- Author: Graci Kim
- Debut
- Genre: MG Contemporary Fantasy
- Background-Korean Kiwi (New Zealand)
- IG-@gracikimwrites; Twitter-@gracikim
- Release Date: 5/4/2021 (out NAOW!)
- Publisher: Disney Hyperion
- Favorite Character-Emmett! He’s the best friend that will always keep it real with you but bring you your favorite treat to munch on as he low-key reads you. Emmett is also hella funny & has the best lines. His banter with anyone is awesome and I simply adored him. Taeyo was my next favorite but because he is later in the book, I don’t want to say too much about him other than you will really like him!
- Favorite Quote(s)– 2 come from none other than my fav, Emmett. 1st: “Ew, stop it. I’ve told you a million times, emotions are bad for your health. They give you wrinkles. Also, I’m getting you a bib for your birthday. No joke.” I cackled so hard because I don’t see the lie…also, being that he’s a baking genius that constantly brings Riley some sort of treat, that would be a useful gift, lol! 2nd: “Holy shirtballs, get a room, lovebirds.” Another quote that had me laughing because it sounds like something that I would absolutely say…and “shirtballs” & other derivatives of it are apart of my vocabulary!
So you know how I love middle grade and mythology, right? Well, from the moment I saw the cover of The Last Fallen Star and found out that it incorporated Korean Mythology, I was SOLD! I knew that I would just adore this book and well, we know how on point my bookish spidey senses are! I was lucky enough to win an ARC of it in a giveaway on IG that Graci Kim & another debut author, Sarah Suk (her book is Made In Korea, another great one coming out soon) hosted and this has to be one of my favoritest wins EVER! I was SO IN LOVE with this story and couldn’t stop raving about it! I will tell ya, Rick Riordan sure knows how to pick em and I’m here for it!
I simply adored Riley and her voice. How she narrated the world she lived in and the stories behind the clans…as well as spilling little bits of tea here and there about them along the way (like the Gumiho, just read to find out what she said). You could tell how much she loved not just her family but her culture, best friend and the stories/mythologies behind the clans. Real talk, if Riley did a story time, I would sit front and center to listen to any and everything she says. Just go ahead and imagine me sitting criss-cross applesauce with my head on the backs of my hands, listening…I know you can, especially if you know me in real life! I’m a sucker for a really good story which my grandpa ensured! There is something else that I loved about Riley and it is that she isn’t afraid to be in touch with her feelings, nor is she ashamed of her, what Emmett likes to refer to as, “leaky-bladder eyeball problem”. Y’all know I’m a crier…a thuggish crier but a crier none the less (we don’t have time to argue the thuggish part so just go with it). We need more literary characters who are in-touch with their emotions and expresses them openly. It allows kids who are the same see the merit in it. I would’ve loved more of that growing up as a kid because I remember myself & others who were emotional like me being told to “suck it up” and “get over it”…imagine being told “it’s okay” and “take your time to cry” when in an emotional moment, how much less therapy sessions we would need now (O_O)!
As you all know by now, I adore Emmett and I can’t not talk about him! He’s witty, sarcastic, a baker, loyal, a mixed-kid and a shorty like me…basically me but gender-swapped and 12! From what Riley was conveying, you would think Emmett belongs on the next season of Junior Master Chef-Sweets Edition (is that a thing?), and you know what, I would root for this kid…could you imagine the anecdotes?! It would be like Kids Say The Darndest Things mets Kid’s Baking Championship and I would be more than happy to watch for Emmett! From the moment that Emmett was mentioned, I just knew this kid was the best friend that we all look for & deserve in middle grade (and YA too)! I loved him even more when he made his appearance and started dropping zingers like bombs…he just holds a very special place in my heart because of that! Another thing that I love is that he is not afraid to tell things as it is/how he sees it and on top of that he’s a brain stormer & master problem-solver. If you got an issue, count on Emmett to hand you a cookie instead of a tissue & to start thinking of solutions! While your waistband expands (which, I doubt Riley has an issue with), you also get a plan and laughs…who could ask for more?!
As badly as I want to talk about more characters, I don’t want to accidentally spoil anything but there is a whole lot more that I can say about this book! First off, I couldn’t put it down and I really didn’t want to, nor did I want it to end! From the first line, Riley/Graci had me hook, line and sinker. I wanted to live amongst the gifted clans despite how petty they can be at times (you have to read to know how deep the petty goes friends)! I think the gifted clans took sibling(esque) rivalry to a whole different level! They definitely had a hard time letting go of things and I found myself wanting to shake some of the characters when they got in their feelings about the past or acted uppity… *looking at quite a few clan members* they know who they are!
Another thing that I thought was super dope is the fact that Riley & her family, like all of the clan members I’m sure, lives in a gifted house! A… Gifted… House… Y’all! Could you imagine living in a GIFTED HOUSE?! How incredibly dope would it be to have a home that essentially thinks for itself?! Well, it would be dope when you don’t tick it off so make sure you stay on your Ps & Qs with your compliments (read the book to find out about that). I think I would love it, especially if the stove would help me to cook without much work, lol! I would be more than happy to be like Mrs. Weasley, minus all the kids, in this case (I like to cook…I’m just lazy most days…*shrugs* it is what it is)!
Something else that I absolutely loved was the magic! The magic systems based upon the clan a person is a part of is so super dope! Since their magics are clan specific, it makes it so that they have to really work together to not just meet their own needs but also support their community as a whole as well as maintain their secrecy. While you’ve got your usual out-for-self types in the clans, the Gifted Clans had a real rhythm that I wish there was more of in real life! You can read the book to learn more about each clan & their magic and after you read, you can take the quiz to see which clan you would be a part of here. In case you were wondering, I did indeed take the quiz and below you will find my results! If you take the quiz, feel free to Rep Yo’ Clan in the comments #MiruClanInTheHouse!
There is so much more I could say but I really want you all to go out and get this book & read it! It’s seriously so amazing and it will keep you on the edge of your seats. I’m so excited for book 2, titled The Last Fallen Moon, which comes out in Summer 2022 (that’s not too far away…right?!)! As always, I’m sending you tons of bookish love and wishing you happy reading! For more bookish banter, feel free to find and follow me on all of the social medias: Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can typically find me in book centered clubs/rooms. Until the next post… *throws up peace sign* LATERSSSSS!
Bookish Girl Magic 