Though listed as fantasy/sci fi, it's actually pretty difficult to categorize this book. That's probably right in line with the way it reads - charmingly awkward. It's not magical realism either.... this is a beast unto itself, part magic, part fairy tale.

A bit patchy at times (maybe needs a tighter edit?) But overall a very entertaining, sweet story of belonging, magic and love.

I immediately fell in love with the main character Weylyn Grey. He is so selfless it hurts. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about his character through the eyes and point of views of all other characters. Although we never get to hear the stories from Weylyn Grey's perspective, I always felt that he was adequately represented and portrayed equally by each character in the same way. But something made me feel that I needed and wanted to know more.

Weylyn Grey, is the type of person who comes into other peoples lives and changes them forever. He enters their lives in moments of despair, when they need someone the most.

Weylyn Grey's tragic upbringing, and disconnect from the world - has not left him jaded, but has left him with the desire to know/ learn/ experience everyone ( he plans to meet at least one person for every name that exists) This is his greatest character trait and perhaps his greatest flaw. There is something about people who are so disconnected from the "real" world, that makes them the most genuine.

I think it is fair to say that the lesson from this book is that when you love people and have the desire to make a profound, positive impact upon the world, then will you have accomplished the meaning to live.

Once I started reading this book, I could not stop - and when I wasn't reading this book, my mind kept wandering and thinking of what is going to happen next to Weylyn Grey......

you can find my rating at @nic_jain_ on Instagram .

**Thank you NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review** (less)

This was a different genre from what I usually read. The characters were great and the story kept my interest. I would have liked a bit more magic and extraordinary things but that's just my preference. I will definitely look out for further books from this author.

Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance follows the life of Weylyn Grey, from childhood through adulthood and beyond. It’s a powerful story filled with kindness, love and magic. A story about how one person can influence the lives of so many. I can’t even begin to describe how much I loved Weylyn, he is so selfless that it hurts. It’s tragic and beautiful at the same time, every time you see him helping people you can’t help but feel good, but at the same time you realize that the one person that needs help the most is him. The whole book is in fact filled with the perfect balance of happiness and sadness, it feels like life.

As a matter of fact, it only takes about 50 pages for it to pull the punches. I think it’s a new record for me, it usually takes a lot of build up to make me invested enough in the characters and the story before I become emotional. Not with this one, I was crying and feeling so many things right from the start and that was the moment when I realized that this is indeed something special and magical.

Through his life, Weylyn Grey will encounter many people. In fact, it is through the eyes of others that we get to meet and know him. This is where Ruth Emmie Lang stands out, characters come and go but in the short time that we get to spend with them, they manage to make more of an impression than other characters do in an entire book. It only takes one chapter and it will be enough to make you fall in love with the characters that the author created. It’s not only people, some of the most lovable and memorable characters are actually animals, from wolves to pigs and even bees, Weylyn’s companions come in all forms and shapes.

It’s tough to write about this book, the more I love a book, the harder it is for me to gather my thoughts, especially when the only thing I can think about are the feelings that I experienced while reading it. How could I put those feelings into words, I’m not a writer, I’m not that good with words but I think I know someone who is. If you want to experience an immersive and magical journey with characters that almost pop out of the book, you should read this. I don’t think you’ll regret it.

A cozy read. Not complicated or confusing with wide cast of characters that are touched by Weylan. Could also be a senior high school recommended reading.

Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance is magical realism at its absolute finest!

I found myself so connected to the various narrating characters (along with a few non-verbal side characters, as well), and so immersed in the world the author created, that I felt a surge of emotion at the close of the book. I didn't want it to end, but I thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated the way things were wrapped up with more of an ellipses than a full stop.

Normally when I read a book with a fantastical/magical element I find myself smitten with one or more of the characters. But this one brought out such different, more tangible, feelings in me. I just wanted to hug the book or curl up inside it to live for a while.

Thank you so much to Ruth Emmie Lang for this magically wonderful experience!

Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance was a captivating read from start to finish. I loved the multiple-narrator approach, with different people sharing their memories of Weylyn as he moved in and out of their lives. The magical realism was so beautifully portrayed, you barely considered there was anything unusual or out of the ordinary about the things Weylyn could do. From one chapter to the next, I was eager to see how events played out, and I found the conclusion a satisfying end to Weylyn's journey. Highly recommended for fans of magic realism. I certainly hope to see more works from Lang in the future as her writing style was relaxing and engaging.

What a wonderful surprise! I've "been away" from sci fi and fantasy for a while, and this was a grand reentry. It's one of the two titles I'm recommending to everyone I talk with this month.

I downloaded Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance off NetGalley by chance. My account there had been languishing for, well, years. I decided to hop back on and see if I could find anything worth reading. And after just a few minutes, I stumbled across BoEC. I loved the cover and thought the synopsis seemed intriguing, so I downloaded my copy and set off.

To be honest, I didn't really enjoy the book as I was starting out! It took me a bit to get used to the first-person POV and the writing seemed a little infantile. I did note that the characters we heard from at first were children, so infantile was realistic. And I'm glad I pushed through and gave it a chance, because it just got better and better.

BoEC is a story set in modern America about a boy named Weylyn Grey who has inexplicable abilities, namely communicating with animals and influencing the weather. The book is a story of his life, told almost entirely through the perspective of others. The POV switches frequently, and we get to see Weylyn through many different eyes, though almost never through his own. I don't want to get too much into the plot because it's easy to give things away, but I will say that it kept me interested and that I was never quite sure what was going to happen next.

There were a couple characters that I wish had been touched on more. First, Weylyn's parents. They do come up, and we quickly learn that he's an orphan, but they just sort of feel really hollow to me. It's obvious that they were just killed in order for Weylyn to have this journey. They never really come up except when convenient to the plotline at hand. I also wish there had been more about Weylyn's adopted mom and Mary's dad. They both kind of just vanish after they serve their purpose, making them feel more like plot points than characters. This is true of some of the other secondary characters as well, but these folks feel like they should have been of more importance to both Mary and Weylyn's lives.

Overall, though, I loved this book. Once I got into the rhythm of things, I didn't want to put it down. I almost missed my T stop several times while reading. I really felt immersed in the world Ruth Emmie Lang created and sympathized so much with the characters. No spoilers, but the ending made me SO emotional and gave me so many goosebumps. Lang really knows how to thread an ending together.

Takeaway: This book is beautiful. Please read it. Please, please read it.

Really enjoyed this book, the story is original and well written, I'd read more from this author.