Already from the description this book sounded right up my alley. I love magical realism, I love wolves, so I was extremely excited to dive right into the story.

Weylyn Gray's a little boy whose parents died in a car accident during a snowstorm. He's a very intelligent and gentle boy and when he had to fend for himself he started living in the woods with a pack of wolves.
We follow his life told through people that intersect his path at different points in time, people who interact with him or care for him. It's a story about love, and acceptance and making a place for yourself to call home.

Weylyn is a beautiful human being, a magical boy who gives so much of himself every time, without asking for much in return. And while he only wants to be accepted he's alwasy somehow pushed away, to go back, to go away, never quite fitting in with people.

I loved the delicate humour in this book, and the sad parts made me cry so much I had to take a break before going on. I loved it to bits. A terrific debut!

Lang's debut novel is a magical realism tale about a boy who's lead a most unusual life and those he touches along the way. Weylyn Grey, raised by wolves and possibly influencing the weather, grows up (mostly) through the perspective of those he meets and affects in his life. As they weave in and out of Waylyn's life we learn more and more about him, his life, his loves, and what extraordinary things he can (and can't) do.

In most ways, this is a respectable debut. I enjoyed the story and the interactions quite a bit. The overall narrative being told is well mapped as it jumps around between the present and flashbacks to periods in the main characters' lives. The magical aspects are nicely handled and kept at bay in a nice way that certainly pushes it closer to magical realism than straight-up fantasy.

The scope of the tale is somehow simultaneously large and somewhat intimate. It covers a good amount of time and bounces around between several characters who come and go in and out of each other's lives. It keeps the story from getting stuck in one place and allows for a decent cast of characters and development. It's an ambitious style for a new author. I appreciate her attempt but it's also part of my only real problem with the book: the lack of distinct voices for each character.

Because the novel bounces around between different characters, its incredibly important to give each character a distinct, appropriate voice of their own. Lang does not execute this aspect well at all. All of the characters; male, female, adult, child...they all sound and speak the same. So, while each chapter/section is named for the character who's point of view we're in, once you lose sight of that heading it's anybody's guess. For the majority of the book I was able to get past this, but when the 11-year-old boy speaks and uses the same language as the several adult females it's a pretty glaring issue.

That said, if you're into magical realism and naturist leaning fiction then this is a pretty quick, mostly enjoyable read. Because it's a debut I'm not going to be overly harsh on the flaws and hope that Lang can learn from her work going forward. I'll keep an eye out to see what else she does.

This book was magical, well written. The characters in this book were portrayed so well, that you knew them inside and out, making their magic emotions an integral part of this book.

Although the jumps between time periods and narrators rhe author employs were confusing, the story Lang spins is a wonderful one. Her characters are quite real, despite the "magic" of the story. I wanted Weylyn Grey to be my friend, and I wanted to chat with Mary over tea. I will definitely recommend this books to my patrons.

"Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance"

By: Ruth Emmie Lang

Don't be discouraged in the beginning of this book. It's not as complicated to follow as it seems. See, this is a book told by multiple characters and their recollections of a young man named Weylyn Grey. A young man who may or may not have control of the weather and was raised by wolves after loosing his entire family.

Now Weylyn is a unassuming character who has a magical pig. Named Merlin of course. Merlin was born with a single small bump in the middle of his forehead and that must make him magical. But then on the day Weylyn was born, there was a snowstorm....and it was the middle of summer! So it's really hard to tell who really has the magic.

Even thought I was having a little trouble jumping right into the purpose of this story I was enticed into continuing by the individual stories told. There were a total of 9 characters giving accounts of Weylyn's life events. Three of those became central to the story but all added dimensions to the development of Weylyn's character. I liken it to painting a picture. In the beginning all you may see is the stark outline of something that becomes a masterpiece by the end. Interesting concept, great writing and just enough info in the separate tales to want to keep you pushing forward to "see" the finished product!

Jeanie G

Getting 4.5 "Extraordinary" sheeP

You MUST go into this book knowing that it is full of magic! It is a wonderful story about the people that we meet and what we leave them with.

While this book is not my usual cup of tea, I was entertained. I am very happy that I read this book and hope that you will be, too.

My thanks to netgalley and St Martin's Press for this advanced readers copy.

DNF @ 65 pages.

I’ve been trying to read this book for almost a month, and still can’t get into it. I think I was expecting it to be a bit more magical and atmospheric, but there was nothing really special about this that managed to hold my attention. I don't care about any of the characters and the writing is just okay, so I won't be continuing with this.

The story is told through the eyes of the people Weylyn Grey encounters in his life.

And what a life it has been! He lost his parents at a young age and ended up living with a pack of wolves before he was taken in by his first foster family. And always, always no matter where he goes, whispered rumours of his ability to talk to animals and affect the weather follow suit.

There was a sweet innocence to this story. When trauma or difficulty faced the characters, it was done with light strokes, humor and a little magic.

Ultimately the book asks the question, is home a person or a place?

I enjoyed the reading experience and can recommend this for readers who may have found The Summer that Melted Everything too dark or disturbing.

Oh goodness! you say. How could a book about a boy raised by wolves be anything other than cheesy? I mean, after "The Jungle Book" and "Julie of the Wolves," it's all kind of downhill, isn't it?

Well, I am pleased to say that "Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstances" is a lovely and very readable addition to this genre. It's billed as magic realism, and it might as well be called that as anything else, but it doesn't really fit into any genre classifications. It's part magic realism, part urban fantasy, part contemporary literary fiction of a distinctly American flavor. It follows--sort of--the life of Weylyn Grey, who has strange silver eyes and can communicate with animals and control the weather. When his parents die in a freak snowstorm, he runs away and joins a wolf pack. Several years later he's pulled back into human society and adopted, only to cause, inadvertently, problems within his adoptive family. He bounces from home to home, touching the lives of those he encounters, but never feeling like it's safe for him to stay.

The action is narrated by the people he encounters, some of whom become deeply involved with him, some of whom hardly get to know him at all, but whose lives he changes profoundly. There are multiple little subplots and side arcs to the story from all these people, and the main story only emerges gradually, as Weylyn's life takes shape around the people in it. It isn't until the latter half of the book that the heart of the story is revealed.

These interwoven plot lines require the reader's attention, but this isn't a difficult book to read--the language is casual and conversational, peppered with moments of humor, especially when the child narrators speak. This isn't "light" or "genre" fiction, but it isn't heavy or dense either: a good choice for those who want to read something a little more literary but don't want to saddle themselves with something really long and challenging, or those who just want a little more magic in their lives.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This was one of the most pure and beautiful and wholesome books I've ever read. I loved everything-- the plot, the structure, the characters. What a cozy, lovely story. I'm already looking forward to rereading it someday.

The expression of the desires of the heart can have consequences beyond one’s control.
With unusual gifts come great burdens; with loss comes appreciation, wonderment, and love.

Told through the stories of those who encountered, endured, or loved an extraordinary person throughout his life; Ruth Emmie Lang has crafted an endearing tale that is poignant, whimsical, and finally, heartwarming.

Magical realism that I actually enjoyed?
Surely not???
Though this gem of a book does feature far more of the 'magic' than the 'realism', so that's probably why it was a winner for me!

During this tale we follow the life of Weylyn Grey through the memories and stories of the people that knew him.
Weylyn isn't like other people.
He has lived with wolves, can stop storms, collect light in jars, and is under the impression that his very presence puts the people he loves in danger.
We get to visit dense woodland, travel through thick snow, and enter a house covered in spiders webs.

This book is such a magical, fantastical, touching story.

I really connected to every character we met along the way and was facinated with the life of Weylyn.
I couldn''t wait to turn the page and find out what was going to happen next!

I really enjoyed the way the story was told - from the POV of different characters and their views of the things that happened around Weylyn.
It was lovely to see how Weylyn had touched peoples lives and how they each coped with having to change their views about reality and how the world worked.

We also get to see how Weylyn himself deals with being different, his struggle with the fact that he possibly puts the people he loves in danger, and how he ultimately copes with that fact.
I loved his character so much and just wanted to give him a big hug!

It was magical, funny, touching, and at times quite sad.
It was perfect.

Just shortly, I LOVED THIS BOOK. I applaud St Martins Press and Ruth Emmie Lang for this little gem.
I cannot wait for this to be published so I can sell it.
The whole review will be published November 2017, closer to pub date. Thank you for approving me to this.

Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I've posted a full review on Goodreads. I enjoyed this book immensely. It was whimsical, magical and engaging. I felt a deep connection with the characters - especially Weyland Grey - despite only getting to know him through other characters' observations. The author does a fabulous job writing through multiple perspectives. I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a "feel-good" story that includes reality-based fantasy. I would describe as a magical love story.

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.