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A review by genrejourneys
The Unworthy by Agustina Bazterrica
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
[Gifted a copy on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review]
The Unworthy spills out as an unnamed nun writes out her experiences in a horrific cult after the end of the world. Life within the Sacred Sisterhood is not for the faint of heart. Multiations, punishments, hauntings, starvation and cruelty are facts of life. But in a world where the end of times has come and settled in nicely, our narrator prefers the chance of faith over the known horror of the outside. When a stranger manages to slip in, our narrator begins to unravel not only the steps that brought her to the Sisterhood but the truth behind the life she’s living.
Certainly not a read for the faint (insects, sexual assault, murder), The Unworthy really landed for me with its delicious religious horror and existential dread. The story, and our conflicted narrator, did an excellent job giving us just enough to grasp what might really be happening. The ending was mildly satisfying, though in a story light on plot any ending is going to have mixed reactions, but I found that given the sheer level of horror throughout the text some of the more dramatic reveals fell flat for me. That said, if you are craving a religious apocalyptic tale of lesbian hate and desire this is most certainly the read for you.
The Unworthy spills out as an unnamed nun writes out her experiences in a horrific cult after the end of the world. Life within the Sacred Sisterhood is not for the faint of heart. Multiations, punishments, hauntings, starvation and cruelty are facts of life. But in a world where the end of times has come and settled in nicely, our narrator prefers the chance of faith over the known horror of the outside. When a stranger manages to slip in, our narrator begins to unravel not only the steps that brought her to the Sisterhood but the truth behind the life she’s living.
Certainly not a read for the faint (insects, sexual assault, murder), The Unworthy really landed for me with its delicious religious horror and existential dread. The story, and our conflicted narrator, did an excellent job giving us just enough to grasp what might really be happening. The ending was mildly satisfying, though in a story light on plot any ending is going to have mixed reactions, but I found that given the sheer level of horror throughout the text some of the more dramatic reveals fell flat for me. That said, if you are craving a religious apocalyptic tale of lesbian hate and desire this is most certainly the read for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Torture, Murder, Gaslighting
Moderate: Sexual assault