"Old Wounds" by Logan-Ashley Kisner is one of those books that grabs you by the throat from page one and doesn’t let go until the end—and even then, you’ll be thinking about it for days. It’s like Midsommar meets a trans horror survival story, and honestly, I’m here for every minute of it. The tension between Erin and Max is chef’s kiss—so much unresolved history, but then BOOM, small-town cult weirdness happens, and suddenly all that drama feels like the least of their worries. The twists were so sharp I had whiplash, and the monster? It’s legit terrifying, but also kind of a metaphorical boss fight for their identities. All I’m saying is, if you’re into queer horror that digs into the complexities of survival, both emotional and literal, this one’s a must-read.

While this isn't my first go around with trans horror, it may be my favorite thus far. I really appreciated that this wasn't just a horror story with a trans person at the center, but the complexity of their experience was directly informed by Erin and Max's social and physical transitions. I really enjoyed that as you really get into the conflict, the monster isn't what you think it is. At the end of the day, in this story and all other horror stories that trans people experience in real life, the monster at the heart of these experiences are people. I also really enjoyed exploring the question, do cryptids conceptualize gender? Overall I absolutely loved this concept, I loved how deeply we explored these characters, and I loved the inclusion of the horribly real experiences of trans people that were murdered. Now they will live forever.

*I will share this review online closer to publication date.

*Sacrifice in the Shadows* is a gripping thriller that melds intense horror with a deeply emotional narrative. In this pulse-pounding story, Erin and Max, two transgender teens, find themselves stranded in a remote Kentucky town with a horrifying secret: the locals believe they must offer a female sacrifice to an ancient monster that prowls the woods. This novel is a harrowing and imaginative ride, perfect for fans of *Midsommar* and *Hell Followed with Us*.

Erin and Max are on a journey to California—Max eager to start his transition, Erin grappling with the reasons for their trip, and their complicated past hanging between them. Their plans take a nightmarish turn when they end up in a small, insular town where the locals adhere to a gruesome tradition: an ancient monster only emerges if a girl is sacrificed, and it only consumes what it kills. With the locals convinced that Erin is the ideal candidate for their dark ritual, the stakes couldn’t be higher.

The tension in *Sacrifice in the Shadows* escalates with every chapter. The sense of isolation and dread is palpable as Erin and Max face not only the monstrous entity lurking in the woods but also the terrifying hostility of the town’s residents. The story deftly explores themes of identity, survival, and the struggle against an oppressive fate, using horror as a lens to delve into deeper emotional truths.

Erin and Max’s background adds layers of complexity to their predicament. Their struggle for survival is intertwined with their personal journeys and their fight for acceptance and understanding. The irony of their situation—that the locals unknowingly target individuals who have already endured profound personal battles—adds a poignant edge to the story.

The narrative excels in creating a claustrophobic atmosphere, with the isolated setting and the ever-present threat of the monster enhancing the sense of urgency. The ancient monster, a chilling embodiment of the town’s darkest beliefs, adds a compelling supernatural element that keeps readers on edge.

*Sacrifice in the Shadows* is more than just a thriller; it is a powerful exploration of resilience and self-discovery under the most extreme circumstances. The novel’s blend of horror and emotional depth ensures that it resonates on both a visceral and psychological level. With its vivid descriptions, relentless suspense, and multifaceted characters, this book is a standout read that will captivate and haunt readers long after the final page.

I’d give this book a 4.5 but rounded up to 5 since we can’t do half stars and I think this is an important book to have out in the world for young queer teens to see themselves in the stories they read. Even the horror stories.

First, thanks to NetGalley, Random House Children’s and Delacorte Press for the ARC of this book.

Second, check your triggers on this book. It’s got a lot of transphobia and homophobia in it. As well as some misogyny and then some.

I just finished this and I’m still at a bit of a loss on how to even describe it. It was heavy, but it was so well done.

This is a LGBTQIA+ YA horror that follows two trans teens, Erin & Max, who used to be friends until two years prior. Erin doesn’t know what she did to make Max cut her off, but when they are 18 and he invites her to runaway to cali with him, she accepts.

I won’t lie, I didn’t care for Max in the beginning. I thought he was an ass to Erin and I didnt fully understand why she’d go along with him. As the book progresses we get more insight into each character and it really helps you to understand where each of them is coming from. Being teens is hard, but being trans teens makes it harder, especially in a conservative area.

The book started a bit slow for me. I know some of the build up was needed, but the pacing was just a little off for me in the beginning, but it picked up quickly and boy did it pick up.

So aside from the author writing about trans teens and the hardships they go through and writing that so well. He also did a phenomenal job with the horror. I felt myself tensing up and times and holding my breath.

I can’t wait to see what else this author comes out with.

I will always be a proponent for more Trans stories, especially those that can be read by younger audiences. Not only is this a deeply entertaining book, it helps people see themselves more in stories.

The question of whether cryptids and folk beasts are gender bioessentialists is so simple and brilliant that I'm mad I'd never thought of it before, but also delighted that Kisner's exploration was so well done.

This is a brilliant debut novel. The narrative gives the reader two completely different perspectives on the trans experience, both of which were written very realistically. The fear of simply existing openly as a trans person, along with the complex relationships that come with it, was wonderfully shown through these pages. This story was both thrilling and compelling. The pacing made it even harder to put down, and the fact that the author studied film really enhanced the imagery. My few critiques would be that I feel some scenes should be cleaned up, as I found myself a bit confused at times on where we were in the space. Additionally, I still have questions that I wish had been answered, but I'm sure the characters in the story share this sentiment. I do hope this novel reaches the right eyes, as I feel the portrayal of Erin and Max conveys such an accurate representation of immense fear and anger that comes with living as a transgender teenager in America today.

I don’t normally go for horror, but when I read the premise of this story, I knew I had to read it. And I am so glad I did. It was both scary and thought-provoking and I genuinely found myself scared while reading it. At the same time, though, I really resonated with the characters and thought it had some truly beautiful prose. I think this is going to become a classic in queer horror.

Definitely more thought provoking than scary, I highly recommend this for the trans narrative but as a horror story it is quite a slow start and a rapid conclusion.

Max and Erin both have dramatically different trans coming out stories, despite coming out at the same time and in the same time. Erin is immediately accepted by her family, while Max is violently forced to de-transition by his. Max has asked Erin to drive across the country with him to California when he decides to make his escape to a new life. It's during this road trip that their car breaks down in a small town with a creepy ghost story in a strange wood. And the longest night ever.

This book features a lot more real life horrors that trans people face than any time spent with the cryptids, and the human villains encountered are much scarier than any fictional beasts. The horror story itself is quite a slow burn, and it takes probably over half the book for any of the real action to start, but the creepy build up and the tension really accumulates throughout, and the atmospheric horror is incredibly well done. The back stories of Erin and Max and their motivations were very deeply developed as well. This is an incredibly well done character driven novel.

The only criticism I have, besides the overall slowness, is that the book spent quite a bit of time focusing on the movie Boys Don't Cry which felt like kind of an outdated reference for a book aimed at teenagers. I also would've liked to see them discovering a bit more about the back story of the beast or the town, which didn't feel unresolved as much as only briefly explored.

I really enjoyed this one! I loved the trans representation, and I felt like I learned a bit about their experiences. This eerie read left me with some questions, but was heart-pounding at times. I would recommend this title to sci-fi thriller lovers!

In a last ditch attempt to escape his homophobic family, high school graduate Max runs away with his ex-girlfriend Erin only to be held hostage in a town that demands a girl sacrifice twice a year. The only hitch: Max is trans, as is his ex-girlfriend. Forced apart with the townsmen holding Erin hostage, Max attempts to fight his way back to her only for the townsmen to have determined that Erin is not eligible as a trans girl. With the sacrificers now trained on Max, both Max and Erin are forced to work together to survive while also facing the issues that originally pulled them apart. Old Wounds is a heart gripping, teeth clenching thrill ride that philosophically questions gender while locked into the maw of folkloric beast. Logan-Ashley Kisner is exactly the next author we need writing trans horror in this day and age, and I can’t wait to see what Kisner has in store for us next.

Old Wounds by Logan-Ashley Kisner presents a heartfelt exploration of personal trauma and healing. While the novel offers a genuine look into its characters' struggles, its narrative may feel predictable to some readers. Overall, it provides a reflective reading experience with moments of emotional depth.

This pulse-pounding thriller offers a fresh and terrifying take on the classic monster story. By centering the narrative on two transgender teens, the author introduces a unique and compelling dynamic to the tale. Erin and Max's journey is one of self-discovery and resilience, as they navigate not only the physical dangers of their situation but also the internal struggles of their identities.

The isolated setting of a small Kentucky town creates an atmosphere of claustrophobia and dread, heightening the tension as the teens find themselves trapped in a deadly game. The author's promise of a twist on the traditional monster mythos is intriguing, suggesting a creature that is as complex and terrifying as the human villains who seek to appease it.

With its exploration of themes of identity, survival, and the power of the human spirit, this novel promises to be a thrilling and thought-provoking read for fans of horror and coming-of-age stories alike.

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

10/10. This book was mysterious, creepy, frustrating and ignited passion. What an incredible story. I can’t wait to see what this author does next.

***TRIGGER WARNINGS: loss of a loved one, transphobia, and suicide***

Old Wounds follows Max and Erin who are both transgender. They used to date but Max has not spoken to Erin in two years. Max wants to run away and Erin agrees to go with him. They soon find themselves stranded and separated in creepy woods of rural middle America. Their is a creature only own feeds on girls the locals are searching for their next sacrifice. Erin and Max have to come together to survive while also working on repairing their relationship.

Before I say anything negative about this book I want to focus on the positive. I loved that this book focused on trans characters and the struggles that they go through. I loved that the author included trans resources in the book as well. This book did not shy away from hard things that trans people go through. With that said this book was not what I was excepting. I wanted a horror book and that’s not really what I got. I felt like the horror was just a small part of this book. This book mostly focused on gender, identity and acceptance, which is so important and I’m glad that that is such a strong message in this book. BUT I was in the mood for horror and the horror parts weren’t that great in my opinion. But this book was good and it was focused on such an important topic. I think this is worth the read. Just wish the plot had a bit more horror.

This is a solid, straightforward story. It’s something that we’re all familiar, reading almost like a spooky story told around a campfire.

Where the novel really shines, in my opinion, is the characters and the pacing. The protagonists Erin and Max are so real, so complex in their emotions and relationships, that it doesn’t take long to start supporting them with all your heart. I’m obviously always overjoyed to see trans stories being told.

The pacing was also A+. The action gripped me through ifs entirety and considering how short my attention span has become, I consider it a major feat when a book can make me forget about my phone.

What keeps this from being five stars for me is how straightforward it is… perhaps another subplot or twist would’ve brought this into my *favorites* list. But overall, I would still very much recommend this!

I eagerly await Logan-Ashley Kisner’s upcoming work.

This was a fantastic book. It drew me in immediately with the intricacies of a trans relationship and kept me with the spooky plot. The idea was incredible and the representation was everything I have ever wanted in a book about trans people, from a trans person.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley for an honest review.

This book, while I did enjoy it, harkened me back to teen horror films. You know those type of movies where a rambunctious and overconfident group of teens who love to flaunt their immortality stumble upon a deserted house in the middle of a dark forest with no cell phone service? They know it’s not safe to get out of their car, yet they get out of it anyway and knowingly walk towards the creepy spider infested house containing the monsters hungrily awaiting them?? Well, if you’ve decided to read this book, you’ve come to the right place. Read on.

Erin and Max plan an escape from their transphobic life in Ohio to the green pastures of Berkeley CA. They tell no one of their decision to run away from their intolerable homelife. So to throw any scent off their trail they jump in their jalopy which is a beat up Impala, and as they begin their journey to their promised land of Berkeley, they decide to make the (not so) brilliant move of taking a detour off the safety of the paved and well traveled HWYs to the backroads through Hicksville USA. Huge mistake. Anyone remember the movie Deliverence? The word “yikes” immediately comes to mind. Then they compound said huge mistake #1 by ditching their cell phones in Hicksville USA. HUGER MISTAKE #2. Can you hear those banjos strumming yet? I’ll say no more. Read the book. It gets better my friends.

All kidding aside, I really did enjoy this book. Erin and Max have dreams and come hell or high water, they will try by any means necessary to realize them. With all their foibles they had me rooting for them all the way to the last page. I found myself humming That’s What Friends Are For with a grin on my face and a lump in my throat.

**Thank you NetGalley for the e-ARC!**

3.5/5 ⭐️🌟

I was provided with an e-ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review, so here it is!

Surprisingly, this is my first ever Trans-centric novel, so I went into this not knowing exactly what to expect. In saying this, I actually really enjoyed that aspect as a major focus of the novel itself. It helped to explore topics which I have never read before, and it gave me additional insight into the struggle and daily life of a trans person.

Putting that centric topic into a horror novel was very intriguing to me. The horror itself was quite captivating and exhilarating, but perhaps I am not the correct audience for the overall relationship between the two main characters. It felt a little forced at times and a little confusing in a few major conversations/exchanges between the characters (which had nothing to do with the trans aspect of the novel). At times, I just got annoyed by how “teenagery” they were being, such as becoming upset over innocuous events. Again, I might be too old for this type of angst; it bothered me more than intrigued me.

Besides the teenage relationship between the two main characters, the horror itself, and the situation in which they found themselves, kept me on the edge of my seat. It took me a few days to get through the first half of the novel, but I was able to get through the second half of the novel in one day, which speaks to the intensity of the horror.

All in all, I found it to be an enjoyable novel, and I am very excited to have delved into a topic that I’ve never read before.

Thank you so much, NetGalley, for the opportunity to review this!