This was my first Agustina Bazterrica book, despite owning Tender is the Flesh. I was not sure what to expect from this, but spooky nuns/end of the world-vibes always seem to grab my interest. I really enjoyed the way that the main character writes as she recalls things that are going on, as well as the writing style that is "get this down as fast as I can because I don't know when I'll be able to write next." That was very interesting and a first for me. The pacing is a bit slow the first 50-60% of the book, I wasn't super sure what was going on. After that point though, after we meet Lucia is when the story picks up and had my attention fully until the end.

The sad but strong ending for our main character left me in a state of slight shock, but hopeful that Lucia and the others got away safely.

Agustina Bazterrica, an Argentine writer whose reputation has grown internationally due to her searing, dystopian explorations of violence, power, and human nature, has once again delivered a provocative narrative with The Unworthy. Best known for Tender is the Flesh (check out our review), a harrowing dissection of a society that normalizes cannibalism, Bazterrica continues to examine the fragility of morality when faced with oppressive systems. Her work often probes at the intersection of power, religion, and bodily autonomy, crafting visceral and unsettling worlds that force readers into moral contemplation.

Set in a bleak post-apocalyptic world ravaged by environmental catastrophes and wars over water, The Unworthy presents a society in which a theocratic order governs with absolute control. The story follows a young woman trapped within the House of the Sacred Brotherhood, a secluded religious institution where women are indoctrinated, brutalized, and sacrificed in the name of an enigmatic higher power known only as “Him.” The novel unfolds through the fragmented, diary-like entries of the protagonist, offering an intimate glimpse into a mind both indoctrinated and struggling against its confinement.

The protagonist records the grotesque rituals and ascetic punishments inflicted upon the women under the rule of the severe and enigmatic Superior Sister. A hierarchy of suffering is established, with The Unworthy enduring relentless discipline, while the highest echelons of the faithful—The Enlightened—serve as spiritual conduits between the followers and their invisible deity. As the protagonist’s observations sharpen, her internal struggle emerges, leading her to question the legitimacy of her captors’ authority. Yet, her rebellion is not one of grandiose heroism but of slow, painful realization, tainted by fear and doubt.

Bazterrica’s novel is a meditation on the nature of faith, indoctrination, and control, drawing parallels to historical and contemporary theocracies where women’s bodies become battlegrounds for ideological warfare. Through her protagonist’s constrained existence, she examines the psychology of submission and the slow corrosion of selfhood under systemic oppression.

Religious fanaticism is at the heart of The Unworthy, depicted through rituals of self-flagellation, purification rites, and the cruel elevation of suffering as a means to spiritual transcendence. The faceless deity known as "Him" remains an unknowable presence, reinforcing the asymmetry of power: faith is demanded without proof, suffering is meted out as a divine test, and dissent is met with retribution.

Another key theme is the manipulation of language and knowledge. The protagonist’s diary is both an act of defiance and a means of self-preservation. Her writing becomes an archive of the unspeakable, a resistance against forced amnesia. This recalls Orwellian themes of linguistic control, where the ability to articulate dissent is systematically eroded. The novel also leans heavily on gothic and dystopian imagery. The convent-like House of the Sacred Brotherhood functions as both a fortress and a prison, its halls steeped in whispered conspiracies and silent suffering. The constant presence of surveillance and the omnipotent yet absent "Him" evoke a sense of inescapable doom reminiscent of The Handmaid’s Tale and Never Let Me Go.

Bazterrica’s prose in The Unworthy is both poetic and grotesque, weaving lyricism into scenes of extreme brutality. The novel’s fragmented, diary-like structure allows the protagonist’s voice to shift from detached observation to suffocating paranoia, making the reading experience deeply immersive. This fragmented style mirrors the protagonist’s fractured reality, where the boundaries between faith, fear, and reality blur.

Her use of sensory detail is particularly striking. The reader can almost smell the decay in the air, feel the chill of the stone walls, and hear the distant echoes of suffering. The novel’s claustrophobic atmosphere is heightened by Bazterrica’s precise, almost surgical use of language. Like Tender is the Flesh, The Unworthy forces the reader into an intimate confrontation with discomfort, using language as a scalpel to dissect themes of bodily control and systemic violence.

One of The Unworthy’s greatest strengths is its ability to sustain tension through ambiguity. Bazterrica refuses to offer easy explanations, leaving much of the novel’s horror to fester in the reader’s mind. Is "Him" truly divine, or just another mechanism of control? Are The Enlightened truly enlightened, or merely the most successful at self-delusion? The novel does not dictate answers, which enhances its haunting impact.

The psychological depth of the protagonist is another highlight. Her oscillation between reverence and skepticism, between complicity and silent rebellion, makes her a deeply compelling character. Unlike conventional dystopian heroines, she does not embody a clear-cut revolution, but rather a more nuanced, hesitant reckoning with truth. The novel’s critique of religious extremism and its parallels to real-world oppressive systems is both timely and universal. By setting the story in an ambiguous, ruined world, Bazterrica sidesteps direct allegory, making her message feel disturbingly applicable across different societies and historical periods.

While The Unworthy is a triumph of atmosphere and thematic depth, its commitment to ambiguity may frustrate. The lack of a traditional narrative arc—where actions build toward a climactic resolution—makes the novel feel like an extended meditation rather than a structured story. Some may find the protagonist’s passive resistance unsatisfying, longing for a more active rebellion against the system... though there is something potentially more realistic and horrifying with Bazterrica's approach here. Additionally, the relentless bleakness of the novel can feel overwhelming. Unlike Tender is the Flesh, which had moments of sardonic humor to offset its grimness, The Unworthy offers little respite from its oppressive world. While this serves the novel’s thematic intentions, it is certain to alienate those who depend upon narrative momentum or catharsis.

The Unworthy is a masterful, unsettling work that solidifies Agustina Bazterrica’s status as a leading voice in contemporary dystopian fiction. Its exploration of faith, indoctrination, and bodily autonomy is both chilling and thought-provoking, and its prose lingers like a fever dream. Though its ambiguity and unrelenting bleakness may not appeal to all, those who appreciate literary horror and dystopian fiction (The BWAF readership?) will find it a rewarding, if harrowing, read.

This story was dark and twisted. It was a unique concept while also sharing elements from other dystopian stories that I’ve read and enjoyed before. This book definitely evoked a sense of fear of an apocalyptic world that feels less science fiction and more a reality these days. Overall, I enjoyed it, however, this was a fairly short book and definitely had room to further develop some elements. I think it was intentional to come off as mysterious, and have the reader unpack the world themselves once more is revealed. However, I found the world building a little confusing and had a hard time piecing together everything even towards the end.

Thank you to Net Galley, Scribner, and Agustina Bazterrica for the opportunity to read this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

DNF at 30%

The premise described in the publisher's description for this book immediately caught my attention, and I was eager to dive in. However, at around the 30% mark, I find myself struggling to stay engaged. While the prose is undeniably atmospheric, the tone feels relentlessly grim, and I haven't yet felt hooked by the narrative. Given this, I think I may not be the right reader for this particular book.

I am a little torn on this one. Conceptually, the story is fascinating. I love the prose. But I can't help but feel as though there is a lack of substance or follow-through to the world of post-apocalyptic body horror and climate disaster Bazterrica creates. I loved (am haunted by) Bazterrica's "Tender is the Flesh," so I am surprised by the lack of a mind-blowing reveal that pulls it all together at the end. I enjoyed the book, enjoyed the disturbing yet familiar world she paints, but I just wish there was something more of a grand reveal in the ending.

Another fantastic dystopian horror! Tying in the oppressive religious cult aspect made this story more immersive

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy.

The Unworthy by Agustina Bazterrica is a dystopian novel about a woman in a secretive, violent religious order.

***

I have mixed feelings about this one. On one hand, the prose was amazing. I was very amazed and captivated by the vivid imagery the author employs in detailing the cult like behavior that is going on in this world. Because of this, the book felt engaging and immersive.

However, I did have some problems with the story structure. Personally, the book felt more of a concept rather than a fully fleshed out story. The lack of world building, character development, and story itself made it hard for me to care about what was happening. For the first half of the book, it just felt repetitive and a long winded rant about the same stuff (punishment). Because of this, it really took me a while to finish this rather short book. And without a fully fleshed out story, the larger themes of the book felt underbaked. The critique on gender violence and misogyny really didn’t land even though I had an inkling on what was really going on with those women.

Overall, I still would recommend this novel. The second half of the book was pretty strong as this was when things started to really happen. I really wish the author would have started here, or focused the story on how main character got to where she was.

Agustina Bazterrica, author of Tender is The Flesh and queen of dystopian horror is back with a chilling religious cult of nightmare story set in a dystopian hellscape. The Unworthy is told in the form of a secret diary kept by a nameless member of “the unworthy” as she seeks to survive an oppressive religious cult in a dystopian world. In less than 200 pages, Agustina gives you nightmares with her brutal scenes and grotesque descriptions of what the women of the Sacred Sisterhood have to endure to survive at the hands of the sadistic cult. Agustina also weaves whimsical descriptions of nature and a time before the world collapsed amongst the dark and haunting reality the unworthy are living in. I thoroughly enjoyed being haunted by this book! It’s a 5 star read for me.

Thank you to Scribner and NetGalley for the eARC.

Bazterrica once again stuns with gorgeous prose, salient body horror, and cutting commentary on topics such as religion and environmentalism. At under 200 pages, Bazterrica paints a violent picture of the inner world of the protagonist. You can feel her rage and her sapphic desires burning through the pages. The body horror is nothing new for fans of her previous work, Tender is the Flesh. While beautifully written, I felt like the ending left much to be desired in terms of resolving certain world-building plot points introduced throughout. The finale is not as strong this time around, however, this was a visually rich and character-driven story that I enjoyed very much. Bazterrica is a new master of horror and I hope we don’t have to wait eight more years for her next project!

I really enjoyed this book! I have yet to read Tender Is The Flesh by the same author, but reading this gave me a good insight into their writing style. I found parts of this book fairly confusing as the narrators memories are very fragmented, but the more the story progressed the more I actually enjoyed the back and forth of the timelines. The first half of this book is pretty slow with the buildup and world building and feels like it ended too quickly, I wanted to learn more about the rebellion of the sisterhood, who else ended up joining, especially since there is a lot of tension and “who can I really trust” between the main characters, the “fledglings”, and the Chosen/Enlightened. I would have liked a little more struggle at the end to feel more connected to how things play out for our characters, but I liked the ambiguous and open ending and that it didn’t wrap up neatly with everyone being freed. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others who enjoy this author, writing style, and/or genre.

Outside is a dystopian hellscape and inside is a religious cult made of nightmares. A convent with the goal of ascending its caste system to enlightenment.

It was gross in the best way and made me think about religions and society in a new way. It’s short, a novella but definitely packs a punch and it is going to stay with me for a while.

Thanks to netgalley and scribner for an eARC

I never want to shut up about this book, actually. I felt like I knew what I was going into after reading ‘Tender is the Flesh’ but this was an entirely different – and maybe even more exciting? – reading experience for me. There are some truly horrific images in this that’ll stick in my mind forever and I think this is really effective as dystopian horror. I’d definitely recommend The Unworthy to someone who likes it a little culty. Or a lot culty.

Our narrator writes to us from a cell in a mysterious convent. The situation that she’s in is very unclear, and at the start, you really only get the sense that she’s part of some extreme religious cult that she doesn’t seem to entirely buy into. Ritual torture and humiliation is a pretty central tenant of their practice. The narrator’s participation in all of it is about survival on an increasingly dying planet.

The thing is, despite the almost supernatural horrors that occur, the scariest thing about this book is that it feels realistic. The slow death of Earth and all of humanity due to the climate crisis and the way the dwindling survivors react to it, turning toward religion or complete savagery, is something that Bazterrica is very careful about not hitting us over the head with. You understand what she’s saying without her ever having to say it, and I think the fact that our narrator comes off as young and naive helps the reader draw the conclusions themselves.

This book is really suspenseful, and once you get over the slow and confusing start to it, the payoff in the second half of the book is more than worth it. There’s a couple twists and turns along the way and a satisfying ending. Definitely recommend this one.

If you loved the relentless despair and psychic damage of Tender is the Flesh but wish it was an even closer reflection of our potential near future AND had queer nuns, this is the book for you! Bazterrica balanced the limited knowledge of the protagonist-via-POV with downright weird and deeply unsettling world building really nicely. I read this in one sitting and had to lay face down on the floor for a good hour afterward. CW for pretty brutal cat death.

A new novel from Agustina Bazterrica who brought us the incredible Tender is the Flesh and the dark, humorous and poignant short stories of Nineteen Claws and a Blackbird.

If The Handmaid's Tale and The Road had a little biblio-baby. This book covers religion/cults, the patriarchy and misogyny, the pain of loss and the joy of love, and what we are willing to do to fit in and survive. Agustina delivers a story showcasing the fondness for nostalgia and the torment of trauma. The fear of the future and the joy of novelty in the mondaine. The Unworthy, as with Tender is the Flesh, tries to show us the errors humanity is making in regard to our environment, flora and fauna.

Five stars because I cried for Circe.

For those who have been living in a hole, Bazterrica is the author of the brutal [book:Tender Is the Flesh|49090884], a dystopia where humans are bred as a food source. In this, her second novel (I believe), the author surpasses the brutality of her first novel with one of climatic and planetary devastation, violent religious cults, and one young woman's effort to remember her past and escape the life of an unworthy.

As most of the South American authors I have read, there is a beauty and lyricism in Bazterrica's novel - not simply the descriptions of nature and dragonflies, motherly love and changing skies, but also the cockroaches and the vultures, the contaminated water and the eyeless fish. The savage mutilations of the women caught in the religious order's trap. This is not an easy read - the book is about the survivors of a global catastrophe where millions of people have died, civilization has collapsed, and the oceans have gone dry. It is violent place, with brutal, bloody scenes that will turn many readers' stomachs. But for those who can tolerate the ugliness, there is also beauty and hope in one young woman's story.

My thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for an advance copy. My opinions are my own.

What a crazy read! I really enjoyed Tender is the Flesh and Nineteen Claws and a Black Bird, both previous books I read by this author, so when I saw The Unworthy, I was excited to read it. This book seemed like it was written by another author though. It didn’t read anything like their previous books. That is not a criticism, just an observation.

This is an extremely quick read, quite disturbing, more so than Tender is the Flesh. Bazterrica managed to have me both empathize and despise the MC throughout the story, which is not easy to do, let alone in such a short book. The MC goes through such a transformation from beginning to end. A lot of this book (characters, background, setting) is very vague and ambiguous until the end. The slow world building is one of my favorite aspects of this story. There are a lot of questions left unanswered and a lot left to the imagination but nothing that takes away from the story. There can be such a fine line between being too vague and just vague enough, and I feel like Bazterrica nailed it in this book.

Maybe it was the darkness of it all or how creepy and disturbing it was, but this book really worked for me. I found it fascinating, heartbreaking, terrifying and didn’t want to put it down. Bazterrica wrote another story that seemed plausible without it being so obvious in your-face about it and I appreciate that. It allows me, as the reader to imagine the way in which this could potentially happen without being directly told, if that makes sense. I enjoy the way this author writes and her translator does an excellent job (Sarah Moses).

***Thank you NetGalley, Agustina Bazterrica, and Scribner for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.***

I wanted to like this but I just felt that it fell flat. It went nowhere. It was giving and didn't give. It was vague and for what? Mother give us more. There was so much vagueness that it didn't make sense. What was the purpose? What was the cause? We got served a dinner that we didn't eat.

In a stark world governed by the fight between contamination and purity, where toxic butterflies leave behind burns when they alight upon your skin, a former monastery has become a horror house for new religious fanaticism and sacrifice. The Unworthy excels by exploring desperation and artifice within a repressive community of women.

The world building in The Unworthy is stark, but well executed. Bazterrica subverts medieval motifs, already so dark, for a post-apocalyptic world. In the beginning of the story, the protagonist is just trying to survive, and in doing so, intentionally forgets her past before the Sacred Sisterhood. However, as she connects with a new arrival, she can’t avoid remembering her difficult childhood, those she has lost to a dead world, and what makes life worth living.

This is a short, dark exploration of humanity in the end times. The story is grounded and believable, with a touch of magical realism. A compelling read!

I loved the atmosphere that was set in this book and how it tread the fine line between reality, fantasy, and horror. This was definitely a shorter book that felt much longer and vaster to me, revealing a post-apocalyptic world scarred by climate change. The structure of this book also enhanced the storytelling, the sudden starts and stops pulling us in to the narrator’s mindset, and also her pain. Absolutely an enjoyable read!

I love this author so much! 😭 So good!!! so eerie and insane i couldn’t put it down. I really enjoyed the plot i can’t say it enough. it was fast and i was confused but it was so worth it