Escape to Ash Island

by J.H. Lucas

★ ★ ★ ★ "An entertaining read about friendship and the survival of hope, set in a vividly imagined world." –Examiner.com

"Wonder, humor, and terrorizing fantasy creatures. A really enjoyable read, really well done!" –Writership

Welcome to Saharizona, the "poison sands" spoken of in the forbidden Prophecy Song, where only the strange survive. Gigantulas and cowyotes, buffalopes and attactus, biker gangs and Chinese cowboys...

So when Cash and his friends set out in search of a mythical island in Calitopia, they know their chances are slim. What they don’t know is someone is following them. Some*thing*. The Red Enforcer – half man, half machine, no mercy. Determined to stop them, and put an end to the Prophecy once and for all.

And as the relentless cyborg closes in, Cash is required to pit friendship against fate. But how can you choose between saving your friends or saving the future?

308 pages, Paperback

Published June 1, 2016

About the author

J.H. Lucas has been hooked on writing since he was a kid, when he made comic books about a team of intergalactic superheroes who saved the universe in bizarre and interesting ways. Over the past decade he has written and directed a feature film, improvised lyrics for hundreds of songs with his post-punk band, and authored a 532-page meta-autobiographical novel he's afraid to publish because his mother might see it. He is a CLIO Award winner and has worked as a graphic designer, a pizza delivery guy and an accidental male model, twice, when he was younger and better looking. He lives in San Francisco and may or may not have seen a UFO when he was a kid. For more information, or to sign up for the mailing list, visit JHLucas.com

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Escape to Ash Island we follow Cash and his friends as they try to cross the Saharizona in order escape the horrible place that took their freedom and childhood away. The Saharizona is filled with creatures we are a little familiar with but with a twist, and dangers that no one has been able to survive. This is the adventure of three kids trying to survive long enough to find a mythical island where all kids do is play instead of work.

We also follow a Red Enforcer, a half human-half machine man, that is trying to hunt down these kids. Why? Well, because everyone has been freaking out about a prophesy that they think the kids will fulfill. . . and he also wants to stop them so that his Maker will let him be full machine.

I liked the world more than anything. It is very interesting to see all the breeds of scary-ass creatures that now inhabit the earth and wondering how Cash and his friends will make it through. The cast is a mix of children and adults, and I liked that until some of the characters were starting to sound too similar to others.

I greatly enjoyed reading this, although it sometimes was a little too juvenile for me, and I would most definitely read the next book in the series, and of course recommend this one to anyone interested.

[Annika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inventive and exciting!

This distopyan YA novel has a great reluctant hero in Cash, and the descriptions of his early life, his escape from slavery and the journey to his destiny are a joy to read.

With just enough detail about why the world has all but been destroyed a mere 100 years from now, the story in stead focusses on the results, and they are scary to say the least.

It is not all bleak though, for example there is comic relief in two cowboys who learned how to cowboy from a partially destroyed book, and the descriptions of mutant animals making the journey for the group of friends more than difficult are inspired.

The villain is also a great character, with just enough background to make you understand just a bit of his motivation.

I'm glad it's only the first in a series, because I can't wait to see what Cash and his friends will encounter next, as well as some more background on this more than interesting new world JH Lucas has invented!

[Celeste · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
This is a futuristic, new adult/young adult dystopia and surprisingly light and humorous. The story revolves around Cash, the nerdy unpopular kid stuck in a factory working an assembly line who dreams of better things.
The world building is imaginative and appealing, something I wasn’t expecting to be honest, because I was expecting this book to only appeal to the younger teens and tweens. Also, robotic bad guys aren’t my favorites, but, the author makes it work. I think Cash is adorable, maybe it’s the messy hair, or the fact that he only wants one friend, any friend!
Sure some parts are clichéd, but considering the target audience I think that it won’t matter too much. Overall an enjoyable, refreshing read.

[Sally Hannoush · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very inventive cast of characters and "animals." This is the first book in the series. I wonder what will be next. I'd like to learn more about the past that leads to the craziness 100 years later.

[Esther Lombardi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yes, you'll be drawn into the exploits of Cash in Escape to Ash Island, by J.H. Lucas. His journey features a burning house, abandonment and a concentration-camp-style barracks. Then, there's escape -- to a place that may not even really exist.

http://www.abookgeek.com/escape-ash-i...

[giftedteacher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is dystopian, but not depressing! It has a well-paced plot with interesting characters. I look forward to the next book in the series!

I received an electronic copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Teresa]

* e-Arc provided by Netgalley *

[Jennifer Meek · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book from net-galley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the world that you read about in this book. It was so fascinating to see new creatures. It reminded of a Percy Jackson kind of book, kind of little kid ish but must be read!