The Last Fallen Star, Graci Kim [books to read in your 20s .TXT] 📗

of the three realms, mother of the six goddesses, mother of mortalkind, and mother of all creation. Basically, the head honcho who made the world.

Memoryhaze a potion, infused by the Tokki witches, that can wipe a saram’s mind of the magical things they’ve seen. It’s important for protecting the privacy and sanctity of the clans.

Miru (MEE-roo) Witches of the Miru clan are protectors and are descendants of the Water Dragon Goddess. Their clan color is blue, and their motto is Provide and Protect. Thanks to their superhuman speed and/or strength, they often guard our secret portals and entrances. They usually give off a jock-like vibe.

Moon Rabbit Goddess the patron goddess of the Tokki clan.

Mortalrealm the realm where we mortals live, aka Earth.

Mountain Tiger Goddess the patron goddess of the Horangi clan. She disowned the clan when the witches were excommunicated, though.

Nine-Tailed Fox Goddess the patron goddess of the Gumiho clan.

noraebang (NOH-reh-bahng) a Korean karaoke room. Norae is Korean for song, and bang means room.

nunchi (NOON-chee) the word you use to describe someone’s ability to pick up what’s going on or someone’s feelings without being told. Essentially, one’s ability to read a room. Surprisingly, despite his being allergic to emotions, Emmett has amazing nunchi.

Samjogo (SAHM-johk-oh) Witches of the Samjogo clan are seers and are descendants of the Three-Legged Crow Goddess. Their clan color is purple, and their motto is Leadership and Wisdom (although my appa says it should be Power and Ego, because they’re so full of hot air). Seers can get visions of truth simply by touching an item, and have premonitions in their dreams.

saram (SAH-rahm) the word we use for people who aren’t gifted with magic.

saranghaeyo (SAH-rahng-heh-yoh) Korean for I love you.

Saturday School school for witches, held only one day a week.

Spiritrealm the place we go after we die.

Taegwondo (TEH-gwon-doh) a Korean martial art. Noah Noh’s dad is a Taegwondo grandmaster and runs a famous dojang in Koreatown.

Three-Legged Crow Goddess the patron goddess of the Samjogo clan.

Tokki (TOHK-ghee) Witches of the Tokki clan are infusers and descendants of the Moon Rabbit Goddess. Their clan color is green, and their motto is Kindness and Heart. They infuse all the potions and tonics the clans use. They also run the best restaurants in town, because of their ability to infuse food with magic.

tteokbokki (DDOK-bohk-ghee) a spicy rice-cake dish that Hattie, Emmett, and I eat every other Saturday while watching our K-drama marathons. It’s even better if you melt cheese on top.

Water Dragon Goddess the patron goddess of the Miru clan.

Korean passages with English translation:

Jega gajingeon, dangsinege jumnida.

That which I have, I give to you.

Dangsini gajingeon, jega gajyeogamnida.

That which you have, I take from you.

Nae nunape inneungeot,

The thing that is in front of me,

Geurimsoge inneungeot.

Inside the picture that I see.

Nuneul keuge tteugo boseyo,

Use your eyes, look carefully,

Muni jamsi yeollyeoyo.

A door opens momentarily.

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. 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 you are, reading my book. Whoa! Yay! Is this a dream? (Please don’t wake me if it is….)

Books aren’t written by merely one person, though, despite what the name on the cover might suggest. They are intricate patchworks made by many talented, passionate, and generous people. I am proud to say that The Last Fallen Star is no exception.

First and foremost, I have to give a huge shout-out to my agent and secret long-lost doppelgänger, Carrie Pestritto. Thank you for being my biggest advocate. You believed in my words even before I did, and for that I will eternally be grateful.

My deepest gratitude to my editors, Hannah Allaman, Stephanie Lurie, and Rick Riordan. Hannah, the day you shared your vision for my book, I swear the clouds parted and a rainbow appeared in the sky. Steph, having you to guide me to the finish line was like having my own Haetae by my side. You are both #braingoals and I am in awe of you. Rick, I’m still pinching myself that I get to be part of your RRP family. As Emmett would say, holy shirtballs—what an incredible honor! Thank you to all three of you for taking a chance on me.

To my publisher, Emily Meehan; Guy Cunningham and his copyediting staff; creative director Joann Hill; cover artist Vivienne To; Marybeth Tregarthen and her production group; Seale Ballenger, and the marketing, publicity, and sales teams; and all those who worked tirelessly in the background: Thank you so much for helping me bring Riley and the gifted clans to the world. Maybe we should summon Mago Halmi and ask her to create a seventh Disney clan?

A special thank-you to Beth Phelan and #DVpit for giving marginalized writers like me a platform to be seen; and to Alexa Donne, my mentor Rebecca Barrow, and AMM for being the first real edge-piece to my