*4.5 stars* 
 I'll admit, at first I started questioning whether this was going to be a book I liked. Despite that skepticism, I couldn't stop reading. There was a slight lull in my attention at one point somewhere in the first half, but then I saw Callie's change and then I read how she used to be, and at some point I was completely hooked. 
 The story really reminds me of a slightly darker more adult version of A Court of Mist and Fury, but really it's only the basics that are similar. The characters are, by far, their own people and the way they grow and change and become more complex is wonderful to watch. The flashbacks aren't cheesy or out of place, and they actually fit quite well with the story as a whole. Without them, the story wouldn't have been the same, and even the main detective story plot is woven into them, not just the romantic stuff. 
 I didn't realize before reading that it was going to be a series or trilogy or whatever the plan is for it, but now I can't function until I get to read the next installment!!! 
 Where Callie begins in the present, characterization-wise, reminds me a little of Kinsey Millhone from Sue Grafton's Alphabet Mysteries. She's a little rough around the edges but knows herself and knows who she is, and while she has huge amounts of baggage she is such a fighter that you can't help but want to hug her and fight right alongside her. 
 Then the flashback, teenaged version of her is so vulnerable, yet so unknowingly strong. She is cracked but not entirely broken. It's a very well done and realistic depiction of someone who has been victimized but is trying to rebuild. 
 And then you have the way she changes over the course of the present scenes with Des as well. It's all just really well done. I think there are a couple things that could of course have been a little better, such as the characterization of Temper and Eli, who feel a little flat at times, but that's nothing that couldn't be fixed with the addition of a few things here and there. 
 Fixing the characterization of Temper and Eli would bump this story up to a 5 star rating for sure. I hope that at least Temper gets an upgrade in the next book, to really put the characterization above and beyond, and that we get to see some more dynamic Des personality traits to flesh him out as well. 
 Can't wait for the next book and I hope it comes out SOON!!!!!!! <3 <3 <3