Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC!

**Old Wounds** by Logan-Ashley Kisner is a fierce, fast-paced entry into the trans horror canon that scores big on representation—we love to see it! This is a standout read for anyone who enjoys socially-minded horror, blending sharp social commentary with blood-soaked intensity, dark humor, and surprising tenderness.

The story is packed with humor, heart, and heroism, all while never shying away from the visceral. Kisner manages to balance the horror with emotional depth and thoughtful exploration of identity, making this more than just a genre piece.

Also: that cover? Stunning. A perfect match for the book’s tone and energy.

**Old Wounds** is bold, smart, and full of bite. I highly recommend it to horror fans looking for something fresh, fearless, and full of feeling.

a little heavy-handed on the extended metaphor, but i do think that for folks who really enjoy socially-minded horror that this will be a hit. i also think the gore here was pretty solid, but would've loved to see a little more monstrosity, as i feel like the true action didn't pick up until really close to the end of the book.

Thank you so much, Netgalley, for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review!

We all know I am a sucker for some Trans horror representation! I got incredibly attached to our main characters, Max and Erin, and by the time I found out why they were embarking on this trip to California together, my heart broke into pieces for them. I love it when stories include social horror with LGBTQ identity instead of letting a monster do all the work. I felt like this author did a wonderful job in representing the trans community, and having this book play out in a perfect cinematic sequence made the story fly by and left me wanting more all at once.

All in all, the plot gets very twisty and engrossing. I couldn't put it down until I reached the very end. My one caveat would be that it is a very heavy piece to pick up, especially if you relate to the characters and their societal struggles in any way. I was definitely taken aback by some of the content and how it confronts you, but it's all done beautifully and not in a gross voyeuristic way.

Looking for an incredible horror book that has two trans main characters? Look no further than old wounds. Erin and max are on their way to Berkley California, where they hope to get a fresh start. They're both running from a past neither of them truly understands. Max's family refuses to accept him and Erin feels like her mom just sees her as her father. When they high tail it out of Ohio, they stumble upon the middle of nowhere Kentucky, where they just so happen to run into the Beast as the locals call it. Supposedly it eats girls to keep the floods at bay, which brings the question of whether or not this cryptid can actually tell someone's gender. The entirety of this story is eye opening to the lives of trans teens and the struggles they face among their families and peers. While the horror aspect was incredible, I also loved the characters themselves and the insight to their thoughts and feelings.

I enjoyed both MCs on their journey from friends to lovers to enemies to friends to ?? They were both believable teens thrust into a horrifically scary situation.

I would have loved to have had a bit more world/lore building though when it came to the big bad monster. There were parts of that plot that I think could have been more fully realized.

I also appreciated the end and how it's open for a potential sequel.

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Thank you Delacorte Press and NetGalley for the e-ARC I received in exchange for an honest review. I also received a physical ARC of this book at the ALA conference last year and decided to read that version.
I literally finished this book in a little over a day. I was hooked from the first word until the last, and gosh did the author do a FANTASTIC job on this novel. This makes we want to find more queer horror books now. Both Erin and Max are so relatable from the very beginning, as they both struggle with their problems in different ways. The plot was also very well developed and kept me coming back for more. Though I do recommend reading the trigger warnings before reading, I recommend this book so so so much, and want to see what the author continues to write!

It starts with a simple premise and unspools into something much more intricate. Without relying on gimmicks, it manages to be both engaging and thought-provoking. You don’t just read it—you sit with it.

I'll be completely honest that I never finished this although I had every intention to.

I did enjoy whatever I read of it before life got too crazy and I just never came back to it.

Thank you for the opportunity.

When two trans teenagers decide to run away from home to escape to California and live free as themselves, they wind up in a fight for their lives when they’re waylaid by a cult who sacrifices girls to a mysterious monster living in their woods.

The beginning of this book is fairly slow, and in all honesty if I hadn’t known this was classified as a horror up until about the 50% mark, I’d have assumed it was simply a literary novel surrounding the issue of being trans in a world that is unaccepting. However, once this novel picks up it picks up FAST, and once the story finally hits its stride it doesn’t let up until everything is finally resolved.

Like the debate both Max and Erin ironically have before they realize the danger they’re in - are cryptids transphobic? If the monster only eats girls, who does it go after? Erin - the trans girl, or Max - the trans boy? When the cult tries to answer this question for the monster, the monster responds with something that no one - including the ones feeding the monster - ever expected.

All in all, this was a fun ride and I enjoyed the horror and survival thriller aspect of this book. Erin fits very well into the Final Girl archetype, while Max is the comedic relief dead-set (perhaps literally) to die while mocking the ones trying - and failing - to kill him. Together, they’ll figure out how to survive this nightmare they’ve found themselves in - and perhaps, eliminate the threat so no one else has to die to fulfill the whims of the men in this town.

A huge thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Random House Children’s for providing this e-ARC.

This gripping novel combines heartfelt exploration of identity with a chilling supernatural mystery, creating a unique and suspenseful reading experience. Erin and Max, two trans kids on a road trip to California, are at the heart of a story that delves deeply into their individual struggles with self-discovery and acceptance. As they navigate both the complexities of their own identities and the dangers of rural America, their journey becomes a tense and emotional rollercoaster. The book beautifully weaves together themes of resilience, love, and the power of confronting one's past.

The real strength of this novel lies in its ability to blend tension and terror with moments of profound emotional growth. As Erin and Max face off against a legendary creature and a terrifying group of locals, they are forced to reckon with their fears, both external and internal. The bond between them, tested by time and trauma, is the beating heart of the story. This book is a must-read for those looking for a thrilling adventure that doesn’t shy away from exploring important and timely themes, making it an unforgettable read that will stick with you long after the last page.

This book was harder to get into than most. I couldn't really connect with the characters & kept putting it down.

Old Wounds was a hard book to read and I honestly don't know if I'd really recommend it to anyone, even if I knew the reader was wanting a title that deals with the kind of topics dealt with in this book.

Old Wounds was all about the trans experience and trans trauma and although the characters persevered in the end it was extraordinarily traumatic to read. From the historical tidbits of actual crimes against trans kids to the "current" crimes that were being committed on the pages. It was just a lot and it was a hard read. Though I don't know if someone who has actually dealt with transitioning would think otherwise.

5/5 ⭐

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book!

This book follows Erin and Max, two trans kids who attempt to run away to California. Before they can reach their destination, they are stranded in the middle of nowhere and forced to survive what awaits them in the shadows.

First and foremost, this is a phenomenal debut novel! This book had me hooked from beginning to end. I was immediately invested in Max and Erin as characters! Kinser seamlessly wove together Max and Erin's personal development, their experiences being trans, and the horror elements!

Though this book may be heavy at times, I highly recommend it to any lovers of horror and mystery. 🔮

Now, more than ever, it is important to uplift LQBTQ+ stories, especially those featuring trans kids! 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️

This was an incredibly good read! The story was beautifully written and the characters were flushed out really well! Definitely worth the read!

As a certified Queer Horror lover, I love all the horror, and specifically trans horror, we're getting in 2024. As the state of transness grows increasingly troubling in the US (living here is certainly....something), stories exploring that horror feel both escapist and incredibly real. The goal of horror is always to explore fears in a controlled manner, and I loved reading this in Old Wounds. Having a trans main cast was so cathartic and their conversations about transness was something that isn't common in YA, so I was glad to see it here. I loved it, and couldn't put it down. I look forward to Kisner's future releases.

What I liked most about this story is how honest the characters felt. The main characters were perfect and I love that I got to see their flaws. I think that’s what made this story feel so real.

I will say, trans stories can be difficult to review since I don’t feel like they are necessarily geared towards me. However, as a gay man, I do enjoy reading them. I think what put me off the slightest bit was how heavy this story deals with trans issues. Yes, this story is about two trans people but I felt like that is all that was discussed in the story. I guess I was wanting more from them than just their discussions of being trans and issues they face. Personally, I own who I am being gay but it doesn’t necessarily define me as a person. I get what was meant for the story’s sake but I wanted more of who Erin and Max are.

Finally, what I loved most about this story was the writing. The descriptions and details in the story were wonderful. I felt like I was there. This is a story about the horrors and how disgusting some humans can be but also how loving and kind they can be.

I’m excited to follow Logan-Ashley Kinser to see what they do next. I’ll definitely be checking it out.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

Great supernatural horror story and thought provoking read with references to trans history and media.
Solid debut and I can't wait to read more from Logan-Ashley Kisner.

A timely YA folk horror that spins a trans twist on some of the genre's famously gendered tropes. Both protagonists feel like real teenagers - it was refreshing to read a YA novel that didn't feel edited down to that audience at some point in the publishing process.

Special thanks to @netgalley for an eARC copy!

I know you aren’t supposed to judge a book by its cover, but come on, how cool is this? And to back it up, @transhorror has written a heartbreaking and horrifying novel in #OldWounds.

Erin and Max are two trans teens trying to escape from Ohio to California to start new lives. As Max runs to become the man he wants to be, Erin questions why she joined him on this adventure seeing as Max broke up with her and hasn’t said two words to her in years. But when their car breaks down in a small Kentucky town, the two find themselves in a fight for survival against a cryptid beast and the locals who are in over their heads.

Horror as a genre has always been a medium to discuss gender and sexuality, and Kisner’s new book is a great example of this. The monster in the story is rooted as a local legend, one rooted in heteronormativity. When two trans identities are thrown into the mix, the situation goes sideways with traditional understandings of gender being the crux of the struggle, both natural and supernatural. Max and Erin are flawed characters, sure, but that’s simply because they are teens who have only known a world that is out to harm them. Their saving grace through the story is an understanding of who they are at their core, and their friendship and shared trans experience is what ultimately makes them a survivor horror duo. Kisner also highlights some real-life transgender news stories in the novel and it adds a welcome layer of humanity to an otherwise supernatural horror read.

If this novel is any indication of Kisner’s ability as a novel writer, I’m STOKED to read more in the future. The importance of trans identities in all forms of media can’t and shouldn’t be downplayed, and Kisner does a fantastic job of making space in the horror genre. 🏳️‍⚧️

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

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