Think twice if…
- Content warnings: Death, Kidnapping, Stalking, Violence, Suicide, Grief, Self-harm, Captivity, Toxic relationships, Coercive control, Emotional abuse, Manipulation, Body horror, Claustrophobia / confined spaces, Darkness
The Forbidden Game
by L.J. Smith
Book 1 in The Forbidden Game
Before every romantasy villain-with-a-throne, there was Julian, Prince of the Shadows, building a deadly game-reality to claim one girl - a doomed, dread-soaked 90s YA horror romance that millennials still won't shut up about.
goodreads 4.19/5 22,694 ratings
Quick fit
Is this story right for you?
A decision-first view of the reading experience.
Length750 pages
Series statusCompleted series · 4 books
Spice1/5
PacingFast
Story profile
What the story promises
The strongest reviewed signals about romance, fantasy, and the reading experience.
Romance promise
- Forbidden love
- Male/female pairing (M/F)
- Instant attraction
- Low
- Book hangover
- Villain
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- Obsessive love interest
- The angst delivered
- Monster
- Star-crossed
- Adrenaline rush
- Possessive alpha
- Predator x prey
- Beautiful grief
- Dark/tortured soul
- Love/hate tension
- Core memory unlocked
- Stalker
- Push and pull
Fantasy promise
- Ya urban fantasy
- Competition / games
- Paranormal
- Shadow beings / shadow fae
- Love triangle
- Portal fantasy
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- Villain gets the girl
- Contemporary
- Captive romance
- Survival romance
- Games/trials romance
Reading experience
- Third person
- Fast
- Dark
- Heavy
- High
- Survivor
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- Eerie
- Atmospheric
- Innocent / sheltered
- Intense
- Suspenseful
- Reluctant chosen one
- Thrilling
- Dramatic
- Dangerous
- Cinematic
- Angsty
- Deadly trials
- Forbidden desire
- Survival against impossible odds
- Sacrifice for love
- Court of shadows
- Will make you cry
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Different because
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Different because
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Different because
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Book details
- Length
- 750 pages
- Language
- English
- Format
- Book