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Escape Room: Game Zero
A brand-new Escape Room adventure from bestselling author, Christopher Edge. Discover an epic new world packed with puzzles, action, danger and bravery - a virtual escape room where anything is possible and nothing is as it seems...
"A writer of genuine originality" - Guardian
"Perfect for puzzle-hungry beginner horror fans who require lashings of jeopardy" - The Times
If you liked ESCAPE ROOM, then you'll love GAME ZERO. A twisty, puzzle-filled story, it's a gamer's delight!
Eden's visit to The Escape sees her dropped into a world of puzzles and peril with no way out. She must find the keys, climb the levels and meet her fate. But what if she's not playing the game? Maybe the game is playing her...
A thought-provoking story about the power that games give us to reimagine the world.
"Punchy and action-packed, with a killer twist" - The Bookseller
Check out these other brilliant books from Christopher
- Black Hole Cinema Club
- Escape Room
- Twelve Minutes to Midnight
- The Jamie Drake Equation
"A writer of genuine originality" - Guardian
"Perfect for puzzle-hungry beginner horror fans who require lashings of jeopardy" - The Times
If you liked ESCAPE ROOM, then you'll love GAME ZERO. A twisty, puzzle-filled story, it's a gamer's delight!
Eden's visit to The Escape sees her dropped into a world of puzzles and peril with no way out. She must find the keys, climb the levels and meet her fate. But what if she's not playing the game? Maybe the game is playing her...
A thought-provoking story about the power that games give us to reimagine the world.
"Punchy and action-packed, with a killer twist" - The Bookseller
Check out these other brilliant books from Christopher
- Black Hole Cinema Club
- Escape Room
- Twelve Minutes to Midnight
- The Jamie Drake Equation
- GenresMiddle Grade
177 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 5, 2025
24 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
November 17, 2025
Read: November 13th - November 15th
Format: E-Book
Rating: 3.5 stars rounded down
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I'm only placing this at 3 stars, but it wasn't bad by any means. Most 'issues' just have to do with me not being the target audience. For the target audience, this is great. Just a bit too quick for my taste, which likely has to do with the fact there's almost only two characters in this book, and each scene was just the characters moving on to the next obstacle. There was no real life to the world they were in. If there had been, it probably would have been rounded up instead.
For what this is, it was very enjoyable. Our main character, Eden, is fully in the game and paired with a boy who is playing the game with a device (while fully believing her to be an NPC). The dynamic was fun, if overplayed a tad. The game had this eerie atmosphere with the effect being in it had on Eden, made worse by the fact her life was always in real danger. The puzzles were really solid and made sense, even if sometimes a bit of a reach only allowed because of the fantastical element.
So, if a game loving pre-teen is looking for a fast-paced, virtual reality action/adventure story, I definitely recommend it!
Format: E-Book
Rating: 3.5 stars rounded down
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I'm only placing this at 3 stars, but it wasn't bad by any means. Most 'issues' just have to do with me not being the target audience. For the target audience, this is great. Just a bit too quick for my taste, which likely has to do with the fact there's almost only two characters in this book, and each scene was just the characters moving on to the next obstacle. There was no real life to the world they were in. If there had been, it probably would have been rounded up instead.
For what this is, it was very enjoyable. Our main character, Eden, is fully in the game and paired with a boy who is playing the game with a device (while fully believing her to be an NPC). The dynamic was fun, if overplayed a tad. The game had this eerie atmosphere with the effect being in it had on Eden, made worse by the fact her life was always in real danger. The puzzles were really solid and made sense, even if sometimes a bit of a reach only allowed because of the fantastical element.
So, if a game loving pre-teen is looking for a fast-paced, virtual reality action/adventure story, I definitely recommend it!
February 8, 2026
This is a fast-paced, puzzle-filled middle grade adventure that I think would especially hook 5th and 6th graders — but honestly, I enjoyed it just as much as an adult. While reading, I couldn’t stop picturing the newer Jumanji movies (which I love), with their mix of danger, humor, and game-style challenges.
The story follows Eden, whose visit to The Escape drops her into a virtual world packed with puzzles, escalating levels, and very real peril. She has to find keys, solve challenges, and keep moving forward … all while questioning whether she’s actually playing the game… or if the game is playing her. That layer added a nice, slightly eerie edge without being too scary.
Christopher Edge does a great job balancing action with bigger ideas, exploring how games shape the way we think, make choices, and reimagine the world around us. The puzzles keep things moving, the stakes feel real, and the story stays engaging from start to finish.
Overall, this is a highly entertaining, imaginative read that’s perfect for puzzle-loving kids, gamers, and beginner adventure or light-horror fans. A great pick for classrooms, school libraries, or reluctant readers looking for something exciting.
The story follows Eden, whose visit to The Escape drops her into a virtual world packed with puzzles, escalating levels, and very real peril. She has to find keys, solve challenges, and keep moving forward … all while questioning whether she’s actually playing the game… or if the game is playing her. That layer added a nice, slightly eerie edge without being too scary.
Christopher Edge does a great job balancing action with bigger ideas, exploring how games shape the way we think, make choices, and reimagine the world around us. The puzzles keep things moving, the stakes feel real, and the story stays engaging from start to finish.
Overall, this is a highly entertaining, imaginative read that’s perfect for puzzle-loving kids, gamers, and beginner adventure or light-horror fans. A great pick for classrooms, school libraries, or reluctant readers looking for something exciting.
May 2, 2025
An unputdownable middle grade adventure, featuring Eden who finds herself inside a video game. She meets Ted, who is quick to assert himself as a player, but is Eden also a player, or is she, as Ted accuses, an NPC (Non Playable Character if you’re not in the know)? And what will happen to her if she dies inside the game?
I think kids will love this book. It’s fun, thrilling, tense and exciting!
This was an excellently paced read and I raced through it. Christopher Edge uses language beautifully to describe the settings and characters. I look forward to more!
Thank you to Netgalley and Nosy Crow for my eArc.
I think kids will love this book. It’s fun, thrilling, tense and exciting!
This was an excellently paced read and I raced through it. Christopher Edge uses language beautifully to describe the settings and characters. I look forward to more!
Thank you to Netgalley and Nosy Crow for my eArc.
December 26, 2025
Thank you to Noisy Crow and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Eden is a big fan of escape rooms – the harder, the better! When Ami, an online friend, contacts her about a new escape room called The Escape, Eden can’t wait! She follows Ami’s directions to an industrial park where she encounters a murmuration of starlings. When it ends, Eden is in the game. She soon meets Ted who is also playing the game but from the outside. Ted thinks Eden is an NPC (non-playing character). Eden knows she’s real and tries to convince Ted of it. But the game is dangerous and if Eden dies in the game, that’s it! Can she make it out of the Escape Room and back to her real life?
This was actually the second book in the series which I didn’t know when I requested the title but it didn’t seem to matter. It stood fine on its own. I would recommend this fun puzzle adventure for middle grades.
#EscapeRoomGameZero #NetGalley
Eden is a big fan of escape rooms – the harder, the better! When Ami, an online friend, contacts her about a new escape room called The Escape, Eden can’t wait! She follows Ami’s directions to an industrial park where she encounters a murmuration of starlings. When it ends, Eden is in the game. She soon meets Ted who is also playing the game but from the outside. Ted thinks Eden is an NPC (non-playing character). Eden knows she’s real and tries to convince Ted of it. But the game is dangerous and if Eden dies in the game, that’s it! Can she make it out of the Escape Room and back to her real life?
This was actually the second book in the series which I didn’t know when I requested the title but it didn’t seem to matter. It stood fine on its own. I would recommend this fun puzzle adventure for middle grades.
#EscapeRoomGameZero #NetGalley
September 5, 2025
Still a good book but the first one is better!
April 26, 2025
I was over the moon when this arrived and I’ve proper raced through it today! Loved being back in this world of quests, puzzles and thrills. Eden is so brave and so smart. I really enjoyed all of the chat about humanity and the beauty of our word. Christopher Edge is just brilliant!
February 6, 2026
“So many people think that life has no meaning, but meaning is woven into this world.”
Eden loves solving puzzles, and when she learns about the best puzzle game being made in the world, The Escape, she has to try it out. Guided by a person named AMI, Eden is led to a gateway that sends her directly to The Escape, but something goes wrong, and she is transported into the game. Eden then meets Ted, the first ever player of The Escape before it gets officially launched. Ted doesn’t believe she’s real, just an NPC, and since Eden can’t interact with the game the way he can, it almost proves he’s right. Still, she’s an anomaly in this world, and he lets her tag along as he sets out to complete the game’s mission. Nothing is straightforward, and along the way, they learn the mission isn’t to save this reality… it’s to save their own.
Escape Room: Game Zero caught my attention with the premise of a character being locked inside a game. I think it’s a fascinating concept, and Edge did not disappoint with how he implemented game mechanics into his world with descriptions like “pixel-sharp” to show the crispness of the world Eden was seeing and everything smelling “box-fresh,” which added that touch of disbelief in the world. I especially loved the use of game music within the novel, how Eden interacted with the soundtrack, and how it became its own clue within the book for what was happening to Eden. All tied together, it gave the aesthetics you’d see in games like Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild with the uncertainty of Sword Art Online. I think the only thing I didn’t enjoy was Ted, but I can’t even be too annoyed with his character—he was as obnoxious and arrogant as I expected him to be. Being the first person allowed to play The Escape, it made sense he’d be dismissive of Eden and focus on his own goals within the game. I did like that by the end, he still didn’t believe that Eden wasn’t an NPC until it was too late. It was wholly in character, and it leaves the reader wondering what will happen with him next now that he knows the truth. As for Eden, it was horrifying to watch her become a part of the game, but even more so to see how she reacted anytime she realized The Escape was changing her. I’m looking forward to seeing the next installment of the Escape Room series if it’s as harrowing as this book.
Escape Room: Game Zero releases on February 10th, 2026.
Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and Nosy Crow Inc. for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook @pinereadsreview, and check out our website at www.pinereadsreview.com for reviews, author interviews, blogs, podcast episodes, and more!
Eden loves solving puzzles, and when she learns about the best puzzle game being made in the world, The Escape, she has to try it out. Guided by a person named AMI, Eden is led to a gateway that sends her directly to The Escape, but something goes wrong, and she is transported into the game. Eden then meets Ted, the first ever player of The Escape before it gets officially launched. Ted doesn’t believe she’s real, just an NPC, and since Eden can’t interact with the game the way he can, it almost proves he’s right. Still, she’s an anomaly in this world, and he lets her tag along as he sets out to complete the game’s mission. Nothing is straightforward, and along the way, they learn the mission isn’t to save this reality… it’s to save their own.
Escape Room: Game Zero caught my attention with the premise of a character being locked inside a game. I think it’s a fascinating concept, and Edge did not disappoint with how he implemented game mechanics into his world with descriptions like “pixel-sharp” to show the crispness of the world Eden was seeing and everything smelling “box-fresh,” which added that touch of disbelief in the world. I especially loved the use of game music within the novel, how Eden interacted with the soundtrack, and how it became its own clue within the book for what was happening to Eden. All tied together, it gave the aesthetics you’d see in games like Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild with the uncertainty of Sword Art Online. I think the only thing I didn’t enjoy was Ted, but I can’t even be too annoyed with his character—he was as obnoxious and arrogant as I expected him to be. Being the first person allowed to play The Escape, it made sense he’d be dismissive of Eden and focus on his own goals within the game. I did like that by the end, he still didn’t believe that Eden wasn’t an NPC until it was too late. It was wholly in character, and it leaves the reader wondering what will happen with him next now that he knows the truth. As for Eden, it was horrifying to watch her become a part of the game, but even more so to see how she reacted anytime she realized The Escape was changing her. I’m looking forward to seeing the next installment of the Escape Room series if it’s as harrowing as this book.
Escape Room: Game Zero releases on February 10th, 2026.
Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and Nosy Crow Inc. for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook @pinereadsreview, and check out our website at www.pinereadsreview.com for reviews, author interviews, blogs, podcast episodes, and more!
February 11, 2026
What worked:
The author creates an innovative world that blends reality and virtual reality. Eden finds herself inside The Escape, although she’s not sure how she got there. She meets Ted, but there’s a significant difference between these two characters. Ted wears a VR helmet to play the game, but Eden does not. How is this possible? Readers will know The Escape is different for Eden, because she slowly forgets details of her life outside the game. And she doesn’t know how to escape back to reality. The narrative describes background music throughout the story, which contributes to the tension. The music gets louder and faster as the story becomes more suspenseful, which should cause readers to feel more anxiety.
The Escape is much like other adventure stories where the characters follow clues to reach a destination or goal. The characters begin with three riddles that they repeat throughout the story. They must find three keys to unlock three different worlds, leading to the next set of puzzles. They encounter several characters from the first book, although it’s not absolutely necessary to know this. Eden and Tom encounter many obstacles and dangers, even though Eden seems to be the only one experiencing physical harm. Tom gets an additional life if his character “dies”, but Eden may not have that option. The author leaves a couple of big surprises at the climax, so the plot continues a bit further than readers might expect.
What didn’t work as well:
The book doesn’t take any time to develop the characters, so readers can’t learn much about them beyond the game. Also, Eden is surprised when Ted repeatedly uses his helmet to make their quest easier, and readers may want the challenges to be more challenging. Ted isn’t a model teammate, and readers may be annoyed or angry at his selfish attitude.
The final verdict:
Actually, this book feels like the beginning of the series, as the climax introduces a large problem that will continue into the next book. Readers should probably start with the previous book in order to understand the background information surrounding the game and minor characters. Ami and Oscar have important roles in this book that readers new to the series won’t appreciate. I recommend you try this book for yourself.
The author creates an innovative world that blends reality and virtual reality. Eden finds herself inside The Escape, although she’s not sure how she got there. She meets Ted, but there’s a significant difference between these two characters. Ted wears a VR helmet to play the game, but Eden does not. How is this possible? Readers will know The Escape is different for Eden, because she slowly forgets details of her life outside the game. And she doesn’t know how to escape back to reality. The narrative describes background music throughout the story, which contributes to the tension. The music gets louder and faster as the story becomes more suspenseful, which should cause readers to feel more anxiety.
The Escape is much like other adventure stories where the characters follow clues to reach a destination or goal. The characters begin with three riddles that they repeat throughout the story. They must find three keys to unlock three different worlds, leading to the next set of puzzles. They encounter several characters from the first book, although it’s not absolutely necessary to know this. Eden and Tom encounter many obstacles and dangers, even though Eden seems to be the only one experiencing physical harm. Tom gets an additional life if his character “dies”, but Eden may not have that option. The author leaves a couple of big surprises at the climax, so the plot continues a bit further than readers might expect.
What didn’t work as well:
The book doesn’t take any time to develop the characters, so readers can’t learn much about them beyond the game. Also, Eden is surprised when Ted repeatedly uses his helmet to make their quest easier, and readers may want the challenges to be more challenging. Ted isn’t a model teammate, and readers may be annoyed or angry at his selfish attitude.
The final verdict:
Actually, this book feels like the beginning of the series, as the climax introduces a large problem that will continue into the next book. Readers should probably start with the previous book in order to understand the background information surrounding the game and minor characters. Ami and Oscar have important roles in this book that readers new to the series won’t appreciate. I recommend you try this book for yourself.
February 10, 2026
I would like to thank NetGalley and Nosy Crow for the ARC of this book.
Unfortunately, this one was a miss for me.
I read the first book less than a day before starting this sequel, so the comparison was immediate and unavoidable. Reading extended scenes of characters playing through video games is simply not engaging for me—it doesn’t translate well on the page. I had a similar struggle with Ready Player One, but that book balanced the gameplay with enough real-world grounding to keep me invested. This sequel takes place almost entirely inside a video game, and I found that deeply boring.
While the first book also involved a game, that element wasn’t fully revealed until the end, and each task felt grounded in reality. The emotional stakes were clear, and I cared about the characters lost along the way. In contrast, this book follows two characters who were barely present (or not present at all) in the first installment, and their quest has no meaningful connection to the original story for the vast majority of the book.
Given the scale of the supposed threat—a massive plan to erase the real world and replace it with “The Escape”—there needed to be far more emotional investment. That buy-in never materialized. By the time the story reaches its climax, the main character, Eden, has lost all memory of what’s actually at stake, leaving AMI as the only character who seems to care. As a result, the tension completely collapses.
The author does eventually link book one and book two, but this happens within the final ten pages. I kept waiting for that connection to matter sooner, but it never did. Ultimately, this reads like a completely separate adventure that uses the first book only as a thin framing device.
I don’t see this installment resonating as strongly with readers as the first book did.
Unfortunately, this one was a miss for me.
I read the first book less than a day before starting this sequel, so the comparison was immediate and unavoidable. Reading extended scenes of characters playing through video games is simply not engaging for me—it doesn’t translate well on the page. I had a similar struggle with Ready Player One, but that book balanced the gameplay with enough real-world grounding to keep me invested. This sequel takes place almost entirely inside a video game, and I found that deeply boring.
While the first book also involved a game, that element wasn’t fully revealed until the end, and each task felt grounded in reality. The emotional stakes were clear, and I cared about the characters lost along the way. In contrast, this book follows two characters who were barely present (or not present at all) in the first installment, and their quest has no meaningful connection to the original story for the vast majority of the book.
Given the scale of the supposed threat—a massive plan to erase the real world and replace it with “The Escape”—there needed to be far more emotional investment. That buy-in never materialized. By the time the story reaches its climax, the main character, Eden, has lost all memory of what’s actually at stake, leaving AMI as the only character who seems to care. As a result, the tension completely collapses.
The author does eventually link book one and book two, but this happens within the final ten pages. I kept waiting for that connection to matter sooner, but it never did. Ultimately, this reads like a completely separate adventure that uses the first book only as a thin framing device.
I don’t see this installment resonating as strongly with readers as the first book did.
May 30, 2025
I enjoyed my return to the Escape Room. It's not exactly a sequel, but there is a cross-over character, and this time the stakes are even higher.
Eden appears to have been transported body and mind to… wherever the game is taking place (whatever it is). It’s not what she expected, but the clock is ticking and if she doesn’t solve the puzzles and unlock the three gates before time runs out, she is going to be stuck there. Forever.
The three levels and the puzzles that Eden and Ted encounter are very imaginative. I love the elements of computer games we meet -Ted kills a monster and gets health points. He’s convinced Eden is a NPC (non-player character) on a side quest, and he even respawns after dying in the game. But Ted is actually sitting at home wearing a special headset to play the game. It’s real for Eden.
Ted and Eden have a difficult relationship (he is full of himself and takes credit for the solutions that Eden has worked out). Although Ted softens by the end, they don’t become friends. Because Eden forgets about her home life, all we really know about her is that she is good at solving problems. I wasn’t even sure if she was a real person or a NPC, as Ted thinks.
I loved the terra – a monster that needs to use the surrounding environment to form its body to chase after the players. The settings are vivid and the writing pacey. The story is nicely book-ended by a murmuration of starlings. While I couldn't get my head around how the antagonist's plan could possibly work, I think young readers will go with it. I'm sure the book will be a popular choice with young readers, as it should be, The story is great fun to read.
Eden appears to have been transported body and mind to… wherever the game is taking place (whatever it is). It’s not what she expected, but the clock is ticking and if she doesn’t solve the puzzles and unlock the three gates before time runs out, she is going to be stuck there. Forever.
The three levels and the puzzles that Eden and Ted encounter are very imaginative. I love the elements of computer games we meet -Ted kills a monster and gets health points. He’s convinced Eden is a NPC (non-player character) on a side quest, and he even respawns after dying in the game. But Ted is actually sitting at home wearing a special headset to play the game. It’s real for Eden.
Ted and Eden have a difficult relationship (he is full of himself and takes credit for the solutions that Eden has worked out). Although Ted softens by the end, they don’t become friends. Because Eden forgets about her home life, all we really know about her is that she is good at solving problems. I wasn’t even sure if she was a real person or a NPC, as Ted thinks.
I loved the terra – a monster that needs to use the surrounding environment to form its body to chase after the players. The settings are vivid and the writing pacey. The story is nicely book-ended by a murmuration of starlings. While I couldn't get my head around how the antagonist's plan could possibly work, I think young readers will go with it. I'm sure the book will be a popular choice with young readers, as it should be, The story is great fun to read.
January 8, 2026
Wow, what a read!! – In the current reading world where I rarely finish a book, this one I read all the way through in record time. The story was well-written, fast-paced, and each chapter seemed to end in a cliff-hanger that would just pull me into the next chapter.
Features strong female character, Eden, who gets pulled into an online Escape Room and must find a way to get out before she gets stuck there permanently. She meets an online player, Ted, who’s father helped design the game who is trying to finish his assigned mission before the sign sets. The story does include lots of online game terminology, however, explains it very simply within the story line so that anyone can understand.
Author, Christopher Edge, has a wonderful way with words that brings about a total immersion in imagery. For example a description of a bird: …its feathers are flecked with tiny white stars, making it look like it’s wrapped in the universe. (page 7) – And another example: …if I had to describe the smell of this place, I’d say it was box-fresh, like its only just been opened. (page 17) – And one more example: …I listen to the silence. As we walk, it seems to distort into stilled fragments of soundless noise, like we’re scanning a radio but never finding a channel. (page 178)
I will be looking for more titles by this author. Written for the UK market, but does not have anything to hinder a US market from reading and enjoying.
I was given access to a free PDF version from the publisher Nosy Crow through NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.
Features strong female character, Eden, who gets pulled into an online Escape Room and must find a way to get out before she gets stuck there permanently. She meets an online player, Ted, who’s father helped design the game who is trying to finish his assigned mission before the sign sets. The story does include lots of online game terminology, however, explains it very simply within the story line so that anyone can understand.
Author, Christopher Edge, has a wonderful way with words that brings about a total immersion in imagery. For example a description of a bird: …its feathers are flecked with tiny white stars, making it look like it’s wrapped in the universe. (page 7) – And another example: …if I had to describe the smell of this place, I’d say it was box-fresh, like its only just been opened. (page 17) – And one more example: …I listen to the silence. As we walk, it seems to distort into stilled fragments of soundless noise, like we’re scanning a radio but never finding a channel. (page 178)
I will be looking for more titles by this author. Written for the UK market, but does not have anything to hinder a US market from reading and enjoying.
I was given access to a free PDF version from the publisher Nosy Crow through NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.
May 10, 2025
Thank you to Christopher Edge and Netgalley for gifting me this Arc.
Christopher Edge once again does a wonderful job of bringing high level scienc fiction to children. This book combines adventure, action, history and science to bring an engaging read that children, and adults, will love!
Eden has been invited to play The Escape, and escape room game like no other.
But Eden finds herself inside the game, the computer game, with a series of dangerous and coufounding challenges to face, with very little hope of escape.
Can she figure out her role in all of this, and solve the problems, in order to beat whatever force has brought her here?
For fans of the original Escape Room, familiarity with some of the elements in this book give you extra awareness of what might be going on, but this also stands excellently as a standalone book.
For educational use, this book offers a wonderful read for pleasure, while giving lots of opportunities to explore science, history, literacy, art and PSHE.
Christopher Edge once again does a wonderful job of bringing high level scienc fiction to children. This book combines adventure, action, history and science to bring an engaging read that children, and adults, will love!
Eden has been invited to play The Escape, and escape room game like no other.
But Eden finds herself inside the game, the computer game, with a series of dangerous and coufounding challenges to face, with very little hope of escape.
Can she figure out her role in all of this, and solve the problems, in order to beat whatever force has brought her here?
For fans of the original Escape Room, familiarity with some of the elements in this book give you extra awareness of what might be going on, but this also stands excellently as a standalone book.
For educational use, this book offers a wonderful read for pleasure, while giving lots of opportunities to explore science, history, literacy, art and PSHE.
May 24, 2025
Dedicated gamer Eden finds herself unexpectedly in a still-in-development, top secret game known as The Escape, to which she has gained access by solving certain clues provided by a mysterious person called Ami.
The only problem is, once inside the game, Eden finds that unlike a normal player in a video game she is all too human and can be injured! And as a side effect of the game she is beginning to forget her identity and ties in the real world. All the more reason to get out in one piece as fast as she can. But it's not that simple...
Packed with action and adventure - with a little reflection about the important things of life thrown in - this story is absolutely perfect for those who like video games and gets 3.5 stars!
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
The only problem is, once inside the game, Eden finds that unlike a normal player in a video game she is all too human and can be injured! And as a side effect of the game she is beginning to forget her identity and ties in the real world. All the more reason to get out in one piece as fast as she can. But it's not that simple...
Packed with action and adventure - with a little reflection about the important things of life thrown in - this story is absolutely perfect for those who like video games and gets 3.5 stars!
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
June 30, 2025
"Escape Room" was the first book by Christopher Edge that I read, and it really put him on my radar, because the ending was so good.
"Escape Room: Game Zero" isn't quite as good, but it's close. It's a collection of video game scenes where all kinds of magical things happen for no particular reason. The reader can't get a grip on any kind of plot structure, because there are no rules; anything can happen and nothing can be anticipated. But the thing that managed to sustain my interest was the mystery of how a physical person could find themselves transported into a game without a VR headset.
During my reading, I had the feeling this was going to be a 3-star book, but Christopher Edge managed to deliver yet another great ending. So I'll up that by another star.
Would be great to see these books made into movies.
"Escape Room: Game Zero" isn't quite as good, but it's close. It's a collection of video game scenes where all kinds of magical things happen for no particular reason. The reader can't get a grip on any kind of plot structure, because there are no rules; anything can happen and nothing can be anticipated. But the thing that managed to sustain my interest was the mystery of how a physical person could find themselves transported into a game without a VR headset.
During my reading, I had the feeling this was going to be a 3-star book, but Christopher Edge managed to deliver yet another great ending. So I'll up that by another star.
Would be great to see these books made into movies.
January 19, 2026
Eden, a lover of puzzles and escape rooms, is intrigued by the hidden clues she's discovered online, leading to a supposed new type of escape. It's soon clear that this isn't just a game for Eden, though, when she meets another player, Teddy. He's in the Escape via a state of the art headset; she's physically in the game, and her memories of real life are slowly fading away. The only solution: find the keys and save reality.
This was a quick, fun middle grade read. It's fast paced and has an interesting premise. I wish there had been a bit more of a conclusion between Eden and Teddy, but overall, I think young readers will enjoy this.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This was a quick, fun middle grade read. It's fast paced and has an interesting premise. I wish there had been a bit more of a conclusion between Eden and Teddy, but overall, I think young readers will enjoy this.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
April 27, 2025
Eden is great at solving escape rooms. They've done liars recently, in real places with their friends,and online. When her online pal Ami sends her a series of clues,Eden finds herself in a real escape room world.
She encounters Ted and without really working together,they solve the whole thing between them. But Ted believes that Eden is simply a non playing character in the game...is he right? Is Eden not really there?
Really engaging middle grade fiction. Very easy to get caught up in and not notice the time.
She encounters Ted and without really working together,they solve the whole thing between them. But Ted believes that Eden is simply a non playing character in the game...is he right? Is Eden not really there?
Really engaging middle grade fiction. Very easy to get caught up in and not notice the time.
May 29, 2025
Another absolute cracker from Christopher Edge. I am a big fan of his writing, as are my Year 5/6 class, so I was very much looking forward to reading this new book. Escape Room: Game Zero is Eden’s story. She finds herself immersed into a brand new game The Escape. She has to find the keys and beat the levels to get out.
Edge’s books are totally action-packed, full of danger, puzzles and riddles. I know my class are going to love this as much as I did!
Thanks to NetGalley and Nosy Crow for the ARC.
Edge’s books are totally action-packed, full of danger, puzzles and riddles. I know my class are going to love this as much as I did!
Thanks to NetGalley and Nosy Crow for the ARC.
February 8, 2026
This story follows Eden, who can’t wait to try the new escape game she’s been hearing about. After following the instructions to begin, she’s suddenly pulled into the game for real. Inside, she meets Ted, a player from the real world who uses a special helmet to participate. Together, they solve puzzles and collect keys, hoping they’ll be able to escape the game. This book is perfect for lower middle school or upper elementary readers who enjoy puzzle-based and gaming adventure stories. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this copy.
April 30, 2025
I really enjoyed the concept of this book. The puzzles and world building were particularly clever and it had me hooked right until the end. Reading this as a primary school teacher, I can imagine this captivating many 10-11 year olds. The idea of being inside a ‘real’ video game is something I know would have been very appealing to read when I was that age. A great book! I look forward to any further stories in the future!
June 30, 2025
This book was a fun, easy read. It had great characters, and I felt sorry for Eden. She was such a good puzzle solver even when faced with her dilemma of if she was really there in The Escape or not. Ted did my head in with his cockyness and the fact he didn't believe Eden when she said she wasn't an NPC. I had no idea where this story was going to go, but I enjoyed it.
July 8, 2025
Quite different to the first book in that it does not really deal with an escape room at all, more like a giant VR game. For some reason the author's descriptions of everything frustrated me and the whole concept was a bit dull. I thought I would enjoy this way more than I actually did, but at least it was very quick to read.
April 30, 2025
A great book that's got plenty of twists and turns. It's unsettling in a 'this maybe could happen' kind of way. It's also clever, interesting and pacy. The twist at the end is great and left me wanting more!
May 4, 2025
Christopher Edge never disappoints. This one is no exception. The settings are beautifully written and the concept of a teenager inside a virtual game trying to escape from it is a surefire hit among teenagers. The story is well-paced and I love the twists and turns.
June 5, 2025
An exhilarating adventure that’s non stop from the start, Eden is a great lead and I loved the mystery, peril, and high stakes involved in trying to escape The Escape. Christopher Edge has written another brilliant, intense and compelling story that I thoroughly enjoyed. Five stars.
February 25, 2026
2/25/2026 3.5 stars. I wonder if I'd appreciated this better knowing it was part of a series going into it. Full review tk at TheFrumiousConsortium.net.
January 27, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy!
This is a decent middle-grade/YA book similar to Mr Lemoncello or other puzzle-centric books. I did like the puzzles, which were solid and enjoyable, but there wasn't really an escape game aspect to the plot. The writing style was a bit disjointed and over-descriptive and not quite my style. Kids/teens/adults who are looking for a good puzzle/VR book will enjoy the puzzles, but may be feeling a little let down by character development or anything further.
This is a decent middle-grade/YA book similar to Mr Lemoncello or other puzzle-centric books. I did like the puzzles, which were solid and enjoyable, but there wasn't really an escape game aspect to the plot. The writing style was a bit disjointed and over-descriptive and not quite my style. Kids/teens/adults who are looking for a good puzzle/VR book will enjoy the puzzles, but may be feeling a little let down by character development or anything further.
February 12, 2026
It is a nice book.
August 10, 2025
Unfortunately, I didn't love this one as much as the many previous books I've read by the author. It was still a fun read though and I liked Eden, the main character. She was so clever, and brave despite everything the game was putting her through!
November 9, 2025
This book reads like this to me:
"I gazed at the thing, and the gaze of the thing glimpsed and glanced at my gaze. The thing's gaze fell on my glance and we gazed at the glimpse and the glance. I took one last glimpse at the glance and a final gaze, then I glanced at the gaze and the gaze gazed at my gaze and we all glimpsed and glanced and gazed one final glampse."
Unbearable.
"I gazed at the thing, and the gaze of the thing glimpsed and glanced at my gaze. The thing's gaze fell on my glance and we gazed at the glimpse and the glance. I took one last glimpse at the glance and a final gaze, then I glanced at the gaze and the gaze gazed at my gaze and we all glimpsed and glanced and gazed one final glampse."
Unbearable.
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