Julian is the youngest of the Shadow Men, a mythical race of evil creatures who came to this world in absolute physical perfection and age hideous to resemble how they are from inside. These beings populate the world of mist and ice known as the Shadow World (Niflheim in Nordic myths) closer to the human one that is constantly watched over by them; they are created when their names are carved in the Stove of Life and are destroyed when their names are deleted from it. The Shadow Men have appeared in the nightmares of human kind since its origins: they are the djinns, the dark elves, the aliens, the imps, the Others, etc. Julian himself claims he has been the Erkling, Loki, Puck, and is even hinted he has been Iblis through the second book. His real name is unknown; ‘Julian’ is a word play on Djinn.
Unlike the other Shadow Men, Julian secretly longs for light and goodness, to never lose his beauty but thinks he’s incapable to go against his nature by himself. Because of this, he falls in love with Jenny Thornton ("light to his darkness") when the five years old girl accidentally releases the rune from where the shadow men were sealed by her grandfather. Since then, Julian has been looking after Jenny, making sure nothing ill falls upon her until she reaches the age of sixteen years old. Under de disguise of a clerk in a mysterious shop “More Games” sells her a game in order to bring her to his world.
His many attempts to capture Jenny fail. She and her friends prevail in every game he has tried to play, defeated by his own feelings and weakness to aid his beloved against his own schemes. In the final one, Julian takes Tom and Zack (Jenny’s boyfriend & her cousin) into the Shadow World and has them play treasure hunt to release them. There, he shows her true colors to Jenny and she realizes her feelings for him. The idea of Jenny’s honest love takes him of guard and admits his defeat. He no longer tries to claim her and gives his word that game will be the last. When the other Shadow Men try to steal Jenny’s soul after she released her grandfather’s from their grasp, Julian sacrifices his existence to save Jenny’s life, perishing on her arms. Julian asks her to never forget about him, so he can live in her dreams, waiting to be born again one day.
Perhaps that day, he’ll finally be reborn into light.
L O S A N G E L E S
PB: Nicholas Potts Disclaimer: Julian belongs to LJ Smith. You can play games safely with me. ;) Player: Lorena
Larisa Thessaly (
