Review: The White Oak (Imperfect Darkness #1) by Kim White

Title: The White Oak

Series: Imperfect Darkness #1

Author: Kim White

Genre: YA, fantasy, Greek mythology

Publication date: April 2012

Published by: Story Machine Studio

Source: review e-copy from the publishers via Netgalley

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Synopsis:

In The White Oak, the first book in the Imperfect Darkness series, Cora Alexander is pulled through a sinkhole and enters the underworld still alive. Her living presence threatens the tyrannical rule of Minos and the Infernal Judges who have hijacked the afterlife and rebuilt it, trapping human souls in a mechanical, computer-controlled city that lies at the core of the earth. To survive, Cora must rely on her untrustworthy guide, Minotaur, an artificial intelligence. She is helped by a mysterious voice, and by Sybil, underworld librarian and author of each person’s book of life. When Cora’s own book is destroyed, Sybil gives her a golden pen and sends her into the City to begin writing her own destiny. Along the way, she reunites with the ghost of her dead brother, Lucas, a genius programmer who alone is capable of finding the chink in Minos armor. This fast-paced adventure begins, and ends, in the middle of the action; introducing the characters, themes, and mysteries that find their resolution later in the series.

My rating: ★★★☆☆
I LOVE Greek mythology, and I had high hopes for this book because of that love, so I really wanted to like this book...but I just couldn't. Don't get me wrong! I didn't hate it either! It was just one of those in-between books.

The plot seemed interesting enough, but it was not at all what I expected. And sometimes that's not necessarily a good thing. The book had incredible descriptions though!

I liked that there was action from the start. But the way the story started, I felt like we were thrust in to the middle of it. The beginning just happened much too fast, and had me a bit disoriented.

Another thing was that I couldn't really connect with Cora. She felt...distant...a bit emotionless, if you ask me.

But one thing I did like was the authors interpretation of the Underworld. I thought it was very interesting and creative!

Overall, it was an okay read, but left me with more questions than anything else.

Have you read this book? If so, what did you think about it? If not, what do you think? Does it sound like something you might want to read? Leave me a comment! :)