the mystery. There were places the story lagged and, to me, it was typically when the romance popped up. Leaving that out and rating the paranormal side - we get to see so many various creatures - my rating would have been higher.

The characters could use a little more development and I'm hopeful further books in the series will help with that.

Overall, watching this unlikely team pair up to figure out a case was quite fun and I'll be interested to see what drama they find in book two.

[Claudia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really looking forward to this book because to be honest: a dragon shifter and a vampire ... how could I not ... but in the end I was quite a bit disappointed

the storyline was ok but sometimes I got the feeling I missed a whole book (yes I know there is a novella before but that should not account for all the character development ... at least in my opinion), which is plain wrong.

on the whole the story was good but I didn't get a connection to or between the characters and do you really want to know that "every time he touched his ex, he thought about you" ... I don't think so. I missed the chemistry

as this is the second book I read by this author, which disappointed me quite a bit and where I could not get a connection to the characters, I don't think I will try Ms. Galenorns books again ...

[Alan · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent new series that occurs within the same timeline as the Otherworld series that Yasmine has written. I was hoping that the next one might be ready to go, but it will not be available until 8/2016.

This series starts off with a water dragon named Shimmer who is caught in the Dragon Reaches stealing. Normally this would be a death sentence, but she is stripped of a majority of her powers and is banished to live earth side for 5 years.

While starting there; the Wing Liege gets her a job with a PI agency and the owner of this establishment is a vampire named Alex. And the story goes from there with her first major case.

[Frankie Ness · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an easy novel to get into: well paced, likable characters, uncomplicated conflict resolution, quick (not insta-love) romance. good start to a new series

[Gina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I recently started Galenorn's Wild Hunt series. I enjoyed the first book, but there are long library holds on books 2 through.... Decided to give this first of a series by the same author a try while waiting. I'm glad I read the first of the Wild Hunt first, because I don't know that I would have made an effort to the author's other books had I read this one first. It's not bad. It is, however, a spin-off from another series (at least it reads that way given all the references to past action off screen), and I spent a lot of time wishing I'd already connected with the characters and had more information on their connections to each other. I like the concept - a vampire headed investigative agency that also employs a werewolf, a weresnake, and a dragon on exile/indentured servitude for crimes elsewhere. They travel to investigate a haunted bed and breakfast only to find a mix of witchcraft and Native American lore along with the ghosts. I would have liked this 1 or 2 stars better if the dialog had been better. It was ridiculously stilted and almost painful to read. The story itself was interesting. I loved the concept. I may read another book of this series, but I'm not as excited about it when compared to the prior one I'd read.

[Alex Latham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 21 complete.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vampires, dragons, weres, and all kinds of fae come together in this series. Shimmer is a dragon that has five years of “prison” on earth and has to work at a paranormal investigation agency. This novel revolves around ending the haunting of a bed and breakfast. There was a ton going on in this book which is the usual for Galenorn, but it was funny and suspenseful.

[Mary · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn’t finish it. I got a little past the halfway mark and just couldn’t take anymore. Very Nancy Drew-ish writing. It was just a struggle to read. Switched to Faith Hunter.

[Tori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally posted at SmexyBooks-http://smexybooks.com/2015/07/review-...

Urban Fantasy author Yasmine Galenorn is back with a new series, Fly by Night. Galenorn first introduced this world in the novella-Flight From Hell #15.5 in the Otherworld/Sisters of the Moon series. Though it’s linked, it isn’t required for you to read the Otherworld series in order to understand this one. The main protagonist Shimmer, is an orphaned blue dragon who was exiled Earthside for five years for a crime against another dragon family. Her liege set her up to work for an old friend of his, vampire Alex Radcliffe, and his magical investigative agency, Fly by Night. Shimmer has only been Earthside for a couple of months and is slowly finding her footing in this strange new world. When a new case sends Shimmer and the gang to Port Townsend, Washington to help route some ghosts out of a bed and breakfast they realize quickly that this is not a simple haunting. Curses, murder, and a creature who won’t give up his prey easily has Shimmer wondering if any of them will make it out alive.

Flight by Death is a set up book both in terms of world and character dynamics. Heavily character driven, there is a significant amount of characters whom Galenorn introduces us to and gives very light back stories about. Each character has a purpose and the clues Galenorn drops assures us that there is much more to come in terms of their development. The world building is solid though not convoluted. As with most urban fantasy, the world is built using modern constricts and simply expanded to include the magical and fantastical, allowing even the most casual reader to follow along effortlessly.

Humor and horror walk hand in hand as two separate but equally important storylines intertwine and reveal together-the mystery of Shimmer’s heritage and crime and the mystery behind the haunting of the bed and breakfast. Both are interesting and blend well together without taking each other over. Well plotted with a hint of suspense, horror, and plenty of action, Galenorn allows the reader to follow along with her characters as they discover who/what is haunting the bed and breakfast and why. Strong investigative procedural actions infiltrates this storyline, giving a realistic vibe to this fantasy. I liked that there was a healthy amount of trial and error to be seen with no one whipping out a magical wand or super power to save the day. Ingenuity and common sense rule. Unusual supes are introduced as Galenorn adds to the already haunted history of Port Townsend for an intriguing explanation of the events occurring.

Galenorn doles out small increments of Shimmer’s backstory and the reasons she may have been exiled. As an orphan, she has no parentage and in dragon speak, that makes her a nobody with no rights. Her need to discover her parents’ names (her own name) causes her to break the law and she finds herself jailed, judged, and tossed Earthside. I liked Shimmer. She hasn’t had a very nice life but she handles herself well and tries hard to make the best of her situation. Much like all of Galenorn’s heroines; Shimmer is strong, intelligent, humble, and very curious. A born warrior who must grow into her destiny. A bit of snark and a healthy self esteem (considering her upbringing) gives us a heroine who has room to grow but isn’t mired down in a emotional black hole prohibiting her growth.

A cast of quirky secondary characters help to fill in the story, giving us some light romance and stability though I felt we never really scraped more than the surface of their potential. Alex Radcliffe, Shimmer’s boss and romantic interest comes off open and sincere though I hope his development deepens as we get to know him better. I have a feeling his backstory will be very interesting. I enjoyed meeting everyone and getting some insight into their lives though the focus does remain centered on Shimmer and the external conflict. There was a bit repetitiveness as Galenorn constantly repeats the magical powers and constraints of the characters involved. The mystery wraps up in an action packed finale, resolving everything and leaving nothing to chance, while leaving the door wide open on Shimmer and her story. I look forward to seeing how certain aspects play out in the future.

Flight by Death is a lightweight urban fantasy, great for a new reader looking to dip their toes in to this genre or a long time fan who wants a light humorous fantasy with plenty of action, suspense, and the potential for interesting things to come.

RATING: C+

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shimmer, a blue dragon from the Dragon Reaches, is exiled to earthside and bonded to work for Alex Radcliffe, a vampire who owns the Fly by Night Magical Investigation Agency, for the next five years. With her powers as a blue dragon limited, she is trying to fit in and learn the culture of her new home.

When an old friend of Alex’s asks for help in trying to determine what is haunting his new house that he is trying to turn into a bed and breakfast, Alex, Shimmer and Ralph quickly find out these ghosts are restless and something is trapping them at the house. Uncovering an eighty year old murder on top of that doesn’t help either. But if they are to succeed, it will take all their combined help plus a few new friends to lay down the angry spirits and break a curse.

I absolutely adore this author’s work and will auto-buy her books anytime she has a new release. In her spin-off to her popular Otherworld series, we meet a few new characters that keep the reader highly entertained. What I love about this author is how her books are quite in depth and deliver a story that continues to grow with each book. I really enjoyed getting more in depth look at the Fly by Night agency and the people who work there. Bette is a crusty old brood who makes me laughs each time she pops up on the page, Ralph the electronics whiz kid and wolf shifter and Alex, the vampire who owns the agency and a vampire who just might be more than her boss if Shimmer let’s herself fall for him. Each character is a delight to read but all together give something to the story, either the sparks that fly between Alex and Shimmer or how Bette and Ralph spar together. They continue to grow within the story and we get to know more about them as the story moves on.

Meet Shimmer, a dragon and an exiled one at that. Forced into exile and stripped of some of her powers, she works for and with Alex at his investigations agency. I love Shimmer. She is feisty, strong in character and one character that I kept rooting for right off the bat. She is a loner, an orphan and has no idea who her parents or lineage are, which is very important in the dragon reaches. I love how Shimmer tries to fit in, keeps her head and learns about her new home. With each page, the reader is drawn in more and more into this world and fall a little bit in love with her as well. I also enjoyed how diverse the characters were; from a vampire to dragons to shifters and more. The characters are quiet well written, multidimensional and keep the story moving forward.

FLIGHT FROM DEATH is a great introduction to the new series even if you haven’t read the Otherworld series. It’s set in that world but completely separate though they do mention a few characters from the series periodically. Ms. Galenorn is a masterful storyteller who captures her characters vulnerabilities and strengths perfectly and balances them in the story just right. The story flows smoothly and as we get more into the storyline, we meet some new characters that help keep it moving along nicely. With her trademark style, this author captivates her readers with the right amount of mystery, romance and more within the pages.

If you haven’t read this author or series yet, I highly recommend you grab it. This author does have an e-book short story that bridges the Otherworld series and this one in Flight from Hell, which introduces the characters and is a great introduction to the series. You don’t need to read it but it does mention situations from that story in this one. If you need a paranormal pick me up, you won’t go wrong with this author or her books. This is one author I just can not get enough of. I am looking forward to seeing where she goes with this series and these fabulous characters in the future.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement

[Nina · Rating 3 out of 5]

26/2017

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a fan of Yasmine Galenorm’s Otherworld series, but I got a bit behind on them. When I saw she started a spinoff series around Dragons I thought this would be a great chance to jump back in without having to read all those books I’ve missed. I love dragons and I really love the Otherworld series, so I thought I couldn’t go wrong with Flight From Death.

The good news is that I enjoyed the book. The bad news is it didn’t completely wow me. The Otherworld series is based around three completely off the wall but absolutely kickass sisters. There is humor, mystery, steamy romance and lots of action. Although a good read, the entire time I read Flight From Death I felt like something was missing. It wasn’t until I finished the book that I realized that I got a great mystery, but I didn’t get the off the wall humor and steamy romance that I was expecting.

Shimmer, a dragon in exile, is the heroine. As her history is revealed, you realize that her life was not just bad in the dragon’s world, it was horrid. Because she didn’t have parents to give her a name and family, she was considered the lowest of the low to all dragons. Forced to steal to survive, when she is caught as punishment she was exiled, her powers somewhat bound, and then basically indentured to Alex for five years.

Although I felt for her, I never really connected with her. Alex, her vampire boss and the owner of the Fly By Night Magical Investigations agency, didn’t impress me all that much either. He admitted that he’d been attracted to Shimmer for a while, even when he was in a relationship with someone else he was basically too lazy to end until forced into it. This isn’t the kind of hero that makes my heart go pitter patter.

Alex has an old friend that needs help with a ghost problem at a property he is trying to turn into his dream bed and breakfast. When the team gets there they find this isn’t your typical ghost infestation. The things going on in that house made the Amityville Horror look kind of tame.

I enjoyed the mystery part of it, but Alex and his team aren’t really ghostbuster type investigators and had no idea what they were doing. At times I felt like I’d been dropped into a grown up Scooby Doo episode but with real ghosts. The vampires including Alex were basically useless, and most of the time the team ended up getting their rear ends handed to them.

Still, I enjoyed the book and I liked all the characters I was introduced to. This was a good book, it just didn’t live up to the high expectations I had attached to it.

What I Struggled With

1. The fact that the romance took a backseat to the mystery.
2. The lack of connection between the main characters.
3. Feeling like they really didn’t know what they were doing – it was off-putting.
4. Shimmer’s early history and how the dragons treated her.

What I liked

1. The mystery and intrigue surrounding the town of Port Townsend.
2. Ralph and how he handled his unrequited crush.
3. Degoba. I want to learn all about him.
4. Tonya. She basically stole the show.

Spice’s Rating: 3.5 Scooby Doo Where Are You Stars.

For this review and more, check out EDGy Reviews

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Flight From Death was the perfect mix of awesome paranormal romance and action packed urban fantasy! I was slightly worried going into it since it’s a spin off series that contains a ton of characters who have an established past together. I hadn’t read the previous series and that’s always a concern for me but Galenorn set the stage with ease and drew me in before the end of the first chapter.

Shimmer is a rare blue dragon who has been exiled from her home land for five years and banished to the earth realm. Now working for an investigations agency she’s finally going out on her first big case. Along with her boss and co-worker they head to a dangerous part of the northwest in order to help a homeowner rid his house of a very pesky ghost. What starts out as a routine job quickly heads into dark territory when a murder and multiple entities are exposed.

I have a thing for dragons. They fascinate me whether it’s a male or female character. Shimmer was a water dragon (think Chinese looking dragon) who needed the water nearby but could function without it if need be. She’s basically stuck in the human world and is trying her best to fit in with her new job, despite having little idea how humans interact. Her boss, the uber hot vamp Alex has just broken up with his girlfriend and seems intent on letting her know he’s interested in more than a coworker relationship. I loved them together because both are smart, resourceful characters who can handle their own problems but have no problem leaning a bit on each other if need be. They just worked really well.

Galenorn makes it a point to set up why Shimmer has been exhiled and that certain dragons may be looking to take her down for her crimes. While it doesn’t play a part in this one I’m thinking it’s going to be a source of ongoing conflict as the series progresses. Flight instead takes the readers to a haunted B&B poised to open its doors but unable to while an unknown entity roams it’s halls. There’s a lot of mystery surrounding the house, the grounds it sits on and the past inhabitants. It’s apparent early on that the ghosts are being held there against their will and Shimmer and Alex just need to figure out why exactly. The mystery mixed with the romance and action made this a page turner from the get go. I enjoyed how there were many facets of the paranormal realm woven into the story making pretty much anything possible and opening up a world to readers that is set to expand as the books soldier on. Secondary characters are very important as they help on multiple levels figure out the mystery. It could be a bit daunting to remember them all but as an author Galenorn does an excellent job explaining their importance.

An excellent paranormal romance/ urban fantasy hybrid, Flight From Death gives a wide audience of readers exactly what they are looking for!

I give Flight From Death by Yasmine Galenorn 4 stars!