Bern's Bookcase: Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance

 5 Extraordinary Magical Stars for Ruth Emmie Lang's Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance 

I LOVED this book so much more than I ever expected. I stayed up into the wee hours of the morning because I couldn't bear to put the book down. Then I was genuinely disappointed when the final page was turned, to find that it was done. I will genuinely miss these characters and the whimsical, magical world contained within the pages of this extraordinary story. 

This is not my typical kind of read and I'm so grateful to have branched out and read it. Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance is a character driven story with characters that seep into your heart and burrow in - making a space for themselves for the longterm. 

"Weylyn is a mystery to me. A strange, intriguing, oddly charming mystery." 

The story centers around the extraordinary life of Weylyn Grey who was orphaned as a boy when his parents died in a blizzard. Weylyn was raised by wolves for some years. Having a strong connection to both nature and animals, the wolf pack becomes his family and the woods his home. Weylyn completely stole my heart! For someone who had endured such tragedy in his childhood he had such an amazing life. I don't want to give much away but I will say that I absolutely loved how he always ended up with people who needed him just as much as he needs them. Everyone he met, was touched in some way by having spent time with Weylyn. He is pure innocence & unspoiled goodness with a sprinkle of magic. 

"I feel like...before, I had one way of looking t things, and now, I have a million possibilities, and I get to choose." 

There were numerous characters in the story as it spanned almost 50 years of Wylen's life. Each section shared a special relationship/time in his life. Each was magical in its own way but my favorites were the relationships between Wylen and his foster sister, Lydia, and the relationship between Weylyn and Mary. They had such special bonds. Both of these women simply embraced Weylyn for who he was. They understood his restless need to roam and his desire to be both part of a family while also still being free. 

"Don't leave anything you can't come back to." I know I can come back here and I will be welcomed, and that brings me more comfort than anything else in this world."