Burn Bright

The Addicted / Calloway series will forever live in my heart, and Rose & Connor are one of my favorite couples of all time. They’re the heartbeat of the series for me, and seeing them as parents in the Cobalt Empire books has been pure magic. Rose was the mother Harriet deserved, and the way she welcomed her into the family, treating her like a true Cobalt, was everything. Their banter 30 years later healed my soul. It was something I knew I wanted, but didn’t realize how much I needed. The Cobalts are honestly one of the best fictional families I’ve ever read about. All seven siblings are so unique and so easy to love. I never expected Charlie and Beckett to become two of my favorites, but they completely stole my heart. And then there’s Ben Cobalt. He feels like he doesn’t quite fit in with his family, caring so deeply about the environment, the outdoors, and wearing his emotions on his sleeve. That vulnerability made him so relatable, and every single time I cried while reading it was for him. Harriet Fisher also owns a piece of my heart. She’s sharp, ambitious, often misunderstood, and labeled as grumpy or harsh, something I could relate to so much. She deserved a family that truly supported her, and watching her be embraced by the Cobalts was one of the most beautiful, emotional moments of the book. This story is raw, messy, emotional, and so authentically Cobalt. I’m not someone who cries easily while reading, but this book had me in tears again and again. Just like Rose & Connor’s story once did, it made me fall completely in love with this family, and now I can’t wait for the rest of the series. Mental health representation is, as always with KBR, handled with so much care and depth. Some of the struggles felt achingly familiar, which made the book hit even harder. I do recommend checking content warnings before diving in, but if you’re ready, prepare to feel everything.