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

First and foremost, I would like to thank Disney Publishing for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review! This does not in any way impact my rating of the book.

There was just so much to love in this story. There were great family dynamics, great friendships, fascinating mythology, and a plot twist I did not see coming at all!

This book follows Riley Oh, who was adopted as an infant into a family of witches. Riley longs to fit in with the rest of her family, and her sister, Hattie, agrees to help her out. After finding a spell that would give Riley magic, the sisters attempt to perform it. However, as a newer witch, the spell overworks Hattie, leading to her death. The only way that Hattie can be saved is if Riley finds “the last fallen star,” an ancient artifact that contains magic.

To start off with what I loved, there was so much Korean mythology in this. I was familiar with some of the terms since I read Wicked Fox by Kat Cho, but a lot of it was new to me as well. Even though it could definitely be overwhelming at times, there is a glossary in the back to help the reader out if needed. The mythology really transported the reader into this magical world the author had created, even if I wish there would have been a bit more world building incorporated.

I think what really shined during this book were the characters. There was not a single character that I disliked or found annoying. Riley, the main protagonist, was a joy to read about. As a 12 year old girl, Riley just wants to fit in with her family of witches. I felt like she read quite realistically for a mature 12 year old, but still didn’t read too young to the point that it was annoying. Along with that, I loved her relationship with Hattie. The sister dynamic in this book was so heart-warming. It definitely gave me Anna/Elsa vibes.

The other relationship I loved was Riley’s relationship with Emmett. It is strictly platonic in this book, although I could maybe see it budding into a romance in the future ones. Emmett is grieving his mother in this novel, and I think his feelings of grief felt very realistic and valid. Even though she died many years ago, he is still processing going through his teenage years without a mom, and the anger he feels with that.

While there was a lot to enjoy in this book, I did feel like the pacing was a bit off. This book relies a lot on the “quest” trope, which really isn’t my favorite. A lot of the book felt like Riley and Emmett were going on senseless missions, and I struggled to see how one thing led to the next. While this was a really cool way to introduce a lot of mythology and mythical creatures, it did leave me a bit bored at times. Even though this is a fairly short book, it did take me quite a bit of time to get through because I struggled just sitting down and reading large chunks at a time. By the last 25% or so, the pacing did improve, making for a fabulous ending.

All in all, I would recommend this book if you like:

Books about sisters
Detailed, in-depth mythology
The quest trope
Slow burn fantasies
Wicked Fox by Kat Cho

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>

Riley Oh has never felt like she fits in. She loves her adoptive family with her whole heart, but while they are a part of the Gom clan, a powerful line of Korean healing witches, Riley is a saram; one without magic. When her sister Hattie is about to be initiated into the clan, earning her Gi bracelet and the ability to perform spells without adult supervision, Hattie comes up with a plan to share her magic with Riley.

While that sounds like a great idea, like many great ideas before it, things don't quite go as planned. With Hattie's life hanging in the balance, Riley must now go on a seemingly impossible quest to find the last fallen star. Obviously, it would be helpful if Riley even had the slightest clue what the star is, or how to find it.

Along with her best friend, Emmett, the two work against the clock, challenging everything they believed about their world, in order to try to save Hattie. I absolutely adored this story. Riley was such a sweet little gumdrop. She was so easy to get behind and support.

I really appreciated the growth Riley made as a character and the way Kim incorporated so many true to life, coming of age issues into this fantastical story. I thought there was a lot of great content in here for young readers concerning things like the meaning of family, friendship, being true to yourself and who you are meant to be.

This story left off in an incredible spot for a continuation of the series. I am really, really, really looking forward to the next book, set to release in 2022. I highly recommend this action-packed, Korean-mythology inspired Middle Grade Fantasy Adventure. Yes, it has everything! Such an impressive debut!!!!!

Thank you so much to the publisher, Disney Books and Rick Riordan Presents, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I will be praising this one to the rooftops for a long time to come!! Available now!!

The Last Fallen Star by Graci Kim is the first book in a new series, Gifted Clans. It is published by Disney-Hyperion under the Rick Riordan Presents imprint. Riley Oh always wanted to be initiated into her clan, the Goms, just like her sister and the rest of her family. She wanted healing magic and to be accepted as a part of the Gifted community. But she is saram, or non-magical, and the circumstances of Riley’s adoption are also mysterious. And the L.A. chapter of the Gifted Clans is especially wary of anything out of the ordinary. That is, ever since the Horangi scholar clan, who betrayed the rest of the community 13 years ago, were banished and severed from their patron god and magic powers.

In the world of The Last Fallen Star, there are six Gifted Clans, each with their own patron god and unique magical abilities ranging from healing to illusions to knowledge to combat. Much like the Rick Riordan books (which get a nice little reference early on), they’re modernized takes on classic Korean mythologies blended with ample creative and original ideas. The book is filled with Korean words, customs, and culture that firmly ground the book in the community it takes place in and represents while making it accessible to any reader to partake in.

Reading The Last Fallen Star is one of the first times I’ve read a book about Gen Zers that really felt like it was in the voice of a Gen Zer. The narration by Riley is embedded with so much personality, in much the same way that Rick Riordan books are famous for, that I can completely picture her and every other one of the book’s many teenage characters. The topical references are on point, but just the language Riley uses and the way she organizes her thoughts are spot-on for a 13-year-old.

I specifically emphasize that it’s the teens who are well fleshed out because in general, the adults are a bit less so. We spend less time with them, but I had a much harder time picturing most of them in my head than I did the younger characters. But, the absolutely apparent personality of Riley, her sister Hattie, her best friend Emmett, and all the other teens help make some of the very YA tropes less cringy.

I’m often less than thrilled when the plot of a story, YA or otherwise, revolves around a total unwillingness or inability to communicate. With teens, I get it; they’re not known for being the most open books, but it’s such a tired trope sometimes. It bummed me out at first that The Last Fallen Star was premised around the same notion in the beginning, until the secrets get let out early enough that the rest of the book can proceed freely. And once it does, oh boy does it proceed.

The adventure through a unique and original amalgamation of Korean myths is fresh and exhilarating as Riley races to right a grave wrong while uncovering her past and a great conspiracy. The pace never lets up once it gets going and blends some intense action moments with really emotional and reflective ones. There’s a particular chapter where Riley provides a favor to a ghost in exchange for valuable information that made me absolutely weep inconsolable. It was so beautifully written and delivered. The learning moments were occasionally written out in very obvious language as Riley explains what she is coming to understand after an experience. But given the young reader demographic and the weight behind these moments, they are only effective on every front.

More than anything, I’m really impressed with Kim’s willingness to let the first book in a new series end the way it does. It is far from the typical ending to the first entry in a series and for that, I am possibly even more excited for the second book than I already would have been. The world Kim builds and the systems of governance, magic, and religion she weaves have me absolutely captivated. I’m already theorizing all the ways the next book might expand on these ideas and I’m sure that I’m going to be totally surprised by all the creative directions I never even considered, just as I was throughout The Last Fallen Star.

The Last Fallen Star is a great start to a new series. I loved the opportunity to dive into a culture and mythology underrepresented in fantasy books and cannot wait to explore it further in the next Gifted Clans book.

The Last Fallen Star is available wherever books are sold on May 4th.

This exciting and heartwarming story is full of magic, but also deep themes of family and belonging. The story felt very grounded and modern in a way that will really resonate with kids. I can’t wait to read the next installment!

I love the new focus on making kids books that educate on diverse cultures. I think if i had grown up reading books like this, I wouldn't have had to unlearn all the racial stereotypes that are ingrained in many midwest areas. Graci Kim, thank you for giving me hope about the next generation.

This book was adorable. The characters were spunky and rebellious - while also caring so much about family and community. I loved the concept of having a cursed clan within the magic system. It gave off Wakanda-vibes in the best way possible.

I would highly recommend to young readers AND older readers. There is a far bit of talk about death so many not super young but no more than I can remember in Percy Jackson.

Thanks to NetGalley and Disney Publishing Worldwide for this free digital copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is available now!

Rylie Oh seems just like your average pre-teen--she has her best friend, Emmett, her sister Hattie (whom she adores), loves to binge k-dramas and has loving parents. Unlike most pre-teens, however, Rylie's family are members of the Gom healing clan--one of the six Korean witch clans--but Rylie, who is adopted, does not get to be initiated into the Gom clan like her sister Hattie. Desperate to feel like she fits in, Rylie agrees to Hattie's idea that they perform a spell to share magic...an idea that sets off a dangerous and complicated chain of events.

As per usual when I have anything from the Rick Riordan Presents imprint in my hands, I flew through this one! The six different clans and their special branches of magic were so interesting to read about (and I hope to learn even more in the next book) and Rylie was an endearing character. I think the fact that she feels like an outsider will resonate with many, along with her journey to find her place and start to figure out who she is and wants to be. There were moments when I was actually stressed about what the outcome of this book was going to be...when you read it, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about!

For fans of middle-grade fantasy/adventure, Rick Riordan, Roshani Chokshi (and all of the author amazing authors under the imprint).

This book was absolutely heartwarming and so easy to get through as expected from a book of the Rick Riordan Imprint! I think the world-building was done so seamlessly and easy to read through. I enjoyed the magic system so much and loved how Korean folklore was woven into it. Graci Kim created such a beautiful world that many people of any age will be sure to enjoy.

The characters that Graci Kim has introduced us to are all very lovable. I found it funny how some of them reminded me of my own family and I appreciated that so much. Riley Oh is such a hardworking girl at such a young age. She doesn't fit what a traditional gifted person is and they chose to label her as a regular person when she is so much more than that.

Overall I think this book definitely put me out of my reading slump. Very fast-paced and easy to read.

I love the Rick Riordan presents series, and this is one of the better entries to date! It also is set up to be a multi volume series, and I hope we get to see them. I want to see where Riley Oh and her friends go with this and where and how the divine fit. The focus is Korean mythology / religion. I learned different facets than were represented in the other Korean story in this series - Dragon Pearl.

Others have mentioned the commendable representation of adoption and being adopted. In no way to minimize that, but to add to it, many others will relate to Riley's journey. It spoke to me as a product of a blended family. My parents divorced when I was young, remarried, and the families remain very different in many ways. I often feel not quite part of either. I think many in my position will also relate to this central theme of belonging and identity discovery.

The folklore is central and drives the story in the best ways, and many will be reminded of Percy Jackson for sure. I can't wait for book 2!

Thank you to Graci Kim, Rick Riordan, and Disney Hyperion for an advance ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

This was such a great new, diverse middle grade story! I adored sisters Riley and Hattie and how much they cared about each other, how they always had one another's backs. Riley is adopted, but her parents and her sister never treat her as different, despite the fact that she doesn't have the same magic they do.

In this story, Riley's sister is ready to share her own magic with Riley, but when they attempt the ritual, they discover secrets long buried, and to save her family, Riley will have to go on a journey to retrieve an impossible artifact with her best friend, Emmett.

I loved the characters in this story, and the way the different magical clans were shown and their different magics. It'll be exciting to see where this story goes from here!

The Last Fallen Star, by Graci Kim, is an incredible book. From the second I started reading, I was pulled into the plot and always wanted to know what happened next.

Riley is a fantastic main character. The book is told from her perspective, and I loved reading from her point of view. Riley is very close to her sister Hattie, and I loved the sisters’ relationship in the book. Hattie is so selfless, and always wants to do what she can to help her younger sister.

The magic system and world were also done in an amazing way. Riley’s family is part of the Gom clan, a line of Korean healing witches, and one of six clans within the gifted community. The community of the gifted (those with the power to perform magic, and those belonging to

The writing in the book was beautiful, in the description and in driving the plot forward. The book was definitely much more intense than I expected, but not at all in a bad way. It is a middle-grade book but definitely did not hold back on anything in terms of plot or characters. There wasn’t so much going on it was difficult to understand what was happening, but there was a level of complexity to the worldbuilding and plot that is rare in middle grade.

I think that often, authors of middle grade can underestimate the level at which their target audience can read, but this was definitely not the case with Graci Kim in The Last Fallen Star.

One of my favorite aspects of the book was how close Riley is to her family. I talked about her relationship with her sister before, but a huge element of the book is the Oh family’s closeness: the parents and the two girls. Riley is adopted, and that is talked about in the book, but that doesn’t make her any less a part of their family, and any less a sister to Hattie.

The book ended on a bit of a cliffhanger, which makes me even more eager to read the sequel, which is expected for publication in 2022. I’m really excited to see how the author expands on the world, and how Riley’s story is continued in book two, which will be called The Last Fallen Moon.

Overall, I was blown away by The Last Fallen Star, and I can’t wait to read the sequel!! Graci Kim’s debut novel is absolutely incredible, and you should definitely go pick up a copy to read right away. From the complexity of the plot, the Korean folklore weaved in, and the amazing characters, the most recent of the Rick Riordan Presents novels did not disappoint.

Actual rating 3.5

This is the first in a new middle-grade fantasy series that focuses on Korean magic and mythology.

I really loved the setup for this book. The magic system was so cool and I loved that this takes place in the modern-day so that we could see magic interacting with technology.
I also really loved seeing so many Korean monsters and myths come to life. I also love that there was such a focus on Korean food and culture, but in such an easy way that any middle-grade reader could understand.

However, I did think this book suffered from pacing issues, especially in the last half of the book.
There were so many twists and turns that the author was trying to do, but we weren't given much explanation for why the characters were coming up with new solutions. Because of this, I wasn't really able to keep up with where we were going near the end of the book. I also felt that some of the events and actions of the last half of the book were too convenient. And I think this happened to allow all those twists and turns to happen. I wish there were fewer twists, but that they had more meaning to them.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A huge thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book to review. All opinions are my own.

First off, this was a fun, positive read and I enjoyed every minute. I have been in a horrible reading slump and this book made me want to keep going and find out what happens. The Korean mythology was fascinating and I look forward to learning more in the following books. The characters may be young, but they are still easy to relate to and their struggles are ones we have all faced. I am curious to see how the story continues in the next book and will be not so patiently waiting for it next year!

The Last Fallen Star (Gifted Clans #1) by Graci Kim, 336 pages. Rick Riordan Presents (Disney-Hyperion), 2021. $17.
Language: PG (4 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG
BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
Riley has always understood that she is a saram, or non-magical person, adopted into a family of witches. She tries to be supportive of her sister’s upcoming confirmation as a witch, a ceremony all witches have at age 13, but the ceremony is also a reminder that Riley won’t have one when she turns 13 in a few months. That is, unless they manage to pull off a magic-sharing spell during the ceremony where Riley can gain half of her sister’s magic, which can’t be that difficult.
Riley and both her biological and adoptive families are Korean-American, and their story relies heavily upon Korean mythology. Having little knowledge of Korean mythology, I appreciate the balance Kim establishes between explaining necessary background information and letting actions teach readers about the gods and creatures that are involved. I enjoyed the side tasks Riley had to face on her way to the goal and felt the discouragement of Riley and her friends as everything seemed to be getting worse for the majority of their quest. While the book leads into an obvious need for a sequel, the ending is not a cliffhanger, which was appreciated by this reader.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Thank you to Disney Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC! This fast-paced middle grade follows Riley Oh, an adopted girl whose family is part of 1 of the Gifted Clans. Unfortunately, Riley doesn’t have the same magical abilities as the rest of her family, which is something she longs for. Riley’s sister, Hattie, offers to share her magic with Riley, but things go horribly wrong and it’s up to Riley and her best friend, Emmett, to set things right before it’s too late.
I absolutely loved this book! It’s full of Korean culture and mythology and touches on important topics like acceptance, belonging, and the importance of family. If you enjoy fast-paced middle grade fantasies and/or the other Rick Roirdan Presents series, I highly recommend picking this up.