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The Dragon Diaries Trilogy #3
Blazing the Trail
From the author of the Dragonfire Novels comes a new series about the next generation of shape-shifting dragons—they’re ready to lead their pack.
It’s almost Valentine’s Day, and Zoë Sorensson’s love life is heating up. Cute, loyal, and understanding, wolf shifter Derek is pretty much the perfect guy. He likes Zoë, and he knows what it’s like to have to keep a secret. Yet, Zoë can’t help but wish it was rebel rocker Jared asking her to the Valentine’s dance instead. But Jared’s too busy playing hot and cold with her heart, calling Zoë his dragon girl one minute and then taking special interest in her best friend the next.
Zoë is just about ready to breathe fire, especially once she uncovers a new threat that targets her friends. Although Zoë thought the Mages were defeated, they’re back and have invoked an old spell to give them new power—they plan to eliminate all shape shifters on the night of the big dance. Now, Zoë must lead an alliance of young shifters to battle the Mages and figure out exactly what—and who—she wants, before it all goes up in smoke…
It’s almost Valentine’s Day, and Zoë Sorensson’s love life is heating up. Cute, loyal, and understanding, wolf shifter Derek is pretty much the perfect guy. He likes Zoë, and he knows what it’s like to have to keep a secret. Yet, Zoë can’t help but wish it was rebel rocker Jared asking her to the Valentine’s dance instead. But Jared’s too busy playing hot and cold with her heart, calling Zoë his dragon girl one minute and then taking special interest in her best friend the next.
Zoë is just about ready to breathe fire, especially once she uncovers a new threat that targets her friends. Although Zoë thought the Mages were defeated, they’re back and have invoked an old spell to give them new power—they plan to eliminate all shape shifters on the night of the big dance. Now, Zoë must lead an alliance of young shifters to battle the Mages and figure out exactly what—and who—she wants, before it all goes up in smoke…
352 pages, Paperback
First published June 5, 2012
About the author
Deborah Cooke
107 books855 followersDeborah Cooke also writes under the names Claire Delacroix and Claire Cross.
Bestselling and award-winning author Deborah Cooke has published over fifty novels and novellas, including historical romances, fantasy romances, fantasy novels with romantic elements, paranormal romances, contemporary romances, urban fantasy romances, time travel romances and paranormal young adult novels. She writes as herself, Deborah Cooke, as Claire Delacroix, and has written as Claire Cross. She is nationally bestselling, #1 Kindle Bestselling, KOBO Bestselling, as well as a USA Today and New York Times’ Bestselling Author. Her Claire Delacroix medieval romance, The Beauty, was her first book to land on the New York Times List of Bestselling Books.
Deborah was the writer-in-residence at the Toronto Public Library in 2009, the first time TPL hosted a residency focused on the romance genre, and she was honored to receive the Romance Writers of America PRO Mentor of the Year Award in 2012. She’s a member of Romance Writers of America and of Novelists Inc.
Currently, she’s writing paranormal romances as Deborah Cooke, and medieval romances as Claire Delacroix.
Deborah thinks a lot about publishing and writing, and also knits too much.
Bestselling and award-winning author Deborah Cooke has published over fifty novels and novellas, including historical romances, fantasy romances, fantasy novels with romantic elements, paranormal romances, contemporary romances, urban fantasy romances, time travel romances and paranormal young adult novels. She writes as herself, Deborah Cooke, as Claire Delacroix, and has written as Claire Cross. She is nationally bestselling, #1 Kindle Bestselling, KOBO Bestselling, as well as a USA Today and New York Times’ Bestselling Author. Her Claire Delacroix medieval romance, The Beauty, was her first book to land on the New York Times List of Bestselling Books.
Deborah was the writer-in-residence at the Toronto Public Library in 2009, the first time TPL hosted a residency focused on the romance genre, and she was honored to receive the Romance Writers of America PRO Mentor of the Year Award in 2012. She’s a member of Romance Writers of America and of Novelists Inc.
Currently, she’s writing paranormal romances as Deborah Cooke, and medieval romances as Claire Delacroix.
Deborah thinks a lot about publishing and writing, and also knits too much.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
June 25, 2012
2.5 stars - Spoilers
Meh. The plot, action and secondary characters were okay but the romance was fucking awful.
-The heroine, Zoe, was mostly likeable — though there were parts of her personality that I disliked. I hated the amount of dumb things she did — like shifting into a dragon at school in front of loads of humans. She could have risked exposing her race but she did it anyway. It was idiotic and selfish.
-The worst thing about Zoe was her patheticness when it came to Jared. It was obvious that he was messing with her feelings but the silly cow kept thinking he had strong feelings for her. She had no self-respect whatsoever when it came to him. I rolled my eyes at her many embarrassing and naive assumptions — like her assuming that the reason Jared wasn't texting her was because he wanted to protect her. She didn't even pause to consider that maybe he just wasn't interested in her. Also, the idiot heard one of his songs and she instantly thought it was about her and for her. How she came to that conclusion, I don't know. It was all so cringey, and it seemed like Zoe was living in her own little fantasy land. There was no evidence whatsoever that supported her idiotic theories - Jared ignored her and didn't give a fuck about her but the silly cow was too much of a silly cow to notice that. Ugh.
-The love interest, Jared, was rubbish. I've never liked him, all he's ever done is string Zoe along. It was really off-putting that he was in his twenties and in college whilst Zoe was only 15/16. Why can't he find a girl his own age? Why does he prey on innocent schoolgirls?
Jared actually seemed to fancy Zoe's BFF, Meghan, more than he did Zoe. He kept in contact with Meghan, helped her when she needed it, and took her on rides on his motorbike. He barely did anything for Zoe.
When Jared left his band to help everyone fight the bad guys, the sly dick claimed he did it for Zoe. But that was bullshit — he never showed any concern for her, and he left her a number of times when she was in danger, and he never once bothered to check up on her. He only came back to help because he wanted to act like a hero and a good guy — the bastard couldn't admit that though instead he had to fuck around with Zoe's feelings and act like a perv. Ugh.
What really pissed me off was that Jared told Zoe that she should put everyone else's life above her own, and risk her own life for her lame friends. And when she said no, he was disappointed in her because instead of stupidly sacrificing herself she wanted to work as a team. He was such a dick. What was so bad about a teenager not wanting to risk her life for her selfish friends? Not everyone wants to be a martyr. Why did Jared even say he cared about Zoe when all he cared about were her friends? Jared was a rubbish hero.
-The Disappearing Parent Syndrome was ridiculous. I didn't buy Zoe's parents going on holiday and leaving her without any protection. Her dad was meant to be this super protective alpha dragon, yet he just up and left his daughter when she was so recently attacked by a bunch of evil mages. He never would have swanned off on holiday after that. The author obviously just wanted the adults to disappear so the plot could play out a certain way but she could have at least written the parents out in a believable way!
-I HATED that Nick and Isabelle reunited. He chased after her and then dumped her and then fucked around with loads of other girls. WTF?! Why would Isabelle want him back after that? It was clear that she meant little to him, he couldn't even be bothered to fight for her. Why would she want such a loser?
-I liked Sigmund's character — his interactions with Zoe were quite sweet.
-Nick and the other dragons were lame — they were meant to be protecting Zoe but they were bloody useless. Maybe, it was because they just didn't give a shit about Zoe. No-one seemed to care about her at all.
-I was annoyed at Zoe's friends for not believing her whenever she told them something was off. She'd already proven herself a few times before but everyone kept dismissing her — it was irritating.
-Zoe's lists were boring. They just felt like convenient info-dumps.
-The thing that pissed me off most was that if Zoe should lose her virginity she would lose her unique dragon powers. Really? WTF?! The male dragons don't lose anything when they have sex. I hate it when authors write female characters who aren't able to lose their virginity without them becoming weaker or less somehow. It's fucked up.
-The ending was a little vague. I'm hoping Zoe gets some sense and dumps paedo Jared.
All in all, disappointing.
Meh. The plot, action and secondary characters were okay but the romance was fucking awful.
-The heroine, Zoe, was mostly likeable — though there were parts of her personality that I disliked. I hated the amount of dumb things she did — like shifting into a dragon at school in front of loads of humans. She could have risked exposing her race but she did it anyway. It was idiotic and selfish.
-The worst thing about Zoe was her patheticness when it came to Jared. It was obvious that he was messing with her feelings but the silly cow kept thinking he had strong feelings for her. She had no self-respect whatsoever when it came to him. I rolled my eyes at her many embarrassing and naive assumptions — like her assuming that the reason Jared wasn't texting her was because he wanted to protect her. She didn't even pause to consider that maybe he just wasn't interested in her. Also, the idiot heard one of his songs and she instantly thought it was about her and for her. How she came to that conclusion, I don't know. It was all so cringey, and it seemed like Zoe was living in her own little fantasy land. There was no evidence whatsoever that supported her idiotic theories - Jared ignored her and didn't give a fuck about her but the silly cow was too much of a silly cow to notice that. Ugh.
-The love interest, Jared, was rubbish. I've never liked him, all he's ever done is string Zoe along. It was really off-putting that he was in his twenties and in college whilst Zoe was only 15/16. Why can't he find a girl his own age? Why does he prey on innocent schoolgirls?
Jared actually seemed to fancy Zoe's BFF, Meghan, more than he did Zoe. He kept in contact with Meghan, helped her when she needed it, and took her on rides on his motorbike. He barely did anything for Zoe.
When Jared left his band to help everyone fight the bad guys, the sly dick claimed he did it for Zoe. But that was bullshit — he never showed any concern for her, and he left her a number of times when she was in danger, and he never once bothered to check up on her. He only came back to help because he wanted to act like a hero and a good guy — the bastard couldn't admit that though instead he had to fuck around with Zoe's feelings and act like a perv. Ugh.
What really pissed me off was that Jared told Zoe that she should put everyone else's life above her own, and risk her own life for her lame friends. And when she said no, he was disappointed in her because instead of stupidly sacrificing herself she wanted to work as a team. He was such a dick. What was so bad about a teenager not wanting to risk her life for her selfish friends? Not everyone wants to be a martyr. Why did Jared even say he cared about Zoe when all he cared about were her friends? Jared was a rubbish hero.
-The Disappearing Parent Syndrome was ridiculous. I didn't buy Zoe's parents going on holiday and leaving her without any protection. Her dad was meant to be this super protective alpha dragon, yet he just up and left his daughter when she was so recently attacked by a bunch of evil mages. He never would have swanned off on holiday after that. The author obviously just wanted the adults to disappear so the plot could play out a certain way but she could have at least written the parents out in a believable way!
-I HATED that Nick and Isabelle reunited. He chased after her and then dumped her and then fucked around with loads of other girls. WTF?! Why would Isabelle want him back after that? It was clear that she meant little to him, he couldn't even be bothered to fight for her. Why would she want such a loser?
-I liked Sigmund's character — his interactions with Zoe were quite sweet.
-Nick and the other dragons were lame — they were meant to be protecting Zoe but they were bloody useless. Maybe, it was because they just didn't give a shit about Zoe. No-one seemed to care about her at all.
-I was annoyed at Zoe's friends for not believing her whenever she told them something was off. She'd already proven herself a few times before but everyone kept dismissing her — it was irritating.
-Zoe's lists were boring. They just felt like convenient info-dumps.
-The thing that pissed me off most was that if Zoe should lose her virginity she would lose her unique dragon powers. Really? WTF?! The male dragons don't lose anything when they have sex. I hate it when authors write female characters who aren't able to lose their virginity without them becoming weaker or less somehow. It's fucked up.
-The ending was a little vague. I'm hoping Zoe gets some sense and dumps paedo Jared.
All in all, disappointing.
October 20, 2011
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy
Dragons, teen drama, and an epic war against beings set on destroying all shifters. That’s BLAZING THE TRAIL in a nutshell, the third book in Deborah Cooke’s Dragon Diaries series (a YA spin-off of her adult PNR Dragonifire series). Led by a genuinely likable and for the most part levelheaded protagonist, this story flies along at a rapid if somewhat uninspired pace.
After a brief but comprehensive recap, Zoe and her friends are once again battling mages and shadoweaters. An interesting twist in this series is that Zoe literally has to go to school with some of her mortal enemies. One night a mage tries to sacrifice Zoe in a spell and the next night they are rubbing shoulders in the hallway. It’s an odd situation, and I couldn’t help but wonder why Zoe wasn’t more on guard around them. The other questionable decisions that Zoe made involved her love life, although I found this to me much more realistic.
The unobtainable Jared is off touring with his band and fellow shifter Derek is more than willing to fill the void in Zoe’s heart. Zoe’s thoughts and reasoning about both Jared and Derek were uncomfortably realistic at times as she wrestled with the ‘love the one you’re with’ or pine for the one who got away conundrum.
I would have preferred a greater emphasis on Zoe’s romantic entanglements than the generic thriller plot with the shadoweaters that made up the majority of BLAZING THE TRAIL, but Zoe is winning enough to still make this an enjoyable read. It’s unclear whether or not there will be more books in this series r not, but either way the ending is satisfying.
Sexual Content:
Kissing
Dragons, teen drama, and an epic war against beings set on destroying all shifters. That’s BLAZING THE TRAIL in a nutshell, the third book in Deborah Cooke’s Dragon Diaries series (a YA spin-off of her adult PNR Dragonifire series). Led by a genuinely likable and for the most part levelheaded protagonist, this story flies along at a rapid if somewhat uninspired pace.
After a brief but comprehensive recap, Zoe and her friends are once again battling mages and shadoweaters. An interesting twist in this series is that Zoe literally has to go to school with some of her mortal enemies. One night a mage tries to sacrifice Zoe in a spell and the next night they are rubbing shoulders in the hallway. It’s an odd situation, and I couldn’t help but wonder why Zoe wasn’t more on guard around them. The other questionable decisions that Zoe made involved her love life, although I found this to me much more realistic.
The unobtainable Jared is off touring with his band and fellow shifter Derek is more than willing to fill the void in Zoe’s heart. Zoe’s thoughts and reasoning about both Jared and Derek were uncomfortably realistic at times as she wrestled with the ‘love the one you’re with’ or pine for the one who got away conundrum.
I would have preferred a greater emphasis on Zoe’s romantic entanglements than the generic thriller plot with the shadoweaters that made up the majority of BLAZING THE TRAIL, but Zoe is winning enough to still make this an enjoyable read. It’s unclear whether or not there will be more books in this series r not, but either way the ending is satisfying.
Sexual Content:
Kissing
July 13, 2012
I've read the first two books in this series and loved it. So when I heard that Blazing the Trail will be the final installment in The Dragon Diaries Series, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. After a long waiting, I finally read it and was a bit disappointed. To me, it felt like from the beginning to the middle was a slow drag. There wasn't much going on. I was hoping for more action, and romance but didn't really get it till the end of the book. Zoe’s a strong character, but at times she can be really gullible and it gets annoying. Jared, the love interest, I really liked him since the first book, didn't show up until the end of the book. I was hoping he would show up more in this book since it was going to be the last one. Yeah, I mean, they mention him and stuff but he didn't have much of a presence until the end. The other love interest, Derek, the wolf shifter. I feel like the only reason Zoe liked him was because he was predictable and she knew she could rely on him. Her heart was never really there for him, because she was still pinning for Jared.
What I did like about this book is that Zoe has come a long way since the beginning of the series. I also like how the four wild cards were able to get together and destroy the Mages. The only way they could've have done this is if they can trust each other and keep up the alliance between the different shifters. I'm happy that Zoe's story as come to and end, but it wasn't really a satisfying ending I've been waiting for.
What I did like about this book is that Zoe has come a long way since the beginning of the series. I also like how the four wild cards were able to get together and destroy the Mages. The only way they could've have done this is if they can trust each other and keep up the alliance between the different shifters. I'm happy that Zoe's story as come to and end, but it wasn't really a satisfying ending I've been waiting for.
June 5, 2012
Even though it’s winter in the Windy City, Zoe Sorensson’s life is about to heat up, she has a date to the Valentine’s dance but it’s not with the boy of her dreams and the Mages she thought she and her friends had triumphed over just turned a new and deadlier page in their spell book. And as if that’s not enough for the sixteen year old and still in training spiritual leader of her dragon-shape shifting species the Pyr, the new threat the Mages are preparing for could mean the total annihilation of all the remaining shape-shifters left on earth. There is a fragile alliance between the shifters but there is also dissention and mistrust and the one thing they must do to survive is work together. As if things couldn’t get more complicated when what Zoe needs is clarity, Jared the boy who does star in Zoe’s dreams shows up to help with the new Mage war, but will his appearance help or hinder her efforts, will they overcome the obstacles to see what their future holds or will they even survive to find out.
Deborah Cooke’s third book in her Dragon Diaries trilogy gives a whopper of an ending to her YA spin off of her adult paranormal romance series. In this we follow our fledgling Wyvern through more teenage angst, hormones and creepy villains that even give this lover of fantasy nightmares, as she has to solve more problems and mature more into her powers. Ms. Cooke’s novel would keep any YA reader on the edge of their seat but it’s the slightly more grown up than most YA’s that kept this adult reader happy. And it’s her characters that kept me reading all of the instillations of Zoe’s life and not because I know and love the parents from the adult series, which I do, but also because she gives these characters their own unique life-force that made me need to keep tabs. Something I loved about the novel is that she didn’t completely map out the final stage so I’m hoping someday she’ll reunite us with this tale. If you’re a fan of fantasy, YA or adult you will find something to love about this novel. Ms. Cooke does a great job of background but it wouldn’t be a trilogy if you weren’t supposed to read them in order.
Thank you Deborah Cooke for the icing on my dragonsmoke cake and I look forward to your next novel in your DragonFire novels, Ember’s Kiss coming in October of 2012.
Want to know a little more about the author, here's an interview we did previously http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t...
Deborah Cooke’s third book in her Dragon Diaries trilogy gives a whopper of an ending to her YA spin off of her adult paranormal romance series. In this we follow our fledgling Wyvern through more teenage angst, hormones and creepy villains that even give this lover of fantasy nightmares, as she has to solve more problems and mature more into her powers. Ms. Cooke’s novel would keep any YA reader on the edge of their seat but it’s the slightly more grown up than most YA’s that kept this adult reader happy. And it’s her characters that kept me reading all of the instillations of Zoe’s life and not because I know and love the parents from the adult series, which I do, but also because she gives these characters their own unique life-force that made me need to keep tabs. Something I loved about the novel is that she didn’t completely map out the final stage so I’m hoping someday she’ll reunite us with this tale. If you’re a fan of fantasy, YA or adult you will find something to love about this novel. Ms. Cooke does a great job of background but it wouldn’t be a trilogy if you weren’t supposed to read them in order.
Thank you Deborah Cooke for the icing on my dragonsmoke cake and I look forward to your next novel in your DragonFire novels, Ember’s Kiss coming in October of 2012.
Want to know a little more about the author, here's an interview we did previously http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t...
June 16, 2012
2.5/5
There’s a lot of trusting and doubting in this one: trusting people you’d think to not to trust; then doubting certain others who didn’t deserve it. I could imagine just how frustrating things were going for her. Still, most of that was canceled out by how quick the story went. Going from one predicament to another certainly left the girl bagged. Imagine girl dragon, juggling time to save the world from power hungry mages and school work!
I suppose it is good that it wasn’t all dragon shifter drama. The boy drama could get painfully contrived at times. Her having to choose between the predictably good one and the one who made her heart stutter: cute, but been there and done that. The school drama of bullies and mean girls, or of a guidance councilor who’s too enthusiastic for her own good (and at times strangely blind to some aspects too,) livened things up some more. Then of course her parents’ glaringly obvious absence in the picture: it’s an absence that allowed for so many things to take place. It’s also an absence that’s in stark contrast to the goings on in the first two books. Plenty of things didn’t add up on that end… BUT, the amount of excitement was not bad. Or how about those puzzles to solve? Yes, there’s a lot of those too. Unsurprisingly, there’s a lot more bumbling this time around.
I liked and liked this for the same reasons I liked/disliked the first two installments; even though a lot of the scenarios were painfully obvious and despite the fact that plenty of the solutions were a bit too easy to put together.(so easy in fact, it was a wonder why they’d not put it together sooner,) these were things I could let slide because this one like the first two were fun and easy reads.
There’s a lot of trusting and doubting in this one: trusting people you’d think to not to trust; then doubting certain others who didn’t deserve it. I could imagine just how frustrating things were going for her. Still, most of that was canceled out by how quick the story went. Going from one predicament to another certainly left the girl bagged. Imagine girl dragon, juggling time to save the world from power hungry mages and school work!
I suppose it is good that it wasn’t all dragon shifter drama. The boy drama could get painfully contrived at times. Her having to choose between the predictably good one and the one who made her heart stutter: cute, but been there and done that. The school drama of bullies and mean girls, or of a guidance councilor who’s too enthusiastic for her own good (and at times strangely blind to some aspects too,) livened things up some more. Then of course her parents’ glaringly obvious absence in the picture: it’s an absence that allowed for so many things to take place. It’s also an absence that’s in stark contrast to the goings on in the first two books. Plenty of things didn’t add up on that end… BUT, the amount of excitement was not bad. Or how about those puzzles to solve? Yes, there’s a lot of those too. Unsurprisingly, there’s a lot more bumbling this time around.
I liked and liked this for the same reasons I liked/disliked the first two installments; even though a lot of the scenarios were painfully obvious and despite the fact that plenty of the solutions were a bit too easy to put together.(so easy in fact, it was a wonder why they’d not put it together sooner,) these were things I could let slide because this one like the first two were fun and easy reads.
September 20, 2014
WHY DID SHE HAVE TO END UP WITH JARED?!
I can honestly say that I hate the guy, I mean he's barely there, discarding the fact that he is mentioned through out the series. Zoe doesn't even know much about him except for what she's seen and what she's been told, when he, on the other hand can read her like an open book. And whenever Zoe tries t contact him, he shrugs her off. It's seems pretty clear to me that he isn't completely serious about Zoe. It doesn't matter how much he says those sweet words. They are just words, dammit And honestly, I don't find anything cool about him, save for his musician stunt in book two. I know he's trying to be mysterious, but he just ended up sounding like a side character instead of a love interest. And there's the fact that he spent a lot of time with Meghan. Seriously? Who spends more time with their love interest's best friend than the love interest?
Okay, so maybe this story doesn't completely revolve around the love story but still, i felt Derek's presence more than Jared. It doesn't seem to do much justice to him.
All in all, I think this series was okay. Mediocre. I liked the idea of the Pyr and Wyvern but the plot and character development could use a bit more improvement.
January 10, 2021
I loved the first two books and this just felt like a huge let down to end the trilogy. It felt messy with unanswered questions, in parts it was hard to follow any characters train of thought, and it didn’t nearly tie of the series. I’m left feeling unsatisfied and wanting more. I feel like this book was kind of rushed to try and tidy up what was started in book one and two and it was disappointing to read; I’ve read books at a lower price point with more substance :/
Why didn’t we hear more from Zoe’s parents from the second book to now? Why were they so fine leaving their daughter behind after the second book when everything with the mages went down?
What was the point of the three sisters, who are they and why?
Why reveal the cat shifters special ceremony and have the oracle question Zoe’s integrity and belittle her for nothing?
What actually happened to the shadow eaters, and Adrian and Trevor?
What was the point of the shifters back stories (even though minute details was given?)
Why weren’t we given an example of a firestorm to understand the intensity?
Are Zoe and Jared actually meant to be? What happened to Derek?
Why didn’t we hear more from Zoe’s parents from the second book to now? Why were they so fine leaving their daughter behind after the second book when everything with the mages went down?
What was the point of the three sisters, who are they and why?
Why reveal the cat shifters special ceremony and have the oracle question Zoe’s integrity and belittle her for nothing?
What actually happened to the shadow eaters, and Adrian and Trevor?
What was the point of the shifters back stories (even though minute details was given?)
Why weren’t we given an example of a firestorm to understand the intensity?
Are Zoe and Jared actually meant to be? What happened to Derek?
March 14, 2015
2.5 stars. I feel like there is a point where one should stop saying books are just okay or stop reading the series, and yet I am doing neither. So, points for making me care what happens -- a step up from book 2. Very authentic teenage voice, in that sometimes the narration over-explains and sometimes the narrator makes extremely stupid choices, but you generally understand where she's coming from.
July 18, 2012
I have so enjoyed this series and am really sad it is over. Zoe is a great character and I just love her voice. She gives constant asides to the reader which make me laugh and her descriptions of her emotions - especially regarding Jared - leave me smiling. I am really going to miss her. I wish there were more in the series.
May 22, 2015
Ugh, giving up. I just can't keep myself interested in this book- I've finished I think 4 others while I've been reading this. I pick it up and read a few chapters, but it's just not holding me. I'm going to stop and read something that interests me instead now, instead of continuing to slog through this.
June 30, 2013
Is this book really the last in the Dragon Diaries series? I will really miss Zoe she is one of the best narrators I've ever read.
February 11, 2019
"What if the only way to see the future is to live it?" (Jared Madison)
Blazing the Trail portrays the life of a 16-year-old dragon shapeshifter quite well. There's homework, mean girls, boy issues and school dances, but there are also enemies everywhere, near-death experiences and events that could trigger the end of the world.
Zoe is a likeable and levelheaded heroine, but in Blazing the Trail she's quite gullible and ends up doing some silly things.
The secondary characters are likeable, but they aren't well-developed. Meagan is an awesome best friend. Zoe's dragon friends are cool, but they aren't important characters in Blazing the Trail. I also love Zoe and Sigmund's interactions. While I like Isabelle and Nick together, the sudden shift in their relationship from Winging It to Blazing the Trail is difficult to accept. I also found that Zoe's parents going on vacation was a way to get them out of the picture and it doesn't fit in with the previous books in The Dragon Diaries series.
I don't have strong feelings about who I wanted Zoe to end up with, but I do have negative feelings towards the poorly executed love triangle. Zoe leads Derek on because he seems like the more secure option and they have no chemistry. Jared ignores Zoe and doesn't reply to any of her messages, but Zoe ends up turning into a lovesick fool whenever he's around.
I enjoy reading about how Zoe's powers progress with every book in The Dragon Diaires series and learning more about the different shifters, especially the Bastians.
The final confrontation scene is anticlimactic, although I have to admit that the car driving scene is hilarious. I also felt like the ending is cringy and cliche. I like that there's room for future books in The Dragon Diaries series and while the ending is unsatisfying, it's still hopeful.
August 9, 2017
This book has been on my TBR for five years. Now there is a reasonable explanation, my library system does not have a copy of this book. Anyway if I read this book when I was sixteen I would have adored it. Reading it as a twenty-one year old was still pretty enjoyable. Obviously sixteen year old me would have loved it even more hence the four star rating.
November 4, 2024
Reread this go round still great story
She sounds a bit whiny this time though
She sounds a bit whiny this time though
May 17, 2012
BLAZING THE TRAIL (The Dragon Diaries YA #3) by Deborah Cooke
BLAZING THE TRAIL is the third novel and June 2012 new release in Deborah Cooke’s Young Adult series-The Dragon Diaries. Zoe Sorensson is the only female dragon and Wyvern in a world of the shape-shifting supernatural, and must learn about her powers and abilities on the fly-literally. But when the 4 remaining shifter-lines are targeted for death by the Mage, Zoe and her friends must find a way to stop the Valentine’s Day ritual that could end all of their lives.
At the end of WINGING IT, Zoe and her friends had virtually destroyed the collective mind of the Mage. Without memory or purpose, the Mage numbers were dwindling. But those too young to be caught in the mind-sweep were banding together and targeting the remaining shifters-Dragon, Thunderbird, Wolf and Cat. With her powers as the Wyvern came dreams and pre-cognition of what may or may not happen. Without the guidance of the previous Wyvern, it is up to Zoe to decipher the messages that continue to haunt her nightly dreams. But a new dream ally will surface with both a weapon and advice that will aid Zoe with her fight to stay alive.
Knowing that the shifters are targeted by the Mage, an Alliance is formed between the remaining groups to help strengthen and combine their knowledge regarding their survival or demise. But the powerful spell-songs (of) and the use of the Nightblade by the Mage will trap more than one of Zoe’s friends and it will take the new-found powers of a young Wyvern to discern and break through the tangle of spell-light weaves. But it is the Shadoweaters (former Mage) who find the portal between their worlds that will place everyone in danger. With guilt weighing heavily, Zoe must tap into her dreams hoping to solve the puzzles and clues that will bring an end to the Mage and the Shadoweaters that many will become. And it is the revelation as to the origins of the Shadoweaters that will have you scratching your head wondering if the Mage have any concept as to the evil that will eventually take hold and destroy.
Many of Zoe’s allies and friends return. Meagan, her BFF and Mage is learning the power of spell-song; Derek the shy and quiet wolf-shifter who is hoping for more than friendship; Kohana the Thunderbird and sometime friend; Jessica and her new-found abilities; and Jared-Mage and Zoe’s long time crush. Fellow Dragon-shifters Nick, Garret and Liam are called in to aid and protect Zoe. And we will see the development of a couple of potential relationships between the young dragons and some of the other supernatural friends.
The return of Jared will force Zoe to make a choice between two friends, but it is Jared who will sacrifice more than his friendship to save the life of someone he has grown to love. Kohana is still an enigma. Like Zoe, the reader is unsure as to his true purpose until the death of a friend will find the Thunderbird paying back a debt owed to the young Wyvern.
BLAZING THE TRAIL is another fantastic addition to Deborah Cooke’s Dragon Diaries series. As a lover of all things dragon, my only complaint-we didn’t see enough of the young Pyr. Blazing The Trail focuses more on the Mage and the other shape-shifters. I also liked the fact that Deborah does not concentrate on the typical teen love-triangle. Although there is the potential, it was not the center of the story. Many YA authors tend to write a series around a trio of friends who will inevitably come to odds with regards to relationships and love. Deborah allows the story to develop, but keeps the angst-filled relationships on the periphery. Blazing The Trail is a wonderful story from a great author.
see all of my reviews at : thereadingcafe.com
BLAZING THE TRAIL is the third novel and June 2012 new release in Deborah Cooke’s Young Adult series-The Dragon Diaries. Zoe Sorensson is the only female dragon and Wyvern in a world of the shape-shifting supernatural, and must learn about her powers and abilities on the fly-literally. But when the 4 remaining shifter-lines are targeted for death by the Mage, Zoe and her friends must find a way to stop the Valentine’s Day ritual that could end all of their lives.
At the end of WINGING IT, Zoe and her friends had virtually destroyed the collective mind of the Mage. Without memory or purpose, the Mage numbers were dwindling. But those too young to be caught in the mind-sweep were banding together and targeting the remaining shifters-Dragon, Thunderbird, Wolf and Cat. With her powers as the Wyvern came dreams and pre-cognition of what may or may not happen. Without the guidance of the previous Wyvern, it is up to Zoe to decipher the messages that continue to haunt her nightly dreams. But a new dream ally will surface with both a weapon and advice that will aid Zoe with her fight to stay alive.
Knowing that the shifters are targeted by the Mage, an Alliance is formed between the remaining groups to help strengthen and combine their knowledge regarding their survival or demise. But the powerful spell-songs (of) and the use of the Nightblade by the Mage will trap more than one of Zoe’s friends and it will take the new-found powers of a young Wyvern to discern and break through the tangle of spell-light weaves. But it is the Shadoweaters (former Mage) who find the portal between their worlds that will place everyone in danger. With guilt weighing heavily, Zoe must tap into her dreams hoping to solve the puzzles and clues that will bring an end to the Mage and the Shadoweaters that many will become. And it is the revelation as to the origins of the Shadoweaters that will have you scratching your head wondering if the Mage have any concept as to the evil that will eventually take hold and destroy.
Many of Zoe’s allies and friends return. Meagan, her BFF and Mage is learning the power of spell-song; Derek the shy and quiet wolf-shifter who is hoping for more than friendship; Kohana the Thunderbird and sometime friend; Jessica and her new-found abilities; and Jared-Mage and Zoe’s long time crush. Fellow Dragon-shifters Nick, Garret and Liam are called in to aid and protect Zoe. And we will see the development of a couple of potential relationships between the young dragons and some of the other supernatural friends.
The return of Jared will force Zoe to make a choice between two friends, but it is Jared who will sacrifice more than his friendship to save the life of someone he has grown to love. Kohana is still an enigma. Like Zoe, the reader is unsure as to his true purpose until the death of a friend will find the Thunderbird paying back a debt owed to the young Wyvern.
BLAZING THE TRAIL is another fantastic addition to Deborah Cooke’s Dragon Diaries series. As a lover of all things dragon, my only complaint-we didn’t see enough of the young Pyr. Blazing The Trail focuses more on the Mage and the other shape-shifters. I also liked the fact that Deborah does not concentrate on the typical teen love-triangle. Although there is the potential, it was not the center of the story. Many YA authors tend to write a series around a trio of friends who will inevitably come to odds with regards to relationships and love. Deborah allows the story to develop, but keeps the angst-filled relationships on the periphery. Blazing The Trail is a wonderful story from a great author.
see all of my reviews at : thereadingcafe.com
May 9, 2012
Review originally posted on my blog: A Book Obsession..
Zoe did the impossible by bringing the remaining shifters together to form an alliance, so why can't she bring herself to choose a guy? On one hand she has the incredibly Derek who seems like the perfect match. He should be the obvious choice, but her heart seems to have a mind of its own. She just can't forget Jared, the sexy rocker who has come and gone from her life more times than she can count. But her relationship worries are the least of her problems. After destroying the power base of the Mages, their threat should have been a thing of the past. But now the Mages are brewing something more terrible than Zoe ever could have imagined. This time around, they aren't taking chances and plan to take all of the shifters out in one swift blow. It's up to Zoe and the other wildcards to take them out once and for all or risk their very extinction.
Zoe has come an incredibly long way since she was first introduced in Flying Blind. Her maturity level has really increased, and she takes the time to think things through before she acts. She's finally learning to trust her instincts. Granted, she still makes mistakes along the way, who doesn't? She's had a lot thrown at her in such a short time, and so much rests on her shoulders. I really admire how the good of the alliance between the shifters is always first priority in her mind. In fact, she's willing to sacrifice everything personally and emotionally for the good of the alliance if the situation calls for it. She's definitely proved herself and become the Wyvern all of the different shifters so desperately needed.
Above all, I was most impressed with the way Zoe handled her relationship issues. Prior to this point she had only been attracted to the inaccessible guys, the ones she could never have. First it was another Wyr which biologically couldn't have worked, then it was with the much older Jared who runs hot and cold with her constantly. After he left, she may have rushed into things a little fast with Derek because he was steadfast and she knew she could rely on him. But his loyalty alone can't make her love him, and I really like how she's finally taking a step back from things to really decide what she wants before she goes any further with anyone. This isn't your typical love triangle as she isn't really involved with either one, so there isn't any stringing along, and for that I am incredibly proud of her.
Blazing the Trail finishes the Dragon Diaries Trilogy in a really good place, but I'm not entirely sure whether the ending is a completely satisfying one. Don't get me wrong, the overall plot ties from the series are wound up, but things are just left too open to give me the sense of completion that I craved. Of course this could turn out to be a good thing if it is because Deborah has plans for these characters in the future. There were just so many possibilities that were opened up and I'd love to see where things go. But for now, I am mostly content and will just sit tight and hope for something more in the future when these great characters are a little older. Overall, Blazing the Trail was an impressive end to the Dragon Diaries that will definitely leave a smile on your face.
Zoe did the impossible by bringing the remaining shifters together to form an alliance, so why can't she bring herself to choose a guy? On one hand she has the incredibly Derek who seems like the perfect match. He should be the obvious choice, but her heart seems to have a mind of its own. She just can't forget Jared, the sexy rocker who has come and gone from her life more times than she can count. But her relationship worries are the least of her problems. After destroying the power base of the Mages, their threat should have been a thing of the past. But now the Mages are brewing something more terrible than Zoe ever could have imagined. This time around, they aren't taking chances and plan to take all of the shifters out in one swift blow. It's up to Zoe and the other wildcards to take them out once and for all or risk their very extinction.
Zoe has come an incredibly long way since she was first introduced in Flying Blind. Her maturity level has really increased, and she takes the time to think things through before she acts. She's finally learning to trust her instincts. Granted, she still makes mistakes along the way, who doesn't? She's had a lot thrown at her in such a short time, and so much rests on her shoulders. I really admire how the good of the alliance between the shifters is always first priority in her mind. In fact, she's willing to sacrifice everything personally and emotionally for the good of the alliance if the situation calls for it. She's definitely proved herself and become the Wyvern all of the different shifters so desperately needed.
Above all, I was most impressed with the way Zoe handled her relationship issues. Prior to this point she had only been attracted to the inaccessible guys, the ones she could never have. First it was another Wyr which biologically couldn't have worked, then it was with the much older Jared who runs hot and cold with her constantly. After he left, she may have rushed into things a little fast with Derek because he was steadfast and she knew she could rely on him. But his loyalty alone can't make her love him, and I really like how she's finally taking a step back from things to really decide what she wants before she goes any further with anyone. This isn't your typical love triangle as she isn't really involved with either one, so there isn't any stringing along, and for that I am incredibly proud of her.
Blazing the Trail finishes the Dragon Diaries Trilogy in a really good place, but I'm not entirely sure whether the ending is a completely satisfying one. Don't get me wrong, the overall plot ties from the series are wound up, but things are just left too open to give me the sense of completion that I craved. Of course this could turn out to be a good thing if it is because Deborah has plans for these characters in the future. There were just so many possibilities that were opened up and I'd love to see where things go. But for now, I am mostly content and will just sit tight and hope for something more in the future when these great characters are a little older. Overall, Blazing the Trail was an impressive end to the Dragon Diaries that will definitely leave a smile on your face.
July 24, 2012
This is the third book in the Dragon Diaries series. If you are sensitive to spoilers, you won't want to read beyond the first paragraph. For new readers, then, this is a series whose main character Zoë is the only female dragon shifter and who is also sixteen. Both would cause enough problems on their own but add in a group of human mages who are determined to wipe out all the remaining shifters and Zoë and her friends have lots of extra pressure.
Things should be going well for Zoë. She and her friends have managed to defeat the adult Mages by destroying their hive mind and capturing the NightBlade which deprived any remaining mages of their power. She has formed an alliance with the wolves, the cats, and the Thunderbirds to destroy the NightBlade. Her best friend Meagan had discovered that she has magical powers as a spellsinger and learned about Zoë being a dragon shifter. Zoë has gotten her driver's license and the use of her mom's car while her parents are on vacation.
But all is not rosy, Zoë still has to deal with the school bully Suzanne who is sure that Zoë is keeping secrets. She has to deal with Trevor who is an apprentice mage and determined to carry on with the Mages' goals. Trevor is determined to release the ShadowEaters and become one too. She has boyfriend troubles too. She is torn between Derek who is a wolf shifter and who is sweet, thoughtful, protective, quiet and intense but who likes Zoë more than she likes him and Jared who is older, a rebel, a member of a rock band, a spellsinger, and who blows hot and cold leaving Zoë confused about whatever sort of relationship they might have. Zoë is also just coming into her Wyvern powers and they seem more confusing than helpful right now.
This story is full of adventure and danger as Zoë and company have to find a way to defeat the ShadowEaters and destroy the NightBlade. Zoë also has to find a way to keep her alliance together when jealousy, secrets, and conflicting goals try to destroy it.
I really like Zoë's voice in this one. She is a pretty realistic sixteen-year-old with the added problem of learning to be the Wyvern for the dragon shifters. She is constantly switching between mundane problems like homework and exotic problems like the threat to wipe out all shifters. As the story is told in the first person, we really get to see all of Zoë. I enjoyed her quirky voice and her asides to the readers.
I think readers will love getting to know Zoë and will be rooting for her to solve all the problems. Because I think this series hasn't received as much publicity as many of the other paranormal series, this is one series that I will be promoting in my high school media center this fall.
Things should be going well for Zoë. She and her friends have managed to defeat the adult Mages by destroying their hive mind and capturing the NightBlade which deprived any remaining mages of their power. She has formed an alliance with the wolves, the cats, and the Thunderbirds to destroy the NightBlade. Her best friend Meagan had discovered that she has magical powers as a spellsinger and learned about Zoë being a dragon shifter. Zoë has gotten her driver's license and the use of her mom's car while her parents are on vacation.
But all is not rosy, Zoë still has to deal with the school bully Suzanne who is sure that Zoë is keeping secrets. She has to deal with Trevor who is an apprentice mage and determined to carry on with the Mages' goals. Trevor is determined to release the ShadowEaters and become one too. She has boyfriend troubles too. She is torn between Derek who is a wolf shifter and who is sweet, thoughtful, protective, quiet and intense but who likes Zoë more than she likes him and Jared who is older, a rebel, a member of a rock band, a spellsinger, and who blows hot and cold leaving Zoë confused about whatever sort of relationship they might have. Zoë is also just coming into her Wyvern powers and they seem more confusing than helpful right now.
This story is full of adventure and danger as Zoë and company have to find a way to defeat the ShadowEaters and destroy the NightBlade. Zoë also has to find a way to keep her alliance together when jealousy, secrets, and conflicting goals try to destroy it.
I really like Zoë's voice in this one. She is a pretty realistic sixteen-year-old with the added problem of learning to be the Wyvern for the dragon shifters. She is constantly switching between mundane problems like homework and exotic problems like the threat to wipe out all shifters. As the story is told in the first person, we really get to see all of Zoë. I enjoyed her quirky voice and her asides to the readers.
I think readers will love getting to know Zoë and will be rooting for her to solve all the problems. Because I think this series hasn't received as much publicity as many of the other paranormal series, this is one series that I will be promoting in my high school media center this fall.
November 23, 2011
How can it be over?! After I was finished with this one I went looking for information on when or if there would be a fourth installment in the series. After looking through Cooke's site and seeing her mention that no plans were in the works I was not a happy camper. I can't say that things were left hanging or unfinished but at the same time I am kind of feeling disappointed. I wasn't ready to say goodbye to these characters. Cooke mentioned that we might one day see these characters in her adult novels, but who knows?
Now that I've gotten that off my chest I feel like I can go on and say how much I enjoyed this series as a whole and this installment most of all. Zoe and her team of loyal dragons and friends were at it again and this time the action was at an all time high! All kinds of shifters were thrown into the mix, the mages stepped up their game and the love triangle that was giving me major anxiety was FINALLY resolved. I won't spoil anything by commenting on who Zoe chooses, between Derek and Jared, but I have to compliment and tip my hat to Cooke with the way she went about that resolution.
So while I'm sad to see the gang go, I've started to backtrack into Cooke's adult Dragon series, Dragonfire, and I'll admit that three books into it and I'm loving it. If you're a fan of literature outside of the YA spectrum and were also totally unprepared to say farewell to this world and these characters, this might be just the series for you.
Now that I've gotten that off my chest I feel like I can go on and say how much I enjoyed this series as a whole and this installment most of all. Zoe and her team of loyal dragons and friends were at it again and this time the action was at an all time high! All kinds of shifters were thrown into the mix, the mages stepped up their game and the love triangle that was giving me major anxiety was FINALLY resolved. I won't spoil anything by commenting on who Zoe chooses, between Derek and Jared, but I have to compliment and tip my hat to Cooke with the way she went about that resolution.
So while I'm sad to see the gang go, I've started to backtrack into Cooke's adult Dragon series, Dragonfire, and I'll admit that three books into it and I'm loving it. If you're a fan of literature outside of the YA spectrum and were also totally unprepared to say farewell to this world and these characters, this might be just the series for you.
November 25, 2011
Maybe the novelty has worn off, or I've simply become too distracted by the prospect of better reads, but I feel like the whole series went downhill a little from the end of book 2. Strangely enough, looking back, the events of book three and two were actually considerably more interesting than book one. Despite this, I found myself dragging through Blazing the Trail, periodically counting the pages I had until the end- which is never a good sign.
Zoe was kinda annoying, as was the love square. I was glad to see her choose at the end, but the way she led on another interested member was infuriating. She came off as a little selfish at times, which made me want to slap her. While I don't like the books where the heroines are all 'let me die for you, martyr, martyr, martyr...' Zoe was just as annoying.
At least we got to see her wildcard powers develop! And with them came more action. I enjoyed the car chase, haha, but everything else was too predictable and cliché; a little cringe-worthy. Especially the way she wakes Jared at the end. Um, excuse me? Can we cue an 'and they lived happily ever after'...? I heard this is the last book in the trilogy (duh, it's book three), so I guess she had to round it off nicely. And I s'pose it was a good ending in terms of a final ending.
Four stars seems to generous for this book, yet three stars seems too harsh. So... three and a half stars it is!
Zoe was kinda annoying, as was the love square. I was glad to see her choose at the end, but the way she led on another interested member was infuriating. She came off as a little selfish at times, which made me want to slap her. While I don't like the books where the heroines are all 'let me die for you, martyr, martyr, martyr...' Zoe was just as annoying.
At least we got to see her wildcard powers develop! And with them came more action. I enjoyed the car chase, haha, but everything else was too predictable and cliché; a little cringe-worthy. Especially the way she wakes Jared at the end. Um, excuse me? Can we cue an 'and they lived happily ever after'...? I heard this is the last book in the trilogy (duh, it's book three), so I guess she had to round it off nicely. And I s'pose it was a good ending in terms of a final ending.
Four stars seems to generous for this book, yet three stars seems too harsh. So... three and a half stars it is!
March 8, 2012
I absolutely loved this book to bits. Dragon Diaries has to be one of my favourite series of all time.
Blazing the Trail is the 3rd book in the Dragon Diaries where Zoe's battle with the Mages ain't quite over with them still got a few tricks up their sleeves. Zoe has to try and keep herself and everyone intact and work with the other three races of shifters if they want to survive and if she wants Derek or Jared.
Zoe was great as usual and fun to read from. She is still struggling with her Wyvern powers without going insane. She also has some bad luck of trusting the wrong people. But she finds a way to figure all this out while trying to juggle high school and dodging the bloody school counselour: Muriel. God I hated that woman so much. Zoe does screw up a few times but like she has in other books learns from them and finds a way to solve it, not hesitating to confide in the Pyr and her friends. Her friends were actually very helpful and I swear she is one lucky dragon to have them.
There was a lot of action and fighting making me jumping up and down in anticipation, eagerly turning the pages to find out what happens next. She does choose one of the guys and doesn't try to drag it out, once she knew who she wanted she didn't dawdle and beat around the bush. She got straight to it.
Only disappontment for me was that this was the last book and I wish there was more Zoe adventures to come.
Blazing the Trail is the 3rd book in the Dragon Diaries where Zoe's battle with the Mages ain't quite over with them still got a few tricks up their sleeves. Zoe has to try and keep herself and everyone intact and work with the other three races of shifters if they want to survive and if she wants Derek or Jared.
Zoe was great as usual and fun to read from. She is still struggling with her Wyvern powers without going insane. She also has some bad luck of trusting the wrong people. But she finds a way to figure all this out while trying to juggle high school and dodging the bloody school counselour: Muriel. God I hated that woman so much. Zoe does screw up a few times but like she has in other books learns from them and finds a way to solve it, not hesitating to confide in the Pyr and her friends. Her friends were actually very helpful and I swear she is one lucky dragon to have them.
There was a lot of action and fighting making me jumping up and down in anticipation, eagerly turning the pages to find out what happens next. She does choose one of the guys and doesn't try to drag it out, once she knew who she wanted she didn't dawdle and beat around the bush. She got straight to it.
Only disappontment for me was that this was the last book and I wish there was more Zoe adventures to come.
December 2, 2011
I absolutely adored this whole series, beginning to end. I am incredibly sad to see it go, especially with that ending. No worries, everything was tied up at the end, my problem is that is DID end. Sigh!
There were several new characters introduced in this final book, and they all played into the story quite nicely. Zoe was just as amazing in this book as she has been throughout the whole series. Deborah Cooke's character developing skills are extraordinary. I fell in love with each of the guys and girls. They were all individuals with their own quirks and talents and personalities. This is one of the things that makes Dragon Diaries such a special story.
Blazing the Trail, like the other two in the series, was full of action, drama, heartache, happiness, fear, joy, insecurities, confidence. I was never once bored. I could not tear myself away for too long without having withdrawals. Basically, what I am saying, these books are fanfrikintastic.
I would recommend T.D.D to pretty much everyone. It is very age appropriate. Very mild language, nothing overtly sexual ( just some serious googly eyes). I would have no problem letting my 14 year old nephews read it, and my 16 year old niece. Both boys and girls could find it enjoyable. I am 30 years old, and loved it, so I would recommend it to us older folks as well.
There were several new characters introduced in this final book, and they all played into the story quite nicely. Zoe was just as amazing in this book as she has been throughout the whole series. Deborah Cooke's character developing skills are extraordinary. I fell in love with each of the guys and girls. They were all individuals with their own quirks and talents and personalities. This is one of the things that makes Dragon Diaries such a special story.
Blazing the Trail, like the other two in the series, was full of action, drama, heartache, happiness, fear, joy, insecurities, confidence. I was never once bored. I could not tear myself away for too long without having withdrawals. Basically, what I am saying, these books are fanfrikintastic.
I would recommend T.D.D to pretty much everyone. It is very age appropriate. Very mild language, nothing overtly sexual ( just some serious googly eyes). I would have no problem letting my 14 year old nephews read it, and my 16 year old niece. Both boys and girls could find it enjoyable. I am 30 years old, and loved it, so I would recommend it to us older folks as well.
November 27, 2011
3 1/2 stars
Note that this book series is set in 2025 because it is a spin-off series of the author other dragon series (the one about the Wyvern that was before Zoe).
This book was better than the 1st two. I like the humor and some of the characters, but sometimes I found myself confused with all the dragon stuff. Zoe’s a strong character, but the others aren’t as much. I want to like this series, because it’s in Chicago and I really love the Firelight series, but there’s just too much confusion, and the narration can get annoying, even if it is funny and snarky. I feel like the author’s trying too hard to be snarky. They didn’t portray Chicago in 2025 any different from what it is now. Messengers instead of cell-phones is like nothing. There needs to be more technology advancements!
I still did enjoy the book. I loved learning about all the other shifter species. Especially the cat-shifters and their Egyptian ancestors. I would love to hear Jessica’s story as a Bastian.
Overall, I recommend this series to people who like reading about shape-shifters or dragons.
Cover Art Review: I like the dragon art on this book’s cover. The smoke and swirls, but everything else is kind of boring and generic.
~Haley G
My blog:
http://breathlessbookreviews.blogspot...
Note that this book series is set in 2025 because it is a spin-off series of the author other dragon series (the one about the Wyvern that was before Zoe).
This book was better than the 1st two. I like the humor and some of the characters, but sometimes I found myself confused with all the dragon stuff. Zoe’s a strong character, but the others aren’t as much. I want to like this series, because it’s in Chicago and I really love the Firelight series, but there’s just too much confusion, and the narration can get annoying, even if it is funny and snarky. I feel like the author’s trying too hard to be snarky. They didn’t portray Chicago in 2025 any different from what it is now. Messengers instead of cell-phones is like nothing. There needs to be more technology advancements!
I still did enjoy the book. I loved learning about all the other shifter species. Especially the cat-shifters and their Egyptian ancestors. I would love to hear Jessica’s story as a Bastian.
Overall, I recommend this series to people who like reading about shape-shifters or dragons.
Cover Art Review: I like the dragon art on this book’s cover. The smoke and swirls, but everything else is kind of boring and generic.
~Haley G
My blog:
http://breathlessbookreviews.blogspot...
April 22, 2013
This is a wonderful, wonderful YA series. I have adored the growth and loves of the PYR...that's what the Dragon shifters call themselves. It was sad when the only female dragon, called the Wyvern, died and moved on to her next life, be it human or other. When the leader of the Pyr and his human wife had their first child, all felt blessed when it wound up being a girl, the ONLY female...the next Wyvern. And though Zoe is just learning all she will need as the Wyvern...and as Zoe says: she didn't have a book to learn what she NEEDS to know, she has had to learn everything on the fly *snicker, flying being one of the things she needed to learn*...While her Mom and Dad are away 16 year old Zoe is staying with her best friend Meagan, and an evil beyond all known ways to vanquish permeates the town, what will Zoe do to free her loved ones from death, enthrallment and ignorance? All while getting through her life as a high school student with a high school girls problems with boys, teachers and an upcoming dance. Will Zoe make her parents proud? Or will there be a Zoe left to ground? Time and a wonderful addition to The Dragon Series will tell!
November 23, 2016
I enjoyed reading the book. I have enjoyed all three books of the series pretty well. Though I still am not a big fan of Zoe's father because of the second book. I just wished that Isabelle and Jared would have made more of an appearence than they did. Don't get me wrong I liked them in the book. I love that Zoe and Jared did get together as I thought that was what the author was going toward the entire time. Yes, Jared is 5 years older than her but he did initially do what everyone wanted him to do and stayed away from Zoe finally we get to see why he did in the book from his own perspective. I really did respect Jared for that and he did mention that he would meet her dad.
I also loved the ending and would really wish that Ms. Cooke would continue this series maybe as an e-book or on a website? I know that she said the series was done I just love the possibilities the ending presented. It is a shame that the series is not that well known on fan fiction websites because I would love to see where others may have taken the story. I have found one fan fiction story for the series that I like.
Great story with memorable characters
September 18, 2012
I've really enjoyed this series, mostly because Zoe the dragon girl is pretty awesome. She has a great voice and feels so real as a character. On top of that all the different characters are very human too. I love how they all evidence signs of the animal they shift into in a non-campy way. Considering this whole book is about shifters, or weres, that's a really great touch.
For all the good, Blazing the Trail really fell flat for me. The first half has Zoe acting To Stupid To Live for the plot line. Which is really sad because it just felt forced. Throughout all of this she's feeling hideous guilt for everything she's ever done, something that is legit but also one of my biggest pet peeves. The second half is a complete turn around, where Zoe is starting to learn from things and act cautious and then Cooke has the secondary characters punish her for it. Bizarre, but true.
This is Ms. Cooke's first foray into YA. I have high hopes for her next series if she learns from the flaws of this one.
For all the good, Blazing the Trail really fell flat for me. The first half has Zoe acting To Stupid To Live for the plot line. Which is really sad because it just felt forced. Throughout all of this she's feeling hideous guilt for everything she's ever done, something that is legit but also one of my biggest pet peeves. The second half is a complete turn around, where Zoe is starting to learn from things and act cautious and then Cooke has the secondary characters punish her for it. Bizarre, but true.
This is Ms. Cooke's first foray into YA. I have high hopes for her next series if she learns from the flaws of this one.
February 3, 2014
This series is set around a young girl, but she is not any normal girl she is a dragon shifter. it takes her time to come into her powers but when she does she is thrown into a world of danger and suspense, shifts against mages. Mages wanting power and the shifters wanting to keep them from taking control. I have to say When I stared reading this series I fell in love with it right from the start. an Im going to be truthful and say I didn't expect to because I bought the first book just because I got it on sale at a book store. But I didnt want it to end. This series has had some bad reviews and I can really not understand why. When I finished reading this series I was absolutely gutted. so gutted I contacted the writer to ask if she will ever bring out any more. So please please dont listen to any bad reviews you may read about this series, just be your own person and give it a try. because if your like me and I know a lot of you out there are. your going to love it and fall in love with everything about it.
November 25, 2011
I liked this one too, I thought it came together really well. With all the books Zoe is supposed to get her Wyvern powers cause she didn't have them since she learned to talk as a toddler. So in Flying blind she learned to shift and how to see in other peoples memories, also she learned to see in the present...the wyvern has the ability to see past, present and future simultaneously...in Winging It she learns to see in the past and in Blazing the Trail she learns to see the future...and it is said that one could loose their mind seeing past, present and future all at once, and I could feel her dispair and anxiety whe no one believed her about the shadoweaters. I gotta say though I love the idea, that Zoe learns how to be the wyvern and is documenting her experience. Still don't know if she looses her powers if she looses her V card, but at least we got to see who she picks. I liked the ending tied up loose ends answered some questions.
November 21, 2012
Great ending to this series. Or is it just the beginning in a line of books for us all to read. I hope to see Zoe in an adult romance when she has her firestorm. This book allows all the dragon shifters to be a bit more comfortable in their skins. previously they were all trying to keep each other at a distance in case the inevitable firestorm was not with who they wanted to be with (jared kept distance from zoe, Nicholas from Sophie) I was so happy at the end that jared will stick around. I do however wish there was a little bit more of the adults involvment. I miss all their quirky personalities and to hear from any of them in these stories would have made me smile. I enjoyed hearing from rafferty, and the little that we heard from donovan. Im hoping that there will be more of zoe and the boys.
January 26, 2012
I find it interesting that everyone assumes that Zoe will just save the day, that when crazy stuff starts happening that none of them know what to do, they expect Zoe to know. It is a very unrealistic expectation, yet that is just what happens. Zoe steps up and does what needs to be done. She does make some mistakes along the way, but she does things with the correct intent. I really liked how the 4 wild cards banded together, taking on the bad guys, each playing to their own strength. I am not sure what I think about Zoe's love life. Part of me likes Derek, but the other part of me was won over with Jared's speech. It will be interesting to see what happens next with the boys and all the shifters.
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September 2, 2013it really good and in the end she went out with jared, i liked that coz i i had this feeling that derek just wanted her because he felt an obligation to fufil the profecy as the wold pack wild card(turned out i ws mostly right). it ws intresting how all the other shifters that hv been made extinct by the mages came back alive coz she destroyed the nightblade. so now theres like lots of differnt type of shifters and she's kinda like their leader coz the feel the owe her for bringing them back and stuff. Skuld one of the three sister that help the Wvyern(the only female dragon shifter at a tim) get into her powers of seeing the future, past and present scare me a lot. but she has a twisted sense of humour.
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