THE UNWORTHY
AGUSTINA BAZTERRICA (TRANSLATED BY SARAH MOSES)
*****
A fearsomely dark, incantatory new dystopia set in a post-apocalyptic convent from the author of viral sensation Tender is the Flesh.
In the House of the Sacred Sisterhood, the unworthy live in fear of the Superior Sister's whip. Seething with resentment, they plot against each other and await who will ascend to the level of the Enlightened - and who will suffer the next exemplary punishment.
Risking her life, one of the unworthy keeps a diary in secret. Slowly, memories surface from a time before the world collapsed, before the Sacred Sisterhood became the only refuge.
Then Lucía arrives. She, too, is unworthy - but she is different. And her arrival brings a single spark of hope to a world of darkness.
MY REVIEW
*****
I have a soft spot for dystopian thrillers that drip feeds information to their readers slowly. I have not read Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica, but I have heard good things so I was excited to read The Worthy.
Set in a dystopian world, the convent of the Sacred Sisterhood, a woman writes in her cell at night. She is torn between wanting to become Enlightened but worried at the price that this will cost as she sees her sisters mutilated and punished around her.
Although a relatively short book, The Unworthy takes its time to unveil its secrets to the readers. We have to hold our disbelief about this convent and its many rules and its grim and disturbing punishments, until truths about the outside world are slowly revealed to us. The book does get quite gory and gruesome in places, but it makes for an interesting and different read.
This book is translated into English by Sarah Moses, who also translated Tender is the Flesh. The translation feels really well done - the prose flows well and the imagery is beautiful. It didn’t actually feel like it had been translated, which is the highest compliment!
I think the ending might divide readers, but it did tie everything together. There are messages in here about the patriarchy and the environment and a possible path that humanity could slide down, given the smallest of pushes. It also shows a darker side to the sisterhood, with women competing against each other to gain favour with the men, as well as what people will do with smallest amount of power. Although I haven’t read Tender is the Flesh, I have now added it to my TBR!
Overall, The Unworthy is a powerful and gruesome read but it’s beautiful, flowing prose will have you hooked. Thank you to NetGalley & Pushkin Press for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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