The Quirky Spine

Escape room escapades that end in tragedy – not once, but twice!

Title: Six Must Die
Author: Victoria Wlosok
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: March 10, 2026
Pages: 352
Format read: ARC ebook

I received this book as an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts, opinions, and quirky takes are entirely my own—because no one else can read between the spines quite like I do. Big thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for the ARC—and for fueling my TBR problem.

⏩ Read if you love:

Do you love a good escape🚪 room? What if that room was destined to be where you died? Would you say yes to your friend’s request to play one last game, after the last game you all played together left one of you dead? 

Young adult thriller, though there are elements of horror. This novel winds through some very dark moments and leaves several bodies behind. Not for the faint of heart.

Stories that read like puzzles 🧩 you must piece together to make it all make sense. The story makes sense, don’t mistake my words. The author does a good job of giving you just enough information to begin piecing together what might have happened, but also leaving you questioning whether you are on the right track. Essential for any good thriller. 

❌ Skip if you hate:

Young adult novels. If you aren’t into reading about teenagers, this probably won’t make it to your TBR pile. 

While the gore is light-to-mid level, if you don’t like gore, you may want to skip this one. Dead bodies litter the pages and not much is left to the imagination.

🏅 Best Character Award Goes To: (Who stole the show?)

All of the characters make an impression, though some take a bit longer to become fully fleshed out. Each brings their own flaws, quirks, and fear into the story. 

I can’t divulge too much about my favorite character without giving too much of the plot away, but the writing makes them jump off the page and keeps the reader seeking more information about them.

🏆 Standout Element:

The author’s use of escape rooms and ability to write teenagers as they truly are makes this book stand above many others in the YA thriller category.

🎯 Final Take:

This story will make you question your own loyalties and what you would do to recover some of your past–no matter the cost.

⭐⭐⭐ 3.5 – Solid Plotline Enjoyable but not a standout.

 Stack Placement: Recommendations to those who are interested in YA or Escape Rooms.

Vibes: 🔥 Plot: 🪤 Ending: 🫨 Reaction: 😵‍💫 ^(legend)

Review also shared at:

NetGalley