Riley Oh is adopted; she's always known that her adopted family loves her as much as her they do her best friend and adopted sister, Hattie, who is about her own age. Riley and her family are Korean, and they are members of a magical tribe, with specific magical skills in healing. Being adopted, Riley doesn't have magic, something she's always known, and always wanted. She has the knowledge, but lacks the magical inheritance to use it the way the rest of her family does. She and Hattie begin a quest to find a a way for Riley to share Hattie's magic - but as with so many quests followed by teens, it goes awry. Join the sisters and their friend Emmett as they search for a way to get Riley magic of her own, and turn their society upside-down in the process. A fun and thoughtful story that readers of all ages can enjoy, with plenty of Korean mythology thrown in.

Received an early copy thanks to NetGalley & Disney Publishing Worldwide in exchange for an honest review.

Riley is part of a witch coven but unfortunately, she has no magic because she's adopted. Long story short, she has to embark on a dangerous journey to save someone she loves.

I know this is a middle-grade book and it's best to keep expectations low but geez, some things were really bugging me.

Riley's sister, Hattie, was actually a more compelling character than Riley herself. I wanted Hattie to be the protagonist....ha. Riley didn't have much of a drive compared to Hattie, not to mention her "crybaby" persona that doesn't really come up as often as it should. I am a crybaby, I know how bad it gets but she cried maybe, 2 times, throughout the book. Show, not tell! Show her crying rather than mentioning it once and never doing anything with it!

I think my main issue was Riley just not being a very compelling protagonist overall. Her family was fun and some of the side characters were interesting. I really love the magic system in here, especially when it is merged with technology! Soooo cool! Buuuut the side characters were kinda forgettable. One mythological character joins the fray more than halfway through the book and I *love* them, but they don't join till way later.

The one bully character was 'redeemed' and the message about 'bullies have feelings too' was a bit too heavy-handed and obvious, but that's probably just me being super nitpicky.

I do think the Korean mythology could've been explained a bit better, it seemed to gloss over some important themes that audiences might not get right away. I really liked how "Dragon Pearl" handled it so I was spoiled by that book, lol. Still, it's a decent book within the Rick Riordan Presents series.

I enjoyed this book, It was a fun read. I did feel like it was a bit slow for a middle grade book though. I think it could have been a bit shorter and accomplished the same think. Nothing really wrong with the book, just not my favorite. Great themes including family, friendship, found family. appreciate what you have etc.

Definitely a great read for grade school, very exciting and adventurous, fun surprises. As an adult, I just wanted to shake the girls for not obeying what seems to be a very wise rule, and more than once.
I enjoyed the way that adults were portrayed, as wise and understanding and patient, unusual in a lot of pop literature.

When a book is a Rick Riordan Presents you know you better hold on because it is going to be a ride. Graci Kim’s story centered around Korean folklore is no exception.
Riley Oh was adopted as a newborn into a Gom (healing witches) family and couldn’t be any closer to Hattie, her adopted sister. But Riley is a saram (human with no magic) which is mostly OK as her best friend Emmett whose mom was killed by the exiled Horangi clan is also a saram. Riley knows her family loves her and accepts her non-gifted status, though she does feel “different”. When Hattie wants to share her magic at her at her initiation ceremony with Riley, things go terribly wrong. Goddesses, magic, power hungry Gom, betrayals – it’s all in there! And when you breathlessly reach the last page, you see it’s only the beginning.
Kim also provides a glossary with the terminology/magical terms which is super helpful.

What a fun ride.

I really love Graci Kim's new entrance in the Riordan Presents imprint. I love mythology and I find one of the best ways to learn about new stories and myths is through the eyes of middle grade.

This novel is full of witch magic, sisterly love, and how far someone will go to save someone they love.

This is my favorite addition to the Rick Riordan Presents series. This was fun, adventurous. Their motivators were worthwhile, and the characters were great--on their own and as an ensemble. So excited for the next book!

If you love contemporary fantasy, then this book is an absolute must-read! 13yo Riley is part of a clan of magical healers, but she doesn't have any magic of her own. When her beloved sister hatches a plan to share her magic with Riley, things go terribly wrong and Riley is forced to embark on a journey to save her sister. As she follows one clue after another, she learns more about herself––and about her true identity. The author seamlessly weaves Korean folklore and Korean-American culture in an immersive story that is truly difficult to put down. Riley's love for her sister, the support of her best friend, and the relationships she develops along the way all strengthen Riley's own journey and the story as a whole. And the ending is satisfying on it's own, but definitely leaves the reader eager for book two!

I will admit that I am a sucker for all Rick Riordan Presents books, and The Last Fallen Star is no exception.

This story is based on Korean Mythology, which I was not familiar with at all. It was so interesting! I loved the connections between family and friends throughout this story. I felt like the action picked up very quickly and was fast-paced throughout.

Disclaimer: I got this in exchange for an honest review,


OMG I GOT A RICK RIORDAN PRESENTS BOOK AND IT'S ONE OF MY HIGHLY ANTICIPATED RELEASES!!! AHHHHHH! Okay, so here's what it's about: An adopted Korean American girl named Riley discovers that she has magic as she learns more about her heritage. Her sister, Hattie is going to be able to get what's called a GI bracelet which means she'll be able to use magic without an adult's supervision. Riley's a saram: someone without magic.Her sister, Hattie has an idea. What if they use Hattie's magic and give it to Riley? It seems like the perfect plan until it puts Hattie's life in danger. Suddenly, Riley's thrust into a journey to find the last fallen star. I absolutely adored Riley and Hattie's sibling relationship. It's a stunning debut novel and I can't wait to read whatever author Graci Kim writes next!! THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE PUBLISHER AND NETGALLEY!!!!

I really, sincerely wanted to enjoy reading this book- however, I didn’t. The ending is the case for the three stars I’ve given it, and the plot was fantastic. It was the execution that seemed to hinder this book more than anything.
There were times when, instead of feeling taught about these myths, things were info-dumped onto me. As an adult reader, I have no problem with this. Middle-grade readers, however, tend to prefer a show don’t tell method of storytelling. Riley Oh is a bit of a cookie-cutter character. She is a known cry-baby in the first half of the book and then is suddenly not in the second half of the book. It felt like her crying all the time was supposed to be a character flaw, but then we removed it. The story hinges on important character growth for Riley, and while it does happen, it’s not as impactful as it could have been.
I was incredibly interested in this world of magic, and the lore within it. This is what kept me reading and would have me consider reading the second book. However, I would just hope that the pacing, dialogue, and character development would grow a little bit more before then.

My full review will be on my blog on May 14th, 2021

The Last Fallen Star is a story of magic and adventure, but also of family and growth and sacrifice. The story is about a Korean-American girl named Riley Oh, her friends and family, and the quest that they must go on to save the world. It was so well written and such an amazing story that I cannot wait on the next book in the series comes out. It is definitely a series that I plan to devour.

The beginning of the story was a little slow for me, but I understand the necessity of setting up the story. It did not take long for the action to pick up and the adventure to begin. I loved the relationship between Riley and her sister, and also the relationship between Riley and her best friend. The characters were so well developed and I couldn't help but feel what they were feeling.

I had my suspicions early on about how some of the things were going to turn out, but I was still surprised at the path that led there. Even with my suspicions it was written well enough that I couldn't be sure that they would come true and children and young adults may not pick up on the clues that I did.

I loved the Korean stories woven into the storyline. I am not familiar with Korean mythology, but now I can't wait to look into it further. I also love the way that Graci Kim writes her characters, not only are they well developed, but I love that she saw something missing as a child and decided to fix that by writing about kids like her. We need more books for all types of readers and it's important for them to be able to see themselves represented in the stories that they read. I am looking forward to reading more works by Graci Kim and can't wait to recommend this book to others!

Thank you to Disney Publishing Worldwide and #Netgalley for allowing me the opportunity to read a digital ARC of The Last Fallen Star (Gifted Clans, 1) by Graci Kim. All opinions are my own.

Riley Oh is excited to watch her sister, Hattie, be initiated into the Gom Clan, a powerful line of Korean healing witches that her family belongs to. Unlike her sister, Riley is saram (a person without magic), or so she thinks. After Hattie is initiated, she and Riley participate in a forbidden incantation that would along them to share Hattie's magic. Things go horribly wrong and the spell violates the rules of the Godrealm. Now, Riley must race to complete an impossible task: locate the last fallen star.

I love the Rick Riordan Presents imprint as it introduces readers to so many interesting mythologies and cultures through #ownvoices authors. Graci Kim does an amazing job of introducing middle grade readers to Korean myths, folktales, and groups within the community. Kim's book has a strong focus on family as the main characters are a pair of sisters. There is also a strong focus on belonging and identity as Riley is adopted and feels like she is on the outside of her community. The characters in the book are unique and vibrant. I love how sassy and brave Riley is. Her sister Hattie is strong and opinionated, but my favorite character may just be Riley's bestfriend, Emmett, with who is allergic to emotion. This book is full of action, adventure, humor, and personal growth. I believe my students will really enjoy it, and I can't wait to share it with them.

This book does follow the other Rick Riordan presents pattern. This one is a little bit different because it does concentrate on a pair of sisters where one is adopted. It does talk about Korean mythology and different groups within the community. I really liked that the book concentrated on family and friends throughout the book. I have students that will really love and make connections through this book. I think this book can also help make connections for siblings that are adopted or have lost a parent.

WITCHES! MAGIC! Korean mythology! I'm in love! This book was everything I wanted and more! I loved it! Seriously might be my new favorite RR presents book which is high praise because they are all so good! I loved how well Kim blended the Korean mythology into modern times. Riley was an amazing MC. She's everything you want for a hero. She's brave, powerful and sassy. Her best friend Emmett was pure gold. I love everything about him. These two go on an adventure to save her sister and their worlds get turned upside down. Riley learns she's more than she ever imagined. The Last Fallen Star is full of witches, adventure and fun. I couldn't have loved the book more. I can not wait for the next book!

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!