I loved the crypids for trans rights!!! I found it very interesting how majority of the book didn't really have horror elements, it was mostly contemporary fiction following two trans teens who are running away from their hometown to go to California. I felt like I could’ve done without all the drama on their relationship and have more horror. I still found the horror to be really good but it felt like we were balancing too much with the supernatural stuff and the sociopolitical horror. I still enjoyed the book & will always be interesting in horror focusing around trans main characters

Thank you Netgalley and Usborne books for an arc of this book


We follow Erin and Max who are escaping Ohio to California where they would be more accepted for the Transness. While Erin is out and proud, Max just came out. While their family doesnt accept her, she and her ex, Erin runaway and take a road trip to California.

During their trip, Max's car breaks down in a rural town in Tennessee. Instantly they suspect something suspicious and are weary of the town. Its surprising its mostly males.

They learn they sacrifice women to this monster who they only believe want females to feed off of.

This book kept me on my toes and was full of suspense.

Thank you Netgalley for the advance reader copy of Old Wounds by Logan-Ashley Kisner in exchange for an honest review. I wasn't sure about this book in the beginning, but I stuck with it and ended up reading the whole book in one night. Two transgender teens decide to leave Ohio and head for California and it's more trans friendly laws. They head off on their road trip and at first encounter perceived threats and then something is lurking in the shadows. I loved that it takes the idea of the sacrificial girl and spins it with transgender. This was a well written and suspenseful book that I really enjoyed and recommend.

I love a book with trans rep, so when you add that to the creepy woods of middle America, there's nothing keeping me from reading this story.

The characters of Max and Erin truly drove this story forward, ad I was so invested in seeing what shapes they would take as they moved forward and looked backwards.

The horror elements, especially creepy local town full of creepy people, was wonderfully done and I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish.

I've never read YA horror before, so this was a super interesting new look into my favorite genre.

This was a dual perspective done right; The two main characters stand out as two distinctly different voices, with both offering fresh outlooks on everything they experienced. Also, despite the fact that throughout the book the leads argue, I never found myself favoring one or siding with one more than the other.

In addition to a beautiful rawness this book was also incredibly readable. I appreciated the story taking place in one night, and thought the length was perfect to give the reader that feeling of being stuck while also avoiding dragging. Another reviewer described this read as a cinematic experience, and I couldn't agree more.

This book and tenderness are ultimately a hopeful story of identity, transness, and the way we exist in the context of others.

Thanks to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Delacorte Press and Logan-Ashley Kisner for the chance to read ‘Old Wounds’! I really enjoyed this, even though I felt like things could've been explained a bit more. That didn't take away from how real the main characters felt or how quickly the story moved (once it got going... the first section could've been a little shorter but it did have some important character moments).

A wonderfully spooky and twisty horror that also had strong lgbtqia elements that added a lot to the story.

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! 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️