Weylyn Grey's life has never been what one would call ordinary. From his very first breath of air, Weylyn affected the weather itself as snow began to fall and continued to fall until 6 inches were on the ground. This wouldn't be the first or the last time that the weather was affected by Weylyn. Orphaned and subsequently raised by wolves, Weylyn lives a unique life and BEASTS OF EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES is his story as told by those who briefly experience some of the strangeness that surrounds Weylyn.
Told through snippets from other characters, BEASTS OF EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES threads its way through Weylyn's life. At first, I found the change in narrators a bit disconcerting, particularly since I wasn't overly fond of some of the early narrators of the story.
Surprisingly, Mary Penlore is my least favorite narrator and yet she's the love of Weylyn's life. I love the magic surrounding their romance but their early exploits left me shaking my head in frustration. Soon, however, we meet Lydia Cramer and Mrs. Meg Lowry, two of my favorite characters in the storyline. It was only by seeing Weylyn through their eyes that I began to truly like Weylyn.
I love the animals that weave in and out of the storyline of BEASTS OF EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES. From Merlin the magical pig to Matilda the talking raccoon, the animals provide a sense of wonder and magic to the story. However, Ruth Emmie Lang doesn't hesitate to show the darker, harsher side of nature as we clearly see with the wolves and the bees. Regardless, the scene with the fireflies will stay with me for a long time as that sense of wonder is so well executed by Ruth Emmie Lang.
It's hard to characterize BEASTS OF EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES as it has magical realism, romance, and quite a bit of fantasy in it. The strength of the relationships and the reader's investment in the believability of those relationships is what makes BEASTS OF EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES work. If you love magical realism, don't hesitate to give Ruth Emmie Lang's BEASTS OF EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES a try.
Finding magic in the ordinary.
In this warm debut novel, Ruth Emmie Lang teaches us about
adventure and love in a beautifully written story full of
nature and wonder.
Orphaned, raised by wolves, and the proud owner of a horned
pig named Merlin, Weylyn Grey knew he wasnβt like other
people. But when he single-handedly stopped that tornado on
a stormy Christmas day in Oklahoma, he realized just how
different he actually was.
That tornado was the first of many strange events that seem
to follow Weylyn from town to town, although he doesnβt like
to take credit. As amazing as these powers may appear, they
tend to manifest themselves at inopportune times and places.
From freak storms to trees that appear to grow over night,
Weylynβs unique abilities are a curiosity at best and at
worst, a danger to himself and the woman he loves. But Mary
doesnβt care. Since Weylyn saved her from an angry wolf on
her eleventh birthday, sheβs known that a relationship with
him isnβt without its risks, but as anyone whoβs met Weylyn
will tell you, once he wanders into your life, youβll wish
heβd never leave.
Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance tells the story
of Weylyn Greyβs life from the perspectives of the people
who knew him, loved him, and even a few who thought he was
just plain weird. Although he doesnβt stay in any of their
lives for long, he leaves each of them with a story to tell.
Stories about a boy who lives with wolves, great storms that
evaporate into thin air, fireflies that make phosphorescent
honey, and a house filled with spider webs and the strange
man who inhabits it.
There is one story, however, that Weylyn wishes he could
change: his own. But first he has to muster enough courage
to knock on Maryβs front door.
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