The Last Fallen Star

Riley Oh desperately wants to become a healing witch like her sister and the rest of the gifted community of Korean-American witches in Los Angeles. Despite being adopted into a clan, Riley lacks magical abilities and feels like an outsider. When her sister Hattie prepares for her initiation ceremony to become a full Gom in the Sacred Valley, Riley discovers a forbidden spell that could grant her powers. The consequences of attempting this magic set off a chain of events that put both sisters and their entire community at risk. Riley must embark on a quest through the magical realm of Los Angeles, encountering creatures and characters from Korean mythology. With help from her best friend Emmett, she races to find answers about her identity while trying to save what matters most to her. The Last Fallen Star explores themes of belonging, family bonds, and the complexity of identity through the lens of Korean folklore and contemporary magic. The novel weaves Korean mythology into modern-day Los Angeles, creating a fresh take on the middle-grade fantasy genre.

Readers appreciate the Korean mythology elements and representation of Korean-American culture, with many noting they learned about customs and traditions through the story. Parents mention the book helps Korean-American children see themselves in literature. Positive reviews highlight: - Strong sibling relationships - Fast-paced plot with humor - Clear explanations of Korean terms - Engaging magical world-building Common criticisms: - Some find the pacing too rushed - Middle section drags for some readers - A few note the protagonist can be frustrating - Several mention predictable plot twists Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (2,900+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (580+ ratings) Barnes & Noble: 4.7/5 (90+ ratings) Reader quote: "The perfect mix of Percy Jackson-style adventure and Korean mythology. My daughter couldn't put it down." -Amazon reviewer "Great representation but needed tighter editing in the middle chapters." -Goodreads reviewer

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🌟 Author Graci Kim was a diplomat for the New Zealand Foreign Service before becoming a full-time writer. 🌟 The book draws heavily from Korean mythology and folklore, incorporating supernatural creatures like dokkaebi (Korean goblins) and the creation myth of Dangun. 🌟 The Gifted Clans in the story are based on traditional Korean healing practices, with each clan specializing in different methods like acupuncture, herbal medicine, and spiritual healing. 🌟 The Last Fallen Star is the first book in the "Gifted Clans" series and was chosen as a Best Book of the Year by Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and NPR. 🌟 The protagonist Riley Oh's adoption storyline was inspired by the author's personal experience as a Korean-born New Zealander navigating multiple cultural identities.