Queer horror is a really fun and introspective genre, and I'm pleased to see a great example of it here. In this book we have two transgender teens: Erin, who is accepted by her family for the most part, and Max, who wants to run away to California where he can be himself and invites his ex Erin along. The best part of this book for me was the chilling dread and tension when the teens are trapped in a rural town inhabited by an infamous "Beast" that allegedly eats girls. But the real horror was the people in the town who only see the teens as prey. When lives are at stake, who can you trust? Not the police, not the locals. Can Erin and Max trust each other to survive?

I really liked that Erin and Max were exes. This added interesting drama to their dynamic since they hadn't been super close in years and needed time to reconnect and break down their barriers. Max's jealously over Erin's ability to "pass" was a great detail.

I loved the message behind this book, and I absolutely loved the different family dynamics of both main characters. Both mc's are trans, and their journeys are very different. I loved how they highlighted how important a journey of acceptance of themselves and others is for a trans person and just how different those paths can be. My problem with this book is the lack of horror. I was hoping for more of the monster, and was disappointed at how little the monster was mentioned in the story. Overall a great message but not a lot of horror. I would still recommend this book and read from this author again. 3 1/2 stars.

A cryptid who is only fed female sacrifices, two trans teens, and some small-thinking small-town men are trapped in a town. Who makes it out alive?

This has all the makings of a classic horror novel. On a road trip, your car gets a flat in middle of nowhere America. Everyone seems friendly enough at first, but something is very unsettling about everyone. I loooove those stories. You have all the classic horror tropes: splitting up (when you obviously should NEVER do that), tripping and falling while running away, discarding your weapon (hello? You should definitely keep that shard of glass with you), trusting people you obviously shouldn’t (why are you getting into his car??) etc etc. It was so much fun for me to read.

I don’t know how to talk about everything I loved and some of the things I didn’t without spoiling a few things because I think this is best going in as blind as possible. I will say I went through a myriad of emotions while reading, I love our main characters so deeply, and this was so enjoyable.

Thank you Delacorte and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am such a fan of LGBTQ horror and Logan Ashley Kisner delivers in Old Wounds!

Erin and Max are two trans kids who are trying to get to California and end up getting stranded in the woods of middle America. They soon come across monsters preying on girls, locals looking for a sacrifice and a broken relationship that needs healing. Can they survive the physical and metaphorical demons and reunite?

This is the perfect time to read this book and I highly recommend. Please check trigger warnings before reading.

Logan-Ashley Kisner perfectly sets the scene for their book with this blurb: Old Wounds is a book about the horror of being stuck in a car with your ex, the reality of gendered violence, and a question: what does "female sacrifice" logistically entail when nobody in your pool of victims is cis?

I simply could not prepare anyone for this book better than the author themselves can. I really enjoyed the themes and messaging. If you're someone who is turned off by a heavy-handed approach, don't be afraid. OLD WOUNDS is the perfect mix of horror and social commentary. I loved it.

A YA queer horror story? Sign me up!
This started out strong but kind of fell off a bit for me. While I did enjoy the story, it didn't have enough resolution for me to really love it (unfortunately)

Old Wounds is a horror story about two transgender teens who are busting out of their hometown to move to California. Our two main characters, Max and Erin, have had a previous relationship and broke up, but they are committed to keeping their promise to move out of their hometown in search for a better future for them both.
After stopping at a gas station in the middle of no where, things start to get spooky. We are then introduced to the sheriff and his buddies and this mysterious beast in the woods. (I love a road trip gone wrong scenario!!)
While the story didn't really keep the horror plot for me (we had no resolution about the beast??) I did appreciate the authors commitment to telling Max and Erin's stories. As the reader, I was really able to learn about their identities and struggles as both being young and trans. The characters do feel so real and like you really know them. Despite loving both Max and Erin, I didn't love the overall story line and wish there would have been a better ending.

I will definitely read more from this author in the future despite not *loving* this book! I feel like this author has a really strong future ahead of them.

Max and Erin are California bound teens. They each have their own reasons for running away from home. Max, a trans boy is crumbling under the weight of a family that denies his true identity. Erin, a trans girl, feels lost and insecure despite the acceptance she receives from her mother and sister. When Max finally decides to bid farewell to Columbus, Ohio, and seek a brighter future in Berkeley, California, he asks Erin if she wants to go with him. Erin agrees to go too despite being confused about their relationship: Max broke her heart two years earlier including cutting off all contact. Things are already tense between them when they set off. When everything goes sideways after the car won’t start and find themselves stranded in rural Kentucky., They’re not happy. The locals are searching for someone to sacrifice to a monster who devours girls. The pair must figure out their complicated history as well as find the strength to survive a seemingly endless night. The action-packed narrative frequently cuts between scenes.

The author has written an action packed narrative which cuts between scenes and characters, creating a rhythm that propelled me forward. This novel gives a spotlight on transgender people in which they are underrepresented at this time. It puts Max and Erin through the worst but ultimately empowers them which I liked. This is my first transgender novel that I have read and enjoyed.

This book absolutely blew me away! I absolutely love that trans horror is having a moment these past couple years, from Andrew Joseph White's fantastic The Spirit Bares its Teeth all the way to this stunning debut. The premise is a spin on classic horror: two exes go on a roadtrip and end up in a town that is not exactly what it seems. The twist here? Both exes are trans--one transfemme and the other transmasc--and the town is haunted by a monster that feasts on girls, a setup that lends itself brilliantly to social commentary and analysis of gender. If you love AJW's books, expect similar themes here, but with more of a small town horror feel.

The horror aspect is perfectly done, balancing the terror of the literal monster with the monstrosity of the humans that Erin and Max face. While quite a heavy read, I felt that Kisner did such an amazing job with characterization that I wanted to keep reading, if only to know that Erin and Max would make it out okay. They both felt so real and fleshed out, and the writing was incredible.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Delacorte Press, and Logan-Ashley Kisner for gifting me this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

thank you netgalley for the e-ARC!

i really enjoyed this book and related so much to Max's character. we need more horror trans books and this author did not disappoint.

A chilling debut. I'll look forward to seeing was Kisner does next. Though making a note to only read during the day. Dang was this one scary!

Definitely one of the best books of 2024.
This brilliant story shares some beautifully important aspects to life as a trans person and how it’s a part of everything they experiences.
Our two MC’s on either end of the transgender spectrum with a complicated relationship take off in the middle of the night looking for life elsewhere find themselves in redneckville USA with a whole lot more trouble than they were prepared for.
But if that isn’t enough to sell you on this story just know it’s also a very well written horror story that legit gave me the creeps numerous times., even as a seasoned horror reader..
It was well paced, compelling and not overly predictable..It’s got it all.
A 5 star read that I’ll absolutely be rereading.

4.5 stars, rounded up

Thanks to NetGalley for an eARC of this title!

Holy shit, this book is brutal. I was not prepared for how emotionally wrecked I was gonna be after. I loved Erin and Max, they're probably some of the most compelling characters I've read in a while. The book makes it clear that the trans experience is not a monolith, and that sometimes we must face reality when escape is not possible. Kisner does not pull his punches, and I cannot wait to see what else he publishes.

Thanks to NetGalley & Delacorte Press for the early copy in exchange for an honest review. Fair warning, I am not transgender but do support the community, so take my opinion with a grain of salt.

I wanted to like this book but the two protagonists, Max & Erin, made it really difficult. Sure, they're complex characters, but the author is almost too good at writing stupid teenagers.

They're emotionally aware of the transphobia they face in society and are critical of society's bullshit, but they don't know basic safety rules. Don't get in a car with strangers. Don't travel across the country without a GPS. Don't split up in the woods. They had an idea of a plan but didn't know how to execute it.

It would have been funny but it ended up being more frustrating than anything. They're really dumb when it comes to anything that's not about trans philosophy.

I liked the concept of the "monster" in the book, though. I wanted more information on the monster in the end.

Most people seemed to have been angry at Max's actions but I thought he made the most sense. Erin, however, was extremely privileged and I'm still angry at her decision at the end of the book. Grr.

I still think this book is important to include in a public library's collection--there should be more trans authors in any collection!

The kindle cover and animation for this is *chefs kiss*. Did I realize I was walking into a horror story when I picked this up? No. Should I have? Probably.
The differing struggles of Erin and Max makes this novel relatable to a broad audience, and especially lgbtqia teens. I appreciated that Kisner continued to tell their stories after the events in the woods ended.
As for the horror part of this, it got less scary the more the book progressed. BUT I think that may purely be due to my cis-gender, straight experience. I imagine lgbtqia folks reading this may have similar uneasy feelings as black people that watched Get Out.

This book was one of the scariest most thought-provoking books I have read in a long time. I really think that anyone of any age should read (except maybe super young kids who will be scared of the monsters in the book).

In this story, our two main characters used to date and haven't spoken in two years. But now they're running away from Columbus, Ohio to Berkeley, California. Once they get into Kentucky, they start to have some car troubles which persist deep into the night where they get stranded in the middle of the woods. They soon find out that the town is "haunted" by a cryptid and these cishet white men sacrifice a girl to the cryptid every so often to prevent disaster from coming to the town. Oh and you cannot escape the town and the night lasts until the cryptid is satisfied with its "meal." As our main characters run away, fight back, and everything in between they question what "girlhood" means and really question everything these men have done for generations.

The conversations about friendship, love, identity, family, what it means to be trans, etc. were just so rich and so much more than I ever expected from a scary story.

A queer horror novel that doesn't end in absolute heartbreak is the queer horror novel we all need. It's a quick read, but it will keep you on the edge of your seat and wanting more. I picked this up just a bit after it was published, but I think it was the perfect introduction to spooky season.

This was really strong. I enjoyed the set-up, character work and action. I liked how the Social Horror elements were more frightful than the Monster bits. Which tracks.

Old Wounds is an intense and engaging YA Horror story featuring two Trans-MCs, who while on a road trip across country, end up getting stuck in a small town where they must fight for their survival. Max and Erin are estranged friends who used to date. Max wants to go to California and ends up convincing Erin to go with him. Erin is a little confused by this, considering Max broke up with her abruptly 2-years ago.

We follow the kids from the start of the trip through to the bitter end. It was a little awkward at first. They both have a lot of thoughts swirling through their heads, but are getting comfortable communicating with one another again.

I was hooked into this from the start. I felt like the character work, from the first moments, was so well executed. I loved getting to know both Max and Erin. They're very different, but have a lot of history and are connected by many experiences. As I learned their reasoning for making the trip to California, it made me sad, but I could definitely appreciate their reasoning. I think for Erin, she was more concerned for Max than herself. I liked that dedication to a friend.

It doesn't take long before they get to the small town where they get stuck. This is where the main action will play out. I loved the Horror vibes of that. The creepy small town feel, it was like you could feel the walls closing in on them. That's one of my favorite Horror tropes; protagonists ending up in strange town where the locals aren't behaving normally. You just know that some scary stuff is about to go down. That the MCs are in serious danger. Kisner nailed that set-up. It was very cinematic.

The kids meet a few locals, after having some car troubles, and they're told a legend about the town involving a monster. To me, it sounded like a story of sacrifice, but Erin and Max didn't see it that way. At least not initially. You follow Max and Erin as things get weirder and weirder, and as their circumstances get increasingly more dangerous.

This is all you need to know about the plot. It gets wild and crazy. It had me glued to the pages. There's a ton of social commentary and I need to doff my cap to the author for the way it was all presented. The social elements were seamless with the rest of the narrative. Everything flowed smoothly after the incredible character development and plot set-up. It was easy, as the Reader, to interpret what I believe the author was trying to get across, without it feeling forced.

I'm NGL, this is a heavy read and I would recommend being sure that you are in the right headspace when you read it. Overall though, I think it was beautifully done. I could have done with a little more towards the end, but that could've been because I was attached Erin and Max by that point. I was impressed by this. I went in with zero expectations and Logan-Ashley Kisner has captured my attention. I can't wait to see what they come up with next.

Thank you to the publisher, Delacorte Press, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I really hope this book gets the attention it deserves. Well done!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

I got this ARC a bit back but held onto it for spooky season just to set the mood. It was a perfect intro to spooky season.

Normally I'm more of a paranormal horror person and not monsters or slashers. However this one was more a slasher/monster vibe but I still really enjoyed it because the story was so great. Honestly this is more a tale of friendship, growing up, and old wounds.

I loved the honest tale of Max and Erin so much. The author showed their flaws, their vulnerabilities, and their strengths all in this tale. I won't say much here because I think this is a tale you just need to read yourself.

Though I can't relate to Erin or Max's old wounds as their journey isn't mine, I loved getting to see through their eyes and learn from them. Truly, the worst monsters are human, and that's a fact I can 100% relate to.

4.25/5.00

A seriously impressive debut! This book grabbed me and didn't let go until the final page. I loved the nebulous horror of the creature, the evolving love between the two trans leads, and the commentary on trans mortality in America. This book made me genuinely laugh when the moment called for it and made my skin crawl with dread at its peak spookiness. I would recommend this to anyone who reads YA horror or horror in general.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc!

I got everything I wanted and more with this one!! I picked it up because I'm OBSESSED with LGBTQIA+ horror, and it didn't disappoint. Being a YA novel, the relationships felt real and made me so nostalgic for my younger days... Which provided some levity amongst the heavy topics and darkness. There were times when it felt a little slow, but overall worth it and a great read!!