The prose is lean and visceral, with moments of real power: a scene where Alissa trades her last coin for a loaf of stale bread is more gripping than many action sequences. The author also deserves credit for avoiding easy heroes. The “have-nots” are not saints, and the rich aren’t cartoon villains—just people trapped in a system that benefits few.
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5)
In Alissa and the Have-Nots Cavern , the author thrusts us into a gritty, quasi-dystopian world where social division isn’t just metaphorical—it’s literally carved into the earth. The story follows Alissa, a sharp-tongued teenager from the impoverished “Sunken Flats,” who stumbles into a hidden underground cavern rumored to hold the secrets of the wealthy “Overlookers.” alissa and the have-nots cavern
A flawed but fierce novel that will resonate with fans of The Hunger Games or Parable of the Sower . It’s less a smooth ride than a jagged rock climb—but the view from the top is worth the scrapes. The prose is lean and visceral, with moments
is in pacing. The middle third drags as Alissa wanders the cavern’s tunnels, and some philosophical monologues about fairness feel inserted rather than earned. The ending, while bold, rushes to a symbolic conclusion that left this reader wanting more concrete resolution for the characters, not just the themes. ★★★☆☆ (3