Review: Winging It (The Dragon Diaries #2) by Deborah Cooke

Zoe is back for another great adventure in this wonderful continuation of her journey as the next Wyvern. A bigger, grander, more dangerous adventure for the Earth defenders as Zoe comes to terms with her power and more.

Title: Winging It (The Dragon Diaries #2) by Deborah Cooke
Pages: 352
Release Date: December 6th 2011
Published by: New American Library
Source: Publisher (thanks, Kayleigh!)
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository

Summary:

The new Dragon Diary novel from the author of Flying Blind.

Zoë Sorensson yearns to come into her powers as the only female dragon shifter. But being part of two worlds is more complicated than she expected. It's bad enough that she's the target of the Mages's plan to eliminate all shifters-but she also has to hide her true nature from her human best friend, Megan. But when Megan gets a last-minute invite to the popular kids' Halloween party-hosted by an apprentice Mage-Zoë must save the day and her best friend without revealing her fire- breathing secrets...

The story picks up after the thrilling events from Flying Blind. The bootcamp has ended and Zoe is getting the hang of her powers, slowly but surely discovering what she can do. But real life gets in the way, and her 16th birthday is just a few weeks away. Add to that the unexpected fall out of her parents Erik and Eileen's marriage. Why can't she be normal? She couldn't even invite her best friend Meagan!

Zoe is as funny and entertaining as ever! Without any other person to ask advice from to become a Wyvern the Dragons needed, Zoe improvises along the way. She's always been a nice character to read of, energetic, full of life and she takes in her problems like a typical teenager does. She makes mistakes, she's stubborn and she fights for what she thinks is right.

Winging It brings an interesting shift from one love interest to another. On top of all of the action packed happenings in her life, Zoe also learns a lesson or two about love. I must say I got irritated with Jared's attitude towards Zoe. He couldn't even fight for her. Or maybe it was easier to stay away than prove everyone wrong? I don't think the age difference was much of a factor, but it's the willingness of the person to make it work. It might just be a little less subtle way of shifting the attention of the readers to Derek, the blue eyed werewolf shifter, the wildcard of the werewolf pack.Unlike Jared, Derek is a steady force helping Zoe move forward, one step at a time to fulfilling her destiny.

Winging It dives into the story a little bit more by giving the readers a more in depth look at Zoe's family life, her school life, friendships and the future of the entire Dragon race. It's a great way of enticing the readers to read the original story arc where this book came from and consider me intrigued enough to find out the story behind Zoe's parents. I felt a jumble of emotions as I read through everything. Also, more character and story development happens as not only Zoe's story moves forward, but even those of supporting characters like Meagan and Garrett, Isabelle and Nick. There might be more in store for the readers in terms of love in the next book on the series! A lot of new possibilities that might widen the scope of the story but since all of them are lovable characters, readers can't help but ask for more of them!

Winging It is a great follow up novel to Flying Blind! A lot more serious, more developed and more action packed than the first one. You'll laugh at the jokes, groan at the frustrations brought on by the complications in Zoe's life, and feel sad for those moments where you'll feel that dragonshifter or not, they're still humans. If you wanted more of everything from Flying Blind, Winging It gives exactly just that. More drama, more action, and a whole lot of romance. They say sequels are either a hit or miss, but I say Winging It is definitely a hit!

Content (plot, story flow, character):

Shining: Worthy of a Goddess' Love!

Book Cover:

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

ARC Review: Flying Blind by Deborah Cooke

Who doesn't love Dragons?

Those winged, mythical creatures, big and strong and elusive. Deborah Cooke brought them to life in this book, and she did it really well!

Title: Flying Blind by Deborah Cooke
Pages: 336
Release Date: June 7th 2011
Published by: New American Library
Source: Publisher (Thanks, Alexandra!)
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository

Summary (from Goodreads):

The next generation of shape-shifting dragons from the popular author of the Dragonfire novels.

Zoë Sorensson is perfectly normal, except she's been told she's destined for great things. Zoë's the one female dragon shapeshifter of her kind. But Zoë is at the bottom of the class when it comes to being Pyr and her powers are AWOL, so she's sent to a Pyr boot camp.

Zoë quickly realizes that she has to master her powers yesterday, because the Pyr are in danger and boot camp is a trap. The Mages want to eliminate all shifters and the Pyr are next in line-unless Zoë and her friends can work together and save their own kind.

Zoe is the Wyvern, the only female Dragon in existence. But being the only one has her going crazy because all the powers she supposedly have were nowhere to be found. She was a failure as a girl (she hasn't had her first period yet at fifteen and she's as flat as a board) and as a Wyvern (she couldn't shift, couldn't see the past, present or future or do the important things a Wyvern can). So she was sent to bootcamp, but a week long test of skill turned out to be a week filled with danger as Zoe tries to learn all there is to be a Wyvern, while attempting to save her dad, and prevent their race from being eradicated by evil Mages.

I am not familiar with the original series this was taken from, but Flying Blind stands very well on its own even if you have not read the Dragonfire series.

Zoe has a very entertaining, fun voice throughout this book. Readers will instantly love this girl with her refreshing, funny personality and her struggles to become her destiny as the Wyvern was made more interesting with light, hilarious observations and situations. That whole week changed Zoe's life in ways she couldn't even imagine. Just when she thought she'd fail even in relationships, she met Jared. And who can resist a mischievous, hot, sexy, older boy who trusts Zoe more than she trusts herself, who dares her to do things she thought she couldn't. This is probably the first book I've read where the main guy lead did not appear often but he's had the biggest impact on Zoe. Jared was a great match for Zoe, a bad boy outside, but a great, nice guy inside.

The supporting characters are very dynamic and they breathed life to the plot greatly. Garrett is a mysterious boy who I can't figure out just yet. I loved Liam because he's an easygoing, naturally nice kid who isn't judgmental. He was the only Pyr who trusted Zoe when everyone else turned on her. And Nick, who was rash and bold and hot headed. I would have loved Zoe to end up with him, but it's not the road Zoe would want to take especially when she knew what happened to the previous Wyvern. I wanted to hate Isabelle, but you can only hate a character so much at one point, especially when all her good points appeared gradually throughout the story. Zoe found a friend in her in the most unexpected of ways.

I always loved reading books where I can connect with the characters easily, and despite them being Pyr, being Dragons, it was easy to understand and put myself in Zoe's shoes, because even if she was a Dragon, her feelings and thoughts as a teenager and as a person were easily conveyed with Deborah Cooke's simple and easy going writing. Flying Blind teaches the readers that sometimes we just need to have confidence in ourselves. A little faith and trust in us as well as to those we love can go a long way.

Flying Blind made me want to read the Dragonfire series so much! I wanted to know the story behind the Pyr's fathers, Erik, Quinn, Donovan among others. However, Deborah Cooke provided a complete story arc that will make the readers understand the world of the Pyr, a different story that readers will enjoy!

Overflowing with magic, treachery and deception, trials concerning friendships and love, Flying Blind is one exhilirating read! This book has heart stopping action, suspense, thrill and romance which will hook readers from the first up to the last page. Definitely recommended to everyone!

Content (plot, story flow, character):

Stunning: Worthy of a Goddess' Praise!

Book Cover:
Zoe is so gorgeous in the cover!

I received this book free of charge from a publicist in exchange for an honest review.