Luka's Escape

Six boys. One boat. No turning back.1953, Yugoslavia. Luka is almost eighteen, staring down a future in the army—and a life under an oppressive regime. His best friend, Roko, lives in fear of his violent father. Their seaside village, still haunted by the horrors of WWII, offers no future and no escape … until they dare to create one.With four close friends, they steal a wooden rowboat and set out across the stormy Adriatic Sea, risking everything to reach Italy. But their plan begins to unravel before it even starts. Luka's younger sister goes missing. A body is dragged up in a fisherman's net. And a ruthless police captain will stop at nothing to protect his secrets.Caught between loyalty and survival, Luka must rely on his friends, the kindness of strangers, and his own growing courage to navigate betrayal, grief, and a perilous sea crossing that will test them all.Not everyone will make it.Luka's Escape is the first book in The Zadar Escape and Pursuit Series. Inspired by true events. For fans of The Kite Runner and Harry Potter—a thrilling, heartfelt coming-of-age story set in a time of danger and discovery.