Zoë is the Wyvern of the Pyr—the one female dragon shape shifter with special powers. But Zoë is at the bottom of the class when it comes to being Pyr, and her powers are AWOL. Worse, there’s no reference book to consult, and the last Wyvern is dead….
Everything changes when Zoë’s best friend is bullied and Zoë reacts. Before she can blink twice, her inner dragon is loose, and she’s suspended from school and headed to a shape shifter boot camp with guys she’s known all her life. But soon she’s doubting her powers—and even some of her friendships.
Zoë quickly realizes she has to master her powers yesterday—there’s danger ahead and boot camp is a trap. A secretive group, the Mages, want to eliminate all shifters and the Pyr are next in line—unless Zoë and her friends can solve the riddle and work together to save their own kind…
“Zoë is a wonderful heroine—smart, strong and sympathetic. Bring on book two!“
Kelley Armstrong, #1 NYT bestselling author
“FLYING BLIND is a wonderful way to be introduced into the Dragonfire world for new readers of this author to enjoying a pick-me-up while loyal readers wait for the next book in either her adult Dragonfire series or the Dragon Diaries series. This had the right amount of drama, action, suspense, humor and more that will please both adult fans and her new young adult fans. Deborah Cooke delivers one heck of a high octane ride in FLYING BLIND. Are you ready to explore the world of the Pyr?”
Love Romances and More
“Cooke’s dragon lore is engrossing. The characters are lovable and the story is completely entertaining. Flying Blind is a fun tribute to the trials of growing up – learning to believe in yourself and figuring out who you are and want to be. While Zoe figures herself out, she is awkward and ridiculous – seriously, you totally feel embarrassed for her! It’s one part adorable heroine, 1 part high-flying adventure (literally) and 2 parts hot dragon & spellcasting boys = a fantastic reading experience!”
Bibliojunkies
“Flying Blind is a beguiling YA debut that I couldn’t put down! It is a feverish and intense read that will have you staying up way past your bed time. I cannot wait until the next installment in this highly addictive series!”
ibbookblogging
Buy Flying Blind ebook:
“In her debut young-adult series, Deborah Cooke already proves that she can string the readers in a sky-high tale. Make no mistake, readers will not want to be “Flying Blind” when delving into this new series or else miss all the actions, juicy romances, and dangerous twists and turns. Mystic powers, cryptic dreams, and a hot guy with an equally hot motorcycle make Flying Blind a joy to read.”
Books by Their Cover
“This. Book. Rocks.”
One a Day YA
“I dare any reader to start this book and not get caught up in the story immediately. The first of the new series about the next generation of dragons, FLYING BLIND is a story of coming of age, of finding one’s true worth, and of trusting in one’s self. Zoë is a typical teenager, but also a young woman who understands the gravity of her role in life. Learning her innate skills, and how to use them for the right reasons, she cannot help but mature. Told in the first person, readers understand her confusion and frustration, her dreams and hopes, and a typical teenage girl’s fascinations and humor.
A Perfect 10 review from Romance Reviews Today
For a thoroughly enjoyable and completely entertaining fantasy and a great start to a new series, don’t miss FLYING BLIND.”
“Let me be the first to say that Deborah Cooke has hit the nail on the head with her dragon lore! I know that this new YA series is a spin off of her original “Dragonfire” series, and so I should have known it would be amazing. Cooke not only paints the reader a gorgeous portrayal of dragon kind with the Pyr, but she also gives them a rich and detailed history about them as well. Add in a few bad guys and some fight scenes, and I was hooked. Learning with Zoë was seriously fantastic. I felt myself frustrated when she was, excited when she was, all the while uncovering history with her. As I read I found myself immersed in the world that revolved around Zoë. Just in terms of setting and back story, I was already in love with this book…
Jessica at Hopeless Bibliophile
Flying Blind is a breath of fresh air in an otherwise saturated market. The simple fact that Zoë is so strong and calculating makes her different than a lot of other MC’s her age, and that makes her intriguing in my book. Add in some great dragon lore, and you have a series that I can fully get behind.”
“Flying Blind was an exciting young adult novel that involved the wonderful dragon’s we know as Pyr, a cast of deep and interesting characters, an exciting chain of events, swoon worthy romance, great mystery and action I wish would never end.
Mocha Latte Reviews
Recommended for readers who love dragon lore, teenage drama, a character who visibly grows, shape-shifting baddies and romance that will make you wish the sequel came out earlier.”
“This story crosses the boundaries. It will appeal to both teen and adults across the board. The story is engaging and fun. It’s bringing to life a world of dragons and magic that appeals to all.”
Five star Top Pick review from Night Owls
An excerpt from Flying Blind:
I hate the showers almost as much as gym class itself but Suzanne’s expression had me dreading it. Everyone crams in the tiled space together, checking each other out, comparing bra cup sizes. That’s bad enough, without Suzanne looking to get even. Meagan and I stuck together instinctively.
“Gonna need a bra anytime soon, Sorensson?” Trish sneered at me when I pulled off my shirt.
“At least mine won’t be sagging before I’m thirty.” Like I knew anything about it. My mom gave me that comeback. She’s a teacher and knows how girls are.
“Hurry up, girls.” Coach O’Connor made her ritual stroll past the shower area.
“Jameson will be blind by the time she’s thirty,” Suzanne mocked.
It was a cue and I saw it too late.
“She’s blind now.” Yvonne, one of Suzanne’s pack of cool girls, snatched Meagan’s glasses off her face.
“Hey!” Meagan protested.
She was defenseless and we all knew it.
Yvonne tossed the glasses across the shower room to Suzanne, who put them on and made a face. The lenses made her eyes look small and beady. “Seriously defective eyeballs.” She pulled off the glasses, then tossed them in the air. “Oops!”
Suzanne snatched them out of the air in the nick of time, laughing. Her followers gathered closer, Yvonne and Anna and Trish. All the other girls stepped back, avoiding the confrontation as they showered quickly and disappeared.
Meagan had found the wall and was feeling her way toward Suzanne with a determination I’d seen before. “Give me my g-g-g-glasses back, please.”
“G-g-g-glasses,” Trish mimicked. That made me mad. It wasn’t as if they were perfect.
“Puh-leeeeeeeeeeese,” Yvonne said.
“Or what?” Suzanne taunted. She leaned closer to Meagan. “Whatcha going to do to me, four-eyes? You can’t even find me.” She backed away suddenly as Meagan snatched in the direction of her voice, and they all giggled when Meagan missed. Meagan flushed but she kept after Suzanne.
“Give them back to her,” I said, knowing they’d turn on me.
They did. “You gonna make me, Sorensson?” Suzanne spun the glasses by the ear wire as she taunted me. She pivoted to face me, bouncing a bit on the balls of her feet.
Ready to fight.
Confident that she could win. But she wasn’t bargaining on anger. I was mad enough to take her dare.
Maybe mad enough to win.
“You can only win if you don’t fight fair,” I challenged and saw her surprise. “Give her the glasses.”
“So, you want to fight, Sorensson?” Suzanne took a step toward me. Her team laughed and circled behind me.
Meagan took advantage of their distraction. She lunged for Suzanne, but Trish body-checked her. Meagan slipped on the wet tiles. She slammed her back into the wall and caught her breath, blinking rapidly. I knew that had hurt.
They laughed.
And I saw red.
A shimmering heat began to boil inside of me, feeding on my anger and becoming stronger. I knew what it was, what it had to be, even though I’d never felt it before.
If I’d been thinking, I would have shoved it back in its jar.
I wasn’t thinking: I was mad.
“As if you could take me,” Suzanne whispered to me. Her eyes were dancing. She was so sure she’d win.
For once, I didn’t step back. For once, I didn’t back away. For once, I was ready to challenge expectations.
The red tide of fury seethed and I let it.
“Maybe I will take you.” I took a step closer, noting how her gaze flicked. I had a new sense of power. Dangerous power. “Maybe you’ll be surprised.”
“Oh, I’m so scared!” Suzanne said in a falsetto and her team giggled.
“Leave it, Zoë.” Meagan had the resolve that got her perfect scores on math tests, every time. “I’ll g-g-g-get them myself.”
Suzanne pitched her voice higher. “Oh, so brave! Come on and g-g-g-get your glasses all by yourself then. Look! Here they are!” She waved them in front of Meagan, who lunged toward the shiny lure.
I knew what would happen right before it did.
“No!” I shouted and snatched for Meagan. Yvonne was faster. Trish blocked me with an elbow in my ribs. Yvonne hooked Meagan’s ankle with one foot, jerking it hard.
Meagan fell quickly, cracking her jaw on the tile floor.
She didn’t move.
And there was blood running toward the drain.
I was right there beside her, on my hands and knees.
“All those expensive toothies getting smashed,” Suzanne said in her fake baby talk. “But I thought she was the smart one.”
“Meagan?” I put my hand on her shoulder. I felt her shaking.
“I’m okay,” she whispered, but I knew better.
She wasn’t okay.
And it was Suzanne’s fault.
I felt the strange crimson strength growing inside me. I knew it was my dragon finally awakening, but I didn’t imagine for a minute that it would take shape.
And let’s be honest – if I had, I wouldn’t have cared.
“Better make your shot next time, Jameson,” Suzanne hissed. “I don’t like losing.” She tossed Meagan’s glasses carelessly toward her, probably hoping they’d break when they hit the tiles.
I snatched them out of the air, surprising both of us by how quickly I moved.
“Bitch!” I snarled. I had Suzanne cornered in a heartbeat, moving faster than I ever had before. It shocked both of us. I thought I was just finally mad enough, but soon learned different.
Because when I raised my hand to slap her, I saw that my thumbnail had become a talon.
A long sharp white claw.
A dragon talon.
Holy frick. It was finally happening…
©2011, 2018 Deborah A. Cooke
Deborah Cooke & Her Books 