I didn’t like the book at first. I felt it took a while to “get moving”, and I usually don’t like books with “flashbacks”. But now, after reading the entire book I wonder that maybe my dislike for the beginning is that I just didn’t like the characters at first and as they progressed and revealed themselves on the journey, I fell in love with them. So it may have taken some time but, the character development was spot on. They are complex and intriguing, endearing characters by the end. But because I almost didn’t read the whole book, I gave it four stars. But I would read it again and I would recommend this book wholeheartedly.