"Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance" by Ruth Emmie Lang is a magical realism novel that follows the extraordinary life of Weylyn Grey, a boy with special gifts who is raised by wolves and possesses unique powers that affect the world around him. The story is narrated through the perspectives of those who encounter Weylyn throughout his life, showcasing his adventures, relationships, and the impact he has on others. Lang's writing style is described as enchanting, engaging, and lyrical, with a focus on character development and a seamless blend of magical elements into a character-driven narrative.

Characters:

The characters, especially Weylyn, are well-developed with depth and complexity. The supporting cast, including Mary and Lydia, provides diverse perspectives on Weylyn's extraordinary nature.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is characterized by beautiful and lyrical prose, making it engaging and accessible. It effectively blends magical realism, creating a captivating narrative.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around the life of an extraordinary boy named Weylyn Grey, who possesses unique abilities and is raised by wolves. The story is told through the perspectives of various people he encounters, showcasing the profound effects he has on their lives.

Setting:

The setting is contemporary America, infused with fantastical elements that highlight the story's magical realism, particularly the connection to nature.

Pacing:

The pacing of the narrative is well-balanced, mixing emotional depth with lighter scenes, and effectively handling transitions between timelines and perspectives.

It was the morning of my eleventh birthday, and as usual, my dad had failed to notice. It wasn’t that he didn’t care; he had just never been one for party planning or affection in general. That had be...

Notes:

The book is a standalone novel with approximately 352 pages.

It blends genres including literary fiction, urban fantasy, and magical realism.

The main character, Weylyn Grey, has the ability to control the weather and communicate with animals.

Weylyn is orphaned and raised by wolves after a blizzard kills his parents.

The story is told primarily from the perspectives of supporting characters, not Weylyn himself.

The narrative style includes chapters titled with the time and place of events to help readers follow the timeline.

Supporting characters are well-developed and each serves a purpose in the overall story.

The book explores themes of acceptance, love, and the impact of being different in society.

Ruth Emmie Lang received critical acclaim for her writing style, described as intelligent yet easy to read.

The book includes a magical pig named Merlin, who is intricately tied to Weylyn's story.

Characters in the story experience personal growth and change due to their interactions with Weylyn.

The author received the Advanced Readers Copy through NetGalley from St. Martin's Press for reviews.

The novel has been positively received, often described as heartwarming, whimsical, and a 'grown-up fairy tale.'

Emotional depth is balanced by light-hearted and humorous moments throughout the narrative.

Has Romance?

There are romantic elements in the story, particularly involving Weylyn's relationships, but romance is not the central focus.

From The Publisher:

Full of nature and wonder, love and adventure, Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance is a beautifully written novel that "bristles with charm and curiosity" (Winston Groom, New York Times bestselling author of Forrest Gump).

Born in a blizzard, orphaned, and believed to be raised by wolves, Weylyn Grey is someone who inspires endless curiosity in everyone he's ever met. People say that once Weylyn wanders into your world, you'll wish he'd never leave. But what makes him different? How does he possess the ability to transform others' lives? How does he manage to find-and create-magic in the ordinary? This is the story of Weylyn's journey, told from the perspective of those who knew him, loved him, or were bewildered by him along the way. In this stunning and deeply imaginative debut, author Ruth Emmie Lang introduces us to a character who will live in readers' hearts long after the last page is turned.

Ratings (8)

Incredible (2)
Loved It (4)
Liked It (2)

Reader Stats (22):

Read It (8)
Want To Read (12)
Not Interested (2)

2 comment(s)

GamGriff

Incredible

1 month

Loved everything about it! Very fun read.

100_yrs_of_catitude

Loved It

11 months

This is one of my all time favorites

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About the Author:

RUTH EMMIE LANG was born in Glasgow, Scotland and has the red hair to prove it. When she was four years old, she immigrated to Ohio where she has lived ever since. She has since lost her Scottish accent, but still has the hair. Ruth currently lives in Cleveland, Ohio with her husband and dreams of someday owning a little house in the woods where she can write more books. Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance is her first novel.

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Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance

Ruth Emmie Lang