Literary horror, a dystopian setting and mysterious vibes – The Unworthy sounded like the perfect recipe for a book I'd enjoy. Set in a weird convent that's (supposedly) a “safe haven” from the post-apocalyptic, desolate world outside, the story unfolds through journal entries by the unnamed protagonist.

The Sacred Sisterhood has members – all of them women – divided into different groups: the Enlightened, the Unworthy and the Servants, led by the Superior Sister and a “God” who is only ever addressed as He/Him. The journal writer, an Unworthy, observes life around her while also remembering her past, trying to recollect the days she spent trying to survive in the disaster-torn world before ending up at the Sacred Sisterhood. Things get even more intriguing when a lost woman turns up at the convent, changing the protagonist's life.

The book reads like a fever dream – it's weird, unsettling and has some very triggering parts. Two days after having finished the book, what still remains vividly fresh in my mind would be all the cockroach mentions (I cannot stand cockroaches – just writing out the word makes me squirm!).

While I enjoyed the writing and was engrossed throughout, I found most of the plot quite predictable. The main character's past and her struggle to survive felt more impactful to me, which meant I wasn't as invested in her present life at the convent. Also, I'd have loved more details about how things came to this – what happened to the world, how did the Sisterhood come to be, who is the God they revere?

Like Tender is the Flesh, The Unworthy is a dystopian novel from Augustina Bazterrica.
In this novel we are introduced to our narrator who is a member of a convent in a dystopian future where climate change as decimated the earth, the Sacred Sisterhood. Through her writing we discover how she survived to become an 'unworthy' and the sinister going on in this 'sanctuary'.
Unfortunately I did not enjoy The Unworthy as much as I did her last novel. It didn't hook me in immediatly and didn't read like a horror. Was still a good read but nothing stunning or original

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Unworthy are part of an order at the House of Sacred Sisterhood. The more you learn about The Unworthy and the Sisterhood, the more you understand just how sinister things can get in an apocalyptic world.

This is told from the POV of one of the ‘unworthy’ as she writes with anything she can find - even her own blood if it comes down to that. We learn about her life before the Sisterhood and during. It’s a fairly short read, but really gives you a lot to think about.

I haven’t read Tender is the Flesh yet, but if it’s anything like this one, I will be reading it. (It’s on my TBR for a reason 😂).

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this ARC. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

translated from Spanish by Sarah Moses.

Genres: fiction, dystopian, horror
-religious devotion, cults, gore, and isolation.

What. A. Wild. Ride.

This book was violent, dark, and cruel but also unforgettable and beautiful.

I literally had no idea where this book was going to take me the entire time. Without giving anything away, the ending was really unexpected for me, but I loved it so much.

I think Bazterrica did a great job at the world building, enough to form ideas but also not too much, leaving room for the reader to make their own interpretations of it.

I wish it was a little longer, I just wanted more about the Sisterhood.

I cried at one point. If you read this, you'll probably figure out which part. 😢

The Unworthy will leave you haunted and heartbroken.

Many thanks to Netgalley & Scribner books for sharing a digital copy. As always, opinions are my own 🤘🏻💀🤘🏻

This story paints a chilling yet riveting picture of a future dystopian society told from the perspective of a woman who has lived through a nightmare. She lost her family, friends, a beloved pet, and then her freedom to a disturbing cult. There are some moments of fleeting beauty and happiness, but overall, the story has a dark tone and paints a bleak picture of humanity. I would have loved more details about this new reality, and I could have easily kept reading for another 200 pages. Fans of dark fiction and dystopian tales will enjoy this book.

4.5 stars.

The Unworthy is a dystopian horror novel, following a woman at a religious cult, the Sacred Sisterhood. The climate crisis has destroyed humanity, and the Sacred Sisterhood, a religious group, is the fenced off home for this group of women. The protagonist keeps a forbidden diary of the happenings of the Sisterhood as she yearns for enlightenment and a mysterious new woman shows up and upends her life.

I remember being hooked right from the start with Tender is the Flesh, as Bazterrica’s prose and worldbuilding are incredible. With this book, the writing remains lyrical but I felt more disoriented at the start and so it took me a little longer to get into the story. The dynamics of the Sisterhood were extremely interesting, especially the different purposes of each of the “Enlightened” and even the differences between the Unworthy and the servants. Also!! Queer protagonist which I was not expecting because I didn’t read the tags but I thought the relationship was beautiful in that it helped the protagonist realize that the toxicity and rivalries being fostered by the Superior Sister between the Unworthy are not okay and that it actually is alright to be kind in this world. She felt loved!!! It had a lot of heart, and I felt for a lot of the characters.

Furthermore, the Superior Sister was a genuinely scary antagonist. To me, there’s nothing more frightening than someone in power who knows that they have all the power and are not even a little scared of their “minions” banding up and rebelling. The Superior Sister was cold, calculating, and sadistic with all her actions but her punishments especially, which only made the Unworthy all the more scary as well. They’re not afraid to throw each other under the bus if it means that they get a favour with the Sister, which really raised the stakes for the protagonist and made the story really interesting. Cult stories are always so fascinating!!

One thing I would have wanted is to know more about the apocalypse and more of the protagonist’s past. That was definitely the most devastating part of the entire book and I did shed a tear (or multiple). The end did feel a little rushed and so I wish the conclusion was more drawn out and we got some more moments between the protagonist and her lover. Other than that, I thought it was extremely well done.

Another great book from Bazterrica, and I am looking forward to all her future books!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Special thank you to #NetGalley and Scribner via Simon & Schuster for this eARC

In THE UNWORTHY, we have an intense, unsettling dystopian horror as our narrator introduces herself as being part of a religious cult that is as harsh and cruel (potentially more so), as the world that has been devastated by climate change outside their walls. The narrator herself is damaged and a little sinister as we get to know what drives her and others while they scavenge as unworthies in the Sacred Sisterhood. Things change when a wanderer stumbles into the cult’s so-called haven…

The Superior Sister is a top antagonist for the year. A type of deranged offspring of Xenia Onatopp and Miss Trunchbull, she will have you turning pages in the hopes of finding what drives her. Another piece of the puzzle is what exactly is Him doing, the one male character who decides who is Enlightened. You will also find the story does take awhile to pick up as you are dropped in the middle of the Sacred Sisterhood, with its deranged treatment of ‘Enlightened’ women, and wrapping your head around the narrator herself, who is essentially unhinged and starved when we are first introduced to her.

You do get rewarded halfway through as everything picks up when the wanderer is introduced. You get to see and feel more of the narrator’s past and what brought her to the present, the prose truly at its best when the two characters bond. Getting there takes some work, as I do feel that some of the horrors shown and explained get lost in translation. More exposition than emotion really, but it may be a necessary evil given the narrator’s headspace at the start…

Altogether THE UNWORTHY is an intriguing read, and a fascinating dystopia overall. At first, you may not care for the narrator, but you will be rooting for her in the end.

I was super excited to read this book as I really enjoyed Tender is the Flesh, but unfortunately it did not live up to the hype in my head :( This is my first time reading a book regarding cults, so the horror and dystopian aspects of it made it super interesting! But some parts felt a bit repetitive and I found myself being bored at certain points. But overall, i really enjoyed the book and will definitely read her next release!


Many thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the arc!

I liked Bazterrica’s Tender is the Flesh, revelling in that uncomfortable tension and finding meaning. Her short story collection Nineteen Claws and a Blackbird didn’t make a lot of sense to me, perhaps too abstract.

The Unworthy is the brief story of a young woman cloistered in an end of the world, brutal monastery that houses women under the leadership of a shadowy man, and his henchwoman the Superior Sister. The lowest rank are the Unworthy, and these women aspire to become Chosen (each of whom are mutilated in a different way) or Enlightened.

I'm happy to report that I liked the story. It doesn’t break new ground–a fairly standard apocalypse narrative–but Bazterrica wasted no time propelling me into the meat of the story, with hints of body horror and violence from the first page. A simple story of cultish brainwashing, it leads to an arc of waking up and rebellion. Details of the pre-apocalyptic world are scant, and the MC’s backstory is meted out gradually as recovered traumatic memory.

The novel’s language is rich, lush, meaty, bloody. It felt like reading a distillation of many of my fears, a mash-up of authoritarianism, climate disaster, patriarchy and theocracy. Not for the faint of heart. It speaks to me of trauma: trauma of the earth, of the main character, traumatic amnesia…and perhaps the possibility of recovery. Maybe.

It didn’t have the impact of Tender is the Flesh, and there’s little world building or deep character development, but it was a satisfying bite. This book struck me as a brief catalogue of fears, lush with violence and humming with threat, with a glimmer of hope at the end.

Thanks to Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley for a gifted copy for review.

This haunting dystopian horror novel follows a woman in a convent, sharing her brutal reality by writing it down with whatever ink she can find, whether it's mud or her own blood. The dark, eerie setting really pulls you in, especially with the backdrop of a world ravaged by ecological disaster, submerging much of civilization in water. Plus, the twist that AI is likely the culprit behind it all adds an intriguing layer to the story.

Agustina Bazterrica has done it again! Just like her 2020 hit, this book left me feeling shaken and disturbed, immersing me in a chilling alternate future. The unique writing style, resembling a stream-of-consciousness secret journal, makes it even more captivating. If you're into gripping tales that stick with you, this one's a must-read!

This book is quite dark from page one and does not let up until the very last sentence. We are in a dystopian world. The world has slowly been drained and poisoned and people are left to hunt and run from each other to survive. Our narrator, whom is never named, finds a secret religious order where she finds another type of danger.

Although a very quick read, this one is going to be with me for a while. The current state of the world makes this novel feel less like a work of fiction and more of a prophetic tale of what could be coming for us if people don't wake up and make huge changes. Our reality could very well soon be a dystopian future and these books remind us that it is such a delicate balance we are all facing.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster CA for providing me with an ARC of The Unworthy. It is now available for purchase at your local book seller or library

The premise of this book was very interesting. The religious extremism, the hierarchy within the convent and the mysterious chosen ones. I just wanted more in the end - more details, more explanation, more world building and revealing of secrets.

As someone who has never read any of Bazterrica’s previous works, I was excited by the prospect of finally exploring an author I had heard so much about. Firstly, this is not intended to be a story you “like” reading, but rather one that seeks to explore the darker, more vicious side of human behaviour and the psychological nature of a failing and easily corruptible humanity when dehumanization is easier to accept than loss.
Structure-wise, this book is exemplary. It somehow bridges the gap between epistolary novel and present tense by having its protagonist be writing the story of her life. However, the entries are not diaristic, but rather a set of scenes as the writing is taking place.
That being said, while the prose, imagery, and emotional engagement were all incredible—I find myself a bit torn. For me, I had two big problems with this book: I really did not like the narrator, and the ending was very predictable.
Starting with the protagonist. I don’t feel she was meant to be entirely unlikeable by the end, but I found that as the narrative progressed, I was just indifferent to her. I think a part of it was because of her use of Lucia as this muse to be a good person. Having that adoration just made the narrator’s character arc feel shallow.
In terms of the conclusion, I think it was very obvious even from the beginning what the convent was and what was happening with the women selected to become part of the inner circle. There wasn’t even an attempt at a red herring to hide it. So, the big reveal at the end just sort of fell flat.
Overall, I think there was enough here to entice me to read Agustina Bazterrica’s other books. However, I’m not too sure if I would recommend this one in particular, but neither would I discourage anyone from picking it up. It was a solid “middle of the road” read for a novel that promised so much substance.

From the first paragraph I was GRIPPED, the writing in this is unnerving and intimate. The story can be compared to one of a fruit that has soft meat and then a hard pit of truth in the middle, or maybe a yarn ball that keeps unraveling and unravelling. Overall, this book has a theme that is too close to becoming reality delivered with sly prose.

Thank you Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley for providing a free digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts!

This was definitely the most dystopian book I have ever read! It reminds me a lot of a mix of "The Handmaid's Tale" & "American Horror Story". I only gave it a 3 stars because I have too many questions!! Like I wanted more information about the world outside of the House of the Sacred Sisterhood, the "before" world-ending happening,the after (like they did escape?)... I know sometimes it feels ok to not over shared details, but the details were under shared and I wanted more!

[ arc ] the unworthy | agustina bazterrica 🔔

publication date: march 4, 2025

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

thank you to @netgalley and simon & schuster for the opportunity to read and review an early digital copy of this novella!

* please check trigger warnings prior to diving in to this story *

after reading tender is the flesh last year, and more recently nineteen claws and a blackbird I was SO excited when I saw this available on netgalley and applied immediately despite not typically reviewing many arc’s. I saw descriptions stating “sapphic horror” and was v intrigued.

once again, agustina has such powerful writing. she creates such beautiful imagery, despite the fact that she’s often handling incredibly horrifying stories. I’m always in awe of her ability to capture people and their surroundings in such honest ways.

the format of this novella is essentially collected “diary” entries of the main character who we never learn the name of. she captures her lives experiences in a way that feels, naturally, somewhat chaotic while the prose itself is still incredibly well written.

I think it’s best to go into this relatively blind (aside from trigger warnings), so I won’t get into too much detail, but the exploration of the memories and various details of the 3 main “time periods” of our main character gave us just enough information to have a good comprehension of the surrounding world and who our lead is / was, while still leaving aspects open to questioning and interpretation. the way agustina painted the picture of both the world at large and at the main characters immediately surroundings was incredibly effective.

I recently read “i who have never known men” and while I did enjoy that, I felt that this novella of similar vibes gave me all the bits that I felt were missing from the other that I desperately wanted. we’re left with many questions at the end of this piece, but I did overall feel satisfied with the information we do have and the conclusion of the story itself. this piece also drew me in emotionally, even sending me to tears on at least two occasions. not a book for everyone, certainly, but one I thoroughly enjoyed and will be thinking about for some time.

I was so excited to read The Unworthy by Agustina Bazterrica because I really enjoyed her other book Nineteen Claws and a Black Bird and I really enjoyed this book too! It follows a woman living at a convent and her questioning her life there. I found the writing utterly captivating and I loved how the writing was just like journal entries. The horror scenes are definitely intense and the mysterious aspects in this novel are haunting. I definitely want to read Tender Is the Flesh now!

A claustrophobic, sapphic feminist horror that will have you questioning your worth.

I have no idea what I expected with this book, but it wasn't what I read (positive). I love the format of the book, which is a series of journal entries from a young woman trapped in a merciless cult during an eco-apocalypse.

I love the slow reveal of the worldbuilding and the history of our character through each journal entry. I also love that not all the questions have been answered. Give me an ambiguous story any day of the week.

The prose is gorgeous. I highlighted SOOOO much of this book. It's stunning.

Our main character was written so well I felt really connect to her, especially as the book started to get more intense at during the last 20%. I definitely wasn't ready for the book to end.

Read this if you love
🌙 Sapphic feminist horror
🌙 Eco-apocalypse
🌙 Torture/violence
🌙 An evil religious cult
🌙 Gorgeous prose
🌙 Unexplained 'miracles'

This book is best read while hiding in the woods, as you screaming through sewn lips.

What an incredible short novel! This was my first book by Bazterrica and now I definitely understand all the hype around her previous work.

Incredibly dark and profoundly unsettling, this book managed to paint our world and its natural beauty in a stunning new light. And it shows us how dangerously close we are to losing it all.

Even though it was a short read, the characters were so real and their love, agony and hopelessness could be felt so deeply. They push the boundaries of normalcy and make us wonder what atrocities we are able to commit and endure to survive. But also to what lengths we will go in order to protect those we love.

I think the writing style isn’t for everyone as it can be quite vague and a lot of questions are left unanswered but it contributed so well to the atmosphere of unease and made the reader feel as trapped and lost as the characters.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

The Unworthy follows a woman writing her story within the confines of a convent, separated from a world that has suffered some type of ecological catastrophe. The Sisterhood is divided by ranks, those deemed unworthy are all vying to achieve the rank of Enlightened. After a woman from the outside makes her way into the convent, it leads to questioning the Sisterhood and what exactly is happening within and outside of the convent.

I had mixed feelings about Bazterrica’s novel, Tender is the Flesh. It was well received and loved by so many, and I just didn’t find it as engaging or disturbing as so many others did. I was hoping I would connect more with The Unworthy, but unfortunately this one didn’t work for me either.
I find both books try really hard to gross out the reader, but unsuccessfully. The Unworthy really pushes the shock factor of the torture that all of the women in the convent do to one another and the different torments they can all devise against those they think are even more unworthy than they are. But it goes so hard into these moments of torture or disturbing scenes, it entirely leaves out characters growth or plot points. We get glimpses of story, but for me it was few and far between everything else that I didn’t care. If I cared more about about the characters, maybe then the gross out scenes would have more of an impact, but instead it just reminds me of those “torture porn” movies where you just want it to be over and done with and don’t care what happens to anyone. My general reaction to those is to actually stop watching, and I wish I had stopped reading in this case.

I know there is an underlying statement about environmental impacts in The Unworthy, and Bazterrica is alluding to the damage people have done to the world. It also has some statements about the patriarchy and how women are treated, but it just feels heavy handed rather than working within the story to get the point across. It isn’t built into the plot seamlessly, it’s just dropped it about how these things are bad and we should care. Obviously we should care, but I want a story where the characters make me care because of what’s happening to them not because the world outside the book definitely does suck most of the time.

Some of the nuance of this book could also be lost in translation, which is also how I felt about Tender is the Flesh. The author might be fantastic at what she’s alluding to and making you care more, but maybe the translation loses that ability, I’m not sure. But unfortunately, whatever the case may be, this one just wasn’t for me, and after two books that I’m rather indifferent about, I don’t think I’ll try more by this author.