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The Forbidden Game #1
The Hunter
He sold her the game, and Jenny Thornton walked out mesmerized by Julian, the gorgeous cyber-punk with electric blue eyes and frost-white hair. When she and her friends open the plain white box at her boyfriend Tom’s birthday party, she chills to the warning: “Entering the Shadow World can be deadly. Do so at your own risk.” Spellbound, they piece together the rooms with their darkest nightmares. Suddenly the game is real! They’re in the house of horrors, running from The Shadow Man – Julian himself, who forces them to confront their worst nightmares or be lost in a private hell. It’s Julian’s game, and Jenny is the prize he’s stalked for years. He’ll do anything to win her as she bargains desperately for her body – and soul . . .
252 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 1994
About the author
L.J. Smith
348 books112k followersSmith 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 574 reviews
December 9, 2010
Julian is one of the sexiest characters in the whole of literature, seriously. Even if the story hadn't been a wonderful and gripping adventure with an array of colourful and interesting characters, it would still have been worth the read for Julian. But that aside, the book was wonderful, as soon as I finished it I instantly picked up the sequal. What a great and original story, a bit scary in parts but always entertaining - I couldn't put it down.
September 10, 2020
I've always been fan of cat and mouse chase between characters and this book perfectly captures it. A fast, action paced story which ventures into the boundaries of fantasy and horror; this book is a quick read.
July 29, 2022
اتمام
۷/مـرداد/۰۱
23:20
خوشم میاد از کتابایی که مقدمه‌ی طولانی ندارن واسه شناخت ماجرای داستان!
شروع کتاب انقد خوبه که همون اول وارد ماجرا و هیجانش میشی
بدون هیچ خستگی، اضافه گویی و اطنابی!
عاشق داستان جادویی‌ایش شـــدم😭
فعلا که بخاطر حس خوبی که بهش داشتم ۵ ستاره دادم تا برم جلدای بعدیشو بخونم ببینم چه خبره👀
فضای داستان عین فیلم‌ها یا داستاناییه که گروهی از دوستان دورهم بازی ای رو شروع میکنن که نمیدونن چه عواقبی داره و توش گیر میکنن و باید خودشونو نجات بدن!
و من عاشق وایب اینجور داستانام :)))
مثل فیلمهای جرئت حقیقت و عین وایب فیبم جومانجی (ورژن قدیمیش)
خلاصه:
جِنی، برای خرید یک هدیه تولد وارد مغازه‌ای اسرار امیز و عجیب میشه و به پیشنهاد صاحب مرموز چشم‌ابی اونجا، یه بازی جعبه سفیدی رو میگیره و به خونه می‌بره و وقتی با دوستانش بازی رو شروع میکنن، وارد دنیای بازی، یعنی قلمروی مرد سایه میشن و متوجه میشن که این یه بازی معمولی نیست و باید برای نجات جونشون با تاریک‌ترین کابوس‌هاشون بجنگن تا رها بشن!
ترجمه و متن کتاب خیلی خوب بود
تعلیق داستان هم که عالی. درسته حجمش کم بود ولی خب من یه روزه تمومش کردم!
این وسط هم یه آقا جولین داریم، ویلن دوست‌داشتنی مون😂
بهترین بخش این کتاب شخصیت جولیان بود!
یه کارکتر فراموش‌نشدنی و شرور و خبیث!
نمیدونم چه مرگمه که به طور خیلی عجیبی همیشه سمت ویلن های داستان جذب میشم!
و نمیدونم چه حکمتیه هیچوقت این ویلنای بیچاره به مراد دلشون نمی‌رسن!
دیگه وقتشه نویسنده های محترم داستانی رو بنویسم که آدم بدا هم به عشقشون برسن :(
والا
چه وضعشه
««««««شاید اسپویل»»»»»
ولی خدایی جنی چه شجاعتی داشت که اون بلارو سر جولین اورد👀
برای اولین بار کاری که شخصیت اصلی داستان سر ویلن داستان آورد رو تحسین کردم و برگام ریخت😂✋🏻
پ.ن: اگه به داستانای جادویی، ماجراجویی و فانتزی (دلهره آور) علاقه دارین بهتون پیشنهاد میشه!
۷/مـرداد/۰۱
23:20
خوشم میاد از کتابایی که مقدمه‌ی طولانی ندارن واسه شناخت ماجرای داستان!
شروع کتاب انقد خوبه که همون اول وارد ماجرا و هیجانش میشی
بدون هیچ خستگی، اضافه گویی و اطنابی!
عاشق داستان جادویی‌ایش شـــدم😭
فعلا که بخاطر حس خوبی که بهش داشتم ۵ ستاره دادم تا برم جلدای بعدیشو بخونم ببینم چه خبره👀
فضای داستان عین فیلم‌ها یا داستاناییه که گروهی از دوستان دورهم بازی ای رو شروع میکنن که نمیدونن چه عواقبی داره و توش گیر میکنن و باید خودشونو نجات بدن!
و من عاشق وایب اینجور داستانام :)))
مثل فیلمهای جرئت حقیقت و عین وایب فیبم جومانجی (ورژن قدیمیش)
خلاصه:
جِنی، برای خرید یک هدیه تولد وارد مغازه‌ای اسرار امیز و عجیب میشه و به پیشنهاد صاحب مرموز چشم‌ابی اونجا، یه بازی جعبه سفیدی رو میگیره و به خونه می‌بره و وقتی با دوستانش بازی رو شروع میکنن، وارد دنیای بازی، یعنی قلمروی مرد سایه میشن و متوجه میشن که این یه بازی معمولی نیست و باید برای نجات جونشون با تاریک‌ترین کابوس‌هاشون بجنگن تا رها بشن!
ترجمه و متن کتاب خیلی خوب بود
تعلیق داستان هم که عالی. درسته حجمش کم بود ولی خب من یه روزه تمومش کردم!
این وسط هم یه آقا جولین داریم، ویلن دوست‌داشتنی مون😂
بهترین بخش این کتاب شخصیت جولیان بود!
یه کارکتر فراموش‌نشدنی و شرور و خبیث!
نمیدونم چه مرگمه که به طور خیلی عجیبی همیشه سمت ویلن های داستان جذب میشم!
و نمیدونم چه حکمتیه هیچوقت این ویلنای بیچاره به مراد دلشون نمی‌رسن!
دیگه وقتشه نویسنده های محترم داستانی رو بنویسم که آدم بدا هم به عشقشون برسن :(
والا
چه وضعشه
««««««شاید اسپویل»»»»»
ولی خدایی جنی چه شجاعتی داشت که اون بلارو سر جولین اورد👀
برای اولین بار کاری که شخصیت اصلی داستان سر ویلن داستان آورد رو تحسین کردم و برگام ریخت😂✋🏻
پ.ن: اگه به داستانای جادویی، ماجراجویی و فانتزی (دلهره آور) علاقه دارین بهتون پیشنهاد میشه!
August 22, 2008
To anyone who has ever loved Labyrinth, you would think this novel somehow tells the history of The Goblin King. Well, there is no actual tie-in to Labyrinth except the one I make in my mind.
Jenny only wanted to get a game for her boyfriend's party she was throwing that night. She ducks into a store in the sketchy side of town and impulsively buys a plain white glossy box--without knowing what's in it--from a handsome man in the store. Boyfriend who?
She gets home and realizes how stupid her decision was. She tries to hide it when one of them opens it up and finds glossy boards with a pre-printed Victorian paper house begging to be built. They draw themselves on the dolls and their worst nightmares on more boards provided. They ready to play the game when a clock chimes and footsteps pound on the upper floor in a one story home with no clock that chimes. They black out.
They are in the house and the boy from the store who is a Shadow Man named Julian. They have to face their own fears and make it to the top of the turret before dawn.
It's meant for young adults, but read it! You will thank me! It's from the UK, what more could you want!
Jenny only wanted to get a game for her boyfriend's party she was throwing that night. She ducks into a store in the sketchy side of town and impulsively buys a plain white glossy box--without knowing what's in it--from a handsome man in the store. Boyfriend who?
She gets home and realizes how stupid her decision was. She tries to hide it when one of them opens it up and finds glossy boards with a pre-printed Victorian paper house begging to be built. They draw themselves on the dolls and their worst nightmares on more boards provided. They ready to play the game when a clock chimes and footsteps pound on the upper floor in a one story home with no clock that chimes. They black out.
They are in the house and the boy from the store who is a Shadow Man named Julian. They have to face their own fears and make it to the top of the turret before dawn.
It's meant for young adults, but read it! You will thank me! It's from the UK, what more could you want!
July 4, 2020
I so badly wanted to love this book. It was so hyped up by so many self-proclaimed literature snobs who would normally turn up their noses at this sort of book that I was totally convinced I would fall in love with it and regret all the years it hadn't been in my life.
I guess those expectations were just too high, especially with regard to Julian, that I really only have myself to blame for being let down. I really should know better by now not to get swept up on the hype train. It's not like this is the first time I've been burned. Nevertheless, I kept telling myself that the book would pick up as it went on, only to have those hopes shot in the face when I got to the last page and it hadn't magically become The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread™. Big sad.
I haven't decided yet whether I'm going to finish the series. I'm still reeling from the disappointment. I'll eventually probably pick up the next two books when I'm between books and looking for something short and fun-ish to read in the interim.
I guess those expectations were just too high, especially with regard to Julian, that I really only have myself to blame for being let down. I really should know better by now not to get swept up on the hype train. It's not like this is the first time I've been burned. Nevertheless, I kept telling myself that the book would pick up as it went on, only to have those hopes shot in the face when I got to the last page and it hadn't magically become The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread™. Big sad.
I haven't decided yet whether I'm going to finish the series. I'm still reeling from the disappointment. I'll eventually probably pick up the next two books when I'm between books and looking for something short and fun-ish to read in the interim.
March 24, 2021
I can't really recall which Point Horror books I had as a teen and whilst the cover looks vaguely familiar I think i would have remembered this one as it was rather good!
Being trapped in a board game must really have been in the zeitgeist during the mid-90's as Jenny buys one for her boyfriends birthday, the group of teens then must battling their own worst nightmares to survive.
Jenny's trip to the 'More Games' store is such a great set up and even put me in mind of both Stephen King's Needful Things and a few of the early Goosebumps books published around this time too (Monster Blood and The Haunted Mask) whilst there she meets enigmatic Julian and a mystery white box that she feels compelled to have...
The game itself is so wonderfully creepy, a constructible Victorian dolls house where the players must draw their own faces on the accompanying paper figures.
There's plenty of nice twists as the various players fears are slowly revealed as they journey through the house.
Which is perfectly set up for Jenny to finally face hers.
A perfect start to the trilogy.
Being trapped in a board game must really have been in the zeitgeist during the mid-90's as Jenny buys one for her boyfriends birthday, the group of teens then must battling their own worst nightmares to survive.
Jenny's trip to the 'More Games' store is such a great set up and even put me in mind of both Stephen King's Needful Things and a few of the early Goosebumps books published around this time too (Monster Blood and The Haunted Mask) whilst there she meets enigmatic Julian and a mystery white box that she feels compelled to have...
The game itself is so wonderfully creepy, a constructible Victorian dolls house where the players must draw their own faces on the accompanying paper figures.
There's plenty of nice twists as the various players fears are slowly revealed as they journey through the house.
Which is perfectly set up for Jenny to finally face hers.
A perfect start to the trilogy.
February 10, 2008
L.J. Smith is such a guilty pleasure of mine. I discovered her in sixth grade and have never really given her up. I didn't stumble upon this trilogy until three years ago or so, when I was living at home, marginally employed, and mildly depressed - so, hey, just about as miserable as I was in sixth grade! - and the brain-numbing cheesiness combined with just enough creativity and genuinely intriguing characters was just as soothing then as it was in middle school.
The first and third books of Forbidden Game are my favorites, just because of the framework they use. In book one, the titular game is a paper house that becomes real, that sucks Our Heroes into its alternate reality, and makes them face their worst nightmares. I don't care how cheesy the rest of it is; that's cool.
Our Heroine is, as always, irritatingly perfect, though I find Jenny to come by her "perfection" a little more honestly than some of the other L.J. Smith heroines. Our Hero is even more irritating than normal, moving from starts out looking like a creepy, almost emotionally abusive and controlling relationship with Jenny to an I'm-not-worthy-must-hide-myself-from-your-perfection thing by the end of this book. (And it just gets weirder and worse as the books go on.)
Then, of course, there is Our Villain, who is almost always more interesting, more complex, and not villainy enough to counterbalance how much nicer he is to Our Heroine than Our Hero is. Julian remains one of Smith's kickass villains. He loves Jenny, yes he does, and there's a good reason why it's her and no other. He is descended from a race of monsters, but there's a (okay, less good, but still plausible) reason why he is less monstery. He's got just enough zazz in him to make you think he might actually harm the rest of The Gang, but you never (I never) really believe he's going to harm Jenny. It's an interesting set-up.
Plus, these books get total props for a) actually killing people and 2) even the people who end up not dead, you actually think are dead for a good long while. Horror movies are so much more thrilling when people might actually get knocked off.
The first and third books of Forbidden Game are my favorites, just because of the framework they use. In book one, the titular game is a paper house that becomes real, that sucks Our Heroes into its alternate reality, and makes them face their worst nightmares. I don't care how cheesy the rest of it is; that's cool.
Our Heroine is, as always, irritatingly perfect, though I find Jenny to come by her "perfection" a little more honestly than some of the other L.J. Smith heroines. Our Hero is even more irritating than normal, moving from starts out looking like a creepy, almost emotionally abusive and controlling relationship with Jenny to an I'm-not-worthy-must-hide-myself-from-your-perfection thing by the end of this book. (And it just gets weirder and worse as the books go on.)
Then, of course, there is Our Villain, who is almost always more interesting, more complex, and not villainy enough to counterbalance how much nicer he is to Our Heroine than Our Hero is. Julian remains one of Smith's kickass villains. He loves Jenny, yes he does, and there's a good reason why it's her and no other. He is descended from a race of monsters, but there's a (okay, less good, but still plausible) reason why he is less monstery. He's got just enough zazz in him to make you think he might actually harm the rest of The Gang, but you never (I never) really believe he's going to harm Jenny. It's an interesting set-up.
Plus, these books get total props for a) actually killing people and 2) even the people who end up not dead, you actually think are dead for a good long while. Horror movies are so much more thrilling when people might actually get knocked off.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 7, 2025
Re-read! Julian, in retrospect, is SO problematic but also SO the ideal sexy villain. The nightmares in this book that the characters have to survive still haunt me! And I still can't believe that scene between Jenny and her cousin Zach. YOU know which one I mean. I can't believe that made it into a YA. The mid 90s were wild times I tell you.
April 9, 2021
The Hunter was an okay book. Just like the vampire diary books this was kind of just okay/meh to me. Maybe it's because I'm older and not into these sort of things anymore.. or I have no idea what's wrong with me. Plus the way this sort of starts off, romantically, just made me cringe here and there.
In it, you will meet Julian and Jenny. They are very insta-y throughout the entire book which definitely had me rolling my eyes at times. I guess, in a way, they had some cute moments but I honestly wasn't a huge fan of them.
Other than that, I guess I'm glad that everything zoomed by in this one because I never felt bored. I just wish that I liked the couple in this one. They had their likable moments but I just didn't connect to them at all.
Hoping things change in the next book.
In it, you will meet Julian and Jenny. They are very insta-y throughout the entire book which definitely had me rolling my eyes at times. I guess, in a way, they had some cute moments but I honestly wasn't a huge fan of them.
Other than that, I guess I'm glad that everything zoomed by in this one because I never felt bored. I just wish that I liked the couple in this one. They had their likable moments but I just didn't connect to them at all.
Hoping things change in the next book.
August 2, 2025
Review to follow
February 20, 2014
(Source: I own a copy of this book.)
16-year-old Jenny is just looking for a party game when she comes across a strange store, and a gorgeous boy who wants to sell her exactly what she wants.
What is the game that Julian sells her? And will Jenny and her friends make it to the end alive?
I haven’t read this book for years, but thankfully it was as good as I remembered.
I liked Jenny although she did irritate me a bit at times. As fearless as she was in some respects, she was a bit of a pushover when it came to her boyfriend and her friends, and seemed to want to do anything to please them.
The storyline in this was pretty good, a bit of a Jumanji meets Labyrinth kind of thing, and I liked that the nightmares that each player faced were actually pretty creepy.
My favourite part of this book was definitely Julian though. I don’t care that he is supposed to be the bad guy; he’s just so charismatic and charming that I would have stayed with him in a heartbeat. What was Jenny thinking – she should totally choose Julian!
The ending was a bit of a cliff-hanger and to be honest I can’t really remember what happens in the second book, but I do remember that we get more romantic scenes with Julian! Yay!
Overall; a good paranormal adventure story, with a little bit of romance,
8.5 out of 10.
16-year-old Jenny is just looking for a party game when she comes across a strange store, and a gorgeous boy who wants to sell her exactly what she wants.
What is the game that Julian sells her? And will Jenny and her friends make it to the end alive?
I haven’t read this book for years, but thankfully it was as good as I remembered.
I liked Jenny although she did irritate me a bit at times. As fearless as she was in some respects, she was a bit of a pushover when it came to her boyfriend and her friends, and seemed to want to do anything to please them.
The storyline in this was pretty good, a bit of a Jumanji meets Labyrinth kind of thing, and I liked that the nightmares that each player faced were actually pretty creepy.
My favourite part of this book was definitely Julian though. I don’t care that he is supposed to be the bad guy; he’s just so charismatic and charming that I would have stayed with him in a heartbeat. What was Jenny thinking – she should totally choose Julian!
The ending was a bit of a cliff-hanger and to be honest I can’t really remember what happens in the second book, but I do remember that we get more romantic scenes with Julian! Yay!
Overall; a good paranormal adventure story, with a little bit of romance,
8.5 out of 10.
August 27, 2018
Jenny gets more than she bargained for when she buys a mysterious game from a strange story that she stumbled into one day. She and her friends get sucked into a strange house and are forced to face their nightmares. They must face their fears and reach the top floor in order to win. The house is controlled by Julian, a Shadow Man, who claims to be in love with Jenny. If she and her friends lose the game, Jenny must stay with him in the Shadow Realm forever. Dun, dun, Duuuuunnnnn!
I enjoyed this book. It was interesting to see what each character was afraid of as they had to face their fears. I read a lot of young teen books to preview them for our school library, and I think I might suggest it to the librarian if she doesn't already have it. 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 isn't much. It's supposed to be a scary book, and they are living their nightmares and can potentially die from their fears, but there is no graphic violence in the book.
I enjoyed this book. It was interesting to see what each character was afraid of as they had to face their fears. I read a lot of young teen books to preview them for our school library, and I think I might suggest it to the librarian if she doesn't already have it. 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 isn't much. It's supposed to be a scary book, and they are living their nightmares and can potentially die from their fears, but there is no graphic violence in the book.
September 21, 2018
1.5/5 stars
hi i'm starting a kickstarter to have julian put down the pros would be that jenny would get sexually harassed and assaulted way less and i'd be able to read about these kids facing their nightmares without remembering that this is all for the endgame of jenny falling in love with julian despite the fact that she 1] has a boyfriend and 2] julian spends the whole series forcing himself on her when she says no and literally starts crying trying to get away from him
is that SEXY to people? GROSS
'i've been in love with you since u were 7 so i'm going to pretend to be ur cousin and make out with u and give u a complex' i am fucking GAGGING over here get me away!!!! i'm getting rid of this series ASAP i love the nightmare bits but jesus christ it isn't worth it, i can't even force myself through to the carnival in book 3 or that bit in book 2 where a snake comes up the toilet
hi i'm starting a kickstarter to have julian put down the pros would be that jenny would get sexually harassed and assaulted way less and i'd be able to read about these kids facing their nightmares without remembering that this is all for the endgame of jenny falling in love with julian despite the fact that she 1] has a boyfriend and 2] julian spends the whole series forcing himself on her when she says no and literally starts crying trying to get away from him
is that SEXY to people? GROSS
'i've been in love with you since u were 7 so i'm going to pretend to be ur cousin and make out with u and give u a complex' i am fucking GAGGING over here get me away!!!! i'm getting rid of this series ASAP i love the nightmare bits but jesus christ it isn't worth it, i can't even force myself through to the carnival in book 3 or that bit in book 2 where a snake comes up the toilet
November 22, 2007
What teenager hasn't dreamt of being taken away by David Bowie? Not too shabby, I say. Even if he is a demony creature from Beyond!
It's pulp. Pseudo Sexual horror romance for teens. I was compelled to finish the series by my libido, plus the spooky bits aren't bad at all.
First book I read as a kid that had words I didn't recognize, too, like laconic.
The description of the things the kids are afraid of, sticks with me the most--especially the one of the Black Forrest. Fairly creepy.
It's pulp. Pseudo Sexual horror romance for teens. I was compelled to finish the series by my libido, plus the spooky bits aren't bad at all.
First book I read as a kid that had words I didn't recognize, too, like laconic.
The description of the things the kids are afraid of, sticks with me the most--especially the one of the Black Forrest. Fairly creepy.
February 22, 2011
I LOVED this book from the beginnig I couldn't put it down! Just loved it and it was suspenseful the whole time. I just have to keep reading the series. I am hooked. This is my favorite of L.J. Smith's thus far. I want to see it put in a movie. It would be an awesome movie!
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March 29, 2014Early 90's vibe in the writing, but it doesn't matter because the plot is so fun. This would make a great movie -a house full of nightmares with a hot seductive guy trying to seduce the protagonist. This book is what started my love of all misunderstood bad guys -and I still love it years later!!! Think of it as Hades & Persephone meets Labyrinth, only muchhhh better!
August 15, 2020
As an avid fan of L.J. Smith’s ‘Nightworld’ series, I was so excited when I spotted this at my local bookstore. This is absolutely not what I was expecting but I loved it! The story was surprisingly creepy and honestly freaked me out a tad bit. My only complaint is that the characters seemed a little dull and could benefit from fleshing out.
August 10, 2015
Мне понравилась эта история. Простенько, но очень увлекательно!! Буду читать дальше :)
July 19, 2026
“Completely evil—and completely in love with her. How was she supposed to reconcile that?”
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Summary:
Jenny Thornton meant to throw a pool party for her boyfriend Tom’s birthday. However, the sudden change in weather ruined her plans, and now she needs to find a last-minute game that all of her friends (Audrey, Michael, Summer, Zach, and Dee) would find entertaining. Stumbling upon a mysterious store, she meets a supernaturally beautiful, blue-eyed boy who offers her a glossy white box, promising a one-of-a-kind game inside. Jenny, compelled by this strange boy, buys it without asking any questions.
It isn’t until she gets home that she learns the rules of this game and the warnings that come with playing it. “Entering the Shadow World can be deadly. Do so at your own risk.”
Within the game, she and her friends will have to make their way through the levels of a paper house, confronting their worst nightmares as they go, chased by the Shadow Man. If they can make it to the top of the house before dawn, only then will they be free.
I would recommend this book to:
Anyone who read this book as a child; read it again now!
Fans of pulpy, cheesy romance tropes
Haters of pulpy, cheesy romance tropes who want a drinking game or a laugh
Anyone who likes their book boyfriend to be a little bit insane
I would NOT recommend this book to:
Very serious readers of very serious literature
Anyone who would be frustrated with ’90s-typical handling of race/social issues
Readers triggered by confinement, manipulation, stalking and blackmail by a romantic interest, body horror, supernatural threat, or cousin incest
──────── 🎲 ────────
My thoughts:
I read this book for the first time when I was maybe eleven or twelve, and it was one of my favourite books; I had it checked out of the library just constantly. When I thought about it again, I had to read it. I remembered a fair bit of the plot (which does speak to a level of uniqueness, because I can’t remember most books I read at that age), I remembered finding Julian sooooo ‘smexy’ (2011 lingo, my beloved <3), and I remembered being able to demolish all 700+ pages of the three-book collection in under a fortnight. I went in with expectations for cheesy, cheeky, good fun.
I was surprised by how good it actually is. It manages to pack a lot into a very small number of pages with very rapid pacing, driven by the fast plot movement and Smith’s short, punchy sentences. Smith manages to introduce us to an ensemble cast and very quickly make them all legible by using stock characterisations: the jock, the rich girl, the artist, the class clown, etc. However, as we move through the plot and each character must face their fear, these archetypes expand, and each character is given a little arc that ties into the themes of the novel: vulnerability versus performance, loss of innocence, and personal agency. Some side characters (particularly Audrey and Dee) get more development than others, but there is no dead weight. Everyone has to face their fears and find a way to master them, or else suffer the consequences; this novel is not afraid of genuine consequences!
I was also surprised to see how ahead of the curve Smith was with the romance. This is such a precursor to modern ‘dark romance’ trends… except Smith did it better than these modern authors! There is so much hype for ‘shadow-daddy’ love interests nowadays, but they’re nothing compared to the Shadow Man. Jenny, you’re better than me, girl; my teenaged self would have jumped on him. Their scenes were restrained enough not to feel creepy (Jenny is only 16) but still contained a lot of passion and the first stirrings of desire.
Julian is a perfect blend of sexy and dangerous, but with a genuine love for Jenny Thornton. He is a being of pure darkness, willing to do anything and go to any length to have her, yet Jenny’s consent is, to some degree, baked into the narrative. He can only bring her to the Shadow Realm because she invoked the rune; he can only touch her if she invites him to do so. He occupies the role of a sort of trickster figure wherein he has infinite power to manipulate reality, but he must abide by the rules of the game he creates. He must give Jenny a chance to escape, which she will always take, giving our protagonist the opportunity to be bold and intelligent and earn his respect.
That said, for all my praise, this book certainly isn’t perfect. It’s very strange, with two very big standouts:
1. The pseudo-incest
2. The treatment of Dee’s race
I have nothing to say about the pseudo-incest. That chapter doesn’t exist to me; I don’t know why L. J. Smith wrote cousin-kissing into this story.
The treatment of Deidre ‘Dee’ Eliade’s race, however, is harder to ignore and is definitely uncomfortable throughout, with the constant focus on her skin and her ‘African princess’ beauty. My only weakly offered defence of this is to say that I think it was very well-intentioned and was supposed to subvert some of the ’90s’ worst tropes by giving us a complex black character (which was quite rare in a lot of ’90s pulp fiction) and refusing to write her as ‘colourblind’ or make Dee casually or ambiguously non-white. Dee’s African heritage is a part of her character; her dark skin is a part of her beauty. It’s handled with a lot of clumsiness, but never with outright maliciousness.
Overall, though, this is a really, really solid little book. I’ve watched Jenny Nicholson reading this book on YouTube, and I know it’s very easy to take the piss out of; I would agree with most things you could mock this for. That said, I still think it was solid, and I got everything I wanted out of reading it: it was quick, consumable, and fun. I also got a really pleasant surprise with the quality of the craft.
This first book had me ready for the second and excited to keep reading the series. Reading about Julian again was like seeing an ex that you’ve still got love for <3
January 14, 2008
Book 1 of 3. The Forbidden Game trilogy. Very good. Middle school level reading. However, has many classic themes that all ages will enjoy. Find, read, and re-read! (put on keeper shelf!)
The first book in the trilogy which introduces Jenny and group (her boyfriend Tom, her cousin Zach, her friends Audrey, Michael, (who are dating each other) and Dee) to the Shadow Man- Julian who has fallen in love with Jenny and won’t rest until she is his. Jenny buys The Game from Julian (unbeknownst to her at the time) for Tom’s birthday party. The Game is a board game of sorts that looks like a Victorian Doll House. They each draw their own faces on the characters, have to draw their own worst nightmares and swear that The Game is real and dangerous. The Game turns real and the group finds themselves actually inside The Game in the Shadow World. They each have to face their own nightmares and get to the end (the top of the house) and threw the door before dawn strikes or else Julian wins and he gets to keep Jenny forever.
I love this story. I love the characters and the story-line even though it is young-adult and seems a little silly at times. I think it’s the nostalgia of it for me. One of my all time favorite books/trilogies. In this trilogy though, I always root for the bad guy. I can’t help it, I LOVE Julian. :o)
The first book in the trilogy which introduces Jenny and group (her boyfriend Tom, her cousin Zach, her friends Audrey, Michael, (who are dating each other) and Dee) to the Shadow Man- Julian who has fallen in love with Jenny and won’t rest until she is his. Jenny buys The Game from Julian (unbeknownst to her at the time) for Tom’s birthday party. The Game is a board game of sorts that looks like a Victorian Doll House. They each draw their own faces on the characters, have to draw their own worst nightmares and swear that The Game is real and dangerous. The Game turns real and the group finds themselves actually inside The Game in the Shadow World. They each have to face their own nightmares and get to the end (the top of the house) and threw the door before dawn strikes or else Julian wins and he gets to keep Jenny forever.
I love this story. I love the characters and the story-line even though it is young-adult and seems a little silly at times. I think it’s the nostalgia of it for me. One of my all time favorite books/trilogies. In this trilogy though, I always root for the bad guy. I can’t help it, I LOVE Julian. :o)
December 20, 2016
well,I liked it; my friend recomended this book in school to me & I barrowed it from school library.
I Liked it, but such as other books , as vampire dieries, the main charectors were very pretty &... you know... the cover were'nt good & the translate was awfull;
IT wasnt very huge,U know! It wasnt wow! it was just pretty. nice. good. not well;
& just this
happy yalda
خب دوستم اینو تو مدرسه بهم معرفی کرد و طبق معمول عاشق شخصیت منفی و اصلی داستان شده بود. و گذاشت که بجای اینکه برای 800 مین بار خودش این کتاب بگیره،من از کتابخونه بگیرمش. جلدش خیلی بده و ترجمه افتضاحههه... دیالوگ ها سنگین نیستن و کتاب مثل خیلی از دیگر کتابهاشخصیت های زیبا و بی نقصی دارد که از اشکالاتشه چون هرکس ک میخونه که نباید عاشق شخصیت اصلی شه.اخرش بد تموم شد و به نظرم از دیگر جلد هاش باید بهتر باشه.
مشغول خوندن جلد بعدی هستم.
ممنون از نشر چشمه، مترجم و البته ال جی اسمیت
نشر چشمه ترجمه کرده
و یلدایتان مبارک کتابخوان های عزیز
پ.ن:گودریدز با اکانات جدید بهتر شده
I Liked it, but such as other books , as vampire dieries, the main charectors were very pretty &... you know... the cover were'nt good & the translate was awfull;
IT wasnt very huge,U know! It wasnt wow! it was just pretty. nice. good. not well;
& just this
happy yalda
خب دوستم اینو تو مدرسه بهم معرفی کرد و طبق معمول عاشق شخصیت منفی و اصلی داستان شده بود. و گذاشت که بجای اینکه برای 800 مین بار خودش این کتاب بگیره،من از کتابخونه بگیرمش. جلدش خیلی بده و ترجمه افتضاحههه... دیالوگ ها سنگین نیستن و کتاب مثل خیلی از دیگر کتابهاشخصیت های زیبا و بی نقصی دارد که از اشکالاتشه چون هرکس ک میخونه که نباید عاشق شخصیت اصلی شه.اخرش بد تموم شد و به نظرم از دیگر جلد هاش باید بهتر باشه.
مشغول خوندن جلد بعدی هستم.
ممنون از نشر چشمه، مترجم و البته ال جی اسمیت
نشر چشمه ترجمه کرده
و یلدایتان مبارک کتابخوان های عزیز
پ.ن:گودریدز با اکانات جدید بهتر شده
February 20, 2014
It's been 5 years since i read this series, and i still love it!
Some of the nightmares were really creepy. I would have had nightmares for life if i took part in them!
The characters were really good. Jenny was really brave and clever. There is no way that i would be able to work that riddle out so quickly!
Julian was creepy and very sneaky, but i couldn't help but love him.
I'd lose a good hour in the games if Julian appeared - I wouldn't be able to stop staring at his blue eyes!
I'm really looking forward to re-reading the next book, because from what i can remember, it gets even better!
Some of the nightmares were really creepy. I would have had nightmares for life if i took part in them!
The characters were really good. Jenny was really brave and clever. There is no way that i would be able to work that riddle out so quickly!
Julian was creepy and very sneaky, but i couldn't help but love him.
I'd lose a good hour in the games if Julian appeared - I wouldn't be able to stop staring at his blue eyes!
I'm really looking forward to re-reading the next book, because from what i can remember, it gets even better!
December 18, 2017
“He was evil. Cruel, capricious, and dangerous as a cobra. A prince of darkness.
Completely evil—and completely in love with her.”
October 15, 2018
Okay, this is going to be a short review.
I liked this a lot! It's a bit old school, but that's to be expected, since it is from 1994.
I also got huge Jumanji vibes from this, with the whole being-sucked-into-a-game scenario.
The characters were all great and different and well developed and even though each and every one of them had a clear role and a specific character, they didn't feel like stereotypes to me.
Julian was just amazing. He is so interesting and dark and handsome and he is the villain. Yeah... I got that, but I couldn't help but love him. His character is twisted and even though he does everything to get what he is after, he also has this "soft" side to him. He is not really soft, but he has something about him that is charming and almost... tender? I don't really know how I should describe him. But I wanted Jenny to stay with him, even though I somehow knew she wouldn't. Such a shame though!!!
Tom on the other hand was kind of lame. (Sorry to everyone who liked him.) He didn't play a very big role in this book (as he was away almost the entire time), but Jenny kept thinking about him to remind herself that she shouldn't want and think about Julian. That was also kind of meh. I like that she wanted to stay loyal, but at the same time she kept kissing Julian (and enjoying it) and kept thinking about him oh so often, so it didn't really make sense. But oh well...
A unique aspect in this book were the nightmare of the different characters. While being kidnapped by aliens was still a somewhat "normal" fear, the other nightmares were something completely original. The author seemed to have thought a lot about these nightmares and I think they were excellent!
Finally, the book is really short and you can fly through it and finish it within a few days even if you don't have time and only read on the train to work - like me. So, if you wanna read something fast and somewhat original over Halloween (somewhat, because the game aspect reminded me of Jumanji), go for it!
I liked this a lot! It's a bit old school, but that's to be expected, since it is from 1994.
I also got huge Jumanji vibes from this, with the whole being-sucked-into-a-game scenario.
The characters were all great and different and well developed and even though each and every one of them had a clear role and a specific character, they didn't feel like stereotypes to me.
Julian was just amazing. He is so interesting and dark and handsome and he is the villain. Yeah... I got that, but I couldn't help but love him. His character is twisted and even though he does everything to get what he is after, he also has this "soft" side to him. He is not really soft, but he has something about him that is charming and almost... tender? I don't really know how I should describe him. But I wanted Jenny to stay with him, even though I somehow knew she wouldn't. Such a shame though!!!
Tom on the other hand was kind of lame. (Sorry to everyone who liked him.) He didn't play a very big role in this book (as he was away almost the entire time), but Jenny kept thinking about him to remind herself that she shouldn't want and think about Julian. That was also kind of meh. I like that she wanted to stay loyal, but at the same time she kept kissing Julian (and enjoying it) and kept thinking about him oh so often, so it didn't really make sense. But oh well...
A unique aspect in this book were the nightmare of the different characters. While being kidnapped by aliens was still a somewhat "normal" fear, the other nightmares were something completely original. The author seemed to have thought a lot about these nightmares and I think they were excellent!
Finally, the book is really short and you can fly through it and finish it within a few days even if you don't have time and only read on the train to work - like me. So, if you wanna read something fast and somewhat original over Halloween (somewhat, because the game aspect reminded me of Jumanji), go for it!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 7, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
This is a thrilling, captivating, and surprisingly well written YA fantasy novel that was published more than 30 years ago. I first read this when I was 14 years old, and re-reading it now at 28 feels so nostalgic. I’m shocked at how well this holds up years and years later. The main characters are compelling and the plot kept me on the edge of my seat. I absolutely loved how Norse mythology and different kinds of lore and the occult were woven into this story to make something truly original. I haven’t read anything quite like this book and I’m so excited to re-read the next two installments of the series.
This is a thrilling, captivating, and surprisingly well written YA fantasy novel that was published more than 30 years ago. I first read this when I was 14 years old, and re-reading it now at 28 feels so nostalgic. I’m shocked at how well this holds up years and years later. The main characters are compelling and the plot kept me on the edge of my seat. I absolutely loved how Norse mythology and different kinds of lore and the occult were woven into this story to make something truly original. I haven’t read anything quite like this book and I’m so excited to re-read the next two installments of the series.
August 26, 2018
This was an okay book, probably something I would've enjoyed more when I was younger. Most of the nightmares weren't that scary and the ending seemed too easy. That being said I still want to continue with the series to know what happens next.
May 2, 2019
Super cool, mysterious, and the writing was on point. I wanted a little bit more from it. Maybe it comes in the next 2 books. Maybe I’ll read them one day. For now I’m moving on
June 14, 2012
I think it would be an understatement to say that I am impressed by L.J. Smith. Smith's name is one that is familiar to nearly everyone, if not for anything else then for her widely popular Vampire Diaries Series. I was more than a little nervous going into The Forbidden Game though, merely because I wanted to like her just as much as everyone else did. I wanted to fall in love with her characters and her world and I can assure you, there are very few authors who I really want to love. I am glad to say however, that L.J. Smith did not disappoint. If anything, she made it easy for me to join the ranks of her avid fans.
The Hunter is possibly one of the scariest novels I've read. It begins when Jenny, searching for an interesting game to play at her boyfriend's birthday party, stumbles upon a mysterious store and an even more mysterious owner. Julian, the enigmatic and beautiful man she meets, offers her The Game and she takes it home with a strange feeling in her heart. It turns out that The Game is merely a dollhouse - one which her boyfriend Tom, best friends Dee, Audrey, and Summer, cousin Zach, and other close friend Michael, all eagerly complete. Yet, what they don't expect is to find themselves inside the dollhouse, facing their worst nightmares, for Julian isn't what he seems to be. He is The Shadow Man and he wants Jenny. If Jenny and her friends can't make it out of the dollhouse alive before dawn, they'll be trapped in there - forever.
I knew, even before starting this book, that it was going to be a page-turning thriller, but I somehow never anticipated it to be as good as it was. L.J. Smith's work was published long before any of the current YA fluff we read, so it's obvious that her ideas were the original multi-dimensional world, creepy stalker, and practically insta-love tales. Needless to say, they are full of the depth, mystery, and horror that current YA fiction is lacking. I absolutely loved the rich realm that Smith created. Her writing is gripping, her descriptions mesmerizing, and if you yourself don't feel as if you're in this haunted doll house, then you're reading the wrong book.
I also fell in love with every single one of Smith's characters, except Julian of course. Julian is creepy. He is the kind of guy you hope never to meet in your life (if you ever do meet him, run the opposite direction as fast as you possibly can). Although he is insane, psychotic, and more than a little sadistic, I found him to be incredibly entertaining and his dialogue gave me the chills. I thought the way in which the other characters dealt with him was very realistic and I absolutely adore Jenny as a protagonist. She is kind, brave, courageous, strong, and doesn't give in to Julian's temptations. Of her friends, Dee was by far my favorite as she could truly be a warrior-princess. Audrey is intelligent, Zach is mysterious but calm and cool, Michael is simply adorable and sweet, Summer is naive, and Tom is...well, I didn't develop too much of feeling towards Tom in this book. Honestly, we didn't really get to know him. He appeared in the very beginning and again towards the end, but I'm going to go ahead and tell you that I fell in love with him in the sequel!(:
I think what I love best about Smith's novel is the fact that she is able to find the silver lining behind the dark cloud she created. The Game is dangerous and terrifying and not everyone gets out alive; yet, Smith shows us how this ordeal has changed her characters - for the better. They have learned more, trusted further, and come to appreciate all that they have. That, more than anything else, is what struck out to me as being important in this book. The Hunter was definitely an entertaining read, but at the end of the day, it proved to be one with a deeper message as well. I have to warn you though, this story ends with a cliffhanger, so if you're going to read this series, make sure you have both sequels in your grasp.
That being said, what are you waiting for? Immerse yourself in the world of L.J. Smith and revel in its dark beauty and mystery for yourself. And remember: never trust beautiful strangers, unknown games, or make a bargain with the devil. You just may not escape alive. ;)
A HUGE thank you to Inge, my beautiful Belgian friend, for recommending this series to me. I am thoroughly enjoying it!
The Hunter is possibly one of the scariest novels I've read. It begins when Jenny, searching for an interesting game to play at her boyfriend's birthday party, stumbles upon a mysterious store and an even more mysterious owner. Julian, the enigmatic and beautiful man she meets, offers her The Game and she takes it home with a strange feeling in her heart. It turns out that The Game is merely a dollhouse - one which her boyfriend Tom, best friends Dee, Audrey, and Summer, cousin Zach, and other close friend Michael, all eagerly complete. Yet, what they don't expect is to find themselves inside the dollhouse, facing their worst nightmares, for Julian isn't what he seems to be. He is The Shadow Man and he wants Jenny. If Jenny and her friends can't make it out of the dollhouse alive before dawn, they'll be trapped in there - forever.
I knew, even before starting this book, that it was going to be a page-turning thriller, but I somehow never anticipated it to be as good as it was. L.J. Smith's work was published long before any of the current YA fluff we read, so it's obvious that her ideas were the original multi-dimensional world, creepy stalker, and practically insta-love tales. Needless to say, they are full of the depth, mystery, and horror that current YA fiction is lacking. I absolutely loved the rich realm that Smith created. Her writing is gripping, her descriptions mesmerizing, and if you yourself don't feel as if you're in this haunted doll house, then you're reading the wrong book.
I also fell in love with every single one of Smith's characters, except Julian of course. Julian is creepy. He is the kind of guy you hope never to meet in your life (if you ever do meet him, run the opposite direction as fast as you possibly can). Although he is insane, psychotic, and more than a little sadistic, I found him to be incredibly entertaining and his dialogue gave me the chills. I thought the way in which the other characters dealt with him was very realistic and I absolutely adore Jenny as a protagonist. She is kind, brave, courageous, strong, and doesn't give in to Julian's temptations. Of her friends, Dee was by far my favorite as she could truly be a warrior-princess. Audrey is intelligent, Zach is mysterious but calm and cool, Michael is simply adorable and sweet, Summer is naive, and Tom is...well, I didn't develop too much of feeling towards Tom in this book. Honestly, we didn't really get to know him. He appeared in the very beginning and again towards the end, but I'm going to go ahead and tell you that I fell in love with him in the sequel!(:
I think what I love best about Smith's novel is the fact that she is able to find the silver lining behind the dark cloud she created. The Game is dangerous and terrifying and not everyone gets out alive; yet, Smith shows us how this ordeal has changed her characters - for the better. They have learned more, trusted further, and come to appreciate all that they have. That, more than anything else, is what struck out to me as being important in this book. The Hunter was definitely an entertaining read, but at the end of the day, it proved to be one with a deeper message as well. I have to warn you though, this story ends with a cliffhanger, so if you're going to read this series, make sure you have both sequels in your grasp.
That being said, what are you waiting for? Immerse yourself in the world of L.J. Smith and revel in its dark beauty and mystery for yourself. And remember: never trust beautiful strangers, unknown games, or make a bargain with the devil. You just may not escape alive. ;)
A HUGE thank you to Inge, my beautiful Belgian friend, for recommending this series to me. I am thoroughly enjoying it!
June 22, 2017
I am completely nonplussed. After reading so many glowing reviews and recommendations I was prepared for a fascinating and spell-binding book with the ultimate mysterious, sexy, yet evil, antagonist. Instead it seemed like a rushed story without any real depth, and a villain who was promising, but was completely underdeveloped.
Perhaps if I had read this book when I was younger I would have loved it. I don't know. As it stands, it seemed like a creative idea that was just not fleshed out. I did not particularly care about any of the characters or get attached to them (the heroine, Jenny, seemed devoid of personality). Maybe a little more background development before jumping into the action would have helped?
As for the "romance" element, I was completely put off a certain character's sudden declaration of love which comes extremely early in the book, and feels entirely out of the blue. There was no time to build an attraction between the characters (beyond the physical), and when the supposed genesis of it was explained (no spoilers) it seemed like insta-love (and a creepy one at that).
Obviously, this book just was not for me.
Verdict: An interesting idea that was never fleshed out.
Perhaps if I had read this book when I was younger I would have loved it. I don't know. As it stands, it seemed like a creative idea that was just not fleshed out. I did not particularly care about any of the characters or get attached to them (the heroine, Jenny, seemed devoid of personality). Maybe a little more background development before jumping into the action would have helped?
As for the "romance" element, I was completely put off a certain character's sudden declaration of love which comes extremely early in the book, and feels entirely out of the blue. There was no time to build an attraction between the characters (beyond the physical), and when the supposed genesis of it was explained (no spoilers) it seemed like insta-love (and a creepy one at that).
Obviously, this book just was not for me.
Verdict: An interesting idea that was never fleshed out.
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