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!!

I’m saddened by this read. This was a book I really looked forward to diving into. The cover grabbed me, and after reading the synopsis, I was eager to get into the story head-on. Unfortunately, the way the book was described doesn’t match the energy of the book itself. There’s simply not enough horror, and much of the focus revolves around conversations about the characters’ lives before Max and Erin even hit the road. Erin, thankfully, was the saving grace of the story. I found Max to be insufferable. Beyond the typical teenage angst, there were so many nonsensical decisions and paranoid moments that they took away from the book in significant ways.

I understand that Old Wounds is aimed at a young adult audience, but I kept having to remind myself how old these characters were, which felt jarring at times. While I appreciate the author’s attempt to explore the experiences of younger trans people, I felt that the perspectives were overly singular and didn’t offer as much nuance as they could have. It’s clear that the author aimed to create that lingering, constant feeling of being watched and blend it with the presence of the bullet beast. But for me, it just didn’t work. The thriller elements were there, but I would categorize this book as more of a dramatic thriller than anything else.

I will always celebrate seeing representation in literature and recognize how necessary these conversations are. But with Old Wounds, there were too many moments when I wanted to DNF it. It didn’t live up to the promise or potential of what the synopsis offered, and I was left disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Delacourte Press for this digital read.

This reminded me of Allison Rumfitt's books, in a good way, though I kept thinking that it might have been even more exciting as a movie than as a book. The chase sequences and violence and gore read fine on the page but would have really popped on film, I think. The themes are strong and contemporary and vital, and the writing was top-notch, even if the pacing lagged a bit at times (and one of the protagonists was much more relatable than the other).

I look forward to what Kisner does next!

A heavy but wonderful horror story. It was hard, at times, to read how horrible humans can be to other humans. But the push to survive, the will to live - the sheer tenacity and spite to refuse to stay down and accept fate. It's such an inspiring but sad story intermixed with a terrifying monster, woods that never seem to end, a moon that barely lights the forest, and a never ending night.

The author is quick to introduce Erin and Max. Told in alternating chapters, we're quick to get to know and then easily love them. They still hold secrets that are slowly told over the story, but the intro is fast and easy.

This is an amazing addition to the horror genre. I was hooked from the start and am still mildly shocked by the turns and twists. It's a fast read, and one that will stay with me.

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Cryptids support trans rights and want *you* to protect trans kids.

Okay, first of all, before we get into anything else. This COVER. It's not only one of my all time favorite book covers now, but it's creative and gorgeous and still creepy as hell all at once. Liz Dresner (@lizdresner on Instagram) designed this beauty, and Zoë van Dijk (@creepcaptain on Instagram) did such an amazing job illustrating it, I just really wanted to give credit before I moved onto the review of the book itself. Now that that's out of the way, review time!

Old Wounds is an absolute masterpiece of a book, it was everything I had hoped for and more! It started off slow, building tension each chapter until it reached the point that eating and sleeping were no longer important because all that mattered was finding out what was going to happen next. Erin was such a badass when it came to the cryptid and trying to keep Max safe, and Max deserved the whole world, I completely understand why Erin was willing to do what she did for him.

Parts of this were heartbreaking, parts of this were hilarious, and every part of it was drenched in horror and fear, building one of the best horror stories I've ever read. I'm blown away by Kisner's debut, and can't wait to read what he writes next! But most of all, I'm just so, so happy for the trans kids who are going to get to see themselves represented like this. While Old Wounds may not be a particularly happy book, it's one I think teenagers will really be able to appreciate, especially in the current political climate.

Thanks to Delacorte and NetGalley for the ARC!

Erin and Max are two newly graduated trans kids who decide to leave Ohio for California. Max wants to start fresh and begin his transition, and Erin? She isn’t sure why she’s driving halfway across the country with the boy who dumped her two years ago and hasn’t spoken to her since. The two quickly find themselves stranded and lost in a tiny town in Kentucky where they find a local legend is real and the townsfolk are looking for a female sacrifice to appease it. In order to survive the night, Erin and Max have to face their fears and each other.

Old Wounds is not only a stellar piece of trans literature, but is also a genuinely great folk horror story. Erin and Max have very different experiences with transness and both are shown in such an impactful way. Some of the subject matter of Old Wounds is difficult - discussion the deaths of trans people in the media, talk of suicide, and transphobia and abuse - however it’s all so important and integral to a story about two trans kids from the Midwest. Telling a story using the trope of gendered sacrifices to a monster but subverting it by throwing trans main characters in the mix is genuinely fun and interesting. Showing and discussing how moving outside the gender binary impacts these classic stories is really smart and clever.

Overall, Old Wounds is a beautiful story about fighting for yourself and pushing forward even when it seems like the world doesn’t want you to, about found family, self actualization, and facing your fears and mistakes. It’s a really quick and engaging read that has so much heart. Can’t recommend this one enough.

Erin and Max. Long time friends, once upon a time couple and two teenagers in the midst of their transitions to their true selves. Max, not receiving any support from his family, decides it’s time to leave for The open love of California and convincing Erin to come with.

Their friendship was a hard read at times- Max was jealous of the support Erin received from her mom and sister, whether financially or emotionally, and would talk her down and my heart broke for the lack of support Max wouldn’t provide her. But from an outside perspective, it felt like the story was telling the differences in the trans experience.

The first half of the book was a slow focus on their friendship and a lot of back story. Maybe a little too much that it could feel like page filler as I was waiting for any kind of horror to begin. Instead of front loading the backstory in the beginning, I would have liked it maybe told with more flashbacks and sprinkled in throughout the story. And let the horror/monster parts start earlier than almost at the halfway point. As the journey and the characters slowly start to unravel, paranoia seeps in but I wish the author had set up more of a cause or tension for the paranoia.

Once the monster is finally introduced and what it’s after, I appreciate the conversations the characters have regarding sex and gender. I would have liked a little more plot and not as much of similar conversations repeated, as some of the overly wordiness could get in its way. The whole“monster” ending fell a little flat and lackluster with loose ends.

“It’s hard to identify a skeleton, even harder to gender one” is a fantastic line, one more people need to hear. It’s a reminder for people to be able to be their true selves in the little time we are not just bones. I was expecting more horror so it was t quite four stars for me

erin and max are broken up. but erin and max have to be in a car with each other for a very, very long time until they secure their arrival to california. both are harboring feelings and the car is thick with tension. what they didn't expect is they'd find themselves stranded on a stretch of road in nowheresville, middle america. plenty of time to work through their issues... until they realize they might have bigger problems than flat tires.

this was an artful, dual-perspective novel about two sides of existing as trans in this world. i'm so grateful the author decided to oscillate between perspectives - we get to see erin's experience living as someone who has been loved and taken care of by her mom. then, we get to see max's harrowing experience living with a mother who writes inexcusable facebook posts in a group of bigots about forcibly detransitioning max and a stepfather who violently assaults him for the crime of wearing a binder. there is a very clear message drawn here about the dichotomy what happens when a kid is unconditionally loved vs. when a kid is forced to suffer under parents who care more about their own toxic ideologies than their actual child.

the horror here was equally as interesting - the creature hunting max and erin requires a female sacrifice, as the common horror trope goes. (this made me think of another popular horror trope - the 'final girl'.) and this story asks you to consider - what makes a girl a girl? if a girl isn't cis, does it matter? it truly asks you to critically consider the ridiculousness of debates surrounding gender. is a girl only a girl if she's born with traditionally female anatomy? if that's true, then why do we have people disputing the femininity of athletes like imane khelif? is it estrogen that makes a girl a girl? if so, then why do trans women not count in the eyes of so many transphobes? the plot felt like a physical manifestation of the weird circle jerk that transphobic people put themselves in, always changing goal posts to suit their own agendas. i think this was a masterful way to tell the story, honestly.

this one is a tough read, i'm not going to lie to you. the most horrific aspects of this novel had nothing to do with the cryptid and the people actually feeding girls to it, but with the very real, harrowing violence that trans people experience today - either when it's a grown man attacking a child and forcibly removing a binder with scissors or a mom who puts the dead name of a trans girl on her headstone after she kills herself because her parents refuse to accept her. but it's a valuable read because it very much reminds you of the power that we hold to heal each other and that there's a light at the end of the tunnel for all of us.