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Gifted Clans #1
The Last Fallen Star
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Middle Grade & Children's (2021)A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
Best-selling author Rick Riordan presents Graci Kim's thrilling debut, now in paperback, about an adopted Korean-American girl who discovers her heritage and her magic on a perilous journey to save her witch clan family.
"Graci Kim does such an amazing job of blending Korean mythology into the modern world, I am now wondering how I ever lived without knowing all this cool information."--New York Times #1 best-selling author Rick Riordan
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.
"A fun, new magical world that promises more adventures to come."--Kirkus Reviews
Complete your middle grade collection with these best-selling fan favorites :
Rick Riordan Presents Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi
Rick Riordan Presents Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia
Rick Riordan Presents Paola Santiago and the River of Tears by Tehlor Kay Mejia
The Trials of Apollo series by Rick Riordan
Best-selling author Rick Riordan presents Graci Kim's thrilling debut, now in paperback, about an adopted Korean-American girl who discovers her heritage and her magic on a perilous journey to save her witch clan family.
"Graci Kim does such an amazing job of blending Korean mythology into the modern world, I am now wondering how I ever lived without knowing all this cool information."--New York Times #1 best-selling author Rick Riordan
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.
"A fun, new magical world that promises more adventures to come."--Kirkus Reviews
Complete your middle grade collection with these best-selling fan favorites :
Rick Riordan Presents Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi
Rick Riordan Presents Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia
Rick Riordan Presents Paola Santiago and the River of Tears by Tehlor Kay Mejia
The Trials of Apollo series by Rick Riordan
336 pages, Hardcover
First published May 4, 2021
438 people are currently reading
15513 people want to read
About the author
Graci Kim
8 books624 followersGraci Kim is the award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of the Gifted Clans series: The Last Fallen Star, The Last Fallen Moon, and The Last Fallen Realm. Featured in TIME Magazine for Kids, and dubbed a “sparkling yarn” by Entertainment Weekly, the Korean mythology-inspired trilogy is being translated into multiple languages.
The Last Fallen Star was named a 2021 Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Best Children’s Book, an Amazon Best Book, an Indigo Best Book, a Barnes & Noble Young Reader Pick, and a Whitcoulls’ Kids Top 50. In 2022, Graci was awarded the Sir Julius Vogel Award for Best New Talent.
The first book in her new series, Dreamslinger (think X-Men meets Pokémon, set in a Korean magic school) will be published in April 2025.
In a previous life, Graci was a New Zealand diplomat, a cooking show host, and once ran a business that turned children’s drawings into cuddly toys. She now lives in Aotearoa New Zealand with her husband and daughter. You can follow her on Instagram (@gracikimwrites), join her newsletter at gracikim dot com.
The Last Fallen Star was named a 2021 Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Best Children’s Book, an Amazon Best Book, an Indigo Best Book, a Barnes & Noble Young Reader Pick, and a Whitcoulls’ Kids Top 50. In 2022, Graci was awarded the Sir Julius Vogel Award for Best New Talent.
The first book in her new series, Dreamslinger (think X-Men meets Pokémon, set in a Korean magic school) will be published in April 2025.
In a previous life, Graci was a New Zealand diplomat, a cooking show host, and once ran a business that turned children’s drawings into cuddly toys. She now lives in Aotearoa New Zealand with her husband and daughter. You can follow her on Instagram (@gracikimwrites), join her newsletter at gracikim dot com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 730 reviews
December 24, 2020
Why didn’t somebody tell me about this stuff sooner?
That was my first thought when reading The Last Fallen Star. Graci Kim does such an amazing job blending Korean mythology into the modern world, I am now wondering how I ever lived without knowing all this cool information. Turns out, right under our noses in Los Angeles, there is an entire society of Korean witches with deep connections to the Godrealm. I am so glad LA finally has something to brag about besides being the entrance to Hades’ Underworld.
Which of the six gifted witch clans would you be in? Each one is amazing, with their own patron god and special powers. I’d love to be Miru – the protectors -- because their patron is the Water Dragon Goddess, but there’s no way I could be that fast and strong. I’m big into reading and history, so the Hórangi clan is appealing, but as you’ll soon see, this clan of scholars doesn’t have the best reputation right now. In fact, they’ve been exiled from the other five clans. Bummer.
I guess my next choice would be the Gumiho. I’ve always liked the Nine-Tailed Fox Goddess. Being able to cast illusions could be really helpful. On those mornings when you’re in a rush and don’t have time to get dressed, just cast an illusion on yourself and look however you want! Their motto is “Beauty and influence.” I think they’d get along really well with Aphrodite’s kids!
The hero of our story, Riley Oh, isn’t sure where she belongs. Her family is in the Khom clan – the great magical healers – and Riley would love to get confirmed as a healing witch when she turns thirteen, like her sister Hattie is about to do. Unfortunately, Riley is a saram-- a person born with no magic at all. She was adopted, and her biological parents weren't witches. Riley's adopted parents are awesome, however. She gets along great with her sister. Still, it’s super hard being the only one in the family without magic.
Then Hattie has a brilliant idea. They will cast a spell during Hattie’s initiation that will let Riley share half of Hattie’s power! Sure, the spell is forbidden. They’ll have to steal it from their parents’ safe. They’ll also have to perform the spell in front of the Council of Elders and the entire congregation of the five clans on temple day, but what could possibly go wrong?
Um . . . you can probably guess how that turns out.
Riley discovers that her past is a whole lot more complicated than she realized. By trying to share Hattie’s power, she unleashes an avalanche of unintended consequences, and brings secrets to light that were meant to stay buried forever. If she is going to save her family, the witch community, and the entire mortal realm, she had better discover her true powers quickly, and figure out who she can trust among the mortals, witches and gods.
I’ve got to admit: I fell down on the job while I was reviewing Graci’s manuscript. I started reading and immediately got hooked. I was halfway through the book before I remembered, “Oh, right, I’m supposed to be editing this.” Then I went back and looked for stuff to edit, and I just got hooked into the story again. That’s how good it is.
You’re going to fall in love with this world right away. Riley’s best friend Emmett is the kind of guy you want on your team. He loves baking and bringing you treats. He likes to dress up pets in strange costumes. He claims he is allergic to emotions, which just made me want to give him a big hug! He totally needs to meet Nico di Angelo and share a batch of cookies. Hattie is the best big sister, and she and Riley have the sweetest sibling relationship even though they’re so different. The families in the witch clans are all so messy and loving and complicated – just like real families! And did I mention the food? Oh. My. Gods. Tornado fries. Bulgogi tacos. Kimchi salsa. Miniature donuts. Sign me up.
Speaking of eating, I ate this book way too fast. That’s one of the bad things about getting an early look, because I devour the book and am ready for a sequel before the first volume is even published. Burp!
Well, at least I get to share The Last Fallen Star with you guys! I know you’ll love it. When you’re finished, let’s get together and compare notes on what clans we like best, and where we’re going to eat a magical lunch next time we’re in LA!
That was my first thought when reading The Last Fallen Star. Graci Kim does such an amazing job blending Korean mythology into the modern world, I am now wondering how I ever lived without knowing all this cool information. Turns out, right under our noses in Los Angeles, there is an entire society of Korean witches with deep connections to the Godrealm. I am so glad LA finally has something to brag about besides being the entrance to Hades’ Underworld.
Which of the six gifted witch clans would you be in? Each one is amazing, with their own patron god and special powers. I’d love to be Miru – the protectors -- because their patron is the Water Dragon Goddess, but there’s no way I could be that fast and strong. I’m big into reading and history, so the Hórangi clan is appealing, but as you’ll soon see, this clan of scholars doesn’t have the best reputation right now. In fact, they’ve been exiled from the other five clans. Bummer.
I guess my next choice would be the Gumiho. I’ve always liked the Nine-Tailed Fox Goddess. Being able to cast illusions could be really helpful. On those mornings when you’re in a rush and don’t have time to get dressed, just cast an illusion on yourself and look however you want! Their motto is “Beauty and influence.” I think they’d get along really well with Aphrodite’s kids!
The hero of our story, Riley Oh, isn’t sure where she belongs. Her family is in the Khom clan – the great magical healers – and Riley would love to get confirmed as a healing witch when she turns thirteen, like her sister Hattie is about to do. Unfortunately, Riley is a saram-- a person born with no magic at all. She was adopted, and her biological parents weren't witches. Riley's adopted parents are awesome, however. She gets along great with her sister. Still, it’s super hard being the only one in the family without magic.
Then Hattie has a brilliant idea. They will cast a spell during Hattie’s initiation that will let Riley share half of Hattie’s power! Sure, the spell is forbidden. They’ll have to steal it from their parents’ safe. They’ll also have to perform the spell in front of the Council of Elders and the entire congregation of the five clans on temple day, but what could possibly go wrong?
Um . . . you can probably guess how that turns out.
Riley discovers that her past is a whole lot more complicated than she realized. By trying to share Hattie’s power, she unleashes an avalanche of unintended consequences, and brings secrets to light that were meant to stay buried forever. If she is going to save her family, the witch community, and the entire mortal realm, she had better discover her true powers quickly, and figure out who she can trust among the mortals, witches and gods.
I’ve got to admit: I fell down on the job while I was reviewing Graci’s manuscript. I started reading and immediately got hooked. I was halfway through the book before I remembered, “Oh, right, I’m supposed to be editing this.” Then I went back and looked for stuff to edit, and I just got hooked into the story again. That’s how good it is.
You’re going to fall in love with this world right away. Riley’s best friend Emmett is the kind of guy you want on your team. He loves baking and bringing you treats. He likes to dress up pets in strange costumes. He claims he is allergic to emotions, which just made me want to give him a big hug! He totally needs to meet Nico di Angelo and share a batch of cookies. Hattie is the best big sister, and she and Riley have the sweetest sibling relationship even though they’re so different. The families in the witch clans are all so messy and loving and complicated – just like real families! And did I mention the food? Oh. My. Gods. Tornado fries. Bulgogi tacos. Kimchi salsa. Miniature donuts. Sign me up.
Speaking of eating, I ate this book way too fast. That’s one of the bad things about getting an early look, because I devour the book and am ready for a sequel before the first volume is even published. Burp!
Well, at least I get to share The Last Fallen Star with you guys! I know you’ll love it. When you’re finished, let’s get together and compare notes on what clans we like best, and where we’re going to eat a magical lunch next time we’re in LA!
Read
November 9, 2020Hi wonderful readers! I'm Graci Kim, the author of The Last Fallen Star. I wanted to pop in here to say THANK YOU for adding my book to your TBR and for leaving your reviews.
The Last Fallen Star is a story very dear to my heart. It's inspired by the mythology/folklore my parents and halmeoni told me when I was a little girl, and also inspired by my childhood where I often felt trapped between two worlds. It's a book about Korean-American witches, forbidden spells, unbreakable sisters, and one adopted girl's search for belonging. Oh, and enchanted boba teas :)
Before I head back to my writing cave, I wanted to share a short snippet from the Acknowledgements section of the book. And thank you again for picking up my story - it means the world to me. Happy reading!
One of my fondest memories growing up was visiting the local library every week with my appa. I would come out the doors with books stacked up to my chin, grin on, my fingers itching to explore the pages as soon as I got home. We couldn’t afford to buy books then—my immigrant parents were already working three jobs each just to put food on the table—but our weekly trips to the library made me feel like the wealthiest girl in the world. All those worlds, all those lives, all that magic, right there at my fingertips...
Three decades later, not much has changed as far as my thirst for books go. Words are still everything. Except at some point, I realized something was missing. In all the books I read and treasured as a child, I never saw myself in them. The message was clear: People like me didn’t belong in books—and nobody wanted to read our stories.
The thought festered, making me increasingly frustrated. But why not? I asked myself. We have so much to share with the world! So, I woke up one day and decided I was going to be part of the change. I would write the books younger-me would have wanted to read. And now here we are.
To all the adoptees, the diaspora kids, the misfits. To anyone who’s ever felt invisible, or felt like they don’t belong. Real magic lives inside all of us—in the choices we make every single day. This book is for you.
The Last Fallen Star is a story very dear to my heart. It's inspired by the mythology/folklore my parents and halmeoni told me when I was a little girl, and also inspired by my childhood where I often felt trapped between two worlds. It's a book about Korean-American witches, forbidden spells, unbreakable sisters, and one adopted girl's search for belonging. Oh, and enchanted boba teas :)
Before I head back to my writing cave, I wanted to share a short snippet from the Acknowledgements section of the book. And thank you again for picking up my story - it means the world to me. Happy reading!
One of my fondest memories growing up was visiting the local library every week with my appa. I would come out the doors with books stacked up to my chin, grin on, my fingers itching to explore the pages as soon as I got home. We couldn’t afford to buy books then—my immigrant parents were already working three jobs each just to put food on the table—but our weekly trips to the library made me feel like the wealthiest girl in the world. All those worlds, all those lives, all that magic, right there at my fingertips...
Three decades later, not much has changed as far as my thirst for books go. Words are still everything. Except at some point, I realized something was missing. In all the books I read and treasured as a child, I never saw myself in them. The message was clear: People like me didn’t belong in books—and nobody wanted to read our stories.
The thought festered, making me increasingly frustrated. But why not? I asked myself. We have so much to share with the world! So, I woke up one day and decided I was going to be part of the change. I would write the books younger-me would have wanted to read. And now here we are.
To all the adoptees, the diaspora kids, the misfits. To anyone who’s ever felt invisible, or felt like they don’t belong. Real magic lives inside all of us—in the choices we make every single day. This book is for you.
September 7, 2024
Riley Oh has always felt like a bit of an outcast.
It's true, she loves her adoptive family with her whole heart, but while they are all part of the Gom clan, a powerful line of Korean healing witches, Riley is a saram; a person without magic.
As her sister Hattie is about to become initiated into the clan, earning her Gi bracelet and the ability to perform spells without adult supervision, the girls come up with a plan for Hattie to share her magic abilities with Riley.
While that sounds like a great idea, like many great ideas before it, things don't go quite 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 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 many true to life, coming of age issues into this otherwise 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!!
It's true, she loves her adoptive family with her whole heart, but while they are all part of the Gom clan, a powerful line of Korean healing witches, Riley is a saram; a person without magic.
As her sister Hattie is about to become initiated into the clan, earning her Gi bracelet and the ability to perform spells without adult supervision, the girls come up with a plan for Hattie to share her magic abilities with Riley.
While that sounds like a great idea, like many great ideas before it, things don't go quite 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 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 many true to life, coming of age issues into this otherwise 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!!
May 24, 2021
THE LAST FALLEN STAR folds Korean culture as well as Korean diaspora feelings into a magical adventure. The way that Graci Kim takes Korean traditions and lore and incorporates it into an exciting contemporary fantasy setting makes my heart soar as a Korean reader. This fantastical story is filled with heart and humor! Readers who love magical adventures, complex family relationships, sisterhood (and food!) should pick up THE LAST FALLEN STAR immediately!
Want to read
May 15, 2020This book is about Korean witches and I NEED it.
June 4, 2021
This was SO GOOD! Some compared it to THE Dragon Pearl series, but the only similarities I see are they are both based on mythology(1 is Chinese, 1 Korean), & both MC are shunned by the ones they most want to be accepted by..oh, & they’re both utterly amazing lol
Anyway, this was a fast-paced adventure from the word Go. The pacing of the story, the world & character building, just EVERYTHING left me stunned at how great this book was done. The author wrote some of the best characters ever. I fell in love w/all of them, even the ones I despised-now that’s talent. Riley was so relatable in so many ways. She was such a great heroine. I loved how the author showed the inner struggle an adopted kid might have w/loving their family more than anything, but at the same time having curiosity, sadness, & love for the family the never got to know. Riley thought she was wronging her family by even entertaining those thoughts-but she wasn’t. It’s only human to want to know those things, & feel those things. What an amazing family she has too, especially her sister Hattie. Their relationship was so great to read. That’s such an amazing big sis. Riley also hit a home run in the best friend department. Emmett is the best. So funny, loyal, brave....& man has he been through a lot. Boris & Areum have my heart though-fascinating & amazing characters.
I loved all the different parts that make this book a whole-The Korean mythology, the different clans(including the cursed clan), the story of the suns & moons, the different creatures we see along the way, the plot, the backstory, the characters, the important themes throughout, & the amazing writing..Wow. There are too many stand out scenes to mention(plus no spoilers lol). But the part w/the grandma ghost, & the inmyeonjo(keeping it vague here lol)were soooooo good. I got emotional in all the best ways.
Big focus on family, friendship, belonging, believing in & being yourself, & more. This may be a fantasy, but all of these characters were so complicated & just REAL, that the book felt very relatable as a whole. Also, I know so many kids will be so happy to see themselves in the heroine of this story like they couldn’t before-like the author herself mentions in the back she never could, & this book is for all those kids. So awesome. Highly recommend. Now I wait a year for book 2, & try not to go crazy waiting lol Of course , a STUNNING cover by the amazing Vivienne To as well!💜
Anyway, this was a fast-paced adventure from the word Go. The pacing of the story, the world & character building, just EVERYTHING left me stunned at how great this book was done. The author wrote some of the best characters ever. I fell in love w/all of them, even the ones I despised-now that’s talent. Riley was so relatable in so many ways. She was such a great heroine. I loved how the author showed the inner struggle an adopted kid might have w/loving their family more than anything, but at the same time having curiosity, sadness, & love for the family the never got to know. Riley thought she was wronging her family by even entertaining those thoughts-but she wasn’t. It’s only human to want to know those things, & feel those things. What an amazing family she has too, especially her sister Hattie. Their relationship was so great to read. That’s such an amazing big sis. Riley also hit a home run in the best friend department. Emmett is the best. So funny, loyal, brave....& man has he been through a lot. Boris & Areum have my heart though-fascinating & amazing characters.
I loved all the different parts that make this book a whole-The Korean mythology, the different clans(including the cursed clan), the story of the suns & moons, the different creatures we see along the way, the plot, the backstory, the characters, the important themes throughout, & the amazing writing..Wow. There are too many stand out scenes to mention(plus no spoilers lol). But the part w/the grandma ghost, & the inmyeonjo(keeping it vague here lol)were soooooo good. I got emotional in all the best ways.
Big focus on family, friendship, belonging, believing in & being yourself, & more. This may be a fantasy, but all of these characters were so complicated & just REAL, that the book felt very relatable as a whole. Also, I know so many kids will be so happy to see themselves in the heroine of this story like they couldn’t before-like the author herself mentions in the back she never could, & this book is for all those kids. So awesome. Highly recommend. Now I wait a year for book 2, & try not to go crazy waiting lol Of course , a STUNNING cover by the amazing Vivienne To as well!💜
March 24, 2021
**3/5 stars**
[eARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.]
What an adventure this was! The Rick Riordan Presents team has certainly mastered its brand... While I do enjoy diving into multicultural mythologies, and I am a firm believer in their importance to young, multicultural readers, I am beginning to lose confidence in the RRP formula. I think what has made previous RRP books successful is not how well they are able to mimic the charm, wit, and adventure of the PJO series, but rather how they stand on their own with the strength of their characters, stories, and worlds.
Unfortunately, The Last Fallen Star fell short in those respects. Very little time was spent building the Korean mythos world, and I feel even less was spent establishing the characters. Riley is a perfectly lovable protagonist, though somewhat flat. She is lovable to a fault in that there is nothing to improve about her: she has no flaws, nothing complicated or interesting. She is outspoken and brave, always making a selfless choice— even when it is an absolutely devastating one. While strong characters are important, especially young girls, I think this book could have been improved with a little more development of its protagonist. That Riley is a sort of outcast in her community is not quite enough, because it is not a character trait. I applaud her confidence and her sense of self-worth, and I hope it inspires young readers. Still, though, she would be a stronger character if there was room for growth, beyond just “growth” in the magical sense, as in the growth of her powers.
Riley’s supporting cast are also rather weak and uninteresting, which was a disappointment. No one in particular stands out, nor would I be able to explain to anyone what makes each character unique. They all seem to run together.
The world building is also something that needed a little bit more care and time. I think there were some attempts to make up for the lack of world building with some “info-dumps.” But even after finishing the book, I still feel like there is a huge gap in my understanding of how this world of Korean myth and magic operates. The glossary helps, but I do not think that the reader should have to rely on the glossary to understand the world. The natural order of the fantasy world should be woven into the narrative, not heaped around the book haphazardly. I believe this is a series, so I definitely see room for growth here!
As for the plot, it seems underdeveloped. Some of the dialogue, especially towards the end, is suspiciously convenient. Major plot points and issues get resolved in as little as a few lines of dialogue. As a result, the stakes never seem very high. The pacing played a role in this issue, too. Too much happened in the last 20% of the book, and too many really intriguing questions set up in the first act all got answered at once. Why not leave a few questions for the next book? Though I am sure that Graci Kim will weave another lovely sequel regardless, as a reader was not left wanting much more, since everything I wanted to know was resolved.
At the end of the day, I am just a knit-picker who picks up on things young readers will simply overlook. I am confident that The Last Fallen Star will be successful in its mission to empower young Korean readers to write their own stories of magic and myth, and to love who they see in the mirror— just like how Riley loves herself for who she is! This book is also an opportunity for non-Korean readers to learn more about Korean myth, culture, and identity in an appealing adventure context. Educators will hopefully see the value of this opportunity and include it in their curriculums that emphasize difference and postcoloniality.
So, a solid read, though not as satisfying as I would have liked. 3 stars for having lovely writing, being inspiring, and for being fairly imaginative. Graci Kim can only improve.
[eARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.]
What an adventure this was! The Rick Riordan Presents team has certainly mastered its brand... While I do enjoy diving into multicultural mythologies, and I am a firm believer in their importance to young, multicultural readers, I am beginning to lose confidence in the RRP formula. I think what has made previous RRP books successful is not how well they are able to mimic the charm, wit, and adventure of the PJO series, but rather how they stand on their own with the strength of their characters, stories, and worlds.
Unfortunately, The Last Fallen Star fell short in those respects. Very little time was spent building the Korean mythos world, and I feel even less was spent establishing the characters. Riley is a perfectly lovable protagonist, though somewhat flat. She is lovable to a fault in that there is nothing to improve about her: she has no flaws, nothing complicated or interesting. She is outspoken and brave, always making a selfless choice— even when it is an absolutely devastating one. While strong characters are important, especially young girls, I think this book could have been improved with a little more development of its protagonist. That Riley is a sort of outcast in her community is not quite enough, because it is not a character trait. I applaud her confidence and her sense of self-worth, and I hope it inspires young readers. Still, though, she would be a stronger character if there was room for growth, beyond just “growth” in the magical sense, as in the growth of her powers.
Riley’s supporting cast are also rather weak and uninteresting, which was a disappointment. No one in particular stands out, nor would I be able to explain to anyone what makes each character unique. They all seem to run together.
The world building is also something that needed a little bit more care and time. I think there were some attempts to make up for the lack of world building with some “info-dumps.” But even after finishing the book, I still feel like there is a huge gap in my understanding of how this world of Korean myth and magic operates. The glossary helps, but I do not think that the reader should have to rely on the glossary to understand the world. The natural order of the fantasy world should be woven into the narrative, not heaped around the book haphazardly. I believe this is a series, so I definitely see room for growth here!
As for the plot, it seems underdeveloped. Some of the dialogue, especially towards the end, is suspiciously convenient. Major plot points and issues get resolved in as little as a few lines of dialogue. As a result, the stakes never seem very high. The pacing played a role in this issue, too. Too much happened in the last 20% of the book, and too many really intriguing questions set up in the first act all got answered at once. Why not leave a few questions for the next book? Though I am sure that Graci Kim will weave another lovely sequel regardless, as a reader was not left wanting much more, since everything I wanted to know was resolved.
At the end of the day, I am just a knit-picker who picks up on things young readers will simply overlook. I am confident that The Last Fallen Star will be successful in its mission to empower young Korean readers to write their own stories of magic and myth, and to love who they see in the mirror— just like how Riley loves herself for who she is! This book is also an opportunity for non-Korean readers to learn more about Korean myth, culture, and identity in an appealing adventure context. Educators will hopefully see the value of this opportunity and include it in their curriculums that emphasize difference and postcoloniality.
So, a solid read, though not as satisfying as I would have liked. 3 stars for having lovely writing, being inspiring, and for being fairly imaginative. Graci Kim can only improve.
May 5, 2021
freaking LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED this
Want to read
September 5, 2019Korean witch sisters!! I need it!!
March 9, 2021
This was a great book! Honestly my only complaint is that it didn't last LONGER so I could enjoy more time with Riley and her friends 😊 also, the teen jargon was a bit off, and I'm saying this as a (thir)teen myself. Nobody really says OMG or "totes" or the variety of substitute swear words Emmett spits out (creative and hilarious though they are) in real life (IRL, even ;)). But to be perfectly clear, that's just me nitpicking because, well, this book was excellent! I can't wait to see where Riley's adventures take her next, especially with the sneaky little epilogue at the end...
Without further ado...
THINGS I LIKED ABOUT THIS BOOK (oh who am I kidding, there are too many to list. These are just the highlights)
(honorable mention to the PJO references)
- Riley's internal journey! She grows so much from start to finish, I was amazed at her growth at the climax; and most of it isn't even changing her personality, but her world views definitely take a shift and I'm not just talking about her beliefs about the world around her (which ARE shifted massively, don't get me wrong) but her beliefs about herself and who she is -- or who she needs to be in her very, very complicated situation of being
- Emmett, who is the person most perfect for Riley on her quest. He's the relaxation to her passion, the stoic to her empath, the logic to her headstrong bravery and loyalty to family, and honestly? Their dynamic is A++, and I love how they affect each other: how Emmett reminds Riley of their goals, and how Riley encourages him to let himself feel emotions, and overall how they always want the best for each other!
- Hattie, who -- while not having a lot to do with the middle of the book, due to her state of being, well, held hostage in the godrealm -- was a standout star. She's proactive, brave (maybe a little TOO brave) and always has Riley's back, no matter what. Riley and Hattie's relationship, their sisterhood, starts the book and ends it, and I could think of no more perfect way for it to be
- All the side characters in this book, generally. Special mention to Cosette, who hilariously subverts our expectations of her being a brainless beauty, Noah (I'm a big supporter of Oh-Noh haha), and Jennie, who definitely seems on track to becoming an interesting character with an interesting relationship with Riley! I can't wait to see their development
- Taeyo, who deserves his own bullet point. He is genuinely the sweetest fictional guy I've ever read about. He's smart, like, hacking the government level smart, but I love how Graci Kim didn't make him an emotionless genius, but someone who uses his intelligence and creativity to help others (including, spoilers, gwisin, ghosts who hunger for fulfillment before moving on to the spiritrealm -- this sequence is one of the best in the book IMO and foreshadows upcoming events well)
- The plot twists. Oh my God (Mago?), the PLOT TWISTS. If there is one thing I appreciate in a story, it's a good plot twist. And The Last Fallen Star has multiple! They're all stacked on each other like pancakes, and each layer peeled off only reveals more buttery goodness
- Speaking of plot twists, can we not talk about the ending?? That was... mmm. To continue with the pancake analogy, it's like finishing off your plate, and then your mom comes in and says, "Who wants some more?" and you're like, "yes please" and then your mom is like, "cool it'll be ready in a year or so". I HUNGER FOR MORE GIFTED CLANS NOVELS
- The lore, which was just so wonderfully explained, I felt like I really was seeing the world through the eyes of a girl who had grown up accustomed to the Korean witch scene in LA but was newly discovering hidden information with her... it was just amazing learning about this wonderfully deep world Graci Kim has crafted
- The message. This is the thread that ties the whole novel together, and Graci Kim spins one heck of a yarn. Without giving too much away, I love how The Last Fallen Star deals with questions of identity, and how to belong to two identities or cultures at once -- which I suspect will resonate with multicultural or multiracial people especially, like it did with me -- as well as forgiveness, healing, and making hard decisions
Altogether, this is a book I'd be proud to have on my shelf, as an ARC or as a published copy. The Lat Fallen Star is an excellent book, especially for a debut, and exemplifies the best of Rick Riordan Presents. I feel like a whole new world, skillfully drawn from the real world and real experiences that the author Graci Kim clearly knows well, has been laid before me after reading this, and honestly I love it. This book brims with heart and passion and love, just like the perfect homemade pancake, and I hope everybody else who has a taste enjoys it as much as I do ⭐
Without further ado...
THINGS I LIKED ABOUT THIS BOOK (oh who am I kidding, there are too many to list. These are just the highlights)
(honorable mention to the PJO references)
- Riley's internal journey! She grows so much from start to finish, I was amazed at her growth at the climax; and most of it isn't even changing her personality, but her world views definitely take a shift and I'm not just talking about her beliefs about the world around her (which ARE shifted massively, don't get me wrong) but her beliefs about herself and who she is -- or who she needs to be in her very, very complicated situation of being
- Emmett, who is the person most perfect for Riley on her quest. He's the relaxation to her passion, the stoic to her empath, the logic to her headstrong bravery and loyalty to family, and honestly? Their dynamic is A++, and I love how they affect each other: how Emmett reminds Riley of their goals, and how Riley encourages him to let himself feel emotions, and overall how they always want the best for each other!
- Hattie, who -- while not having a lot to do with the middle of the book, due to her state of being, well, held hostage in the godrealm -- was a standout star. She's proactive, brave (maybe a little TOO brave) and always has Riley's back, no matter what. Riley and Hattie's relationship, their sisterhood, starts the book and ends it, and I could think of no more perfect way for it to be
- All the side characters in this book, generally. Special mention to Cosette, who hilariously subverts our expectations of her being a brainless beauty, Noah (I'm a big supporter of Oh-Noh haha), and Jennie, who definitely seems on track to becoming an interesting character with an interesting relationship with Riley! I can't wait to see their development
- Taeyo, who deserves his own bullet point. He is genuinely the sweetest fictional guy I've ever read about. He's smart, like, hacking the government level smart, but I love how Graci Kim didn't make him an emotionless genius, but someone who uses his intelligence and creativity to help others (including, spoilers, gwisin, ghosts who hunger for fulfillment before moving on to the spiritrealm -- this sequence is one of the best in the book IMO and foreshadows upcoming events well)
- The plot twists. Oh my God (Mago?), the PLOT TWISTS. If there is one thing I appreciate in a story, it's a good plot twist. And The Last Fallen Star has multiple! They're all stacked on each other like pancakes, and each layer peeled off only reveals more buttery goodness
- Speaking of plot twists, can we not talk about the ending?? That was... mmm. To continue with the pancake analogy, it's like finishing off your plate, and then your mom comes in and says, "Who wants some more?" and you're like, "yes please" and then your mom is like, "cool it'll be ready in a year or so". I HUNGER FOR MORE GIFTED CLANS NOVELS
- The lore, which was just so wonderfully explained, I felt like I really was seeing the world through the eyes of a girl who had grown up accustomed to the Korean witch scene in LA but was newly discovering hidden information with her... it was just amazing learning about this wonderfully deep world Graci Kim has crafted
- The message. This is the thread that ties the whole novel together, and Graci Kim spins one heck of a yarn. Without giving too much away, I love how The Last Fallen Star deals with questions of identity, and how to belong to two identities or cultures at once -- which I suspect will resonate with multicultural or multiracial people especially, like it did with me -- as well as forgiveness, healing, and making hard decisions
Altogether, this is a book I'd be proud to have on my shelf, as an ARC or as a published copy. The Lat Fallen Star is an excellent book, especially for a debut, and exemplifies the best of Rick Riordan Presents. I feel like a whole new world, skillfully drawn from the real world and real experiences that the author Graci Kim clearly knows well, has been laid before me after reading this, and honestly I love it. This book brims with heart and passion and love, just like the perfect homemade pancake, and I hope everybody else who has a taste enjoys it as much as I do ⭐
February 13, 2021
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.
Want to read
October 25, 2019Korean witches and mythology??
May 14, 2021
I am absolutely over the moon ready to tell you all about this book. Like a good read, I've stalked this book's arrival into the world with bated breath from the book deal to the cover reveal to the book tour sign-up where I begged the gods to let me be a part of. I mean, I will promote this book to the edge of the world; that's how good it is.
Riley is a go-getter, ready to do whatever it takes to gain magic, if only for a short period of time. Her sister and she concocted a plan to swipe a spell and cast it. But what will go wrong does go wrong and her sister Hattie is taken and held ransom. All Riley has to do is find the last fallen star, an ancient artifact. Sounds easy, right? Wrong.
Alongside her best friend, Emmet, Riley runs into strange creatures, ghosts, and enemies who aren't enemies...but could be? She doesn't have the best time, but she sure learns about the importance of family and may even fulfill a prophecy or two.
Things move super duper fast in this book so, there's very little time to really understand things without stopping or going back a page or two. I loved the Korean references, food, etc and it made me super hungry just reading it. I'm super hungry all the time anyway so this made it WORSE
That being said, I finished this book in record timing because I was so invested in the story. I got the old-school HP feels with all the secret entrances and weirdo creatures. The words and characters SHINE in this book. I adored the pop culture references, especially BTS!
This is written for the middle-graders in your life, but as an adult, I enjoyed the shirttails out of it (that's a nod to the book, if you're tilting your head right now like what is she talking about leavemealoneimtired)
The last quarter of the book gave me serious whiplash and I'm still questioning a few things, but overall this was a solid read for me.
Riley is a go-getter, ready to do whatever it takes to gain magic, if only for a short period of time. Her sister and she concocted a plan to swipe a spell and cast it. But what will go wrong does go wrong and her sister Hattie is taken and held ransom. All Riley has to do is find the last fallen star, an ancient artifact. Sounds easy, right? Wrong.
Alongside her best friend, Emmet, Riley runs into strange creatures, ghosts, and enemies who aren't enemies...but could be? She doesn't have the best time, but she sure learns about the importance of family and may even fulfill a prophecy or two.
Things move super duper fast in this book so, there's very little time to really understand things without stopping or going back a page or two. I loved the Korean references, food, etc and it made me super hungry just reading it. I'm super hungry all the time anyway so this made it WORSE
That being said, I finished this book in record timing because I was so invested in the story. I got the old-school HP feels with all the secret entrances and weirdo creatures. The words and characters SHINE in this book. I adored the pop culture references, especially BTS!
This is written for the middle-graders in your life, but as an adult, I enjoyed the shirttails out of it (that's a nod to the book, if you're tilting your head right now like what is she talking about leavemealoneimtired)
The last quarter of the book gave me serious whiplash and I'm still questioning a few things, but overall this was a solid read for me.
June 2, 2023
I wanted to like this more. Kim utilized and played with a lot of tropes that have been overused for a while now: person who initially has no powers becoming a chosen one, main girl being associated with fire, fire users being typed as the villains, etc. I liked how she used some, and didn't like others.
The first trope I listed, "person who initially has no powers becoming a chosen one" is the one that I hate the most. I was really into the fact that the main girl was adopted, and she didn't have any powers while the rest of her family did. Then it turned out that her heritage was super important and I hated that.
The message of "a hero can come from anywhere" has been feeling increasingly lost over the last few years in all forms of media. Chosen one stories have been really making a comeback--emphasizing the importance of your lineage being the key to your power, or being born special is what will save others. (I.E. Star Wars Episode IX, Final Fantasy XV, Mulan 2020, Frozen 2)
I fucking hate this message. This is not the message that people need. Not now, not ever.
I liked a lot of the story beats and plot twists. But I felt as if there was too much going on. Too many plot twists. The main characters didn't really have any breathing room or reactive scenes because of it. I did like how not everything was solved perfectly in the end, which is a good lead in for the future books.
It's honestly the "chosen one" message that I hate the most, and why I will absolutely not rate this book higher.
The first trope I listed, "person who initially has no powers becoming a chosen one" is the one that I hate the most. I was really into the fact that the main girl was adopted, and she didn't have any powers while the rest of her family did. Then it turned out that her heritage was super important and I hated that.
The message of "a hero can come from anywhere" has been feeling increasingly lost over the last few years in all forms of media. Chosen one stories have been really making a comeback--emphasizing the importance of your lineage being the key to your power, or being born special is what will save others. (I.E. Star Wars Episode IX, Final Fantasy XV, Mulan 2020, Frozen 2)
I fucking hate this message. This is not the message that people need. Not now, not ever.
I liked a lot of the story beats and plot twists. But I felt as if there was too much going on. Too many plot twists. The main characters didn't really have any breathing room or reactive scenes because of it. I did like how not everything was solved perfectly in the end, which is a good lead in for the future books.
It's honestly the "chosen one" message that I hate the most, and why I will absolutely not rate this book higher.
January 1, 2021
first book of the year and we're off to such a fantastic start. full review to come!
May 31, 2021
in the last fallen star, the korean folklore and mythologies are well developed and embedded into the whole plot. i absolutely loved exploring the world and with riley, conquer multiple obstacles to ultimately protect the people she loves. i liked that there are multiple clans with specific magic that plays specific roles in the community. however, there's this one clan that was banned from their community and outcasted. secrets surrounding that clan would be revealed as riley journeys into the unknown.
adopted by her Gom clan parents, riley has no magic in her blood. a typical witch would be born with only four internal elements and hence, have to wear the last lacking element on their wrist, in order to wield the magic of their clan. for riley, she has nothing. persuaded by her sister, hattie, they decided to invoke a forbidden spell during hattie's initiation ceremony that will allow hattie's powers to be shared with riley. unfortunately and predictably, things went awry and riley has to do everything to restore balance.
through her journey, riley discovers the truth behind her being a saram. ungifted she may seem but riley is more than that. she uncovers secrets and schemes around the god realm and the characters that have ulterior motives. as she understands the truth, riley struggles with her sense of belonging and wonders who she should be. the exploration of family relationships is a heartwarming one as riley is truly loved by her adoptive parents and with hattie, they're like blood-related siblings.
i'm looking forward to more adventures with riley! this is such a rick riordan presents book that i can't help falling in love with.
There is light within us all, as there is darkness within us all. These two absolutes make us whole. This is the way of the universe.
adopted by her Gom clan parents, riley has no magic in her blood. a typical witch would be born with only four internal elements and hence, have to wear the last lacking element on their wrist, in order to wield the magic of their clan. for riley, she has nothing. persuaded by her sister, hattie, they decided to invoke a forbidden spell during hattie's initiation ceremony that will allow hattie's powers to be shared with riley. unfortunately and predictably, things went awry and riley has to do everything to restore balance.
through her journey, riley discovers the truth behind her being a saram. ungifted she may seem but riley is more than that. she uncovers secrets and schemes around the god realm and the characters that have ulterior motives. as she understands the truth, riley struggles with her sense of belonging and wonders who she should be. the exploration of family relationships is a heartwarming one as riley is truly loved by her adoptive parents and with hattie, they're like blood-related siblings.
i'm looking forward to more adventures with riley! this is such a rick riordan presents book that i can't help falling in love with.
April 25, 2022
“Don’t let a curse define who you can and can’t be. Only you have the power to decide that.”
Rating: 5/5
★★★★★
This book was something I definitely did not see coming!!
Like, this book was totally worth reading, and if you haven't read it yet, GO READ IT. NOW.
So, Riley Oh is our protagonist who lives with her adopted family, who are from the Gom Clan; the healers clan. But Riley is a saram; a non-magical person, who, isn't able to fit in and feels like an outsider most of the time.
Now, y'all may be like, "Yeah, definitely! The I'm-an-outsider-who's-family-is-unknown-and-super-mysterious trope is too old, I ain't gonna read it". But trust me when I say, this book is definitely worth it; the folklore, the magic, the friendship and FOOD were just *chef's kiss*.
This book definitely gives out a lot of PJO and Aru Shah vibes; it even has a tiny reference to one of them, if you pay attention!
Graci Kim does a fantastic job of blending Korean Mythology and the modern time, all while making the plot super engaging and fun to invest on.
The world-building was really cool, with the six clans and their patron goddesses and we might not get to know much of the world but it definitely had its moments.
If you ask me to choose between the characters and the plot; which I liked best, I would be torn, 'cause that's how wonderful this book is!!
"Because, like a coin, there are always two sides to every story. Without the two sides, it cannot be whole.”
The plot was super engaging as I said earlier and the book was fast-paced and you really can't put the book down, once you've started reading it!! The whole story isn't revealed at first, but the way things slowly unravel up until the end seemed very miraculous and satisfying.
"Sometimes you gotta burn your fingers to enjoy the s’more."
The characters in this story, especially Riley and Emmett were carefully written, and truthfully, the way Riley goes from "a-very-shy-outcast" to "sassy-girl-capable-of-killing-a-goddess" is pretty cool! Meanwhile Emmett was also fun to read, being the mom-friend of the group, to feeling betrayed whe Riley kept the truth from him to accepting his mom's loss and overall not being allergic to emotions were just perfect. The other side characters that didn't actually play an major role also had their "spotlight moments" and they totally shone through it!!
The ending was bittersweet ngl, but Hey! That leaves more room for the sequel and the rest other books, I can't wait for!!
Overall, I'd give a 5/5 for this piece of gem.
May 21, 2021
A copy of the book was provided for review purposes - thank you! Receiving a copy does not guarantee a positive review and therefore does not affect the opinion or content of the review.
Set in a modern world intertwined with Korean mythology, Graci Kim's debut novel is full of magic and page-turning adventure that the middle school version of me would've absolutely loved as much as the adult version of me. From a gift library filled with birds to mouthwatering food at the H-Mart, The Last Fallen Star quickly became one of my favorite releases and (possibly) reads of 2021.
Riley Oh is adopted, growing up as a saram (non-gifted person) among the gifted community of witches, and her feeling of not belonging among her community and family is definitely relatable for anyone who has ever felt like an outcast. I loved the exploration of family relationships as she embarks on a journey to retrieve the last fallen star and finds out secrets that question her identity and sense of belonging. It's a little messy and complex like many family relationships, but also full of love and support, and I can't wait to see more of this possibly explored in future novels. I also loved the sisterhood explored throughout as Riley works to save her sister Hattie's life when a spell backfires, and the relationships she develops, even if they might be with people she's always been told to stay away from.
While The Last Fallen Star was at times serious and touching, it was also fun and humorous. Reading Kim's debut novel was like sitting in an entertaining mythology class that kept me wanting to know more while cheering Riley on as she comes across a variety of magical creatures on her quest. My biggest disappointment was finishing the novel quickly, but I'll be eagerly waiting for the sequel to release to slip back into the world Kim has created and follow Riley as she continues on more adventures.
This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts.
Set in a modern world intertwined with Korean mythology, Graci Kim's debut novel is full of magic and page-turning adventure that the middle school version of me would've absolutely loved as much as the adult version of me. From a gift library filled with birds to mouthwatering food at the H-Mart, The Last Fallen Star quickly became one of my favorite releases and (possibly) reads of 2021.
Riley Oh is adopted, growing up as a saram (non-gifted person) among the gifted community of witches, and her feeling of not belonging among her community and family is definitely relatable for anyone who has ever felt like an outcast. I loved the exploration of family relationships as she embarks on a journey to retrieve the last fallen star and finds out secrets that question her identity and sense of belonging. It's a little messy and complex like many family relationships, but also full of love and support, and I can't wait to see more of this possibly explored in future novels. I also loved the sisterhood explored throughout as Riley works to save her sister Hattie's life when a spell backfires, and the relationships she develops, even if they might be with people she's always been told to stay away from.
While The Last Fallen Star was at times serious and touching, it was also fun and humorous. Reading Kim's debut novel was like sitting in an entertaining mythology class that kept me wanting to know more while cheering Riley on as she comes across a variety of magical creatures on her quest. My biggest disappointment was finishing the novel quickly, but I'll be eagerly waiting for the sequel to release to slip back into the world Kim has created and follow Riley as she continues on more adventures.
This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts.
September 13, 2019
Looking forward to this one!!
March 12, 2021
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 The Last Fallen Star 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.
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 The Last Fallen Star 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.
June 21, 2021
A story of deep love between sisters, magic, mystery, secrets, and gods. This was fun, full of humour, action, friendship and a couple of scary moments as Riley Oh must find a way, with her best friend Emmet, to restore Riley’s magically comatose sister Hattie, and find a long lost magical object for a fearsome goddess, all while eating yummy baked goods.
I liked how Riley grew over her adventures, at first wanting magic so she’d fit in with her magical Korean American family and community, and then gradually wanting the power so she could do good with it.
Riley comes a long way over the course of the story, and gains great new friends and insight into herself and her community. I wonder what new cookies will fuel her further adventures.
I liked how Riley grew over her adventures, at first wanting magic so she’d fit in with her magical Korean American family and community, and then gradually wanting the power so she could do good with it.
Riley comes a long way over the course of the story, and gains great new friends and insight into herself and her community. I wonder what new cookies will fuel her further adventures.
January 8, 2023
4.5 Stars, Loved this book! Really enjoyed the mythology and the characters really got me and it had so many feels. Can't wait for book 2 in 2022!
I highly recommend checking it out!
I highly recommend checking it out!
October 4, 2022
Riley Oh od lat marzy o tym, by zostać szamanką z klanu Gom, jak jej rodzina. Zbliżają się jej 13-ste urodziny, czyli czas, kiedy nastolatkowie przechodzą inicjację. Niestety będąc saram, osobą bez magii, może jedynie kibicować swojej siostrze, która już niedługo zdobędzie swoje bransolety Gi pozwalające używać swoich zdolności bez ograniczeń. Jednak Riley ma plan, by wszystko zmienić i wierzy, że zdoła osiągnąć swój cel.
Ostatnia Opadła Gwiazda to moja pierwsza przygoda z serią Rick Riordan przedstawia i muszę przyznać, że była to przygoda bardzo udana! Nie jestem fanem narracji pierwszoosobowej, ale tutaj bardzo dobrze się sprawdziła. Dzięki niej, towarzysząc Riley w jej przygodach, czytelnik na bieżąco odkrywa informacje dotyczące świata przedstawionego, który początkowo wydaje się nieco niejasny. Pomysł na podział użytkowników magii na klany ze sprawą rodzaju magii bardzo mi się podobał, a jego przeprowadzenie w tej historii było świetne.
Sam pomysł od samego początku mnie do siebie przekonał. Wplecione wątki z mitologii koreańskiej są zdecydowanie najmocniejszym elementem tej historii. Pojawiające się stwory czy boginie są czynnymi bohaterami fabuły, które ze strony na stronę wciągają coraz bardziej. Wraz z rozwojem historii przedstawiane są również przypowieści związane z tematyką mitologiczną i świetnie dopełniają one główne wydarzenia. Połączenie tego wszystkiego ze światem codziennym i technologią początkowo budziło moje wątpliwości, ale ostatecznie całkowicie mnie do siebie przekonało.
Jest to historia skierowana do młodszego czytelnika, jednak poruszone w niej zostały istotne kwestie wykraczające poza tę książkę. Riley boryka się z poczuciem wyobcowania i czuje, że nigdzie nie należy. Z biegiem powieści jednak uczy się, że nawet jeśli jej rodzice nie żyją, nie oznacza to, że nie ma rodziny. To niejedyne przesłanie z tej historii, jednak dla mnie wybrzmiało najmocniej. W końcu każda opowieść ma dwie strony.
Wszystkie te elementy powodują, że Ostatnia Opadła Gwiazda to warta uwagi książka dla młodszego czytelnika lub dorosłego, który lubi taki typ literatury. Historia jest oryginalna i wartościowa, a mitologiczne wstawki sprawiają, że każda kolejna strona przewracana ma być na dziś już tą ostatnią, jednak nigdy nią nie jest. Postaci bohaterów są barwne, a w trakcie swojej przygody zmuszeni są stawić czoła wielu przeciwnościom. Chętnie sięgnę po drugi tom i liczę, że nie będzie trzeba długo na niego czekać!
Ostatnia Opadła Gwiazda to moja pierwsza przygoda z serią Rick Riordan przedstawia i muszę przyznać, że była to przygoda bardzo udana! Nie jestem fanem narracji pierwszoosobowej, ale tutaj bardzo dobrze się sprawdziła. Dzięki niej, towarzysząc Riley w jej przygodach, czytelnik na bieżąco odkrywa informacje dotyczące świata przedstawionego, który początkowo wydaje się nieco niejasny. Pomysł na podział użytkowników magii na klany ze sprawą rodzaju magii bardzo mi się podobał, a jego przeprowadzenie w tej historii było świetne.
Sam pomysł od samego początku mnie do siebie przekonał. Wplecione wątki z mitologii koreańskiej są zdecydowanie najmocniejszym elementem tej historii. Pojawiające się stwory czy boginie są czynnymi bohaterami fabuły, które ze strony na stronę wciągają coraz bardziej. Wraz z rozwojem historii przedstawiane są również przypowieści związane z tematyką mitologiczną i świetnie dopełniają one główne wydarzenia. Połączenie tego wszystkiego ze światem codziennym i technologią początkowo budziło moje wątpliwości, ale ostatecznie całkowicie mnie do siebie przekonało.
Jest to historia skierowana do młodszego czytelnika, jednak poruszone w niej zostały istotne kwestie wykraczające poza tę książkę. Riley boryka się z poczuciem wyobcowania i czuje, że nigdzie nie należy. Z biegiem powieści jednak uczy się, że nawet jeśli jej rodzice nie żyją, nie oznacza to, że nie ma rodziny. To niejedyne przesłanie z tej historii, jednak dla mnie wybrzmiało najmocniej. W końcu każda opowieść ma dwie strony.
Wszystkie te elementy powodują, że Ostatnia Opadła Gwiazda to warta uwagi książka dla młodszego czytelnika lub dorosłego, który lubi taki typ literatury. Historia jest oryginalna i wartościowa, a mitologiczne wstawki sprawiają, że każda kolejna strona przewracana ma być na dziś już tą ostatnią, jednak nigdy nią nie jest. Postaci bohaterów są barwne, a w trakcie swojej przygody zmuszeni są stawić czoła wielu przeciwnościom. Chętnie sięgnę po drugi tom i liczę, że nie będzie trzeba długo na niego czekać!
November 30, 2021
The Last Fallen Star draws inspiration from Korean folklore/mythology with an adopted main character (Riley). She loves her adoptive family but also feels like the odd one out because she's a saram, a name for a person without magic in this world. Riley's quest to fit in ushers in an announcement and quest. I did guess this announcement ahead of time but the circumstances surrounding the announcement both before and after I did not guess and was surprised by. I also had some other guesses about the quest or other plot points that were wrong and I'm happy to be wrong. That makes any book more enjoyable and unpredictable. Since this book is directed at middle grade, they may not guess one of the original announcements. It was probably only easy for me to guess with the volume of books I read and in being an adult reader.
Overall, I enjoyed it and would read more in this series, more books authored by Graci Kim, and more books in the Rick Riordan presents series.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. It was my choice to read and I'm leaving this review voluntarily.
Overall, I enjoyed it and would read more in this series, more books authored by Graci Kim, and more books in the Rick Riordan presents series.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. It was my choice to read and I'm leaving this review voluntarily.
November 23, 2022
Pity it wasn't set in NZ, seeing as the author lives here and the location was a bit arbitrary :(
November 24, 2022
Bardzo się cieszę za każdym razem, gdy mogę dodać na Azjatycką Półkę jakąś książkę młodzieżową, szczególnie jeśli jest dobra.
Graci Kim napisała książkę idealną dla nastolatków, z którą, mam wrażenie, dużo młodych osób będzie mogło się utożsamiać. Jest tu wiele przygód i trudnych wyborów, które mogą prowadzić do niebezpiecznych sytuacji, ale jest tu też wiele ważnych lekcji na młodych odbiorców i odbiorczyń. Bardzo podoba mi się, że bohaterowie potrafią rozwiązywać konflikty rozmową i przeciwstawiają się uprzedzeniom, stereotypom i bullingowi.
Niewątpliwie jedną z najciekawszych i najmocniejszych stron tej książki jest to, że autorka zanurzyła się głęboko w koreańskie wierzenia i mitologię. Wiele też czerpie z szamanizmu, który stanowił tradycyjną formę wierzeń w Korei. Z tej inspiracji może też wynikać duża rola kobiet w stworzonym przez Graci Kim magicznym świecie. Więcej o tym przeczytacie na blogu.
https://azjatyckapolka.wordpress.com/...
Główna bohaterka Riley i jej siostra Hattie są odważne, zaradne i zawsze stawiają na swoim. Kobiety stanową głowy klanów, zajmują miejsca w najwyższej radzie, są silne, inteligentne i szybko przejmują inicjatywę. Również patronkami klanów są same boginie.
Oczywiście czytając tę książkę jako osoba dorosła, czuję się trochę jak wtedy, gdy wróciłam do czytania Harry'ego Potera po latach i odkryłam, że jestem jednak team nauczyciele, a łamiącym zasady i popisującym się brawurom dzieciakom dałabym szlaban do końca żywota. Natomiast podobnie, jak w przypadku Pottera, gdybym mała te kilkanaście lat, pochłonęłabym tę książkę w mgnieniu oka i niecierpliwie wypatrywała kolejnych tomów.
Graci Kim napisała książkę idealną dla nastolatków, z którą, mam wrażenie, dużo młodych osób będzie mogło się utożsamiać. Jest tu wiele przygód i trudnych wyborów, które mogą prowadzić do niebezpiecznych sytuacji, ale jest tu też wiele ważnych lekcji na młodych odbiorców i odbiorczyń. Bardzo podoba mi się, że bohaterowie potrafią rozwiązywać konflikty rozmową i przeciwstawiają się uprzedzeniom, stereotypom i bullingowi.
Niewątpliwie jedną z najciekawszych i najmocniejszych stron tej książki jest to, że autorka zanurzyła się głęboko w koreańskie wierzenia i mitologię. Wiele też czerpie z szamanizmu, który stanowił tradycyjną formę wierzeń w Korei. Z tej inspiracji może też wynikać duża rola kobiet w stworzonym przez Graci Kim magicznym świecie. Więcej o tym przeczytacie na blogu.
https://azjatyckapolka.wordpress.com/...
Główna bohaterka Riley i jej siostra Hattie są odważne, zaradne i zawsze stawiają na swoim. Kobiety stanową głowy klanów, zajmują miejsca w najwyższej radzie, są silne, inteligentne i szybko przejmują inicjatywę. Również patronkami klanów są same boginie.
Oczywiście czytając tę książkę jako osoba dorosła, czuję się trochę jak wtedy, gdy wróciłam do czytania Harry'ego Potera po latach i odkryłam, że jestem jednak team nauczyciele, a łamiącym zasady i popisującym się brawurom dzieciakom dałabym szlaban do końca żywota. Natomiast podobnie, jak w przypadku Pottera, gdybym mała te kilkanaście lat, pochłonęłabym tę książkę w mgnieniu oka i niecierpliwie wypatrywała kolejnych tomów.
March 13, 2021
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.
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.
April 11, 2022
12 year old Riley was adopted as a baby and it turns out she was adopted by healing witches called Gom. Her sister Hattie is turning 13 in two days and finally becoming a Gom witch! You might think that this book has witches that are just witches doing spells and using wands and cauldrons and other stuff like that, but this book is not like that. There are different clans of witches and a few of them are:
Gom - Healers
Horang - Scholars
Tokki - Infusers
Miru- Protectors
I liked the book too because the main character’s name is Riley and my friend at school is named Riley. Another thing that I connected to is that the main character in the book was adopted from Korea and my aunt was adopted from Korea! In the back of the book there are some real Korean words and legends you can learn about.
I definitely would give this book 5 stars! Read the book and have fun!
--Inde M., grade 5
Gom - Healers
Horang - Scholars
Tokki - Infusers
Miru- Protectors
I liked the book too because the main character’s name is Riley and my friend at school is named Riley. Another thing that I connected to is that the main character in the book was adopted from Korea and my aunt was adopted from Korea! In the back of the book there are some real Korean words and legends you can learn about.
I definitely would give this book 5 stars! Read the book and have fun!
--Inde M., grade 5
August 13, 2021
This is a cheesy book about a group of Korean Americans living in Los Angeles. The author used Rick Riodan's writing style, but doesn't quite have his story telling abilities. It was a fun read, but I felt the mythology was a side note rather than an integral part of the story. I don't plan to read the sequels.
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July 24, 2021middle-grade fantasy is filled with precious gems and the last fallen star is a great addition to the riches of the genre. im excited to see what this series has to offer in the next installment!
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