The Kill

The Forbidden Game #3

by L.J. Smith

To rescue her boyfriend Tom and her cousin Zach from the evil Julian, Jenny Thornton and her friends--Audrey, Michael, and Dee--venture into the Shadow World, armed only with a set of runes that hold the key to the doors of hell.

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Horror, Romance, Supernatural, Fiction

228 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1994

About the author

Smith was born in Villa Park, Orange County, California. In interviews, she has said she realized she wanted to be a writer sometime between kindergarten and first grade, “when a teacher praised a horrible poem I’d written”, and began writing in earnest in elementary school. Smith received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Experimental Psychology from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1987, followed by teaching credentials in Elementary education and Special education from San Francisco State University.

She taught kindergarten and special education for several years before becoming a full-time writer. Her first book, The Night of the Solstice, was published by MacMillan in 1987, followed by, Heart of Valor in 1990, and the 4-volume Vampire Diaries series in 1991-2. Three trilogies followed: The Secret Circle (1992), The Forbidden Game (1994), and Dark Visions (1995). The first installment of her popular Night World series was published in 1996, followed by eight more over the next two years. In 1998, Smith began a decade-long hiatus from writing, returning in 2008 with a new Web site and a series of new short stories. The Vampire Diaries series was reissued in 2007, followed by re-printings of The Secret Circle trilogy and Night World series in 2008/2009. The Night of the Solstice and Heart of Valor was also reissued in 2008. Three new Vampire Diaries installments were published in 2009 and 2010.

Smith lived in the San Francisco Bay area “with one dog, three cats, and about ten thousand books.”

She passed away on March 8th, 2025, after a lengthy illness.

Reviews

[Starry · Rating 5 out of 5]

why on earth did jenny choose tom over julian? tom was nice yeah, but he was kinda boring and plain. julian was so compelling and seductive, i wish he was real! forget about jenny, if he wanted a girl that could appreciate him... *S* i'm not obsessed with him or anything, and i know he's just fiction, but LJS has created a truly unforgettable character. the endind of this book was soooo sad! when julian died i was crying so much. at the beginning he was the typical "bad guy," but at the end he proved himself worthy. he actually gave up his existance (can't say life can i?) to save jenny. that is true love. and that is what i want! that jenny was a lucky girl. and i'm really glad that summer wasn't dead, she was kind of an air head, but she seemed nice. that novel has given me so much adrenaline (which i know is weird), i just want to shout out to the world how great the novel was. i'd really like a sequel. i wish julian could come back but i know that's not possible. but imagine the story! *S* did anyone else love the poem in the hunter? i typed it up and put it in my locker i loved it that much. it was really good. and i loved the "all i refuse and thee i chuse" thing. that was so romantic. did anyone else like this trilogy as much as i did? i liked it better than the dark visions one and the night world series (though both r just excellent! ash is a close second after julian, and thierry is a close third after ash and ...*S*) though i haven't read the secret circle or the vampire diaries cause i can't find them! if anyone knows where i can get them please email me! and if anyone wants to chat about LJS and how great her books r then email me! i always reply. also, has anyone else noticed that LJS creates the perfect male heroes? strong and romantic, yet with a bad side too. i just loved julian (as i've been saying throughout this whole response *S*), ash, thierry, gabriel, rob, etc. her females characters r okay too, they're incredibly lucky! and though this doesn't concern the forbidden game trilogy, does anyone else feel like mary-lynette's and ash's story isn't over? i really want to find out what happens to them.

SAD PART: Julian trades his life to save jenny and he dies...:'[

[Imaydahjr · Rating 5 out of 5]

اتمام
۱۰/مـرداد/۰۱
17:20

جِنی و دوستاش توی جلد آخر به پنسیلوانیا سفر می‌کنن تا به خونه‌ی پدربزرگ جنی برن و راه رفتن به دنیای سایه رو پیدا کنن تا بتونن دوتا از دوستاشون رو که تو دنیای سایه گرفتار شدن رو نجات بدن!
و وقتی وارد دنیای سایه می‌شن میفهمن که باید بازهم با کابوس‌هاشون روبه رو شن و اینبار جولین، میزبان بازی، بازی رو اونجور که دلش می‌خواد پیش می‌بره!
و البته اینبار خطر فقط جولین نیست، مردان سایه‌ی دیگری هم دنبال جنی هستن!

کارکتر جنی که شخصیت اصلی محسوب میشه، جزو معدود کارکتراییه که بخاطر اکت و رفتارایی که می‌کنه فحشش نمیدم و واقعا خوشم میومد ازش..

نمیدونم از نظر من اینجوریه یا واقعا هست
این مجموعه هیجان خالصه
عاشقشم
داستانش
وایبی که داره
حسی که موقع خوندن بهت دست میده
اون هیجان و ترسی که همزمان با شخصیتا تجربه میکنی
اصلا هیچی نگممم
از اون داستانایی که دلم به شدن براش تنگ میشه
واقعا تنگ میشه
از طرفی کیف کردم این چند روز سه جلدشو خوندم
از طرفی میگم تو روحت که انقد زود تمومش کردی

بیشتر از همه دلم برای جولین تنگ میشه :))))
نویسنده زد قلبمو جر داد تهش :))) ممنون واقعا خیلی مچکر
هنوز اشکام خشک نشدن اینارو مینویسم..
به این بچه چیکار داشتی اخه؟ ظالم 🚶🏻‍♀️
وای تو این جلد چقد مظلوم و اسیب‌پذیر شده بود💔

درحال حاضر در مات ترین حالت خود به سر می‌برم..
یادم رفته بود حسی که بعد از به اتمام رسوندن یه کتاب (اونم مجموعه) داری چقدر می‌تونه گ*ه باشه..🫠

پ.ن: یه جا خوندم نوشته بود:
می‌خوام یه روزی داستانی بنویسم که شخصیت منفی اش به عشقش برسه🚶🏻‍♀️
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[Kim M · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually liked this book better than the first one. The reason I'm giving it 3 instead of 4 stars is that the whole story could have ended after the first book and again after the second book. The story is dragged on and not much more is added with each new book, and I got a little tired of reading the same premise three times in a row.

That being said, I liked the amusement park/treasure hunt aspect of this book, and the additions of P.C. and Slug and the grandpa were CREEPY. Most of all, though, I LOVE how this book explores Julian's character a little more. Julian is a fascinating person and really carries the series. I also appreciate the growth that happens in all the characters, though I must confess that I care very little for any of them except Julian.

[Darlene I read WAY to many books · Rating 1 out of 5]

Now I started this series long ago and I finally had time to finally get around to the last book!! And honestly... it was such a fking let down..

I hate love triangle and I really wish it turned out differently.. deep down i had a feeling jenny was always going to pick boring ass Tom over Julian.. :/

Julian sacrifices his life at the end to give jenny her happiness... :( 2 books and all we got were stolen kisses between Julian and Jenny.. and more whiny tom and her together... i was robbed.. i wanted more julian and jenny.. she picked the wrong guy.. so yeah i was disappointed and annoyed. . everyone alive and coupled up.. i hated it..

Waste my life for this bs.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this final book of the series, Jenny must play another game with Julian in order to save Tom and her cousin, Zach, who were captured in the last book. She and her remaining friends travel to Pittsburgh to her grandfather's house where she was first exposed to the Shadow Men. They transport themselves to the Shadow Realm and must navigate a creepy amusement park and collect tokens in order to win "the treasure" of having their friends released. The stakes are higher here as there are other Shadow Men present besides Julian.

This series is great. It's scary, but not too scary. The amusement park is a really creepy setting!! I think it would be great for grades 7 and up. As I mentioned in my review for books 1&2 - I read a lot of young teen books to preview them for our school library, and I think this series would be a great addition. There is no bad language. The characters are juniors in high school and have paired up into boyfriend/girlfriend, but really only kissing occurs between them (i.e. no sex). As far as violence goes, there is less than book 2, and it isn't very graphic.

[Mada Linx · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a bit sad with the way it ended...doesn’t feel completed to me...I need more

[Keertana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished The Kill less than five minutes ago and my mind is still reeling from the sheer perfection of it. I think the hardest part about writing a series - or even a book for that matter - is finding a way to wrap everything up perfectly. Rowling is one of the few authors who has been able to write a completely satisfactory ending, and I am proud to add L.J. Smith to that category as well. (Did anyone else notice how their names have two initials and then their last name...coincidence much?)

I'm sure you can all guess what the plot of The Kill is going to be. If you thought another game, then you're right! This time, Jenny and her friends travel to Pennsylvania, using information they find from Jenny's grandfather's basement to enter into the Shadow World. Julian's latest game is a quest - find three golden doubloons and free Tom and Zach. Surprisingly though, I felt as if this game was the least scary of the three. Perhaps I'm just getting used to the horror-like style of Smith's writing, but I enjoyed the fact that the creepiness factor was toned down a bit. Still, what made this novel stand out as the best in the trilogy (IMO) was the amount of character development that took place.

If you've read my previous reviews of Smith's work, you'll no doubt be familiar with my hatred for Julian. Yet, Smith manages to take a character like Julian who is evil, cruel, and sadistic by nature, and show us a completely different side of him. I'll admit that at first I was enamored by his hidden sweet nature, but I was also annoyed that Jenny seemed to be falling for him. Even by the end of the novel though, when Jenny does admit that she loves Julian, it is a different kind of love from that she harbors for Tom. Jenny and Julian's relationship takes an extremely unique turn in this book as Jenny is able to see beyond the outer facade Julian puts and can see that even he has good inside of him. It is this inner goodness that Jenny attempts to save, salvage, and offer redemption to even though no one else can see it in Julian except for her. I absolutely loved this theme that emerged over the course of the story and its development and eventual unfoldment was very cleverly done. Furthermore, I thought the ending was perfect and extremely fitting as Smith tied up all possible hanging threads and even managed to introduce to us other Shadow Men and show us some of the magic in the Shadow Realms.

Smith's exceptional world-building aside, all of her other characters underwent immense changes as well. I loved seeing how the personalities of individual characters adapted and became different after each game that Julian made them play. Smith clearly understands her characters with an exceptional amount of skill and was able to write them in an extremely realistic manner. In addition, I loved how they grew to accept each other for what they were and appreciate the friendship between them. In fact, their group was not without its usual tiffs and petty arguments, but they managed to overcome those and continue onwards to fight Julian and his cruelty.

Ultimately, I cannot recommend this series enough. It is not only unique, different, and exceptionally well-written, but the characters undergo realistic development, the themes that emerge are paramount, and the entertainment this series provides is unparalleled. I think it would be an understatement to say I'm a fan of L.J. Smith as, quite frankly, I want to give her a giant hug for writing this series. If only all paranormal authors wrote like this, the world would be a better place.

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to follow

[Sakura Koneko · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually picked this up at the same time that I picked up the second book. My father had bought me them with one rule set in place: Do not read these in one night. Sadly, I did not follow his rule, but I don't think he found out (at the time I read a lot, so thusly I cost him a lot of money since I was fond of owning the books rather than getting them on loan from a library).

This was a very exciting end to this series, which also ended up tying up some loose ends and giving a little relief to anyone who had been reading since the first book in regards to some characters.

In the end, I ended up feeling pity for Julian, as he turned out to be a better person than he made himself seem. He actually loved Jenny, he was just very bad at showing it and wrongly treated her like a prize that was meant to be won.

The ending was a little sad, but fitting for this series, and can technically be called a happy ending, despite the realizations you make about some characters throughout this book.

[Sarah Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hate that Julian died ☹ Tom never seemed to have much of a personality until the end. I remembered that they got Summer back, and I remembered Jenny's grandfather being trapped in the penny arcade, and that Julian sacrificed himself to save Jenny.

[Chrissie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The amusement theme park was a fun and campy setting for Julian's latest game. Everything gets resolved in the bittersweet end.

[Stefanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nostalgia re-read! This is the kind of series-closer that makes L.J. Smith so beloved of readers. Even decades after this book came out, I was astonished all over again how hard this narrative goes: really putting Jenny and her friends through the wringer, but also - at long last - showing evil villain's Julian's vulnerable side.

In this book, Jenny and her friends Dee, Audrey and Michael are off to Pennsylvania to Jenny's grandfather's house, where it all started, to try and track down Tom and Zach who have been captured by Julian. They end up in the creepiest amusement park to ever creep, playing a "search" game for three gold doubloons which will win them passage to where Tom and Zach are being kept.

Like the first in the series, this book has some scenes that STILL haunt me! (Um, content warning if you're sensitive to near-drowning scenes.)

But more to the point, this is also the book where we get to see a softer side of Julian - even this monster just wants to love, ya'll! There's a sort of reversal wherein Julian doesn't want to admit to this part of himself and Jenny pursues it mercilessly, even when it would be smarter not to. So interesting how Smith handled this storyline which skirts on the edge of cheating maybe??

Whatever, it was/is catnip to me. Smith manages to bring the whole story to a satisfying close, including plotlines involving Jenny's grandfather and the toughs who stole the game box all the way back in the first book.

The ending - in particular Julian's ending - will be controversial for sure, but Smith does leave a possibility hanging out there for all those who prefer to imagine a different future.

And if it's still too unsatisfying, then I highly recommend you quickly go read Smith's Dark Visions trilogy (about the psychics) as the Julian-analogue character (Gabriel) gets the outcome some readers may have been hoping for in this book.

[neri · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I finished the first part of trilogy I didn’t see any reason for it to have more parts and even now, when I ended reading all books, I don’t see any sense for that. I really liked third part; probably I liked it even more than the first two books. I’ve rode the book per a few short days, at the end I even was crying. After the last book’s flaws this part really impressed me.
I liked sequence of events, Tom and Zach’s absence, other character’s adventures and mostly – Jenny’s character’s changes. Once been a silly girl, which bought that fatal doll house at game’s shop, entirely changed, grew up and, in agreement with the last book’s chapter, exactly Julian changed her and showed her life.
I really liked there wasn’t any betrayals between beloved characters, there wasn’t anything that could tear them apart. Relationship between characters has greatly fascinated me, the outset group of friends became a true team, and Jenny became a real leader. How sad is it that only when friends are at risks of death they became so close to each other.

[jessica ☾ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok this one is definitely my favorite of the series! I told myself it wasn’t gonna happen but I actually ended up really liking Julien’s character!

[Tatiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Вот и финал. Отличная серия!

[Vanessa (bookfairy.reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great finale!

This was probably my favourite book in the trilogy, which, normaly it does not happen often that the last one is my favourite!

I still cannot understand why Jenny would chose Tom over Julian, but oh well...

Jenny still became stronger in this final instalment and she sort of grew to become the leader of their small group of friends. It was nice seeing how the others trusted her blindly and didn't question her decisions anymore in the end. They understood that - even though not psysically - Jenny is the strongest of them all mentally.

Julian's development in this book for simply fabulous. It was amazing seeing him so human and with so much feeling toward Jenny and even she finally realised that he was being serious about his feelings for her this entire time. And even though she still couldn't chose him over Tom, she cared for him now. She wanted him to be save and she saw that Julian absolutely wasn't like the other shadow men.

The ending left me a bit sad, but it feels like there might or might not be a continuation?? I mean, these books are from 1994, so it really isn't that likely that there will be any more to the story. But IF there would be more and IF Julian would be in it again, I would most certainly read it! So, please, if anyone reads this and knows more - let me know!!! Thx <3

[Alaina · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Kill is the third and final installment of The Forbidden Game series. I dove into this mostly because of a challenge but I also really wanted to finish at least one of L.J.'s series. Sorry for ghosting you vampire diaries!

Overall, this series was just okay for me. I just wasn't invested in Jenny or Julian throughout it and the games were okay but I wasn't completely invested in those either. I will admit that her having to go through another game with him just to save Tom and Zach was interesting. Not a big fan of creepy amusement parks though.

I will say that it's nice to finish one of her series but I also feel like I might need a break from L.J. Not sure when I will ever dive back into the Vampire Diaries.. but I'm just not feeling it right now.

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a series ender! May I say that it was Unexpected but it was a real good ending! Seriously. The KILL is the BEST ADVENTURE and game of the 3. I loved that the book explained a lot of history etc. Kinda wrapped up the series when Michael (?) said the FIRST game was a race since it was time-constrained. SEcOnD game was like solving puzzles as they try to make out of the riddles and try to save each lives, the LAST game was treasure hunting, as they search for gold doubloons (coins) to be able to get Tom & Zach. OVErAll, it was a nice read. :) The twist in the end was a good idea!:)

[Astoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still crying my eyes out, the last chapters, were amazingly beautiful and bitter sweet.
I dislike Tom very much.

Julian was the real hero in this book.

"No, I'll dream another dream," he said. "I've made up so many things, now I'll just go into one. I'll be part of it."


I really wish there was a sequel to this, or that someone would carve his name , so he would come back.

[Jenny Heise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ❤️ Julian

[Buchwelten · Rating 3 out of 5]

Der Eindruck aus dem zweiten Band hält auch hier im finalen Buch der Trilogie an. Das, was mir auch in Actionfilmen missfällt, wird hier ganz groß geschrieben: der unbesiegbare Superheld - hier Superheldin Jenny. Teils wurden die Charaktere wirklich extrem klischeehaft dargestellt. Für mein Empfinden war die Darstellung der Protagonisten sehr schlecht umgesetzt und fühlte sich zuweilen richtig absurd an. Eine Nebenfigur hätte aufgrund des Verhaltens bzw. der Geschehnisse sehr naiv wirken müssen, wurde aber als kompletter Volltrottel und leicht minderbemittelt dargestellt. Das passte aber nicht zu den vorherigen Geschehnissen. Die Autorin hat einfach keine Ahnung, wie ein naiver Mensch reagiert und überzieht ihre Schilderung des Charakters in eine völlig falsche Richtung. Andere Charaktere waren in ihrer Handlungsweise schon beinahe pathetisch wenn nicht sogar theatralisch.

Insgesamt wirkte die Trilogie krampfhaft in die Länge gezogen und mit unnötigem Beiwerk aufgefüllt. Es fühlte sich an, als wäre ein Einzelband auf Biegen und Brechen zu einer Trilogie gezogen worden.

[Alex ✴︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series actually surprised me with how good it was. Although the 3 books basically rehashed the same plot ("let's play a game" a la Saw), it was done really well. The characters were all lovable and Julien was an interesting villain, I just wish the author hashed him out a bit more. It was so plot-driven that I still had a lot of questions about Julien by the end. The horror elements were done really well: disturbing (for YA), while not being over the top. A pretty solid YA series that's a bit different from what I usually read.

[Tammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars….I have each of the Forbidden Game books…I found they improved as time went on, with the last being my favourite. It isn’t a collection I will re read, but some of the characters do end up being well thought out and built, as the author has time to do this over the course of the three books. I think the villain is my fav character in the book. I wonder if the author ever thought about writing a fourth book, as I think it could be done.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were some genuinely great moments that took me off guard, especially towards the end when the book picked up. Jenny’s piousness did get annoying at times but the unabashed horniness she had for Julian will live on. I did have to cringe laugh at some of the word choices in the writing; “it was turning into another Dee/Audrey jihad” wtf??? 🫤

[Seamaiden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've always been in love with the idea of darkness and light since as two opposites that are perfect for each other and even though Jenny isn't exactly light but another Bella, I really wouldn't have minded if this trilogy had a typical YA ending. Julian was quite manipulative throughout the trilogy but he was so interesting and wonderful at the same time that I really disliked the ending. I still love the books and have readthem four or five times so far (not to mention they are my to-go gift to YA lovers) but...it really saddened me that the ending wasn't the one I expected. Good thing that I found these books after reading a Yu-Gi-Oh story based on them. The ending there is more like the one I expected so it helped while reading this one.

Re-reading it as part of our little bookclub simply reminded me how bleak Tom seems in compare to Julian. In the last book he was barely there so I have no idea why he is the one who gets Jenny. The book leaves you with the idea there could be a continuation, however, I'm glad there isn't. Anything that would come next, would be just extra. The book ends with Julian's great sacrifice so if he was to come back it'd only diminish his great love for Jenny and how he was ready to die for her.

Now I want to re-read the Yu-Gi-Oh story to get my happy ending XD

[Veronica Morfi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5/5

The Kill is the third and final book in The Forbidden Game Trilogy and for me it was also the best one. In this book Jenny and her friends are once again faced against Julian's Games and nightmares for one final time, and they have to win in order to save Tom and Zach from the Shadow World. The Game this time is a Treasure Hunt and it takes place in an amusement park. That was by far the scariest setting, with so many creepy possibilities.

I loved that in the final book we got to see a side of Julian that we haven't seen so far. It made me love him even more. My heart was broken in tiny little pieces by the end of this book. I also once again loved Jenny, she has grown so much through the books and she has become the perfect main character. I'd love to read more of her story (and Julian's) but unfortunately the trilogy has come to an end.

I am really glad that even after all the years that these books have been collecting dust on my shelves, I finally picked them up. Oh, and another thing I love about them, the 90s! I am a 90s kid so it was pretty awesome to relive in that time period. I miss the 90s... Anyways, this was a great series, really creepy and with great characters.

[Chrishel Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. What an ending. This final book was so incredibly good. I often find that the last book on a trilogy falls flat, but that was not the case here at all. Our characters learned so much about themselves in this book and I truly think that changed them into better versions of themselves in the end. Especially Jenny. She was already pretty remarkable, but I think she found things black and white whereas toward the end she could see that it wasnt always the case. Things are shades or grey. Like julian. He taught her and the others so much about life and although it wasnt all good, I think they appreciated how he left his mark on the world. What a wild ride. I'm sad it's over.

[Yasi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good! THIS WAS THE BEST PART OF STORY. I liked it. A nice and sad ending. Nice chalenges ... liked it
قشنگ بود و خوشحال بودم که از حالت تکراری کتاب در اومده و مثل قسمت های قبل نیست. واقعا جالب بود و هیجانش به مراتب از قسمت های قبل بیشتر بود .
اگر بخوام کابوس خودم رو بگم، من از جادوگرهای پیگشویی واقعا میترسم. از آن پلاستیکیا که باید پول بدهی و... با وجود داستان باحلش توی ویزاردز آف ویورلی پلیس،
)wizards of viurly (?) Place)
ترسناکن. از هکر های زنجیره ایه بزرگ هم میترسم. یه کابوس قدیمیم دارم که کاملا مبهمه و هر بار چیز های جدیدی رو نشون میده.

[Hanim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This entire series is amazing, the imagery is wonderful and sucks you into the story. It is right up there with Christopher Pike and R.L. Stine's top books from the early 90s, fashioned towards the young female readers bordering middle school and high school.
I had these books for years until the mysteriously disappeared (I bet my roommate in college DID take them) and have been looking for the author's info ever since.

[Abi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a brilliant end to the series.

I loved that it was set in an amusement park. It made the story even creepier.
Leo defiantly gave me the creeps!

I remembered what happened at the end (The main part, anyway) so i should have been more prepared for it... but i still found it really sad! Julian... :(

I'm really looking forward to re-reading L.J Smiths other fantastic books!