Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance by Ruth Emmie Lang - available 11/14/17

Synopsis: Orphaned, raised by wolves, and the proud owner of a horned pig named Merlin, Weylyn Grey knew he wasn’t 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 doesn’t 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, Weylyn’s unique abilities are a curiosity at best and at worst, a danger to himself and the woman he loves. But Mary doesn’t care. Since Weylyn saved her from an angry wolf on her eleventh birthday, she’s known that a relationship with him isn’t without its risks, but as anyone who’s met Weylyn will tell you, once he wanders into your life, you’ll wish he’d never leave. Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance tells the story of Weylyn Grey’s 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 doesn’t 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 Mary’s front door.

Publication Date: November 14th, 2017
Imprint: St. Martin's Press
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Genre: Sci/Fi Fantasy (I would also say Magical Realism)
Received From: Netgalley in exchange for honest feedback
My Rating: 5/5

Delightful! By turns whimsical and poignant, poor Weylyn just can't seem to get things quite right. He doesn't have much control over powers he can't really define, and powers you can't control are more of a nuisance, and often dangerous, than a boon to your existence! Most who come into contact with Weylyn realize how special and fascinating he is, but it seems like he is constantly leaving those he loves, whether by his own unhappy decision, afraid he'll hurt them, or by being forced to go. Nature gets a boost around him, and the weather reacts to his moods, and you spend the book rooting for him to find his Happily Ever After, because he's such a gentle, caring and innocent soul.

The structure of the story was different, told from the alternating points of view of those interacting with Weylyn, only finally getting his perspective towards the end.  While you feel sad for this man who has had such a different and often solitary life, it is also a heartwarming story as he seems to make it back to those he loves time and again.  This book was a magical hug, and I look forward to more from Ruth Emmie Lang!