Review: Blazing the Trail (The Dragon Diaries, #3) by Deborah Cooke

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…

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.

I gave Blazing the Trail (The Dragon Diaries, #3) 4 shamrocks!!!!