Quick Synopsis – Green trips on the curb, falls flat into the street, and sees the city bus speeding toward him. And then . . . blink. He’s back on the curb, miraculously still alive. A five-foot-tall crow watches him from atop a nearby sign, somehow unseen by the rushing crowd of morning commuters.

Desperate for answers and beset by more visions of impossible creatures, Green finds his way to a remote campsite in the Appalachian Mountains, where he meets a centuries-old teacher and begins an apprenticeship unlike anything he could imagine.

Along the way come clues about the forces that set him on this path—and, most incredibly, a sense of purpose and fulfillment like nothing he’s felt before. But Green’s new happiness promises to be short-lived, because alongside these marvels lurks a deadly threat to this place he’s already come to love.

Song This Reminds Me Of – Old Fort Steel Trail by Mon Rovia

Publication Date – Feb. 10, 2026

Bookshop Link – Strange Animals by Jarod K. Anderson (if you use my link, I receive a small commission)

Content Notes – There are multiple deaths in this book, some blood, gore, violence between cryptid creatures, and some xenophobia.

Rating – ⭐⭐⭐.5 out of 5

Review – This reminded me of a combo of Welcome to Night Vale and The Old Gods of Appalachia. Just slightly unhinged and a little terrifying. I thought the author did excellent world building, but I felt like the characters could have been fleshed out a little more. I didn’t really have a sense of Green at all other than his life was mediocre before his not death. We know he was educated and had a job, but it never feels like any of that education or work experience helps him. It really just feels like the story is happening to him while he bumbles along. Some bumbling is fine, but I would have liked it more if Green felt like a more active participant.

The cryptids that are mentioned are fun (even the scary ones). The secondary characters also melded into the story so easily. Each one added to the story and felt multi-dimensional. It also felt like there was more story to be examined and I would easily read multiple books set in this universe. I would also love a prequel focusing on Valentina Blackwood and her adventures. I loved her as a no nonsense teacher and her relationship with Green was organic. Also super thank you to the author for no unnecessary love plots. There were no romantic storylines, and the book was a million percent better for it.

While I felt like Green could have been fleshed out more, the overall story was good. It was a little spooky and very adventurous.

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.