Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for giving me an eARC of this title in exchange for an honest review!

This was a very well done subversion of the "trans people like werewolves" trope. As great as it would be to be a shapeshifter, "destroy my shape by changing it" and all that, there is also something horrifying about fighting for so long for control over your body, and then to just suddenly lose it. Versus, of course, simply giving into the change but then having to deal with the consequences of that choice. Either way, you are both in control and not in control of the changes your body is going through-- a poignant allegory for transition (as the title would suggest). I really enjoyed this story and seeing, again, that subversion of the trans werewolf trope.

Thank you Delecorte Press and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. Hunter has finally had the top surgery he’s been wanting for a while. He’s still dealing with a lot of body dysmorphia surrounding his body and maleness. And it doesn’t help that he has to deal with the transphobic assholes at school. Things get worse when he’s attacked by a big dog or something and he’s left with wounds that don’t hurt like they should and even stop bleeding quickly. But then he ends up having menstrual blood, something he hasn’t had in years. And it worse than he’s ever experienced before. Luckily he’s got his best friends Mars and Gabe to help him figure it out. It’s not tell Mars suggests werewolves that those pieces slowly start to fit. Now in order to stop what’s happening to him he’s got to find the one that attacked him and kill it. But who is it? And when a voice starts to wish about acting out justice on the transphobes who bully him with that call be greater? A deep and raw story! A heartbreaking and heartwarming story! A trans monster body horror story that will keep you thrilled! Logan-Ashley Kisner provides complex mix of emotions with this one!

I. Am. Feral. As often as being trans feels like a fight against the rest of the world, it just as often feels like a fight within myself. Do I risk my safety to ensure I'm being properly represented as myself, or do I compromise my mental and emotional health to try to gain physical safety? Do I let someone else's hatred kill me, or do I let my self hatred kill me? Just when Hunter has checked his "ideal self" boxes, he's forced to undergo a change he did not consent to. Compounded by the bullying he's undergone for years, this transformation pushes him to the very edge of sanity, and the option of becoming a monster only gets more and more appealing. Kisner explores the internal battle Hunter faces in a realistic and intimate way, demonstrating that the vulnerability needed to form meaningful connections with people and the strength to stand up for oneself can go hand in hand. Lady Gaga was right, love is like a brick, you can build a house AND sink a dead body.
This book is scary, in a visceral and gorey way. It's gut wrenching and heartwarming in all the right places. It made me nauseous, it made me laugh, and it made me cry. It's brilliant and it's beautiful and it's the kind of book that makes me wish I could write a review worthy enough for it. I'm a diehard Kisner fan at this point, and I cannot wait to read what he comes up with next.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

An interesting take on werewolf lore with twisted Ginger Snaps worldbuilding and a host of characters you love (and love to hate).

yesssss hit me again with the trans monsters please i need more for my dragon horde!!!!

i loved the first book about how the literal monster was more accepting of trans people than The Humans were, and similarly i loved how this one was about how a trans guy preferred to become a monster rather than try (and fail, and try, and fail) to assimilate completely with cis humans. hunter was (understandably, teenage-ly) annoying with his not trusting his friends with his secrets, but the relationship and understanding he had with lawrence was honestly heart wrenching. i felt terrible for that guy and like, understood it and was confusingly rooting for and against him at the same time.

love that it ended poly btw. GOD i love my little queer horror books and damn logan-ashley do you sit right up there with the rest of them after this. i will read whatever u throw out there

I got the privilege of being one of the early reviewers for Old Wounds as well, and I honestly liked this one more. It's a similar type of horror, but with one POV and fear going beyond just the risk of death. It's definitely triggering, so please pay attention to the trigger warnings Kisner provides at the beginning.

I believe that Kisner is good at reflecting what trans kids are most scared of. Between Old Wounds being about being outright killed and this one about forcible transition, he clearly knows what it is the trans community needs to see dealt with. While he as one person cannot fix this country, he can take that fear and turn it into a monster. I think that is what we need as we try to get through this.

Hunter is not a perfect character, but he is realistic, and is allowed to change. I especially loved the casual representation in this book, as it is always a great surprise to find something like that that you don't expect.

My main issue is there are some factual/medical inaccuracies that I assume won't be changed before final publication. The main characters are teenagers so a lot of it can be forgiven I think, but it was something that irked me. They in no way truly impacted the book.

Overall, this is a book well worth reading. While I think a lot of people will enjoy it once it comes out.

Logan-Ashley Kinser does it again! The Transition takes the werewolf legend and turns it on it's head for an amazing teenage body horror novel that will make the hair on the back of your neck stand on end.

For context, I read the Old Wounds ARC in early 2024 and loved it. I immediately cataloged this authors work alongside other YA horror authors that I had read and loved, like AJW and Freddie Kolsch. His next works were highly anticipated by me and I was itching to get my hands on an early copy. And boy oh boy- did Kisner knock it out of the park again. Deep, raw emotion collides with the skin in a mess of teeth and flesh in The Transition. As somebody who experience their teenage years as a semi-closeted transmasc, Hunter's transition struck home. Watching him tumble through every stage of euphoria and grief imaginable while fending off a werewolf was both lovely and thrilling. I was enrapture by the supernatural of it all, which is usual for me, as I normally stray clear of any werewolf content, but the idea of Hunter becoming the hunter was a little too intriguing to ignore. All that said, I will forever enjoy YA books about the horrors and the highs of being trans, and the fight we wage to be ourselves, whether it be against others or even ourselves.

This is trans horror at it's very best. It's about transformation, about how painful it can be to exist in a world that seems determined to fight who you truly are, and how living a life while trans is absolutely, fully worth it.

(Review also posted to goodreads)

Kisner DELIVERED with this one y’all! The slow crawl of Hunter’s transformation gave me similar vibes to Benji from Hell Followed With Us in the best way. The voice of the wolf in his head was well in that I couldn’t tell if it was Hunter or an outside consciousness at first, and I’m not sure if Hunter could either.
My main issue was mostly just with the formatting of the actual e-book, because there were times, when the voice was becoming more coherent, that I had trouble differentiating between the voice in hunter’s head and the other ‘regular’ text on the page. Not sure if it was just the font chosen, but I’ll find out when my physical book arrives in September (because I 100% preordered as soon as I was able).

Thank you Netgalley and Delacorte Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Logan-Ashley Kisner’s “The Transition” is a raw, emotionally charged, and fiercely original combination of body horror and queer coming-of-age that refuses to pull its punches. Centered on a trans teen navigating both post-op recovery and a supernatural transformation, this story is as much about identity and bodily autonomy as it is about werewolves—and it delivers on both fronts.

Hunter is finally beginning to feel comfortable in his skin after fighting for and receiving top surgery. But peace is short-lived when a mysterious creature attacks him in his backyard, leaving him bruised, bleeding, and... changing. Rapid healing, unsettling dreams, and even the return of his period signal that something inside him is shifting. Soon, it becomes clear: he’s becoming a werewolf.

The werewolf metaphor isn’t subtle—and it’s not meant to be. Kisner uses this classic monster trope to explore the complex, often painful terrain of dysphoria, bodily change, and the trauma of being trans in a world full of misunderstanding and cruelty. As Hunter’s transformation accelerates, so does his mental deterioration, amplified by a voice in his head—the monster—that offers vengeance, power, and an escape from pain. It’s terrifying, tempting, and tragically familiar.

What makes “The Transition” stand out isn’t just its horror elements or its trans representation—it’s how it balances the grotesque with the deeply human. The story itself is heavy, yes, with frank depictions of bullying, transphobia, self-harm, and psychological distress, but it’s also filled with warmth and love. Hunter’s best friends, Gabe and Mars, offer critical support and moments of levity, giving the story a grounding that keeps it from becoming overwhelming.

The character work here is layered and honest. Gabe in particular is a standout, full of quiet strength and complexity. The relationship between Hunter and his father is also a highlight, with its difficult but evolving dynamic bringing emotional weight to the story. There’s even a love triangle that subverts expectations by exploring polyamory—though reactions to that aspect may vary depending on the reader’s preferences.

And yes, there’s satisfying revenge. As the bullying crescendos, the story doesn’t shy away from exploring what it means to take power back—or the cost of doing so.

Kisner’s writing doesn’t sanitize the experience of being trans, nor does it fall into misery for misery’s sake. Instead, “The Transition” invites empathy and understanding while weaving a supernatural horror tale that feels grounded, urgent, and painfully real. The transformation scenes are filled with visceral body horror, mirroring the dysphoria Hunter experiences. At the same time, the ending offers closure and hope—a sense of moving on, even after all that has been lost and changed.

Overall, “The Transition” is a bold and deeply resonant horror book that brilliantly uses genre to unpack the trauma, beauty, and complexity of trans identity. Gritty, emotional, and full of heart, this is a must-read for fans of queer horror, body transformation narratives, or anyone seeking a book that refuses to look away from pain but still insists on hope.

This book is an amazing depiction of the struggles of being a trans masc individual. I found parts of my real life struggles as a trans man reflected in this story and it felt so validating. I hope that it will be a window for those outside of our community.

Overall, the book can feel very heavy with what the main character is going through. But, his friends really give some comedic relief and show him lots of love. Really, the explanation of werewolves and interactions between the friends made this book fun for me to read, even through the weight of the dysphoric and transphobic moments. I found the portrayal of the monster in this book to be very unique, which added really interesting layers to the narrative for me.

In general I loved this book!