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!

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.