Gilrain “Gil” is a Helir elf. Shunned and feared because of the reputation of his brethren, Gil has done his best to contain his magic and be as human as possible. But, a dream image haunts him and changes his quiet life. Evicted from his apartment he must find a new place to live, and for an elf, especially a Helir elf, that’s not an easy task. Once he finds a place things seem to be fine until he hears a song that calls to him; a song that seeks to bind him to the musician, but Gil has a few tricks of his own.

This is an intriguing start to a new series. I liked the character of Gil a lot. He has managed to overcome his heritage and make a life for himself living by his own tenets and not those generally shared by his people. Arion didn’t start out as a sympathetic character but by the end I felt a great deal for him. His cool and uncaring façade covered a deeply wounded soul and I found myself rooting for him and Gil. Although fast- paced, Hunter Raines has succeeded in developing multilayered characters that breathe life into the story of love in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. While the plot wasn’t anything new, Bound by Melody seems fresh and exciting due to Hunter Raines’ deft descriptions and vivid characters.

Reviewed by: Hayley