Flying Blind by Deborah Cooke

Published: June 2-11

Publisher: New American Library

Pages: 308

Copy: Library

Summary: Goodreads

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.
Every now and again I pick up a book from the library that is unknown to me.  Flying Blind was published almost a year ago, and I don't remember seeing it or hearing about it at all.  That's a great pity, because it was really good.  It's about shapeshifters. Shape-shifting dragons to be exact. I am a huge fan of dragons, (Anne McCaffrey's Pern anyone?) whether they shift or not, so this was a bonus.

The main protagonist, Zoe, is young and unsure of herself and her powers.  She has a vague idea of what she's supposed to be able to do, but she has no clue how to get it to happen.  So she's off to boot camp with a parcel of hot young men.  Tough, right!  Well actually it is, but Zoe handles things really well.  I loved the progression of her character and the way she gained in strength and courage.  She doubted herself, but found the strength to believe in herself when others told her she could do it.

Garret, Liam, Nick, Adrian and Jared.  Five very different young men, but all appealing in their own way.  Not all of them dragons though, and not all of them on the good side.  Ms Cooke wove a complex and captivating story full of mystery, suspense and surprise that had me turning pages at lightning speed.  The story took some unexpectd turns that in equally surprised and delighted me.  In fact I just fell in love with her dragons, or Pyr as she calls them.  Luckily for me, the library already has the second in the series, Winging It and the third, Blazing the Trail is on order.  I can't wait to get them.  Definitely recommended for anyone who likes dragons, or contemporary fantasy of any description.