Agustina Bazterrica, acclaimed author of Tender is the Flesh, returns with another chilling and thought-provoking novel in The Unworthy. This gripping psychological thriller delves into themes of trauma, violence, and survival, immersing readers in a haunting exploration of human nature. With Bazterrica’s signature sharp prose and unsettling atmosphere, The Unworthy is a must-read for fans of dark, literary fiction. Keep reading to discover why this novel will leave you questioning everything.
Title: The Unworthy
By: Augustina Bazterrica
Genre: Dystipian
Pages: 192
Release Date: September 1st, 2023
Rating: ★★★★☆
Summary from Goodreads:
The long-awaited new novel from the author of global sensation Tender Is the Flesh: a thrilling work of literary horror about a woman cloistered in a secretive, violent religious order, while outside the world has fallen into chaos.
From her cell in a mysterious convent, a woman writes the story of her life in whatever she can find—discarded ink, dirt, and even her own blood. A lower member of the Sacred Sisterhood, deemed an unworthy, she dreams of ascending to the ranks of the Enlightened at the center of the convent and of pleasing the foreboding Superior Sister. Outside, the world is plagued by catastrophe—cities are submerged underwater, electricity and the internet are nonexistent, and bands of survivors fight and forage in a cruel, barren landscape. Inside, the narrator is controlled, punished, but safe.
But when a stranger makes her way past the convent walls, joining the ranks of the unworthy, she forces the narrator to consider her long-buried past—and what she may be overlooking about the Enlightened. As the two women grow closer, the narrator is increasingly haunted by questions about her own past, the environmental future, and her present life inside the convent. How did she get to the Sacred Sisterhood? Why can’t she remember her life before? And what really happens when a woman is chosen as one of the Enlightened?
A searing, dystopian tale about climate crisis, ideological extremism, and the tidal pull of our most violent, exploitative instincts, this is another unforgettable novel from a master of feminist horror.
Review:
The Unworthy by Agustina Bazterrica is a dark, unsettling, and deeply strange novel that lingers long after the final page. Set in a dystopian world where survival hinges on brutal rules and twisted hierarchies, the story is both disturbing and thought-provoking. Bazterrica’s writing is sharp and unflinching, pulling readers into a nightmarish society that challenges notions of humanity and morality. While the bleak atmosphere and graphic elements won’t be for everyone, I found myself captivated by the raw emotional undercurrents and unique world-building. A solid 4-star read for those who can handle its intensity.
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.
No comments:
Post a Comment