This is a book that anyone interested in mythology and family-centered stories is sure to enjoy! I was personally really excited for this one, since I’ve been attempting to catch each new Rick Riordan Presents novel. They’ve all been great so far and this one definitely fits in. This novel also stood out to me from the other books in this imprint that I’ve read, though. The voice of the narrator was very conversational and it was easy to slip into the flow of the story through it. I also really liked how korean mythology was introduced in a digestible way and how the author also took and shaped things in a creative way that I wouldn’t have expected. The beginning did feel a little slow to me, but once it got going it was very well paced. I would definitely recommend this (and all of Rick Riordan Presents) and thank you so much to the publisher for the review copy!

I will forever read everything Rick Riordan Presents comes out with! So when I saw a book coming out based on Korean mythology, you can bet I was all over it! Also, is that cover not freaking delightful?! I’m so in love with it.

The Last Fallen Star is an adventure steeped in Korean mythology, chock full of mysteries and secrets, and delightfully delves into the bond between sisters and family.

The mythology in this was top notch, and I absolutely loved learning more about Korean mythology! AND THE FOOD! be prepared to constantly drool all over your book. There were, however, a lot of what felt like conveniences, where things were resolved too easily or just handed to characters. Middle grade readers are unlikely to notice or be bothered by these, in my opinion, but I definitely did. Overall, though, a fun read that I think middle grade readers are sure to love!

My Thoughts:

- The Last Fallen Star introduces the reader to a whole world of Korean mythology—some of it interesting, some of it terrifying, but all of it just plain fun. I’ll admit that I don’t know as much about Korean mythology as I should, so a lot of the creatures that pop up in this book were new to me. There were some beautiful ones, some wonderful ones, and then some that I definitely wouldn’t want to meet late at night in a dark alley, if you get my drift. Well … okay, maybe I would, but only because it’s me. Take my word, that’s probably a bad sign for “normal” folks. This is by far my favorite part of the book! Kim does a fantastic job of weaving in all different aspects of the mythology in a way that’s easy to follow and understand. I did kind of want a little more from the world-building in terms of how magic works in this world and how these mythological creatures tie together. However, that didn’t really dull my excitement to meet all these new creatures and beings!

- There’s a lot of adventure in this book, but underlying it all is the journey one sister will take for another. And it’s a beautiful thing. Have I mentioned before how much I love sibling bonds? This book goes above and beyond that. Not only is the relationship between Hattie and Riley utterly adorable, but they’re adopted sisters, which takes it to a whole new level. As someone who has no full siblings and lots of step siblings, I loved seeing this even more! Especially the lengths they would go to for each other. This adventure isn’t just about sisters, even though that’s the main driving force. It’s about family overall. For some secondary characters, it’s the loss of family that really affected them. In other cases, it’s finding new family. Sometimes it’s just finding where you fit in your current family and learning to inhabit that space. There’s such a strong theme of family in this book, though, and I love all the different ways Kim approached it! Despite its darker overall plot, there are some hardcore heartwarming vibes in this book that touch on super important ideas.

- The secondary characters in this are not only varied in personality but all somehow really fun and interesting! Almost, I would dare say, more than the protagonist herself. Riley just didn’t catch my attention on her own. She was essentially too good at everything, or conveniently able to immediately find whatever she needed when she needed it, without any real flaws. But the secondary characters? They had some spunk to them! Riley’s sister, Hattie, is frustratingly naive. The sort you can’t help but love. She’s upbeat and positive and just wants to help the people around her, especially her sister. Sometimes I wanted to shake some sense into her, but only because she was such a precious cinnamon roll that I knew it wasn’t going to end well for her. It never does, does it? There’s also another character who pops up later in the book named Taeyo. I won’t say too much about him except that he’s a tech genius who combines magic with tech. If that doesn’t sound like something you want, I’m not sure you’re in the right place. Because that sounds amazing. It was interesting to see some of the things that could be done. Oh, and have I mentioned Boris, the dragon on wheels?! Why aren’t these a thing yet?! Quick, someone get working on this idea! We all need a Boris. While not technically a character, Boris does play a significant role in the story, and he has a personality unto himself that is adorable.

- There are a lot of big, emotional lessons in this book, and I loved what a wide variety of subjects Kim tackles with subtlety, slipping them into the guise of an action-packed adventure. For starters, Riley is adopted and knows it and struggling with feelings of not belonging. This is so important in middle grade fiction. Kids that age struggle with belonging in the best of times, but as someone who was adopted by my father, it means so much to me to be able to see adopted characters reflected with such thoughtfulness. There’s also the idea of not jumping to conclusions and judging people before you know them. Sure, this idea has been done before, ad nauseum, but the way Kim approaches it is novel and works perfectly in the setting she creates in this book. It fits really nicely with the additional themes of sacrifice and service, which are two of the biggest ones that come up repeatedly. If I’m honest, those are probably the ones that will hit your feels the hardest. The only theme that came off a little heavy-handed to me was that bullies have backstories too. But honestly, I’m a little over the idea that bullies need to be understood, forgiven, and redeemed in middle grade. So this is probably more of a me thing than the book thing so it doesn’t really count.

Sticking Points

- I highly doubt middle grade readers will mind (or even notice), but there were a lot of conveniences in this book that really stood out to me. Things felt a little too easy, like the characters didn’t need to work out the solutions to their problems. They were kind of just handed the solutions. One instance that I really didn’t like personally was when they needed to find a ghost, they conveniently had an app for that. (Ghostr. Like Tindr. Get it?!) It made me roll my eyes hard because in my day we hunted our own ghosts the old-fashioned way: with a wing and a prayer and a ghost of a chance. (Okay, I’ll stop. Probably. Maybe. You’ve been warned.) Despite my feelings about this, I do think that middle grade readers might find this more charming (though I’m not sure they’d get all the semi-dated references made in that scene, though older readers will likely appreciate them).

Thank you to NetGalley for this advanced copy and in return here is my honest review. The Rick Riordan Presents imprint has not had a single miss. I’ve read all but three (I think?) of the books published by RRP and each one is more fun and fascinating than the last. I cannot recommend what this imprint publishes enough.
The Last Fallen Star follows Riley who is adopted. Her adoptive parents are part of their local magical community. They are Gom which are the healers of this community. There’s nothing that Riley wants more than to be able to be a Gom alongside her sister, Hattie, and her parents. But when Hattie and Riley try to make that happen using magic, one thing after another goes wrong until things get pretty serious and Riley must find a lost object and save her sisters life.
I absolutely loved this one. The Korean folklore and mythology was so compelling and interesting I just wanted to know more about all of the magical groups. We learn the most about the Gom because that’s what Riley grew up learning about. But we also learn quite a bit about the Horangi, which is an exiled clan that turned corrupt. They play an interesting role in the story and I really enjoyed learning more about them. The world and the magic was absolutely the best part about this book for me. I hope we get to learn more about the other clans in future books. We got a brief overview of what each clans function and focus is and then little bits and pieces here and there, but I thought it was all so interesting that I want one book for each character of the different clans. That would be so fun.
Anyway, Riley and Hattie really made this story. I’m a sucker for good sibling relationships and this definitely had that. We spend enough time getting to see them together and we’re shown how much they care for one another. But then Riley must go off on her own (well, with her best friend Emmett, but not with Hattie) and there were times when she had to make really hard decisions. Her choices showed again and again how much she loves her sister. I loved this relationship so much. Riley feels out of place because she isn’t a Gom. Hattie never makes her fe less than and I loved that. I also loved the messaged shared via Riley’s journey. By the time she finished her quest, she’s learned to love herself as she is. She’s realized that she doesn’t need to change to fit in. She only ever needed to accept herself and go from there.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It’s a really fun and quick read that’s filled with adventure, sacrificing for those we love, challenges to overcome, and incredibly fascinating magic. My one complaint is some of the language used in the dialogue. There were some slang phrases used that just felt so out of place for these kids to be using in casual conversation. It happened a few times in the story when I was just completed pulled out of the story because of reading stuff like that while characters were talking to one another. But this is a small thing, and I really loved every other aspect of this story.

I was really looking forward to reading this book. I love all the Riordan presents books that bring in other voices so far, and my husband and children are Korean, so I always have my eye out for Korean representation and Asian female rep for my spunky 6 year old. I can’t wait to read this with her when she’s a bit older and to research more about Korean mythology!

The characters are great and cover quite a range of personalities! The adventure had both things I predicted and things that surprised me and went to all sorts of imaginative places through incredible means of getting there. Such a creative story.

Disclaimer: I received this finished copy from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: The Last Fallen Star

Author: Graci Kim

Book Series: Gifted Clans book 1

Diversity: Adopted mc, Korean mc and family

Rating: 5/5

Recommended For...: mg readers, fantasy, mythology

Genre: MG Fantasy

Publication Date: May 4, 2021

Publisher: Rick Riordan Presents

Pages: 312

Recommended Age: 9+ (Death, Gore, Violence, and Possession)


Synopsis: Riley Oh can't wait to see her sister get initiated into the Gom clan, a powerful lineage of Korean healing witches their family has belonged to for generations. Her sister, Hattie, will earn her Gi bracelet and finally be able to cast spells without adult supervision. Although Riley is desperate to follow in her sister's footsteps when she herself turns thirteen, she's a saram--a person without magic. Riley was adopted, and despite having memorized every healing spell she's ever heard, she often feels like the odd one out in her family and the gifted community.

Then Hattie gets an idea: what if the two of them could cast a spell that would allow Riley to share Hattie's magic? Their sleuthing reveals a promising incantation in the family's old spell book, and the sisters decide to perform it at Hattie's initiation ceremony. If it works, no one will ever treat Riley as an outsider again. It's a perfect plan!

Until it isn't. When the sisters attempt to violate the laws of the Godrealm, Hattie's life ends up hanging in the balance, and to save her Riley has to fulfill an impossible task: find the last fallen star. But what even is the star, and how can she find it?

As Riley embarks on her search, she finds herself meeting fantastic creatures and collaborating with her worst enemies. And when she uncovers secrets that challenge everything she has been taught to believe, Riley must decide what it means to be a witch, what it means to be family, and what it really means to belong.

Review: Oh my goodness I absolutely loved this book! The author did so well to intermingle mythology with this story and I enjoyed every last drop of it. I loved the characters, especially Riley, and I loved the world building. The book had a strong plot and I was hooked from beginning to end.

The only criticism I have for the book is that it was a bit too fast paced I think. I think it could have been slowed down and extended another 30-50 pages. I can't wait for the next book in this series!

Verdict: Highly recommend!

Where to begin with this fantastical adventure?

It has taken me a woefully long time to sit down and write this review. Not because my feelings are complicated, but because they AREN'T. I adored Graci Kim's debut with my whole heart, and I could fill a notebook with all the reasons why. As with most entries in Rick Riordan's lineup, THE LAST FALLEN STAR is a treasure trove of warmth, humor, and action, steeped in beautifully rich South Korean mythology. It centers around a hidden world of witch clans (yes, I immediately took the personality test to discover my clan) and Riley Oh, a girl struggling with the knowledge that because she's adopted, she has no magic of her own.

This is a fast-paced ride with incredibly vivid details (the food! the creatures! the magic!) but it's also an incredibly important exploration of sisterhood, identity, and belonging. Riley is a protagonist I will follow anywhere. Basically: if you or the middle grade reader in your life is looking for the Next Exciting Thing in the RR Presents series, Graci Kim's newest entry will absolutely surpass expectations. She is a powerhouse talent, and I will be eagerly watching to see where she takes the Gifted Clans next. 5/5

Riley is a adopted Korean girl to a Korean family the only difference is is that her adopted family is gifted which means they have magic. Their magic is healing and with the help of their Gi bracelets they heal not only other gifted people but sarams. Sarams are non-gifted humans and that is what Riley is and sometimes she feels very left out. She loves her adopted parents but her sister and them get to do things she doesn't and it just seems a bit unfair to her.

Hattie her sister is about to have her initiation into the clan and this means she gets to keep her Gi bracelet, as up till then she can only use it with adults supervision. Hattie and Riley learn that there is a way to share magic with a saram, so they cook up a plan to find the spell so they can do it on Hattie's initiation day since they have to be close to this cauldron to do it.

They are stopped from doing it because of something (spoilery so can't say) but needless to say they haven't given up and they decide to try and contact someone from the Godrealm to help them and do a spell that is illegal and it doesn't go as planned and Hattie ends up in like a coma and the clan bear goddess comes and tells Riley that she will help her with her sister but she must find the last fallen star.

Riley and her friend Emmett, who doesn't know the full extent of what has happened, goes with her to try and find the last fallen star but they have no clue where to start and decide to first go the a science place because stars, right. Not that this is an actual star as in what normal humans would think of as a star, but it was a start and they do learn about maybe going to this gifted library but it's guarded and and another friend helps disguise them and that is pretty much where the adventure to find this star starts.

I really like Riley and her journey as she learns a lot about herself and also that it doesn't really matter if you have magic or not it really is about what is inside you. I also really liked Emmett because he is really the definition of a true friend because even when he learns things about her that really upset him, he learns to work through it along the way and they still continue to be friends when a lot might just up and leave her. Though Hattie is not in the book much I can tell she will be a great character and I enjoyed the parts that she was in, she cared a lot about her sister.

I really enjoyed the story it had a nice fast pace to it and will definitely be looking out for the next one in the series!

Graci Kim is an all-star. Her writing is so engaging and is the perfect type of book to pull in my reluctant readers. I am so excited to share this book with my students.

Since it's debut on May 4th, The Last Fallen Star has quickly become the most requested book by my students. I had to buy extra copies so it could reach more homes during our hybrid virtual school year. Korean mythology, magical adventures, and filled with humor and heart, it's not surprising that this book is ranking #1 by my students. The first question they ask after they finish reading is, "When's the next book coming out?

This was ok. I didn't love the magic. I didn't love the mc. I did love Em. The writing is fine, it just wasn't for me.

I was between 4 and 5 stars for this one and mulled it over for a bit. I guess it's more 4.5, but I'm rounding up because of how this book took me by surprise and how totally into it I was.

I love that this under the Rick Riordan label because I honestly think the Percy Jackson fandom is the perfect audience for this book. It exposed me to Korean lore that I have never heard of before (which I will now have to look up since I enjoyed it so much) and it had such a likable main character in Riley. It's also another story of suspicion because you know someone is playing someone else and you're not exactly sure who it is or why.

I'm also a sucker for stories dealing with different types of magic and I liked that these Korean witches had magic that derived from the elements. I also liked the idea that each witch could have a dominant element. There's also a difference in how each clan assesses magic - most clans focus on the element that a witch was born without whereas one clan chooses to focus on the dominant element they were born with. I just felt it was a nice allegory of glass half full/half empty.

I will say that there were definitely some cheesy moments in here, such as the ghost named Casper who had a crush on a girl named Kat and lived with his uncles.... maybe younger readers won't get it, but us Devon Sawa-loving adults most definitely will. But Casper aside, I did think the ghost stuff was fun and silly enough for kids. The idea that gwisin (spirits) were essentially creating Tinder profiles cracked me up.

Honestly, this was really cute and the lore and witchcraft were interesting enough for me to definitely want to continue with the series.

The Last Fallen Star by Graci Kim was a solid middle grade book. The writing was easy to follow and quick to read. Riley as a character was bold and willing to do what it took to get what she wanted. Her sister Hattie's love and loyalty for her sister is so great that she's right there beside her.
The ideas felt fresh and unique. The culture and lore that I learned along the way made me want to seek out the true Korean stories to learn more. and that is a great sign of a well written book.
However I did find that the story could lag at times and I wanted it to be just that little bit more. That being said I am still very excited to read the next book in thee series. That ending though!

If you don’t fall in love with this story from the first few pages... do you even have a heart?! Riley and Hattie are amazing young sisters and just want to make every thing right, and that is where it all goes wrong! This story explodes with amazing Korean folklore, magic, and beautiful character growth. This book is a wild ride and will keep you reading until the very end. I love the themes of friendship, what you will do for family, and belonging that this book has. Graci Kim has written a beautiful story and I cannot wait to have the second book in my hands!

Content warnings: grief, death of a family member

Thank you to NetGalley and Rick Riordan Presents for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.


It pulled me in from the beginning. I would have finished it sooner if not for that pesky work thing (lol). It is the story of Riley, a saram - person without magic, who is adopted into a family of witches. However, she and her sister have hatched a plan to get her some magic. When the plan goes south, Riley is stuck having to figure out how to help her sister, whose life is now literally in her hands. Throughout her journay, Riley learns a lot about herself while the reader learns about Korean mythology and the importance of family and sacrifice, loyalty and forgiveness and how some of those can go hand in hand.

Kim's storytelling really makes you feel part of everything that is going on. I felt Riley's highs and lows. There was even a point in the book where I found myself in tears over what a character had gone through. I really enjoyed this book and am sad that I can't continue following Riley's journey until next year, but I can't wait to see what happens.

Korean-American witches, forbidden spells, unbreakable sisters, and one adopted girl's search for belonging and enchanted boba teas! What else could the book ask for! This book was well written, fun, fast-paced, and interesting. My 4th graders loved it! Thank you

The Last Fallen Star by Gracie Kim is a fantasy about a society of witches with five families in power, with powers for each family. It is time for the gifted clans to accept Hattie into their fold. At thirteen she is ready for the ritual. She has done all the work. If only her adopted sister, Riley could come, too. But Riley was saram, human, and had no powers. As teenage girls will do, they came up with a solution. When that didn't work, they came up with another, despite Emmett's cautions against it all. Emmet being half human and really not part of it at all, but careful and skeptical. Things worked out so Riley and Emmett basically went on a quest. It was important one: to save Hattie's life. Kim partnered a good middle school story with a good amount of Korean mythology in an exciting trip through many things they didn't understand.

This is a clever story and encompasses the kind of energy often found in youth fiction that loses it luster in adult fiction. The reader can feel the vibrations throughout the story. It is an excellent read and belongs in the classroom, maybe as a vehicle to teach the Hero's Journey. If not, there are certainly plenty of other things to be taught. It is an excellent example of middle grades fantasy as well as mythology. I heartily recommend it.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of The Last Fallen Star by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #thelastfallenstart

This was a great adventure and great start to a new series. I loved the intricacies of the mythology as I'm not as familiar with Korean mythology. It was interesting to learn about all the goddesses, spirits, and other magical creatures. The story was very fast paced and I was rooting for Riley the whole time. The twists and turns were great as Riley discovered more about the clans and herself. I loved the bond that she had with her sister as well. This book left me very anxious to see what Riley will be up to next.

Thank you to Rick Riordan Presents for sending me an ARC via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
4/5 stars
This was such a fun read! Riley has a really relatable voice, and she was an awesome character. The magic and culture infused into this story were super interesting, and I thought they were explained well. I really liked seeing Riley’s journey and her growth, and I’m glad there’s going to be another book!
This one follows Riley Oh, an adopted girl who lives with her Eomma (mom), Appa (dad), and her sister Hattie. Riley feels like an outsider not only in her family, but also in their magic community. Because she’s adopted, she doesn’t have any magic of her own although her family have healing magic and are members of the Gom clan. The bond between Riley and Hattie was awesome, and I loved that Hattie was so willing to share her powers with Riley. When things go very wrong, it’s Riley’s love for her sister that keeps her going on her journey to discover the truth about herself.
I thought the author brought the different elements of the story together well, and I think she did a good job of showing sacrifice, love, and different kinds of acceptance. Riley had incredible character growth, and she was a really strong character.
I’d recommend this one to readers looking for a magical adventure that’s fast-paced and exciting and includes mythical creatures, goddesses, a hunt for a lost item, and a journey to discover the truth.

Excellent book!! I love books that tell a story and teach about different culture mythologies. This one definitely did not disappoint. I also enjoyed the author's nod to Rick Riordan by mentioning the Greek gods who live in the Empire State building.

I'm from Los Angeles and I recognized the places mentioned in the book. I enjoy books more when I know exactly where they are because I have been there (Santa Monica Pier, L.A. Zoo, Angeles National Forest...). She talks about good food and some

The author made the book relatable to the young crowd. Riley and friends use an app to find gwisin (ghosts with unfinished business) who might be able to help her on her mission. The app comes with info about the gwisin, what they need, and the kids get to decide whether to swipe left or message them (sound familiar?). The author mentions a couple of ghosts that I"m not sure kids will recognize but I sure did. One likes to go through T.V.s and the other just wants to talk to his friend Kat but is having trouble with his three uncles.

I can't say enough about the book without giving away the whole plot. I can't wait to gift this one to my niece and read the next one!

Riley is an outsider, if a being a non-magical being in a family of magical healers is what sets her apart.

And it would have been alright, but she does want to fit in, so her sister offers to do a magical spell to give her half her powers.

But, something goes very wrong, and the end result is that Riley has to find the last fallen star.

I love how she mixes in landmarks of Los Angeles with gateways to magical worlds. A boba tea shop at the L.A. Zoo, leads to a secret compound, for example. She travels to the Griffith Park Observatory, to find information on stars.

I love how strong she is, taking on the mission even thoug she had no idea where to look.

And I love the jokes the author slips in, when I can recognize them, such as when they are looking for hungry ghosts they run across Casper, the friendly ghost.

One reviewer complained that there is not enough world building done in this book, as though, somehow, the whole world of Korean mythology is something that needs to be explained, because we are always having to explain Greek mythology when we put it into books written for a white, western audience.

The thing that is important in this book is that it doesn't stop to explain things. This book is written for everyone, yes, but it is also written for the Korean-Americans who have had nothing to read that speaks of their experience, although i'm sure their experiences don't include having a temple magically hidden behind the meat counter at the H-Mart.

We dont' have to have everything explained. We don't. This book is a solid adventure and like so many books, does not stop to explain everything.

<em>Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.</em>