The Korean mythology was fascinating. I am enjoying the exploration into other cultures and religions and this is a nice addition.

My favorite parts were learning Korean words and culture, and the Ghostr app made by a witch and likeable character named Taeyo (app helps living people find gwisin - angry &/or hungry ghosts that can't move onto the Spiritrealm) . And they slipped in a Ringu/Samara and Casper reference via said app, which made me smile widely. My least favorite was the slang, but do keep in mind I am nearing thirty-seven years and this book is written for tweens - it definitely reads like the first Percy Jackson novels in terms of maturity; I understand that it's meant to be relatable and it helps knowing the author even had tween/teen test readers, because while I found myself cringing often, I was relieved to know it was at least enjoyable enough to get printed. And mainly I'm overjoyed for the latter because of the ever important inclusivity; readers being able to see themselves in genres they enjoy. Korean heroes, orphan heroes, outsider heroes.

I think the themes of family and sisterly bonds were well displayed and consistent, and the magic system is just an utter blast, but I was a little frustrated by the lack of consistency with the main character. Often she would say things along the lines of 'I never felt so (blank) than in this moment', only to say the same thing later, or something similar enough, and so with that being abused, it made less of an impact for me. I will admit that I only saw one of the twists coming, which is pleasing.

5 stars for the world, for the mythology, for more people of color representation.
Low 3 stars for readability as an adult - it got rather rough at times, but I am fairly certain target audiences will love the hell out it.

Bonus points for BTS reference, as well. (♡°ω°♡)

2.5 stars

I've never read anything about Korean mythology, so I found that angle interesting, and I would've liked more of it in the book. I thought it'd be a larger part, based on the summary. There is ample action to keep the target audience engaged. However, terms are used that weren't well explained, and there's a lot of telling, and those facts could lose the reader. There were a number of characters who had minor parts, and the story might have flowed better with a smaller cast, especially as some of the characters fell a bit flat. The world building wasn't as well done as I'd anticipated. The plot and dialogue felt a bit unfinished overall.

This was so fun and adorable! I knew very little about Korean culture and this was a great introductory. Riley is such a wonderful character and I enjoyed the ride.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this fun middle grade fantasy!

I had the opportunity to hear the author speak a bit about the book during a webinar, and it made me very interested to read the book. The Last Fallen Star has a classic sort of story arc - girl doesn't fit into her family/community, discovers she's actually something she didn't expect, and then has to save the world. While this kind of story has of course been written and told many times before, Graci Kim brings something new to the story by steeping it in her Korean heritage. The world-building in this book is what makes it great, and I really loved learning about Korean culture through the main character, Riley, as she embarks on her journey to find her place in her society. I also loved Riley's relationships with her family and friends, as well as the ways in which she relies on those relationships to help her make hard decisions. The only negative to the book is that there were times when I found Riley's voice to be just a bit annoying with some of her over-the-top teenager-isms. Overall, though, I think Riley is a fun and sympathetic character who will appeal to middle grade readers.

Definitely recommend this book to fans of middle grade fantasy and fun, fast-paced storytelling!

Read The Last Fallen Star with my daughter and even though we finished it yesterday, she still cannot stop talking about it! Hattie and Riley immediately caught her attention and her imagination. I've found myself eagerly devouring any and all bits of Asian lore that we can! The writing was fantastic and the characters are clearly full dimensional.

Thank you, NetGalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
3.2 stars.
I loved the book and the characters but there didn't seem to be much of a plot.

I received a copy of this middle grade novel as an ARC from NetGalley. This novel is the first in a series that is sure to be loved by all those who adore Rick Riordan. The Korean mythology is interesting and ought to make for an appealing series!

A thrilling ride full of endearing, inspiring, and funny characters, enchanting Korean folklore, and great messages about the search for belonging. Middle grade readers will devour this one!

Thank you to the author and publisher for an eARC of this book.

This fast-paced fantasy had me flipping the pages as quickly as possible! There was so much action happening in these 336 pages that I had to take notes to keep all the clans, mythical creatures, Korean words, and plot twists straight. I was so impressed by this story about an adopted Korean-American girl who desperately wants to wield magic like her family, but whose attempt to share it with her sister sets a chain of events in motion that unravels secrets and forces her to save those she loves from unimaginable danger. This debut novel will be released on May 4th by Rick Riordan Presents and is a story you won't want to miss if you love stories inspired by myths.

Riley is adopted but wishes she could use healing magic like the rest of her family. Her sister, Hattie, is about to be initiated as a full-fledged witch, and the girls decide that maybe they can use a spell so Hattie can share her magic with Riley. While performing the spell, the girls discover a secret about Riley's past that turns everything they know upside down. The girls try another spell in an attempt to fix things, but it threatens Hattie's life. Riley must now race against the clock to save Hattie by fulfilling the task of a goddess to find the last fallen star in exchange for Hattie's life. Riley must face mythical creatures and powerful foes, make unlikely alliances, and question everything she believes about herself, family, and what matters most.

There are many things to love about this story; the plot, characters, setting, and writing voice are all strong and well-crafted. I liked watching Riley's confidence grow with each hurdle she overcame, and the supportive characters like her best friend, Emmett, who helped her face them. I found the setting unique and loved the secret entrances used to hide the magical world from the non-magical one. I thoroughly enjoyed the prophecies, stories, and Korean myths on which the story is based, and loved the use of magic and technology to speak to today's young readers. There are so many unexpected twists and turns that it's hard to predict where the story is going to go next, and I never found it slow or predictable.

This is the first book in the Gifted Clans series. The sequel, The Last Fallen Moon, will be released in Summer 2022, and I can't wait to continue the story and see where it takes us next. I would highly recommend this book for readers who like any of the Rick Riordan Presents books based on mythology, and it also reminded me of Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston and Rea and the Blood of the Nectar by Payal Doshi.

Thank you to NetGalley and Rick Riorden Presents for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

In Graci Kim’s debut book, Riley and Hattie Oh are sisters in the Gom family of Korean witches. Hattie is preparing for her initiation, where she will get her Gi bracelet and be able to cast healing spells, like her family. Riley, despite knowing every spell, won’t be initiated – she was adopted and is considered a “saram,” a non-magical person (like a Muggle). Hattie decides to share her magic with her sister at her ceremony and when they start chanting the spell, her parents and the elders panic. Riley isn’t a saram after all but a member of the scolarly Horangi clan, who had been excommunicated just before Riley was born. The girls try to contact Mago Halmi, the mother of creation to give Riley some family powers, and, of course, that goes awry. They had summoned the Cave Bear Goddess instead and Hattie is near death from the effort. The goddess gives Riley a quest to find the last fallen star to save her sister and give Riley the magic she longs for. As Riley and best friend Emmett search Los Angeles and the magical realm to find the fallen star, she discovers who she really is.

I really enjoyed this book. It reminded me a bit of Harry Potter (different clans/houses, saram/muggles) but different in that the witches use their magic to help the non-magical as alternative medicine. It is a good introduction to Korean-American culture from their food to Saturday school to mythical creatures. It is fast paced, moving the story along with twists and turns. I would highly recommend this book for grades 4 and up.

#TheLastFallenStar #NetGalley #RickRiordenPresents

In this latest mythology based fantasy from Rick Riordan Presents, Riley Oh is part of a healing clan of Korean witches living in Los Angeles. She doesn't have magic herself, since she is adopted. She wants to join her family as a magical healer more than anything. When her sister Hattie finds a spell that will allow the sharing of magic, Riley goes along with it. That's when everything goes horribly wrong. Not only does the magic not get shared, but Hattie is in grave danger and Riley has a seemingly impossible task set to her by the Goddess. She must call on all of her resources and trust herself as well as overcome what she always believed to be true. I'm so glad that this seems to be the first in a new series! Highly recommended for grades 4 & up.

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.

Rick Riordan has done wonders for the lit world, not simply through his own books, but his support of other authors. I've read several middle grade books in his new Presents line, and there hasn't been a bad one in the bunch. Graci Kim's fun yet meaningful romp <i>The Last Fallen Star</i> is an incredible new novel inspired by Korean mythology and set in Los Angeles.

Riley is a relatable, great heroine from the start. She was adopted into a family of Gom, witch healers, but has no magic herself, much to her vexation. In an incredibly pleasant twist to familiar tropes, Riley has a fantastic relationship with her family, including her almost-the-same-age sister, Hattie. In fact, Hattie loves her so much that she's willing to do forbidden magic to split her magical power with Riley. Of course, everything goes wrong. The Gods and the supernatural get involved. Hattie is in terrible peril. Riley ends up on an urgent quest to save Hattie before her sister is lost forever.

The pace of the book is fast and punctuated by moments of humor and levity, but what I loved most was the story's genuine heart. The people here feel real and complicated. There are major messages of belonging and family, but they are not heavy-handed or suffocating. Plus, hey, the book is loads of fun, and a great way to learn about Korean mythology and culture. I not only want to read the next book in this series, but I want to read more of Kim's writing, too.

Riley Oh is conflicted. On the one hand, she has loving parents and a fabulous sister, but she feels like an outsider in her community. Adopted into a magical, or gifted, family, Riley is a saram—a person without gifted powers. Despite her deep desire to belong and exhibit the magical traits the other Gom in her life share, Riley knows she will someday be left behind. When she and her sister Hattie discover a way to grant Riley gifted powers—albeit temporarily—they throw caution to the wind and try to prove to the other Gom that Riley is every bit as powerful as they are. However, a bargain with a powerful goddess changes everything, and Riley must uncover the truth before it is too late.

Built on the backbone of traditional Korean mythology, Riley’s story dovetails seamlessly into the twenty-first century. Magic, goddesses, and folklore are woven expertly with technology and colloquial language to create a dynamic storytelling tapestry. Themes of truth and the balance of light and dark forces permeate the narrative, reinforcing the message that not everything is as it first appears. Riley must learn to trust herself and make her own decisions about the life she wishes to lead.

Dramatic action sequences and emotional human connections make this story compelling for readers of all ages; though directed at a middle-grade audience, the themes within the narrative are universal. The delightful interface of Korean mythology and a modern context connects readers of all backgrounds to this engaging story. A glossary at the end of the book defines Korean words and references introduced within the text along with a pronunciation guide to deepen readers’ understanding. Middle grade readers with an interest in mythology and magic will enjoy this heartfelt story and anxiously await book two.

Thanks to Netgalley I was able to read an advance copy of this book. It’s a middle grade adventure fantasy with lots of Korean mythology references. It’s main themes are self discovery, family, and friendship. The story moves along at a decent pace with plenty of action and suspense. I think students will love it! (Warning: one point in the story does deal with the death of the main characters beloved sister which may be tough for more sensitive readers. The book also has some mild languag phrases: badass, holy shirtballs and hella)

Riley Oh is thrilled for her sister, Hattie, to finally be formally initiated into the Gom clan on her 13th birthday. Riley longs to join her in the ranks of their family's clan which focuses on healing magic. However, Riley, an adoptee, is a saram, a person without magic. A few days before the ceremony, Hattie devises a plan to cast a spell that would allow Riley to share her magic. But when they try the spell, everything goes wrong. They've broken the laws of the Godrealm, and Hattie's life is in danger. In order to save her, Riley has to find the last fallen star...and she has no idea what or where it is. As she seeks it, she will learn what it means to sacrifice, to find the truth, and to truly belong.

Graci Kim's THE LAST FALLEN STAR overflows with intricate mythology, heart, and characters you want to root for. The mythology and magic system center around clans with different abilities and connections to the mother of the three realms, Mago Halmi, and Mago's six goddesses. Each clan has a specific motto that they strive to uphold with their gifts. Part of Riley’s journey is finding where she fits among the clans and within her family and what it means to truly act in honor of their mottos. Through her eyes, we get to see the magic of some of the other clans as well as encountering awesome beings from the Godrealm and Spiritrealm. I’m so happy that this is the first in a series because it’s easy to tell how rich and vast this world is.

Riley and her story have such a sincerity and heart that had me crying over more than one scene. She is fiercely devoted to her family and her friends. Even when she’s put in situations where she could take the easy way out or act out of hate, she finds her back to acting in love, protection, and sacrifice. This isn’t to say she’s perfect, but that she embodies what we often look for in heroes: the strength of character to put action to values and to right wrongs, even if you’re the one who has done wrong or been mistaken. Several of the secondary character shine just as brightly as Riley (in their own unique ways) like Emmett and Taeyo. Even Jennie, usually a bully, has a scene that broke my heart and readied me for a potential redemption arc.

THE LAST FALLEN STAR is simply and undeniably magic. Prepare to be captivated by a journey that asks what it means to belong, what it means to sacrifice, and what it means to be powerful.

It was cute. I love the concept of Riordan Presents books. One concern I did have in the beginning is that the gifted sister kind of steals the show from the main character. In my writing classes, we talk about the importance of the hero driving the bus and immediately I felt very bowled over by the sister's strong and zesty personality, her gifts, her asking the questions about transferring magic, her being the one to come up with the idea to steal the spell book. She is totally driving the bus, which detracted from my ability to engage with the actual main character early on.

The Last Fallen Star blends Korean mythology with modern-day Los Angeles living in a delightful and whimsical tale about familial love, friendship, adoption, belonging, and sacrifices. Riley Oh is an adopted Korean saram--a a person that was born without magic--in a magical family. Thriving just below the surface of busy LA lie five witch clans, each with their own power. Some are healers, some are super fast, some can glamour themselves into other people or enhance their features. But the clan shares a hard past--years ago, the sixth clan, the scholars, were banished from the council for killing their fellow witches, including Riley's best friend's mom.

Riley is the adopted daughter of 2 healing witches, or Gom, and has an adopted sister who is training to be a full member of the Gom. She loves her sister & parents, but constantly wishes that she could be just like them and her gifted, magical friends. She fears that she doesn't fit in and is therefore looked down upon by other witches who often make fun of her for being nonmagical. Riley loves magic and knows all the incantations and the right way to perform magic, she just doesn't have the blood to do so.

Right before her sister Hattie's initiation into becoming a full member of the Gom clan, they hatch a plan to perform a magic-sharing spell that will allow Riley to receive half of Hattie's power for a week. Even though it's hush-hush amongst the adults, they know that if they can pull it off, Riley can show the clan council that sarams can be part of the clan too. But something goes wrong, and Riley, Hattie, and her best friend Emmett are plunged into a chaotic journey that will push them to their limits and maybe even beyond.

Unfortunately, that's about as much as I can say without giving everything away, which would be a bummer for you. But I CAN say that it was a beautifully written book that pulled at your heartstrings and, yes, I cried at a book aimed for grades 3-7. Ain't no harm in it. Graci Kim is a gifted storyteller that makes her story timeless and reach across all ages and cultures, building a rich world that feels like it could be just in reach, if only you knew the right H-Mart to go in. She tackles hard problems like adoption and feeling like you don't quite belong, the importance of choosing your family, parent and familial death, betrayal, and seeing two sides to every story. Loss is hard, and The Last Fallen Star does not shy away from teaching kids about death and the pain that you feel when someone you love is no longer with you. Kim shows kids that they are capable of making hard decisions, that people around them are capable of making hard decisions to benefit them as well. She creates a world in which it is okay to have feelings, to be scared, to lose everything, and to believe in yourself above all.

Asian and Asian-American representation is severely lacking in mainstream literature, and I am so deeply thankful that the current generation will grow up with books that are accessible to them that expose them to more than just a white, Anglo-Christian view of life and lit. I will be forever grateful that the Riordan Imprint allows these stories to be uplifted and shared with a wider audience that may not have otherwise gotten to access them or authors whose stories have been passed over too many times.

Oh, and see how many PJO references you can count. I got 2, how about you?

Thank you to NetGalley and Disney Publishing for giving me an advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.

Graci Kim’s debut novel The Last Fallen Star was an eye-opening fresh take on Korean mythology, leaving me hungry for more Korean myths (and for food with all the yummy food references). From mentions of boba to my first exposure to tornado fries, I got so hungry while reading. I thought of myself as an amateur mythology expert, but I had to re-evaluate that title after reading The Last Fallen Star. Thank you for the inclusion of a glossary at the end of the book to help with learning all the new names and terms.

Riley, our protagonist, is the odd one out in a family of gifted witches. She wants nothing more than to fit in and become a healer like her adopted parents. Unfortunately, no amount of memorization or study will ever make up for the lack of innate magical talent. After her attempt to get magic goes wrong and she violates the laws of her community, she and her best friend Emmett must go on an impossible quest to find the last fallen star.

I enjoyed the humor that Kim wove into her story. I was cackling at the idea of swiping left or right on a ghost-finding app. Emmett was by far my favorite character in the story (sidekicks for the win!). His love of baking and strange quirks (a self-proclaimed allergy to emotions) had me hooked. I was touched by the bond between Hattie and Riley, as it reminded me of the bond between my sister and me.

One concern I had was that this would seem too close to the other Korean mythology title in the Rick Riordan Presents imprint, Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee. After reading, I found they were very different and focused on separate aspects of the myths. Dragon Pearl is a space opera, while The Last Fallen Star takes place in modern LA.

I can’t wait to see what comes out next from Graci Kim and the Rick Riordan Presents imprint. Thank you to NetGalley and Disney Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read this title early!

Thanks to Disney Publishing Worldwide and NetGalley for sending me an eARC of this awesome middle grade novel! I would give The Last Fallen Star a four star rating. I love the Rick Riordan Presents series and it is awesome to see a Korean protagonist being added to the series. The clan and magic systems in this novel were so intriguing and the plot kept me glued to the page! The main character was full of spirit and determination even though she was the odd one out in her world.

I am excited to see what Graci Kim writes next and would definitely read the next in the Gifted Clans series. 4 stars!