The Hunter: The Forbidden Game, Volume 1

Loved it. I need to get the sequels sometime in the near future.I really liked Smith's writing. Unlike Pike's and Stine's, it didn't feel like a teenager's voice forced. It felt so much more natural, like something I'd likely read today that has a better grasp on the teenage voice. I really felt it and I believed it. Smith made a hit where her counterparts' weaknesses fell.It had a slight Labyrinth feel to it but not as much as I originally thought. There's the puppet master aspect, taking the victims away into his own playing field and putting them through a maze made out of aspects of their own minds. But the similarities ended there. Still, I liked what Smith did, turning everyone's minds against them. Not to mention she isn't afraid to make some kills when she needs to. They're necessary for the plot, not serving it. I was creeped out a bit by Julian taking a liking to Jenny so young. I think she was about six? I didn't have that creep factor with Labyrinth (I have no idea why because it makes no sense) but I was a bit squicked by it here.I liked how the strongest characters were broken down and exposed. No one was safe and no one made it out of their nightmare undamaged. Even characters I didn't really like to start off with I ended up liking at the end because any facade they had came crashing down. They were torn apart and the plot felt more real for it.I haven't read any of Smith's other works (this was the one that appealed to me the most so I figured it was the best starting place) but I'd highly recommend THE HUNTER. I think it's a great showcase of Smith's writing and she ranks up there with Pike and Stine when it comes to not sparing her characters. It's realistic and fantastically frightening all at the same time and I couldn't get enough of it.

This is one of my favorite books from my young adult years. This is my favorite cover of it too. Julian was the man of my dreams!

Great Book!!! Really liked it!!!

Smith really blew me away with this one!The game Jenny Thorton buys from Julian is no ordinary board game. Once you agree to play, you are transported to a different world and everything is at stake.Your worse nightmares become reality, and if you aren't brave enough to face them, you will die.The Hunter is pretty awesome. I tell you, that L.J. Smith really knows how to write a fun story! I absolutely loved the Secret Circle Trilogy, but story wise, this book surpasses it.The descriptions were great, the dialogue, though stilted at times, was entertaining, the characters each had their own voice, and the story flowed well and left you wanting more.But then again I feel that way about all of the L.J. Smith books I've read. I guess you could say I'm biased. Ms. Smith can do no wrong in my eyes.This book is like the lovechild of Jumangi and a personal favorite of mine, LABYRINTH.In other words, it was a book after my own heart.I'm glad there are 2 more books after this one. And I own them all, muahahahaha!I shall be reunited with Julian and it shall be splendid. Ohhh, I hope he's out to get revenge on Jenny for what she did to him at the end of this one.That would be so freakin' sweet!I just want to add one more thing. L.J. Smith writes male characters that I want to lock in my basement. I just love them. Whether they're sour all the time or too nice for their own good. They're beautiful, caring people and I never want to let them go.My favorite thing about her books, is the message behind them. Every one of her books has a great evil, and do you know what destroys that great evil? FRIENDSHIP.Her books are all about friendship. About the bonds we forge with people. She writes about the power and beauty and selflessness of friendship. She writes about how, if we work together with our friends, we need not fear anything or anyone. We need not feel alone or helpless.She always manages to make me get so emotional. Sometimes, when reading something by her, I'll get this warm little feeling in my heart and I get overwhelmed by all kinds of emotions. Happiness, sadness, anger. That, to me, is the sign of a good writer. I don't think I'll ever stop reading her books.

I read this book back in the 90's and I find myself re-reading this trilogy every few years. This book is very well written and completely captures the imagination and fantasy elements every paranormal romance reader dreams of. The Jenny/Julian scenes are made in heaven and couldn't be written any better. The story progresses very nicely at a great speed and the ending is very good. I hear LJ Smith will be writing a new Forbidden Game novel. If she does I hope it is everything the original trilogy is and much more !!

I first read this series when I was a young adult and I enjoyed it a lot. When I re-read the books recently, and I was incredibly surprised to find that they had not lost any of their intrigue or enjoyment, and I'm in college now! I feel like this series has a very special emotional depth that most of her books, as good as they are, don't have. I really enjoy the complex relationship between Jenny and Julian - it really is unique. I love these books and I would buy them any day!

Perfect, love the book.

incredible and beautiful trilogy, The bad guy is wonderfully unique and a heart throb to anyone drawn to this book ;)

Love this book, remember it from my childhood and wanted to share with a friend's kid. Bought the trilogy.

Great fun! LJ Smith is a terrific YA author, I had never heard about this one before and was pleasantly surprised when I read it. Good characterization, good pacing, an idea that felt somewhat original to me... my only gripe is that Jenny is drawn to Julian which is just beyond me. The idea that he'd be some kind of desirable bad boy is just off putting to me. But that doesn't detract from the rest of the book. If you like YA, give it a shot!

Good but not as good as I remember