Neon Darkness, A: A Bright Sessions Novel (The Bright Sessions)

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Indah’s couch is serviceably comfortable. It’s not the MGM Grand, but tomorrow I’ll find a more permanent crash pad. Some hotel suite or maybe a Malibu mansion. I should get a car first, but then the world is my oyster. Shippen does a superb job of handling a swirl of complex emotions, ranging from subtle to fiery as the boys struggle to complete each other and share their differences. " — Booklist

There’s a group of guys around one of the café tables, vodka shots in each of their hands, egging each other on. I already got too much of the frat house vibe in Vegas. No thanks. I don’t wanna!” I screech. The hands recoil from me, leaving my face cold. Their mouths snap shut. And then they have no mouths. Their skin grows over their lips, their eyes, their noses. They are blank and screaming and I wanted them to stop. I wanted them to stop telling me what to do and now they can’t tell me anything. I’ve taken it all away and suddenly their faceless bodies are gone too and I’m left alone with two empty chairs and the echoes of their screams— Lyrics-wise, the song is an ode to someone who means the world to the singer. She used to feel lonely and hides in the dark. She shares her dreams with no one. But all things change when her potential love interest comes into her life. The power of night bestows many types of photography with hints of mischief, magic, and possibility…Whatever’s good here.” I shrug, going for nonchalant. “Which I’m assuming is … something with vodka?” I add, gazing pointedly at the Russian decor before throwing her my best rakish smile, ignoring the uncomfortable pinching in my cheeks.

There’s the sound of Indah slipping on her shoes and the door opening and closing and then I’m alone in the apartment. I don’t know where the laundry room is or how long it will take her, so I tiptoe over to the door and look through the peephole. The hallway is empty. Let’s take a look at the work of these fantastic night photographers that have inspired us recently. When a tall figure, immune to their powers, discovers them, the first family that Robert has ever wanted is at risk of being destroyed. The only way to keep themA serene landscape transforms into a magical underworld by moonlight. City streets can take on an uncanny or cinematic quality.

She walks into the hallway and I hear her rummaging through some cabinets in the dark before swearing quietly to herself. As a character, Robert’s arc is genuinely emotional. He sees himself as the protagonist of his story, but what he is really doing is transforming into Damien and becoming the antagonist. He wants to be a good person, but his actions are selfish and manipulative, wanting to be the group’s main focus. The more obsessive he becomes in wanting them all to stay and be together, the more Damien’s moral compass points to becoming the villain. I do love that Shippen doesn’t justify his actions or put reason to them in her writing. He is a character that is not presented as likable. But part of you still feels for him, especially when he does seek out therapy. He shows moments of wanting to change but takes no ownership of any of his actions. He just doesn’t change for the better. He gets darker. One thing is for sure as he leaves Los Angeles in the rear-view mirror, Robert is gone and buried. Damien is here to stay. But I don’t wanna,” I whine again, voice rising. They both sigh, their breath a soft breeze over me. They tilt their heads in unison, shaking them slightly.And then, after a beat—simultaneously in slow motion and instantaneously—she stops smiling. It’s like the corners of her mouth are being pulled down by invisible strings. The frown has reached her eyes now and she’s stopped talking. She’s just staring at me with large, frightened eyes. Sorry, I—” She shakes her head like she’s clearing cobwebs from her hair. “I must have lost my train of thought.”

The characters that Shippen introduces us to are Indah, a bartender with an interesting sense; Neon, who is very electric; Marley, that can see into the past; and Blaze, the kidnapped friend that makes fire. The way they are introduced and the few things we learn, you cannot help but want to know more about them. This book makes it so easy to hate Damien. He is constantly messing up, which can be understandable, but he's refusal to learn and get better is so infuriating. Part of this is definitely because he's a white cis male and has privilege up the ass. Another part of it is his power and how it lets him use whoever he wants. I loved the friend group Damien was surrounded by, they were such an amazing group of people. I really hope we see more of them either in the podcast or in lat Robert?” I hear again, and I spin and I spin and suddenly I’m not in LA either. I’m sitting at my kitchen table. The table I sat at when I was small. The table where we had every meal together, as a family. I’m contemplating my next move when the bartender says, “Here you go,” and I spin around again to see her placing a drink in front of me.I think where I struggled with the book was with the titular character of Neon. I don't think she's badly written - she, too, is very human and flawed, hypocritical and judgemental and yet also vibrant and charming. But it's difficult to understand how the reader is supposed to view her. I didn't find her very likeable, and this may absolutely be intentional, but when all the other characters think she's amazing, it's hard to know what the author intends. This could 100% be my own problem, however, and nothing at all in the author. I adored the other characters, though, and in general found them all to be very multi-dimensional.