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!

This was an absolute joy to read! I've come to expect great things from the Rick Riordan Imprint, and this story did not disappoint. From the first page, I was immediately sucked into the world of Korean magic and the story of a girl trying to save her family while learning the truth about her heritage. The magic system is extremely compelling: six witch clans that each have specific powers, and that these powers are based on the elements. Seeing magic blended into the modern world is one of my favorite tropes of all time, and I absolutely adored how it was handled in this book.

The characters were well-developed and it was fascinating to see them grow on the page. I loved our main character, Riley, and reading about her love for her family and her desire to feel accepted as a witch was amazing. I connected to her easily, and her bond with her sister was one of my favorite things. What was great about this story is the side characters didn't get overshadowed at all. Hattie, Emmett, and Taeyo had their respective storylines and growth (I love Emmett!), but also smaller characters such as Jennie, which could have easily faded in the background, got a story, and it didn't feel crowded.

I thoroughly enjoyed the action and the twists in the plot. I didn't expect the ending, and I think it was done wonderfully. This was an incredible debut and I cannot wait for the next book!

I received an e-arc of this title from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. It is full of adventure and revolves around fantasy, mythology, and magic. There is a strong theme of friendship and bravery. This book has just the right amount of suspense to keep interest piqued. An excellent addition to the Rick Riordan presents collection.

This book easily draws you in to the inner turmoil Riley is going through. It's real and the lore is beautifully presented. I want to be part of the Horangi Clan!

A fun look into Korean mythology and adventure. It was a interesting story about a girl who desperately wants to become a witch and in her attempt to get magical powers family secrets are revealed and she finds that she’s bargained for more than she can handle. Overall an okay read, I did wish more mythology was explored and the plot was a fine read. The incidents were resolved fairly quickly and overall a okay read.

*Thanks Netgalley and Disney Publishing Worldwide for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

4.5* This is a wonderful book, as can be expected from Rick Riordan Presents. In this world, there are magical or gifted clans that exist with their own specialties and patron goddesses. Riley Oh is a 13 year old who grew up in a Gom family. Her family are healers. But, Riley herself is adopted and she is saram - non-gifted. Because of this, she felt like an outsider, even if her family are very loving. She is particularly close to her sister, who came up with a scheme to perform a forbidden magic spell that will allow the two of them to share powers. So starts an adventure that leads to Riley finding her identity and place in this world. I love the premise, the characters, and the writing. It weaves Korean mythology skillfully with the modern world. Not sure how many books this series is going to be, but after reading this first book, I'm very excited for the next ones.

Will def get likened to Dragon Pearl because of who published it, but it was honestly so good. I enjoyed the rich mythological tradition, I also enjoyed how fun the book was. My only critical thought is that the inciting incident - the sister being trapped or killed or whatever - happened too late and also happened at the end of too many inciting incidents. Like, spread it out. Keep the book simple! Let the fun stuff shine through

The Last Fallen Star is an action packed adventure about Riley Oh, an adopted Korean girl who doesn’t fit into her family because she is a saram ( has no magical ability) while her family is part of the Gom clan. Gin’s have the ability to heal. Riley’s sister Hattie loves her so much and knows that her sister wishes to be magical so they hatch a plan to make this happen. Unfortunately, their plan goes awry and leads them on a journey filled with many twists and turns. In the end Riley has some hard decisions to make in order to not only restore her sister and her life back to normal. Love how the author weaves her Korean culture into the story, using their ancient gods and beliefs and giving them a modern twist.

Another excellent entry in the Rick Riordan Presents series. The Last Fallen Star will appeal to a wide variety of young readers. The presentation of Korean and Korean-American culture will definitely be a draw, particularly given the current hallyu wave in the US. Engaging and exciting, this title will especially appeal to young readers who may be reluctant to take on longer fantasy books. Highly recommended.

This is a delight!

The Last Fallen Star by Graci Kim is a mythological adventure going from one realm to another. Riley Oh wants nothing more than to be like her family and do magic, but as a saram -- someone who is non-gifted -- she is essentially barred from any involvement. When her older sister conspires a way to share their family magic, Riley is thrown into an adventure to not just understand her family's legacy, but of a prophecy that dooms them all. With angry goddesses, a lost star, a dragon-scooter named Boris, sentient houses, and hungry ghosts, Los Angeles is full of mythological adventures for witches everywhere!

Much like the other books in the Rick Riordan Presents line, The Last Fallen Star has engaging world-building, both whimsical and practical, and an exceptionally strong third act. Riley's stakes are intense, setting things up perfectly for the sequel. What I love most of all is the dynamic between Riley and Hattie. It's wonderful to see such a strong sister dynamic in a fantasy book, and their love for each other is palpable as they would do anything to make the other happy (and safe!). I cannot wait to see how this develops in the next book.

Perfect for young readers who are going through a strong mythology and witch phase!

A copy was provided to me by NetGalley. All opinions are my own!

Graci Kim's The Last Fallen Star is a Korean (American) story written in the tradition of Rick Riordan. Set in Los Angeles among a Korean cultural mythos, the story follows Riley Oh as she searches for belonging as the only non-magical saram among a community of fully-magical witches. When Riley and her adoptive-sister Hattie perform a forbidden spell that puts Hattie's life in danger, Riley must find not only her own form of magic but also her self-confidence in order to save her sister.

The story is perhaps necessarily derivative of Rick Riordan and his Percy Jackson series, but Kim's voice adds freshness to the well-worn framework. In addition, the inclusion of OwnVoices stories adapting Riordan's structure is a wonderful goal. The Last Fallen Star offers a beautiful window and mirror that many students wouldn't have been able to find in this sub-genre of writing. It's a stunning addition to the Riordan-esque collection.

The plot is somewhat interesting, but the writing style is that of a children's book. Which is a good thing, because this is for children. I like that this is basically asian Percy Jackson, I learned a lot about Korean mythology!

~~~~ 3.5 Stars ~~~~

This MG read was a quick, entertaining, jaunt through Cali. It had a very relaxed vibe with laid back, modern dialogue. The premise was awesome with unique mythological creatures and an interesting explanation for their Magic. This Korean tale of Magic, Family (both given and chosen), Friends and Power merged nicely with the modern day backdrop.

The writing was good if not a tiny bit succinct. Although it did tend to be predictable at times, it still was fun exploring this fantastical world. Then there was the foooood! There was a whole lot of eating going on and this foodie appreciated all of the enticing shout outs to yummy cuisine.

The pace was steady but not frantic as the plot... needing to save the quickly diminishing life of a sister... called for (but never really delivered). I felt little to no suspense even though there should have been (strike# 1). There also was no struggle with conflict resolution. Things just simply worked. No pain for the gain = a slightly cranky reader here (strike# 2). BUT I let both transgressions slide (for the most part) because the rest was undeniably entertaining.

Overall:

The world building was the star here AND even though I'm more of a character driven novel enthusiast, I still enjoyed this read. I might not be the exact demographic for this book though... it definitely has a younger (than myself) vibe... but I enjoyed it all the same.

If you're on the fence or just plain curious, you should definitely give this book a shot ESPECIALLY if you like a read with a strong female MC coming of age with close relationships, Magic and loads of mythical creatures and fantastical scenarios happening right smack dab in the middle of modern day California. It is a fun, clean, magical adventure suited for all ages.

~ Enjoy

*** I was given a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ***

This book is so much fun!! I adore all witchy books, and this one was fascinating and such a delight. Loved getting to follow Riley on her adventure to claim her own Korean magic--and prove to her community of witches that she does belong and can work a magic that will make them all proud. Loved all the aspects of Korean folklore woven into this story, plus the book has empowering messages of learning to understand others--and ourselves!--with more nuance and compassion. An important new book that MG readers will have a blast reading.