Think twice before you ask someine if they were raised by wolves. You never know when it may be true. Weylyn Grey is a delightful character. I loved watching him grow up and witnessing his powers unfold. He has a heart of gold and would never harm a soul.

So what if he was raised by wolves? I can't say that this book was truly magical realism. How can there merely be fantastical elements to Weylyn's story if he is legitimately fantastical? To me, this is a fantasy that feels real. That is my story and I'm sticking to it!

If you already love fantasy you will likely love this book. If you don't already get lost in fantasies, you might want to start with this book.

Weylyn Grey is not your average hero, he’s the kind of hero that stays in your heart forever. Ruth Emmie Lang has written a novel about magic – the kind of magic that is created between people, when we truly connect and understand each other. On the surface Weylyn is weird, he has uncommon skills, perhaps even magical ones. But that is just the surface in this story, which is fundamentally about love and how difficult it can sometimes be and how we people make it even more difficult for ourselves.

We follow Weylyn’s story through people he meets and interacts with. Weylyn’s life is not easy, nor is it for many of those his path intersects. But, in some curious ways he brings solace to others, even if their first reaction to him was less than enthusiastic.

Weylyn’s life starts with a snow storm in July and a bumpy road follows there on. He meets his love of life already in childhood, Mary Penlore. For many the first love is unforgettable, and for these two it certainly is with all the adventures and challenges to follow. But it takes a lot of learning and life schooling before Weylyn and Mary realize the obvious.

I truly loved reading this book, although it took quite a while to get to the end. It is a philosophical love story, which takes the reader into its enchanting world. The magic of this story doesn’t come from wands or spells, but from the extraordinary spirit of the characters and the atmosphere so skilfully created by Ruth Emmie Lang.

I originally wrote this review over a week ago, but then accidentally refreshed the page and lost it all, so here goes take two. This book was really whimsical and fun. I loved the way the story was told. It's about Weylyn and his life, but it's told by the people he's encountered throughout his life. From a childhood friend to foster families to co-workers, you learn about Weylyn and his fantastical life. While many areas of his life are mundane and typical, there's a hint of magic running through all of it. It's not too over the top, almost magical realism, but it ties in quite nicely to the story. It kind of reminded me of the movie Simon Birch, where it was Simon's life narrated by his best friend.

Not only did I enjoy reading about Weylyn's life, I really liked the multiple perspectives. All of the characters were themselves well developed, and some even popped up at multiple points in their own lives, which also added some depth. All of their voices were a bit similar in ways, and all perspectives told the story in simple, straightforward prose. The perspective changes also cohesively contributed to the story as a whole. It was almost like little tapestries of Weylyn's life, but the story they tell overall is heartwarming and mostly happy. I laughed, and I cried, and I highly enjoyed myself.

I know this review is pretty short, but don't think that means I didn't like the book. I really adored it. It was a super sweet story, with lots of animals and magic and weather. It really brought me a sense of whimsy to my life and it was a nice, quick read. If you need some joy in your day, you won't be disappointed by this book.

Note: I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

What an adorable story. Started a bit slow but once it got going, I had a hard time putting it down. I could see it clearly like a movie. This would make a fantastic movie done by Tim Burton. Very much along the lines of "Big Fish".

Could not finish. The writing was truly not up to par for a magical realism novel. It was amateurish.

I loved this book and I really can't say why? It was magical, sweet and fun. ..Weylyn Grey is a wonderful character. and his life is fantastic.

This novel follows the memorable character that is Weylyn Grey (and the equally memorable Mary). It is set in a normal universe, but this book adds a touch of magic to it, making it mysterious and whimsical all at once. I loved the way it was separated into different sections, with the interludes into present day mixing with the different periods of Weylyn's life. It was difficult to stop. I higly recommend for young adults, and adults alike, who like a little of magic in their books.

MY REVIEW:

Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance is perhaps the most whimsical read I’ve picked up in all of 2017 & I’m so glad to have read it this holiday season. The Goodreads Synopsis for this book is pretty generous in length but if I’m being honest all I needed to read was the snippet above to know this was one I’d want to read. When introduced to Weylyn Grey, I instantly got the Jungle Book & Charlotte’s Web vibes. Here is a kid who has been orphaned at a very young age & ends up being raised by wolves. He’s not just any ordinary kid though, Weylyn has a special connection with animals and can communicate with all species of animal. Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance is a multiple POV story told by the many characters who cross paths with Weylyn Grey. They all share one thing in common, their lives are forever changed after meeting Weylyn & witnessing the odd and extraordinary things that occur whenever he is around. This story is special in that it not only asks its characters to suspend their disbelief but also you the reader. I wouldn’t call it Magical Realism which in my opinion has a whole different feel in writing style but it certainly is very whimsical. This is a very character driven story with a underlying message of what makes a home a home…is it a place? or the people we meet along the way?

Weylyn Grey sees himself living in many places & meeting many others from all walks of life but even he has that one person that is his hearts anchor. Mary, the girl he met when he was a young boy & who ran away from home to spend one whole month with him and the wolves. Each chapter starts off in a new place/different year where Weylyn has tried to settle down in but we also see him pop in & out of Mary’s life. This is mainly because he believes he is a danger to those he loves, strange & mysterious things like sudden tornados striking or storms tapering off. It seems he has the ability to manifest & also dispel weather phenomena. We get to see how others perceive Weylyn, some are nicer than others but all come away with a different perspective on life after witnessing things that can’t be explained.

For those readers who love character driven books, Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance will prove to be a real treat. This is one boys journey to manhood as he touches the lives of many and discovers that home is what you make it. I really enjoyed getting sucked into this world and the nostalgia it stirred in me when recalling some of my favorite childhood reads. Lang’s writing is beautiful & the imagery left me smiling on many occasion. I did wish we had perhaps less characters introduced along the way & a bit more of the love story that is hidden underneath all of the extraordinary. I’m not typically the one to go for the romance but we meet a plethora of characters & their time with Weylyn is brief, I wanted a bit more of Mary since she is the most important person in Weylyn’s life. Overall, this is one story i’m sure will remain with me for a long time & as a person who has also moved around a ton, I can definitely appreciate the message. Best read on a cool night with a hot cup of cocoa, Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance is an atmospheric read sure to feed the imagination!

*Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Netgalley, and Ruth Emmie Lang for the eGalley copy of Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance in exchange for an honest review.

Weylyn Grey has always been different. Orphaned at a young age, he lived undiscovered with a wolf pack for years until he befriended a human girl and was later placed with a foster family. His alternative upbringing is not the only unusual thing about Weylyn though - nature appears to behave oddly whenever he's around, whether it's the cluster of animals visiting his room in the night or the storms that appear whenever he's upset. Weaving through time and the perspectives of the people who meet him along the way, Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance tells the story of Weylyn's life.
The unique, well-developed characters and short chapters engage the reader immediately and keeps the story moving until the end. The hint of magic appeals to fantasy fans without putting off those who prefer to stay grounded in reality. A great read for anyone who loves books revolving around interpersonal relationships.

Weylyn Grey is an orphan that lived with wolves after a snowstorm kills him parents. He loves the woods and his wolf pack but is lonely for human company. His life takes him into the human world where he never quite fits in due to his emotions seeming to cause changes in weather and animals naturally befriending him and plants growing unnaturally quickly around him. As a reader you are rooting for him and are curious like everyone else in his life about his subtle magical abilities. This book was nostalgic and magical like childhood. It was easy to read and had lots of lovable characters. It made me want to wander around in the wilderness for a day and appreciate the beauty of nature. The supporting characters really made this book come to life with their humanity and humor and made you realize like Weylyn did that you cannot live happily without the ones you love.

I received this book from NetGalley for review consideration. I ended up buying it from Book of the Month Club since I was enjoying it so much.

What a pleasant surprise! This is a great introductory novel into magical realism, a genre I have little experience with but have come to better appreciate. Weylen Grey is such a memorable character who is just trying to find his place in the world like the rest of us. He may have a few oddities but he touches and transforms so many people's lives throughout his own life. It was such a strange but frankly "magical" read. We get to see this character through so many people's eyes and how a single person can leave such a lasting mark on our world. Overall, it was a charming book and I throughly enjoyed it.

The story of Weylyn Grey, raised by wolves who can control the weather through his emotions. With a touch of magic realism and a cast of unforgettable characters, Weylyn's life story is told by the people he has relationships with. It's a charming, sad, hopeful story beautifully told.

“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never find it.”
― Roald Dahl

The moment I read the blurb, I fell in love with the concept. I have read books on wolves and men co-existing, but this has definitely turned out to be different and better. There is wilderness and magic at every point and it only gets better.

The characters are so well-written, I fell in love with them. Weylyn is the friend you always wished you had. He is smart, well mannered, untamed yet caring. The writing style is exquisite and exhilarating. It managed to make me believe that Weylyn Grey might actually exist and I would wanna follow him to woods, where life is mystical and full of possibilities. There’s love, loss, pain and turmoil that has been placed perfectly and the plot makes you more and more curious.

The book is 350 pages long, but it’s slow paced and the author has penned down every detail, which made it much more imaginative and believable. However, too much detail tends to get boring at times and that’s what slowed me down. I had to skim through a few pages but that didn’t stop me from enjoying the story.

With magical and smart storytelling, Ruth Emmie Lang has captured my soul and left me happy and satiated, in her debut novel, Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance.

This book was, by turns, mysterious, enchanting and very, very sweet. Containing just a touch of magic, and spanning forty years across America, it’s something that left me with a smile on my face after reading it.
The focus of the whole book is the mysterious Weylyn Grey: permanent nomad and closet magician. The beauty of this book, though, is that we never see anything from his viewpoint: the entire book is narrated from the perspective of the people who are touched by, or enter, his life. From the nurse who’s there at his birth- who notices a mysterious snowstorm when he starts crying- to Mary, the girl who runs away with him and then falls in love with him, the whole story is a kind of collage of his life, skipping backwards and forwards in time.
One of the best things about the book is how lovable the characters are. Though we only learn about Weylyn gradually- we first properly meet him as a vaguely threatening bogeyman when a young boy crashes through his shed roof- the people whose lives he touches are equally engaging in their own right, with their own backgrounds, hopes and fears. As they get to know Weylyn better, so do we: the effect is almost to create several small stories-within-a-story, but when we meet these characters later on in their lives, I felt genuinely interested in how they were doing and what had happened to them.
The common thread running through all of these characters’ lives, though, is Weylyn, and the magic that he brings with him. Weylyn himself is a great character: he’s warm, fascinating, and very easy to love. And reading about him is always great, because of the magic. It’s more magical realism than outright fantasy, this book, and the magic itself is laid on with a gentle hand, laced with humour and with the scepticism of the people whose eyes we’re seeing it happen through. Throughout the story, though, the book creates a sense of childlike wonder: from the luminous firefly honey that he collects with his sister’s children, to the wolves he was fostered by when he was a child, it feels like we’re discovering a whole other world, with the kind and enigmatic Weylyn at its centre.
It’s hard to believe this is a debut novel, really. Ruth Emmie Lang writes with such gentle confidence that you’re drawn into the story from the start, and keep reading until the end. Combining the excitement of magic with warmth and humanity, Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance is as much a book about what it means to be loved as it is about the wonders of luminous firefly honey.

Lang's novel is the sort of fairy tale esque novel that brings back those moments of childlike wonder. Reading it is both foreign and familiar, and somewhat spectacular. As a reader I loved how easy it was to consume; characters are well thought out and complete, the story line is tended too and blossoms brightly, and at the end of it you somehow feel as though you're a little more hopeful. By far this is one of the weirdest books I've read, but also one of the most beautiful. One aspect to the story that I found refreshing was that Weylyn isn't a character you meet through his own eyes. You meet him through everyone else, somewhat like the Little Prince, most of those you meet along the way are for brief moments, yet they leave lasting impressions. On a more personal level I found this book to be a beautiful reprieve from my real life. The magical and lyrical nature to the story made it one that stuck with me; and one that I will carry with me for quite some time. Ruth Emmie Lang has truly crafted a work of art, and it begs the question will you allow yourself to believe in both magic and possibilities?

Ruth Emmie Lang’s debut novel, Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance, chronicles the intersecting stories of a magical boy raised by wolves, the girl he loves, and the people he encounters throughout his life. Weylyn Grey is an orphan boy who possesses incredible power. He also has a pet, horned pig named Merlin.

Weylyn touches the lives of so many, although he often doesn’t stay in any one town for very long. The reasons for his comings and goings are many and varied, but ultimately, he just has a hard time finding a place to call home. The reasons for that are also many and varied. Would you expect anything else from a story about an orphan boy raised by wolves?

Describing Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance is difficult. It touches on many concepts, both concrete and abstract. It’s a novel best described as warm, though it deals with the frightening, devastating parts of life as well as the good parts. Ultimately, it’s a love story, but it’s also a story about family and finding one’s place in the world and taking risks, whether they be big or small, in the pursuit of happiness and truth.

It’s also a story about extraordinary things happening to otherwise ordinary people, and how age and circumstance affect the way these characters view those events. Lang explores growing up through the lenses of several adults and several children, some of whom we see grow up through the course of the novel. Weylyn is among the latter, though we don’t see much of his point of view. Instead, we see him through the eyes of others, particularly the woman he loves, Mary. Interludes are told through the eyes of a boy named Roarke, who encounters Weylyn long after he’s given up on having meaningful relationships with other humans and has instead retreated into the woods, alone.

Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance is beautifully written. Lang weaves time and space together so that the story moves at a rapid pace without ever leaving the reader behind, a skill that’s hard to master. I found myself moving through this story with ease, drawn in by the incredible characters and the stunning prose.

There were parts of the book that felt almost unnatural in the breadth of vocabulary used — the kids’ points of view, for example, felt a little too pedantic at times. But I was able to shove that aside in favor of just enjoying this well-constructed tale of magic, romance, and found family.

Beasts is a universe I want to sit in for a while, and it’s one that I’m sure I’ll be thinking about for months to come. The characters introduced in this novel all have stories that obviously extend well beyond its pages. Each one is so filled with life. I am most curious about the ones who didn’t get epilogues or conclusions to their tales. I can’t help but wonder if Lang will ever write anything else in this ‘verse. I’ll read it, hungrily, if she does.

Overall Rating: ★★★★☆
Recommended for: Fans of magical realism and/or slowburn romance

Whimsical, magical, big-hearted and all around enchanting. I highly recommend Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstances, by Ruth Emmie Lang to readers who enjoy characters with heart and wit and a sense of fun and adventure.

Meet Weylen Grey. Orphsned at the age of four, taken in by a wolf pack, loves nature in all it's permutations, needs to feel free, and has strange talents and beliefs. One day, he meets a young girl named Mary, and his life begins to change. Where this story will take him he doesn't know, but he is soon going to find out. This is Weylens story but also the story of all those he touches, and let's into his life

I loved this story, the strangeness, the uniqueness. Sounds trite to say it struck a chord it me, but it did. The tenderness with which all the characters are treated, even those the most flawed. Non judgemental. Touching and honest.

The difficulties those who are different have to fit into acceptable, supposedly normal categories. How they are seen by others, and the trouble they have trying to deny who they are, or what they can do. Of course, most people do not have Weylens particular talents but the struggle they go through are probably much the same. Weylen touches many lives, from a young boy, to a girl who is, well a kind of adopted sister, to a nephew who is in love with super powers and magic. He will change many, before he learns it is possible to find someone who will love him for just him, a journey that just might be worth taking. An unforgettable character.

"I asked my father if he believed in magic, and he said he believed in possibilities.," Well, who is it with enough hubris to say that they understand everything in the world? Not me, but I do believe in possibilities, and would love to have a little of the magic of Weylen in my life.

ARC from Netgalley.

Thanks to NetGalley and to St. Martin’s Press for providing me an ARC copy of this book that I freely chose to review.
This book is a joy. Readers need to be prepared to suspend disbelief more than usual, perhaps, but from the very beginning, you realise you are in for a ride where everything will be extraordinary. Weylyn, the protagonist, is born in circumstances that his doctor never forgets, and he grows up to be more than a bit special.
I will not repeat the description of the book, which summarises quite well the main aspects of the novel. Weylyn’s story is told, mostly, from the point of view of the characters he meets along the way, and who, somehow, are changed by his presence in their lives. The story is set in the present, with interludes where a boy who literally falls on Weylyn (who lives like a hermit in the forest, with a wolf as his only company) keeps pestering him to tell him his story, and then goes back to the past, and the story is told, always in the first person, by a number of characters. As all readers know, narrators have a way of revealing a lot about themselves when they tell somebody else’s story, and this is true here. None of the narrators are unreliable, but they tell us more of their own stories through their memories of Weylyn than they do about Weylyn himself. We get to know him by the effect he has on those around him (children, adults, some of the characters —those he is closest to— her revisits over the years) and he remains a bit of a cipher, perhaps because he does not know himself or can explain himself fully either. We hear from him towards the end of the book, also in the first person, but he is not a character who defines himself by his “powers” (if that is what they are), and he never gives his talents a name, although he allows people to think whatever they like (He even tries to hide his prowess behind a pig, Merlin, insisting that the horned pig is the one who controls the weather). Despite all these points of view, the book is easy to read as each point of view is clearly delineated and their stories and narrative styles are distinct and appropriate to the characters. The writing flows well and there is enough description to spur readers’ imagination without going overboard.
In a world where children and parents have difficulty communicating, where fitting in and appearances are more important than true generosity, where politicians are self-serving and corrupt, where people stay in relationships because they don’t know how to end them, and where the interest of big corporations always trumps the needs of the common man, Weylyn is like the energy and light he manages to harvest, a ray of hope and a breath of fresh air.
Weylyn is a great character, but so are most of the other characters in the book. Some are more memorable than others, but they are all likeable and changed for the better by their interaction with Weylyn.
Although there are magical and fantastic elements in the novel, in my opinion, it fits into the category of magic realism (as the world the characters live in is our world and that is precisely why people are touched and surprised by his skills, his “specialness”). It would also fall under literary fiction, although it is a much easier read than many books classed under that label (and I feel this is a book not exclusively for adults either. There is minimal violence, clean romance, and many young characters, all distinct and likeable in their own ways).
A story for readers who love great characters and like to let their imaginations fly, not always feeling the need to remain anchored to reality. This is one of those books that we feel sorry to reach the end of and are thankful because we know their memory will remain with us. A great debut novel.