A haunting dystopian read. For a short one, it packs a tragic and heartbreaking punch.

eARC on Netgalley

Dark, violent, haunting. Most striking is the power of fear and hatred between people in the same group relying on each other to survive. "The Unworthy" certainly isn't a story with a straightforward narrative or clear conclusion, but provides plenty of thought-provoking content.

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Well, that put me in a weird mood after, but no regrets.

The Unworthy is a chilling, dystopian nightmare set in a crumbling world where a woman, deemed unworthy, writes her story from inside a brutal convent. She longs to ascend to the ranks of the Enlightened, but when a new outsider arrives, her carefully controlled existence starts to unravel. As she questions the Sisterhood, her past, and what really happens to those who ascend, the book spirals into a harrowing look at religious extremism, environmental collapse, and humanity’s ugliest instincts.

Bazterrica’s writing is unsettling, visceral, and utterly immersive. The oppressive atmosphere, the grotesque rituals, and the lingering unease kept me hooked even when I wanted to look away. If you’re into dystopian horror with a feminist lens, surrealist WeirdLit, or stories about religious exploitation, this is a must-read.

Now I have to go back and read Tender is the Flesh for sure.

Thanks to Scribner and NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

2.5

I really struggled with the first half of this book. I was so confused and never felt grounded at any time, which to feel that way for most of this book, is really frustrating. I did like the 2nd part more, but that was mainly due to the few flashback pieces that were set in the apocalyptic landscape the narrator is now "safe" from.

The prose and horrific imagery used were great but it wasn't enough to make up for the lack of world-building, explanation, and lack of characterization. I will still read this author going forward, just wish I loved this more.

Woah…this book was dark, wild, creative, disturbing, creepy, and just absolutely chaotic, but I loved every second of it. I did find myself having to take breaks because I would get a little squeamish with the graphic details, but that’s part of what is making me give this 5 stars. This book is not for the faint of heart, but if you like dark and twisty and disturbing, this is the book for you!

As a fan of Bazterrica’s *Tender is the Flesh*, I was eager to dive into her new horror novel, set in a future where environmental and societal collapse have led to the shutdown of the electrical grid. The story follows a woman living in a secluded cult, revealing layers of cruelty, suffering, and the dark forces that led her there. This short but unsettling novel explores themes of religious indoctrination, the objectification of women, and sapphic love, all wrapped in a surreal, magical realism style that leaves a lingering sense of anxiety.

This was hard for me to get through since I am not a body horror fan. I did love Tender is the Flesh, which is why I requested this one. I felt like this was written strictly for shock factor with little time to really connect with any of the characters given the length of the story. The disjointed diary entries were a risk that ended up working for this type of read. This is one of the few times I will say that the gore worked well for the concept. Overall, I enjoyed this while having to look away a few times. If you're going to give this one a go, brace yourself. Four stars.

Thank you, Netgalley and Scribner, for this ARC.

✨ Review ✨ The Unworthy by Agustina Bazterrica

Thanks to Scribner and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

Feminist dystopian horror with big themes around gendered violence, religion, and climate crisis

Written by an Argentine author, translated to English, this brings in the baggage of violence and human rights violations in Argentina and South American more broadly. Issues around gender-driven and sexual violence, abuse centered in religious institutions, and fears around climate change all resonate deeply here.

The book is written like a journal by the main character, and can be confusing to read as it jumps between times, and can be confusing as she struggles to break free from the mentality instilled in The Unworthy, a group of refugee women living in an old monastery in the middle of a climate-crisis dystopia. Increasingly, however, we can tell she's gradually growing in resistance to the pseudo-religious structure that’s enveloped her, and this is really wonderful to read. The book also features queer love, against all odds, and hope in a climate that might one day be restored.

A few notes:
There's lots of body horror - beware
It's a novella - it has a slow start, but by 100 pages, I couldn’t put it down!
The audio might take away from your enjoyment because of the fractured nature of the narrative and the way that she crosses out words / replacing or redacting them, according to her mental state and sense of resistance.

I absolutely loved this and can't wait to finally read Tender is the Flesh

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: horror novella
Setting: dystopian
Reminds me of: Mariana Enriquez, CJ Leede (American Rapture), & Sister, Maiden, Monster
Pub Date: Mar 4, 2025

Agustina Bazterrica pairs an austere world with detailed accounts of divine suffering and delivers to us The Unworthy.

Shall we get into it?

World-building: Cutting straight to the chase, Bazterrica's world-building is absolutely phenomenal here. The picture that she paints for her readers is cold and absolute.. The post-apocalyptic background serves its story perfectly, as throughout everything that our main character's experience, it's still completely understandable as to why she stays with the convent. This was easily my favorite aspect of the book. 5/5

Characters: I found the characters to be just okay. Due to the nature of the story, as well as its length, its difficult to get close to our main character. This left me wanting. I wanted to be able to connect with her, to have a more emotional tie, but it just didn't happen, and I feel that I wasn't able to be fully invested in the story because of this. I wanted more from the Superior Sister as well. She was often described as terrifying, but I wanted to see that played out, and she never hit that mark for me. The epistolary style of writing was not doing any favors for me here, as it removes the reader from the story an extra degree. It felt to me like the Superior Sister was being built up to be this menacing villain, and then we never get to see her fully play that part. 2.5/5

Horror: This book is not at all subtle with it's horror elements. Most of it is just descriptions of different torture methods, which is effectively uncomfortable, yes, but feels like the author is relying too heavily on shock value here. Once again, the lack of emotional connection to the characters really hurt the story here. I think this story would benefit from leaning more into the emotional trauma that our MC is facing, and playing with the psychological elements of the story. At times, it felt like this book wanted to be a gothic, but it lacked that essential slow-building dread. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy some good body horror as much as the next guy, but without any deeper connection, the torture started to feel one-note. 2/5

Pacing: I don't understand why this story is a novella. So many of my issues with this book could be fixed if it just had more time to play out naturally. As is, the story feels rushed, and the ending is unsatisfying. There are entire aspects of the story that feel incomplete, like our MC's background. We get several flashback scenes or mentions of events that occured in her past, but none of it feels fully explored by the end of the book. On top of that, the events that are currently unfolding feel rushed as well. We get very little time to process the MC's feelings about the new arrival to the convent and their subsequent romantic relationship. I really wish that this story was a full length novel. 1/5

Walking away, I just did not mesh well with this book. There were so many things I wanted from it that it did not deliver on. I loved the vibes and the world that Bazterrica set up, but I was not impressed with the story that played out. An extra hundred pages would have done wonders here. Im giving this one an overall rating of 2.5

Everytime I read Agustina's books I feel gross afterwards. However, I think thats the point of them. This one is no different from Tender is the Flesh in that feeling. Religious horror, cults, and just icky feelings. With all that being said, the book was definitely fun. I'd recommend it to anyone who is deeper into the horror genre.

The Unworthy explores climate disaster/dystopian, religions and cults preying on the desperate, female desire, body mutilations and physical abuse, sexual violence against women. There is a bit of non-linear storytelling where the protagonist ping pongs from the present to the past without much differentiation, but once you realize that it's not hard to understand.

I really need to read this author's other works.

**Review for *The Unworthy* by Agustina Bazterrica**

Agustina Bazterrica's *The Unworthy* is a searing, thought-provoking work of literary horror that builds on the author’s knack for disturbing, uncomfortable narratives, as showcased in her previous novel *Tender Is the Flesh*. In this chilling exploration of power, survival, and self-identity, Bazterrica weaves a dystopian tale that is as horrifying as it is hauntingly relevant, drawing sharp lines between ideological extremism, environmental collapse, and the dangerous allure of religious dogma.

Set in a world on the brink of ecological collapse, *The Unworthy* follows the life of an unnamed woman who resides in a secretive convent, cut off from the chaos that has consumed the outside world. The once-thriving cities have been submerged by water, electricity and the internet are non-existent, and survivors are left to scavenge in a brutal, unforgiving environment. Within the convent walls, the narrator is a "lower" member of the Sacred Sisterhood, an "unworthy" who dreams of ascension to the ranks of the Enlightened, the elite and revered women within the order. Her days are filled with strict obedience, isolation, and harsh punishment, yet she remains detached from the horrors outside and content with her place in this mysterious, self-contained world.

But the peace of her monotonous existence is shattered when a stranger enters the convent—another "unworthy" who makes the narrator confront long-forgotten memories about her past. As their bond grows, the narrator starts questioning the nature of her reality, the true purpose of the Sacred Sisterhood, and the enigmatic leader, the Superior Sister. She begins to unravel the disturbing mysteries of her life inside the convent, including her strange memory loss and what happens to the women who ascend to the Enlightened. The truth about her past—and the oppressive, violent systems that have shaped her existence—becomes more horrifying the closer she gets to it.

The atmosphere in *The Unworthy* is suffocating, and the tension between the narrator’s longing for elevation and the grim reality of her life creates an oppressive weight throughout the novel. The convent itself is a place where survival is not just about staying alive—it’s about adhering to an oppressive, controlling ideology that prizes submission and purity above all. Bazterrica’s prose is visceral, often bordering on grotesque, but it serves to amplify the horror of the narrator’s journey. The narrative is filled with unsettling moments that blur the line between physical and psychological horror, forcing readers to reflect on the ways in which systems of control manipulate the mind and body.

The central theme of *The Unworthy* is a deep exploration of the human desire for belonging, control, and meaning—concepts that can be twisted into something dangerous and dehumanizing. Bazterrica challenges us to think about the ways in which societal and environmental collapse can breed extreme ideologies and how these ideologies prey on our vulnerabilities. The portrayal of the climate crisis is also strikingly prescient; the novel reflects a world that has been ravaged by environmental neglect, where the physical collapse of society mirrors the spiritual and ideological collapse of the Sacred Sisterhood.

The characters in *The Unworthy* are complex, and the narrator's development—from an obedient, isolated woman to one who dares to question and seek the truth—is both tragic and empowering. Her relationship with the stranger, the other unworthy woman who forces her to confront uncomfortable truths, becomes the emotional heart of the novel. The evolving bond between them reveals layers of trauma, hope, and betrayal, highlighting the narrator's internal struggle between loyalty to the oppressive system and her growing desire for freedom and understanding.

Overall, *The Unworthy* is a dark, feminist horror novel that challenges readers to examine not only the collapse of the world around us but the darker recesses of our own psyche. Bazterrica masterfully blends existential horror with social commentary, creating a gripping narrative that questions the cost of survival, the price of ascension, and the destructive power of belief. If you’re looking for a deeply unsettling, intellectually stimulating read, *The Unworthy* is a must.

Quickly entering favorite author stays. Bought a copy on release for my home library. Can’t wait to see what’s next.

Bazterrica creates a whole world and then drops the reader right in. There are no introductions to the rules or hierarchy, you're just expected to catch up. This is a haunting story about the willingness to do anything to survive. This is written as diary entries and because of that, it can be alittle hard to follow sometimes. The main character would reveal something and then explain later. There were a few times I had to flip back a few pages to make sure I didn't misread something. Overall, I really liked it.

This feminist literary horror novel is bleak and thought-provoking and I loved it. The Unworthy is a post-apocalyptic story written through the protagonist’s journal entries as she navigates her life within and before the Sacred Sisterhood. Set during a time after climate collapse, The Unworthy describes the harrowing extremes of the human experience and displays the brutal representations of religion in this converted monastery. There is so much to take away from Agustina Bazterrica’s gorgeously poetic prose in this chilling novel.

The Unworthy is not nearly as viscerally gross as Bazterrica’s international breakout hit, Tender Is the Flesh. Then again, that book includes detailed descriptions of state-sanctioned cannibalism, so the bar is high. While The Unworthy is not quite as disgusting, it’s just as intense. Bazterrica never shies away from disgust, violence, or shock. Imagine all the worst ways that people can treat each other and the world, and they’re all probably in this book, from the smallest emotional slight to actual physical torture and damage. Worst of all, a lot of it takes place between the survivors, who are passionate young women who not only think they’re the good guys, but use the language of holiness and purity to do really rancid things. It takes the arrival of a non-compliant newcomer to shake things up—at great consequence to themselves. We start in a quietly horrifying, slightly confusing place, and Bazterrica’s prose (and Sarah Moses’ wonderful translation) gives us hundreds of creepy little details that make things worse the more you think about them.

Storygraph:
Climate change has wreaked havoc on the world, creating a dystopian setting for this story of a sisterhood that has sought refuge in an abandoned monastery. When one thinks sisterhood "peace" is generally a word that would come to mind quickly, but in this story, much like the world we live in now, woman, too, can become power hungry.

This was a story that had me enthralled. I love when authors craft a tale that tends to break the "norm" and that is exactly what Bazterrica has done here. Women are not the sweet, innocent, peace-seeking creatures that the world would like us to believe. We each have a bit of evil inside of us, and some of us are better than others at suppressing it. This story felt original and real...with a sprinkle of magical realism.

Instagram:
The Unworthy by Agustina Bazterrica @agusbazte ✨ A thank you to @scribnerbooks & @netgalley for the digital ARC!

Dystopian world. Climate change. Sisterhood. Corruption through power.

This book enticed me with its setting of the “end of the world” brought on by climate change, and then really sunk its talons in when Bazterrica created women who were just as easily tempted by power as men, making this feel all the more real.

Confession: I still haven’t read Tender is the Flesh 🫣 but it’s sitting on TBR shelf waiting for me to get to it! I know it won’t disappoint.

For those who have difficulty jumping into “the world is falling apart” novels since COVID, maybe the fact that there is a touch of magical realism within the pages will help it not be too triggering.

100% recommend to fans of literary horror

A dark, religious, post-apocalyptic tale of anxiety and dread and uneasiness. I got sidetracked with "Tender is the Flesh" and still haven't gotten back to it, but "The Unworthy" kept my attention. Is it because it has an Atwoodesque cast to it? Is it the sacrilegious subject matter, or the mysteries that are solved through the narrative? Maybe the terror invoked by the superior sister who rules the monastery, or the aspect of the protagonist's amnesia or her secret writing like something out of "V for Vendetta," maybe.
All in all I will definitely be recommending this title to readers who like a religious edge to their horror and apocalypse enthusiasts alike.

Agustina Bazterrica’s The Unworthy is a unique blend of horror and feminist dystopian fiction. Through fragmented writings from a woman trapped in a convent-like compound, the novel creates an oppressive atmosphere where faith is both weapon and refuge. The stream-of-consciousness style of writing that Bazterrica uses mirrors the main character's splintered state of mind. While the themes of bodily autonomy and power are gripping, the experimental structure of the novella requires patience. If you appreciate narrative experimentation and are willing to go along for the ride, The Unworthy offers a chilling meditation on faith, control, and the limits of endurance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the arc.

Themes explored are messy and uncoordinated, the prose is sloppy, terrible worldbuilding. I think Bazterrica needs to spare herself from attempting larger political commentary when splatter seems to be where she has the most fun.