The Stars that Call Us Home

Adrift #5

by Trinity Dunn

They’ve been through it all. From crashing into the ocean to altering their own memories, the Adrift family is ready to go home. But what’s the best way to get there? And how can they be certain everyone arrives in one piece?

Follow one group across Colonial America as the other sails the Atlantic. All of them with one singular destination, and none of them with quite the same plans to get there.

If time holds no guarantees, what does the future look like?

Only time will tell...

Genres: Historical

710 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 12, 2023

Reviews

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was handed this book and told I had to read it. Boy was I confused when I opened it and found myself in an already deeply established story! Did I go back and read the first four books first? I did not have them, so nope. I just kept reading. As I figured out the story and what journey the characters were on and exactly who the characters were, I found myself immersed to the conclusion. At some point, I want to pick this up from the beginning, in which case I hope this book moves up to five stars.

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just like with every other book in this series, this final book was WAY TOO LONG. 775 pages! Insanity. Unlike with the first four books, I found the length of this to be highly irritating. I was so ready to get on with things and just finish it. It was overfilled with new story lines involving new characters who I cared little for. I could have done without the entire Charlotte/Shawnee story angle. The main characters who formed such a fun group in book one are separated for most of this book, and lots of them just disappear until the very end. A giant chunk of the story is dedicated to elaborate theories of time travel and creating some sort of secret society of descendants who will get to magically travel through time, somehow arriving at specific places and dates throughout history. Amazing how they were able to jump right on to these ideas after spending most of the first books of the series terrified that time travel would end up killing some of them if too many traveled at one time. After all, a good portion of that plane DIED or DISAPPEARED when they went through time. Suddenly they have such perfect knowledge of the mechanics that they are going to plan vacations through time for the rest of eternity. Very convenient. Then the whole thing only manages to work out because ...

[SPOILER ALERT]

one of their descendants travels through time to give them all the hints they need to get back to where they need to be. This is a chicken and egg dilemma, because ... don't they have to make the jump back to the present in order to create the system that allows their posterity to show up? How can that happen if they haven't jumped back yet? To top it all off, the whole plan hinges on KILLING some innocent guy from the past in order to prevent his posterity from ruining Jose's life. What? They create a convenient plot point so that we don't have to feel bad about it, but it still seems weird to me. People don't just have one line of descendants. There would be hundreds of people in this guy's line, and all of them would have to disappear. How does that work? Trinity Dunn wastes so much time of this book trying to create a plausible way for them to be jumping through time and manipulating things everywhere. It just doesn't pass the sniff test, and it took FOREVER to lay out. So incredibly boring, not to mention questionable.

I missed Jack in this story. He's around, but doesn't get much page time. Most of the book is told from Cecelia and Alaina's point of view with a couple Chris chapters sprinkled throughout. I wasn't a huge fan of the Alaina chapters with her overly long internal monologues and plans for setting up her time travel enterprise. I liked Cecelia a little better, but her chapters were full of a thousand new characters and story lines that were horribly extraneous. Chris also had a lot of extraneous plot stuff, but I didn't mind his story as much. Still, the whole thing was bloated. Trinity Dunn shows some promise as a writer. She weaves a lovely narrative in some ways. But she could have used some tough love from an editor who could have persuaded her to cut the size of this novel .... all of them .... in half. In fact, I think this would have been an amazing story if it were told in two books ... one with them stranded and in a foreign time, and one where they find their way back and find the world changed from their absence. I would have been interested to see how things worked out when they showed back up in society after being gone for years, everyone suddenly back with new relationships and adventures to share. Oh well! I wish I could give this a higher rating. I did finish it because I wanted to see them all back to the present. But I can only give this bloated monstrosity two stars. It was okay. Bummer.

[Paula Wilson-Copley · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing conclusion to this five book series! Trinity Dunn writes with such detail that you are easily able to visualize each character and setting. I quickly fell in love with these characters back at book 1 and they have had quite the adventure! Even as the story concludes, they have so many twists and turns that you aren’t quite sure what may happen. Such an amazing story and I’m blessed to have had the honor to be a Beta Reader for this series.

[Teresa Downing · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a way to finish the series!

Just wow. Going to have do re-read the series after devouring book 5.

Just amazing. Twists and turns, shocks and secrets. Love,laughter,romance and tears!

[Julia Ebarb · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Stars really can call you home!

This book is the perfect culmination of The Adrift Series. I've become so invested in each of the characters. I've cried tears of sadness and of joy. If you have not started this series, grab Book 1 NOW ( More of Us to the West). After the first book, I began looking and waiting for where the title comes from in the book. Trinity Dunn has done an amazing thing with this series. You can tell she has poured her heart and soul into it. I love the history in each. And the faith in a higher power! And the magic! And how these time travelers finally make it home is miraculous.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t usually leave reviews, but I feel like this one needs to be done. The first couple books in the series were really good…after that, it became a very tedious read. I don’t like to give up before I’m done with a series, but when I finished the 5th book, I was so glad it was over. The characters were whining and redundant; the end got a little too far fetched for me. All in all, I’m just glad just glad it’s over and think it was too overdone!!

[Karla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved all the books in the Adrift series and this one doesn't disappoint! Such a beautiful conclusion to this amazing journey. I wish I could give it more than five stars!

[Tabby · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the first few books in this series, but this last book was like torture for me to get through. I was so excited for the ending but it just kept going for way too long. I was worn down so much that I was just glad it was over. I started to just not like most of the main characters.

[Jane Shawcross · Rating 5 out of 5]

fantastic

What an amazing set of books these are. Many times I wondered where they would go and if all characters would survive or stay together. Lots of laughter and tears as I read along.

This final book which explains everything is amazing.
I listened too as I read it and was amazed by the different accents and the imagination that brought all this to my life.

Thank you so much for dreaming up all these characters and their stories along the way, your imagination is boundless.

I only hope you will return to them and write more of their adventures in various times.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finishing this book and series is so bittersweet. I'm not going to say much, since everything is still swirling around in my head processing, but it was such a wonderful ending. My heart is sad. I loved these characters so much, and while it was rough-going at times, I'm still going to miss them.

While I don't think Trinity's writing totally works for me and my ADHD brain, I'm still planning on reading future spin-off installments. That's how much I love this world and these characters.

Also, can I just say the whole TAO thing sounds SO FUN and also I still can't believe the George Bennet reveal. BRUH!!

Overall, while it's not a perfect book and suffers from a bit too much drawn-out detail like the rest of the series, this book was still amazing and WAS a PERFECT ending to the series! Everything wrapped up so amazingly. I miss the whole gang already. 🥲🥲🥲😭

[Carole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was eagerly awaiting this book having read the first 4 instalments. I certainly wasn’t disappointed. Book was amazing from start to finish. I laughed cried empathised and felt the emotional rollercoaster of the characters that became my friends. Outstanding series of books. I’d normally never read time travel books but couldn’t fault these. Great ending however I think there could be scope for more spin offs in the future. Extremely talented author. Highly recommended.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great wrap up.. or is it?

Very well done, creative, adventurous series! This is set to be the final in the Adrift series and it nicely ties everything together.. it's a bit heavy and laden in the middle and took me a while longer than most books to push thru, but it was worth it to see the end of so many brilliant characters! However, the author does allude to the future setting of 2030.. so maybe not such an end after all?

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adrift home

A long last book in the series. Some very odd science but a great tale of time travel, all the people we have met over the entire series worried about what will happen when they go through the storm again home. A lot is covered. This series was one I plowed through. I couldn’t stop reading it till it was concluded. So be prepared to read all of this series once you start it.

[Angela L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating time travel series

Extremely complex theory on time travel explored in intricate details throughout the series. Very detailed character development and extensive incite into their thought processes. I appreciated the way the characters came together, bonding with each other through their shared experiences, becoming a strong, unified blended family. I enjoyed this fascinating and well written story.

[Mary Sosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

weird

The first book will always be my favorite. Overall this book was great. This series was amazing and the ending was weird, it kept getting weirder and I loved it.
Overall, I can see why Trinity had to postpone her release date. I just feel like all the additional information was necessary.
I can’t wait for the next books.

[jeni]

Perfection TAO

I really don't know how to describe but the whole book and ADRIFT series was something I wish had a hundred more books! Time travel is not something I have ever read but I felt like I was doing it. The emotions and wonderment, you just have to read for yourself. Absolutely the best books I have read in I don't know long.

[Peter Chadwick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm sad I just finished

One of the most entertaining, exciting series I've read in a very long time. I find myself so invested in each character that I cried during any sad parts, angry when something happened that I didn't want to happen. Feel like these are old friends and I don't want this to be the end of their stories

[Cindi Shepherd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alls well that ends well!

I think Book 5 wraps everything up nicely although it got a little confusing with the TAO book. However I love how everyone’s story ended. Nobody was left hanging. Each had an ending that was appropriate for them. This was the first book series I’ve read and each book didn’t disappoint me.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the end of a fabulous series! I cried and laughed and had a great adventure with the characters. So sad it is over!

[Kimberly Young]

Will be on tv one day

Thank you thank you for this awesome series I reread before I read book five. I have no doubt that this will be on the screen in the future

[Christeen Lotz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

I loved this series. I can't stop talking about it and telling other people to read this amazing series ..

[Cynthia Fleming]

Read all 5 books in order. Hated to see the story end.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lost like series

Much like the series Lost only better. You will not be able to put this series down, all the characters become your friends.

[Marc · Rating 2 out of 5]

So, to start with…I am a big fan of this series. I read the first four books and timed it before book 5 came out only to have to wait about 10 more weeks. Why 2 stars? It’s more like 2.75 stars. This book failed in many areas. First, it was unnecessarily wordy in the first half, and then, time theories to confuse, and then straight sci fi. This book could’ve visited famous people (like captain cook in the early books) and didn’t. Imagine you’re able to run into George Washington or some of our forefathers in this book and you just never write into that scenario….a huge missed opportunity. The romance was iffy at best….and the what ifs of time made some parts overly complicated. While the last quarter of the book was what you’re waiting for after reading some 3,000 plus pages, it too leaves a few things hanging. In retrospect, there were a lot of characters to follow and yet….some weren’t updated appropriately…and so maybe a different approach was needed to summarize lives. I also thought Chris’s chapters had huge voicing errors….and just rang weird to reading it. There were so many positives to this series though….so while this book is a 2.75 star book…I’ll split that into 2 parts…first 75% of the book a 1.5, last 25% a 4.25. The series….long,long, long!!…but a solid 4 overall

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all I truly believe Ms. Dunn is a very talented artist. I rarely read books in a series so this was quite a jump for me to take on 5 books. Book 1 was great… book 2 still very good.. by books 3 and 4 I was seriously starting to question why I chose to read such a long series and… finally by book 5, I could put this to bed and be done. Books 4 and 5 were very wordy and at times, I was thoroughly confused. As for the main characters in the books…I was not a fan of Alaina. She was way too self absorbed. I’m pretty sure she and her sister were competing for first place.. who could love their man the most and CONSTANTLY acknowledge how many times and ways they could profess that love. Lilly was a spoiled brat in the beginning but she was easy to like by the end. Jim was my favorite.. so down to earth. Chris was kind of a wimp and I felt sorry for him in the beginning but he ended well with mouthy little spitfire Maria. Jack was so full of himself but changed for the better toward the end. Even though i think this was just an okay series, I will read this author again but, probably not this long of a series. Book 1 I give a 5 star and a solid 3 stars for the series. Thank you Ms Dunn for all your hard work.

[Jennifer Friesen · Rating 4 out of 5]

great tie-up but a few things…

Excellent story and great way to make it all make sense in the end. It’s a little Deus-ex-machina… but I feel like all time travel resolutions kinda have to be. Overall very well done.

The criticism: there are a few things that drive me nuts. First, « loathed to » is used a few times. Editing should have caught this error. Also there are, as in all of the books in this series, a large number of random double-spaces between words (like this). Editing also should have caught this, or if it was caused by changing formats or file types then editing is needed to address this. Not a big deal though.

Besides that, there are a couple of things that I was hoping to discover but wasn’t. For example, in book 4 there is conversation about Cece and Alaina’s dad… then in this book there was a discussion about ensuring lineages are preserved at all costs. I was hoping it would be discovered that he was a traveler, or maybe that they thought he was but discovered he wasn’t, or something. It’s just a mystery that was never addressed. There were a couple others out here too, but I can’t remember at the moment. Hoping there will be more books that are connected to this series that answer the questions.

[Mandie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I spent the past 6 days reading all 5 books from this series. Here are my jumbled unorganized thoughts:

1. I loved Maria, she was the best character.
2. Being privy to the internal thoughts of Alaina and CeCe was torture. It was the same thoughts over and over again. I’m pretty sure this series could have been 3 books if you took out all the parts where they think and talk about how much they love their partners. We get it.
3. I wanted more TAO! That was probably the most interesting part of this series and I hate that we were dumped exposition about it instead of actually being shown it. I would probably read a series based on that alone.
4. This is a mix between Lost, Outlander, with a smidge of The Butterfly Effect and the TVA from Loki. I love time travel, and I love historical fiction, so this was up my alley.

I’d recommend this book for people who like time travel, but aren’t too snobby about the different types of time travel, and for people who like mushy love stories. This was by far the mushiest book I’ve ever read.

[Anna Violette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book series! I was listening to the audio version which is amazing btw on a flight from Seattle Washington to Nashville Tennessee and the people around me must have thought I was a lunatic because I was laughing out loud the entire trip. I was totally vested in the characters in this series, and I knew I would be sad when it was over. I even tried to hold off the last book, but it wasn't possible. I'm still trying to figure out how Trinity Dunn managed to keep all of the timelines straight. I envision her entire home is covered with chalkboards. My notes app in my iphone contains a large number of Jim-isms but I know I missed so many. I was searching to see if anyone had put together a list and stumbled upon a new future book about Jim Jackson. I am so looking forward to it! I've seen a few comments about the books being too long, but I didn't want it to end at all, like ever, so I would disagree. Thank you, Trinity Dunn, for the laughs and the experience. Please, please, more of that.

[Serena Buffaloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hope there is more to this exciting, amazing series !!!!!

I can't even begin to describe the crazy , delightful , adventure this series has been !!!! From one moment to the next, and around every corner , the adventure just gets more and more incredible !!!!
This last book was a rollercoaster ride of epic proportions that had me getting up from laying down for the night to read, " just one more chapter !! " Of course , that one turned into way more, leaving me all bleary eyed for work the next day !!!!! But Totally worth it !!!
Alaina, Jack, and Lilly and Jim , along with Chris , Maria, Kyle and Retire , Juan Sr and Jr, and Dario and Magna, Bruce and Bud and Terrence and even Phil , and the children , all have a very unbelievable few months ahead. Lots of it made me mad, and sad and beyond happy . Smiling from ear to ear , I am very sad to see them go off to other adventures , and I hope, and pray that there will be more to this exciting series !!!!!

[Crislee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought it was good...

But....I was wrong. I thought it was starting out slow. But now it makes sense why it seemed that way. Yes a few things were odd but I loved it so much I can't even remember what they were. And it seemed to be going in circles and confusing me. But now I think that's because it needed to. ..the chicken and egg thing like they said in the story. Hiw can anyone write about time travel without it being confusing at tines. I liked how it ends. If she doesn't write another in the series for a year I won't be lost. I read over 100 books a year so you can imagine it's hard to remember much. I have no clue if this truly is "the end." But I'm glad it feels like it for now. No loose ends. However it could continue on without a missed beat if she wants it too...or not. I love that. For each to wrap up at the end in case I forget.