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.