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Old Wounds
Erin and Max are two trans kids who are just trying to get to California. Max is desperate to finally be able to transition, and Erin is longing to understand why she’s on this trip to begin with, after Max suddenly broke up with her two years earlier.
But when they find themselves stranded - and eventually separated - in the creepy woods of rural middle-America, they suddenly have much bigger problems.
First, there’s the creature that, according to legend, feeds on girls, hunting them through the shadows. And then there are the locals, who are searching for a female sacrifice. If either of them hope to survive to see the sunrise, Erin and Max will have to come together and stop running: from their attackers, from each other, and, ultimately, from themselves.
But when they find themselves stranded - and eventually separated - in the creepy woods of rural middle-America, they suddenly have much bigger problems.
First, there’s the creature that, according to legend, feeds on girls, hunting them through the shadows. And then there are the locals, who are searching for a female sacrifice. If either of them hope to survive to see the sunrise, Erin and Max will have to come together and stop running: from their attackers, from each other, and, ultimately, from themselves.
356 pages, Paperback
First published September 10, 2024
96 people are currently reading
10835 people want to read
About the author
Logan-Ashley Kisner
4 books223 followersLogan-Ashley Kisner is a Vegas-born author who writes about trans kids surviving the horrors (supernatural or otherwise).
His socials are usually @transhorrors, or you can find him on his website, loganashleykisner.com
His socials are usually @transhorrors, or you can find him on his website, loganashleykisner.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 452 reviews
September 11, 2025
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...
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!
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!
April 4, 2024
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?
Content warnings can be found on my website, as can information on retailers. Thank you for considering this weird little book :)
Content warnings can be found on my website, as can information on retailers. Thank you for considering this weird little book :)
October 31, 2024
Recent high school graduates Max and Erin are determined to run away from Ohio to California. Max can’t deal with his parents’ rejection of his trans identity anymore, and while Erin’s family has been more accepting of her transition, she’d do anything for Max. Their road trip quickly goes awry when they run into car troubles and get stuck in rural Kentucky. They’re already fearful, given the suspicious looks they’re getting, but something even more dangerous than the local transphobes is lurking in the woods. And its gigantic, glowing eyes are set on the pair of outsiders…
I really thought this was going to be a three-star book for me, because the actual horror doesn’t begin until about the 40% mark. The first several chapters of this book felt more like contemporary YA, focused on the main characters’ family troubles and past relationship with one another. While it was well done, I’m just not a big fan of that genre. However, once things take a turn for the creepy, this book gets so, so good. There’s a real folk horror vibe to this story, and moments when I as a reader was unsure who could be trusted. I liked that some of the lore is left open-ended rather than being over explained, which let me use my own imagination.
Since this book is so character-driven, and not all of its monsters are supernatural, I think this would be a good pick for fans of more realistic YA who are looking to dip a toe into horror. But it’s definitely scary enough to satisfy true horror buffs as well!
I really thought this was going to be a three-star book for me, because the actual horror doesn’t begin until about the 40% mark. The first several chapters of this book felt more like contemporary YA, focused on the main characters’ family troubles and past relationship with one another. While it was well done, I’m just not a big fan of that genre. However, once things take a turn for the creepy, this book gets so, so good. There’s a real folk horror vibe to this story, and moments when I as a reader was unsure who could be trusted. I liked that some of the lore is left open-ended rather than being over explained, which let me use my own imagination.
Since this book is so character-driven, and not all of its monsters are supernatural, I think this would be a good pick for fans of more realistic YA who are looking to dip a toe into horror. But it’s definitely scary enough to satisfy true horror buffs as well!
August 24, 2024
Oooof. This is a hard read. It’s difficult to read about human beings treating other humans horribly. However, it’s really important to have trans narratives, and this is a good addition to the genre.
Two trans teens, one male, one female, find themselves in the middle of nowhere with a broken down vehicle. Considering they made themselves impossible to track, they both are completely at the mercy of some people with nefarious intentions. Add some typical horror elements, and you’ve got yourself a page-turner.
CW: There’s a lot of blood and gore here. The cover should warn you what you’re getting into.
Thanks to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for the eARC. All opinions are mine alone.
Two trans teens, one male, one female, find themselves in the middle of nowhere with a broken down vehicle. Considering they made themselves impossible to track, they both are completely at the mercy of some people with nefarious intentions. Add some typical horror elements, and you’ve got yourself a page-turner.
CW: There’s a lot of blood and gore here. The cover should warn you what you’re getting into.
Thanks to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for the eARC. All opinions are mine alone.
July 16, 2025
i did not think i was going to like this as much as i did, but wow i really did!! once i had the time to read, i flew through it. a story about trans teenagers mixed with murderous men and a scary monster who needs a sacrifice? i couldn’t not read it!!!
Read
September 28, 2024Review coming soon!
August 10, 2024
4.5 Stars
As emotionally thought-provoking as it was spine-chilling! Logan Ashley Kisner’s YA Horror debut was a terrifying, rollercoaster of a read that deftly explores gender and trans identity (and highlighting how historically underrepresented the trans and queer community have been in the genre.)
Readers looking for a heartfelt and unflinchingly honest depiction of the trans experience; of resilience, empowerment and a heartfelt journey towards healing — then you’ll definitely want to check this out.
Kisner’s skillful prose was really good! His atmospheric descriptions were brimming with an eerie, skin crawling undertone (encapsulated in the creepy, Midsommar/The Wicker Man-esque side characters) that I felt really upped the sense of danger and intensity of the plot —and made for an unforgettable, edge of your seat reading experience.
You know that mounting sense of dread you feel at the start of a Horror movie, right before the bad stuff starts? Well, if you love this genre, then you should be pleased to know you’ll find plenty of that here.
From the opening scenes, which document the complex bonds and family dynamics that both Erin and Max face, to their differing experiences as trans teens in (a largely unaccepting) small US town — the unease lies soo heavy in the air you’ll be hard pressed not to binge read in its entirety.
But, what I found most impressive was the depth we explore in our POV characters, Erin and Max (two flawed but compelling teens) and the sense of hope that’s woven through the heart of their story.
I don’t think my words can really do this book justice, so I’ll just say if you enjoy Horror Thrillers and have been eager to see more diverse perspectives, then you’ll probably gonna enjoy this one.
However, it does explore some pretty deep subject material (and references real life murders/suicides of trans people) so I do advise checking the CW/TWs beforehand.
Also, a huge thank you to Ayesha at Usborne for the proof.
As emotionally thought-provoking as it was spine-chilling! Logan Ashley Kisner’s YA Horror debut was a terrifying, rollercoaster of a read that deftly explores gender and trans identity (and highlighting how historically underrepresented the trans and queer community have been in the genre.)
Readers looking for a heartfelt and unflinchingly honest depiction of the trans experience; of resilience, empowerment and a heartfelt journey towards healing — then you’ll definitely want to check this out.
Kisner’s skillful prose was really good! His atmospheric descriptions were brimming with an eerie, skin crawling undertone (encapsulated in the creepy, Midsommar/The Wicker Man-esque side characters) that I felt really upped the sense of danger and intensity of the plot —and made for an unforgettable, edge of your seat reading experience.
You know that mounting sense of dread you feel at the start of a Horror movie, right before the bad stuff starts? Well, if you love this genre, then you should be pleased to know you’ll find plenty of that here.
From the opening scenes, which document the complex bonds and family dynamics that both Erin and Max face, to their differing experiences as trans teens in (a largely unaccepting) small US town — the unease lies soo heavy in the air you’ll be hard pressed not to binge read in its entirety.
But, what I found most impressive was the depth we explore in our POV characters, Erin and Max (two flawed but compelling teens) and the sense of hope that’s woven through the heart of their story.
I don’t think my words can really do this book justice, so I’ll just say if you enjoy Horror Thrillers and have been eager to see more diverse perspectives, then you’ll probably gonna enjoy this one.
However, it does explore some pretty deep subject material (and references real life murders/suicides of trans people) so I do advise checking the CW/TWs beforehand.
Also, a huge thank you to Ayesha at Usborne for the proof.
October 25, 2024
One of my favorite tropes is exes being forced into a roadtrip together, but now I think it’s exes who go on a roadtrip together but end up stranded in a small unsettling town where a group of men try to sacrifice them to their local cryptid who eats girls so now they’re being hunted down while also trapped in a confusing time warp. But also they’re both trans so they philosophize the concept of gender based monster kills as they fight for their lives
September 4, 2024
BRILLIANT.
October 28, 2024
ˋ°•*⁀➷
1st read
: [3.5 ✰, rounded up] this is an objectively good book. everything your "average" (what does that even mean ?) trans person could hope for. i still didn't fuck with it either way. there are multiple queer (ha) reasons this could be, the most prominent of which is: i didn't really relate to the main characters' experiences of transness. having to simmer in the severely uncomfortable absurdity that is pre-transition life for years after your egg breaks, knowing that medical care & community won't really be available to you for the foreseeable future, will do that to you. when i think about it should find max relatable, and i do, in a way, i've never had rights that could be taken from me in the first place, so there. it's a very complex and strange thing, being trans in the global south. fuck queen victoria & homonationalism !! but i digress... (?)
the writing was lovely, the plot was solid; i'm not a horror aficionado but the staples of literary (?) horror that were included seemed to be executed with aplomb. my favourite parts of this were probably how . i also had a searing headache for a reason that's hard to describe while reading this, which might've contributed to my not particularly enjoying it. it might also be because i've been reading historical fic & classics for a while now, and the contrast was a tad jarring. upon further pondering, i realize i should have enjoyed this more than i did, and i might enjoy it more if i reread it. i might revisit it soon. we'll see
ps: i might need to do some journalling (aka the only therapy i can afford) after this... hmm
the writing was lovely, the plot was solid; i'm not a horror aficionado but the staples of literary (?) horror that were included seemed to be executed with aplomb. my favourite parts of this were probably how . i also had a searing headache for a reason that's hard to describe while reading this, which might've contributed to my not particularly enjoying it. it might also be because i've been reading historical fic & classics for a while now, and the contrast was a tad jarring. upon further pondering, i realize i should have enjoyed this more than i did, and i might enjoy it more if i reread it. i might revisit it soon. we'll see
ps: i might need to do some journalling (aka the only therapy i can afford) after this... hmm
September 15, 2024
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 arc.
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 arc.
October 14, 2024
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.
Thank you netgalley for providing me with this eARC
edit: i changed my rating from 4 to 5 stars because it’s been months and i still think about this book regularly
Thank you netgalley for providing me with this eARC
edit: i changed my rating from 4 to 5 stars because it’s been months and i still think about this book regularly
September 15, 2024
I’m sorry, this just wasn’t for me. I am a big fan of trans centric horror, but this novel felt like an embodiment of when coastal libs peddle escapist fantasies about the south and suggest moving to NYC or whatever. Maybe I’m just feeling this way because I’m a Kentucky resident, but there are happy, safe, secure trans people here and thriving queer communities. It was fine on a technical note, maybe the pacing was a little rushed for me. If you’re from Bullit County don’t read this lmao
August 24, 2025
bro im way too jealous to see max get his t shot 🥀 hes my boy but im stealing it right now sorry
December 8, 2025
The "youtuber novels" meme is no longer a meme.
It sounds really dumb, but truly I have not missed when it comes to books written by people who make youtube videos. The secret throughline is that all of em are by trans queers who are massive horror heads, so it's like, the true successor to all the cool things about Sleepaway Camp, I guess. Kinda. Old Wounds also shares a little bit of content with Girl Flesh in particular, which is cute. I now understand why trans people don't often drive; it's not just because of lesbianism :)
Couldn't be, because Old Wounds is the rare het t4t. There aren't that many novels floating around where a trans guy and a trans gal go on journeys and endure events together, but I couldn't have been happier with this one. I love Max, which partially is because he's an unending ball of rage and fury, a type of guy I think I like. Relatable in a few ways, I guess, which I dig when I'm reading about other genders. I also love Erin, who for a change is not unceasingly angry but a lady of action, if that makes sense. I will read more het t4t if I can! Waiter, more trans men and women kissing, please!!
Mostly though, they're just cute. At the story's outset they've been broken up and cut-contact for two years, but mannnnn I could watch them work through it absolutely forever. The way that the progression of their relationship ties really firmly into both their individual life circumstances and shared plight on the road absolutely fucking rules. Old Wounds is pretty mild horror so it's not a full-on "Gross Story About Love", but I think it's some kinda romantic. I adore it.
In Girl Flesh terms this is more or less The Hitcher, I think, and I like that. It's road trippy, but also one-old-house horror, and it builds really well, properly paced. Mostly though I just think the leads are beautiful, and probably one of the more complicated and complex looks at t4t, and certainly trans-man-trans-woman relations I can think of. Kisner is unafraid of looking at ways that sharing your transition with other trans people can be difficult, and the common comparison that it often brings. With violence. Senseless bloodshed, even, and teeth. Yet also with beauty and grace.
This is another one where I'm straining not to spoil anything because I think Old Wounds is pretty obscure and you should read it right now because it absolutely fucks sloppy style. I was moments away from hooting and hollering at some of the stuff that goes on in this one, and I think that it even stands up purely as a pulpy, suspenseful bleeder of a horror novel. Slasher, even? But it doesn't have to stand up on just that basis, because it also has a really strong emotional core (t4t waow) that everything builds around and turns it into a five-star classic. Logan-Ashley Kisner fuckin' rules.
It sounds really dumb, but truly I have not missed when it comes to books written by people who make youtube videos. The secret throughline is that all of em are by trans queers who are massive horror heads, so it's like, the true successor to all the cool things about Sleepaway Camp, I guess. Kinda. Old Wounds also shares a little bit of content with Girl Flesh in particular, which is cute. I now understand why trans people don't often drive; it's not just because of lesbianism :)
Couldn't be, because Old Wounds is the rare het t4t. There aren't that many novels floating around where a trans guy and a trans gal go on journeys and endure events together, but I couldn't have been happier with this one. I love Max, which partially is because he's an unending ball of rage and fury, a type of guy I think I like. Relatable in a few ways, I guess, which I dig when I'm reading about other genders. I also love Erin, who for a change is not unceasingly angry but a lady of action, if that makes sense. I will read more het t4t if I can! Waiter, more trans men and women kissing, please!!
Mostly though, they're just cute. At the story's outset they've been broken up and cut-contact for two years, but mannnnn I could watch them work through it absolutely forever. The way that the progression of their relationship ties really firmly into both their individual life circumstances and shared plight on the road absolutely fucking rules. Old Wounds is pretty mild horror so it's not a full-on "Gross Story About Love", but I think it's some kinda romantic. I adore it.
In Girl Flesh terms this is more or less The Hitcher, I think, and I like that. It's road trippy, but also one-old-house horror, and it builds really well, properly paced. Mostly though I just think the leads are beautiful, and probably one of the more complicated and complex looks at t4t, and certainly trans-man-trans-woman relations I can think of. Kisner is unafraid of looking at ways that sharing your transition with other trans people can be difficult, and the common comparison that it often brings. With violence. Senseless bloodshed, even, and teeth. Yet also with beauty and grace.
This is another one where I'm straining not to spoil anything because I think Old Wounds is pretty obscure and you should read it right now because it absolutely fucks sloppy style. I was moments away from hooting and hollering at some of the stuff that goes on in this one, and I think that it even stands up purely as a pulpy, suspenseful bleeder of a horror novel. Slasher, even? But it doesn't have to stand up on just that basis, because it also has a really strong emotional core (t4t waow) that everything builds around and turns it into a five-star classic. Logan-Ashley Kisner fuckin' rules.
September 30, 2024
More of a 3.75/5 stars.
Erin and Max are two trans teens who live in Ohio, and tonight they're finally running. Erin, a trans girl, started transiting when she was young and is now mostly passing. She's been accepted by her mother and sister for a long time, but now she feels conflicted running away with Max, who broke up with her two years ago. Max, a trans boy, cannot live in his home anymore. His strict and transphobic mother and step-father make his life a living Hell for him; it doesn't help that he lives in Ohio. Running away is his idea. Together, they will drive across the country to Berkeley, California where Max can finally begin transitioning and and they can live among a more supportive community. If only it were that simple. While in Kentucky, their car wrecks and the two teens find themselves under the watchful, threatening eyes of the local.
And of a monster.
A monster that has been around for decades, constantly devouring the girls that town offers to it. Erin and Max are not certain what the monster thinks of trans boys and trans girls, but what they are certain is that the town is not safe. And they are constantly being hunted.
Old Wounds is a decent debut from Logan-Ashley Kisner and a great start off to the Halloween season. Although there is a monster, this is one of the books where the human threats are far more dangerous. The book is abound in the physical, mental, and political threats that trans people face in America and how trans people, especially teens, can internalize the hatred and violence against them. Our main characters are messy--like, really messy in some cases--, terrified, and uncertain of their fates, but most of all they are survivors.
Erin and Max are some the strongest YA leads I have read in a long time. They both go through individual character arcs that change them for the better and there is a lot of discussion on what trans teen can go through interwoven into it all. In particular, how a trans teen who comes from a loving and supporting family can have a different outlook and emotions than of one from an unsupportive home. Erin was probably my favorite between the two, but Max's journey is still just as important and I've got some things to talk about how Erin is written. As I said before, Erin mostly passes for a cis girl and her mother and sister support her; though it is mentioned that when she first came out her mother initially wrestled with it. However, despite some of the acceptance Erin received, she is still on guard about being clocked and from threats of transphobia. Because the acceptance she received, in the beginning she is initially a bit more level-headed than Max. Max is very much a broken and angry boy in the beginning, and we'll come back to him, but Erin, even in the face of danger, tries to think as rationally as she can and act accordingly. For example, when Erin is taken to the house where another character Charlie and two of the other local guys convene for their plans, she is immediately on guard. Charlie acted nice to her when they first met, the reasons for this very obvious, but one she gets to the house she knows something isn't right. What she finds upstairs only confirms her fears, but she uses what she discovers for something later. When she is chased by both the men and the beast, she uses practical skills and a clear head even when she is in the face of danger or after she's been attacked.
Erin is one tough fucking gal. She pretty much saves Max and does most of the fighting. In fact, she's the one who discovers something about the beast that makes you realize what lies, control, and fearmongering the town has been leading itself under to satiate said beast's hunger. However, there is one part of Old Wounds with Erin that made me concerned. Now, to clarify, I am not trans myself and I do not speak for any trans women or transfeminine individuals, but reading a few things from transfem authors does make you alert and concern to certain things. I am not accusing Kisner of anything here nor am I saying he's "problematic," this is just something that makes me a bit concerned.
When Erin is about to be taken to the beast to be sacrificed for the town's safety, she tells them she's a trans girl, making them question if the beast will devour her. Earlier, her and Max wonder what the beast thinks of gender and that early scene, along with the later revelation, does give one pause to think as to what primal forces in nature are actually concerned with gender and who uses gender essentialism as a construct of control. Anyway, Erin gets away from the men and hears the beast coming for her. Mentally, she tells herself that she's not a girl. This is what gives me pause.
Erin never denies her own transness or wishes to detransition or anything like that. I understand she is terrified at what's going on and people will think a variety of paranoid thoughts when their lives are threatened. However, would a trans girl or trans woman in the situation think such a thing? Would they think such a thing in that situation?
I'm not a trans woman, so I don't know. I think I know what Kisner was getting at, but I'm not sure how to feel about that.
Nonetheless, Erin is a great character. At the end of everything, she realizes, despite the trials and tribulation her and Max's relationship has gone through, that she has to live her own life for a while.
Max's journey was probably the most stressful one to get through, and I think that's intentional. Max has been through so much shit and the main conflict of the book makes him more stressed-out and frightened over it. I will not lie; for a while, I thought Max was going to say something about how trans girls have it better than trans boys. That kind of discourse has been going on social media, especially twitter, for a while now. If you saw the online kerfuffle about Julia Serano's Whipping Girl and MitchFest awhile back, you know what I'm talking about. Thankfully, however, Max never says this. However, throughout the earlier parts of the book, Max clearly displays jealousy towards Erin's family life. Eventually, he does break down to her and reveals that because of all the support she got, and all the abuse, bullying, and self-harm he received, he did come to hate her. He says it wasn't right, but he just internalized all his pain and projected it onto her. Like I said in the beginning, these trans teens are messy. Max probably more than Erin. Kisner does not condone what Max does, but nonetheless shows the raw feelings of a trans teen disallowed what he wants and needs.
Max's journey is another great one. He learns that even though he is running off to a better future, he cannot run from the girl he once cared about. He learns that none of it is her fault. Again, it's Erin who does most of the fighting here, but Max gest tougher in his own ways and expresses his anger in other ways.
Now, you probably notice that I haven't mentioned the beast all that much and, well, that's one of my major criticisms of Old Wounds. We see hints of the beast when Erin and Max get to the small Kentucky town, but it's full appearance isn't until much later. This is probably because, as I said before, the human threats are the biggest threats; trans people will always be in far more danger at the hands of cis people than other creatures or beings. However, when the book, especially the synopsis on the book flap and on the damn cover itself, promotes itself on a monster, you expect to see it! I wanted more of the monster! Not only that, but the climax of the book is a little disappointing. It's still an awesome moment for Erin, as always, but it's kind of over with in the blink of an eye. I should note here that the monster's origins are never outright explained, only suggested at. That is perfectly fine. A lot of horror stuff weakens itself by explaining the threat's origins when it doesn't need to; Kisner avoids that pitfall.
Other than that, Old Wounds is a solid novel. The pacing is great and the prose is just right for a contemporary YA horror. There's maybe a few cringy moments, but they're nothing overly harmful nor overstay their welcome. Th epilogue is very good too, winding the tension down and seeing Max and Erin off to their futures. Not going to lie, this would make for an excellent film. Maybe someday!
Erin and Max are two trans teens who live in Ohio, and tonight they're finally running. Erin, a trans girl, started transiting when she was young and is now mostly passing. She's been accepted by her mother and sister for a long time, but now she feels conflicted running away with Max, who broke up with her two years ago. Max, a trans boy, cannot live in his home anymore. His strict and transphobic mother and step-father make his life a living Hell for him; it doesn't help that he lives in Ohio. Running away is his idea. Together, they will drive across the country to Berkeley, California where Max can finally begin transitioning and and they can live among a more supportive community. If only it were that simple. While in Kentucky, their car wrecks and the two teens find themselves under the watchful, threatening eyes of the local.
And of a monster.
A monster that has been around for decades, constantly devouring the girls that town offers to it. Erin and Max are not certain what the monster thinks of trans boys and trans girls, but what they are certain is that the town is not safe. And they are constantly being hunted.
Old Wounds is a decent debut from Logan-Ashley Kisner and a great start off to the Halloween season. Although there is a monster, this is one of the books where the human threats are far more dangerous. The book is abound in the physical, mental, and political threats that trans people face in America and how trans people, especially teens, can internalize the hatred and violence against them. Our main characters are messy--like, really messy in some cases--, terrified, and uncertain of their fates, but most of all they are survivors.
Erin and Max are some the strongest YA leads I have read in a long time. They both go through individual character arcs that change them for the better and there is a lot of discussion on what trans teen can go through interwoven into it all. In particular, how a trans teen who comes from a loving and supporting family can have a different outlook and emotions than of one from an unsupportive home. Erin was probably my favorite between the two, but Max's journey is still just as important and I've got some things to talk about how Erin is written. As I said before, Erin mostly passes for a cis girl and her mother and sister support her; though it is mentioned that when she first came out her mother initially wrestled with it. However, despite some of the acceptance Erin received, she is still on guard about being clocked and from threats of transphobia. Because the acceptance she received, in the beginning she is initially a bit more level-headed than Max. Max is very much a broken and angry boy in the beginning, and we'll come back to him, but Erin, even in the face of danger, tries to think as rationally as she can and act accordingly. For example, when Erin is taken to the house where another character Charlie and two of the other local guys convene for their plans, she is immediately on guard. Charlie acted nice to her when they first met, the reasons for this very obvious, but one she gets to the house she knows something isn't right. What she finds upstairs only confirms her fears, but she uses what she discovers for something later. When she is chased by both the men and the beast, she uses practical skills and a clear head even when she is in the face of danger or after she's been attacked.
Erin is one tough fucking gal. She pretty much saves Max and does most of the fighting. In fact, she's the one who discovers something about the beast that makes you realize what lies, control, and fearmongering the town has been leading itself under to satiate said beast's hunger. However, there is one part of Old Wounds with Erin that made me concerned. Now, to clarify, I am not trans myself and I do not speak for any trans women or transfeminine individuals, but reading a few things from transfem authors does make you alert and concern to certain things. I am not accusing Kisner of anything here nor am I saying he's "problematic," this is just something that makes me a bit concerned.
When Erin is about to be taken to the beast to be sacrificed for the town's safety, she tells them she's a trans girl, making them question if the beast will devour her. Earlier, her and Max wonder what the beast thinks of gender and that early scene, along with the later revelation, does give one pause to think as to what primal forces in nature are actually concerned with gender and who uses gender essentialism as a construct of control. Anyway, Erin gets away from the men and hears the beast coming for her. Mentally, she tells herself that she's not a girl. This is what gives me pause.
Erin never denies her own transness or wishes to detransition or anything like that. I understand she is terrified at what's going on and people will think a variety of paranoid thoughts when their lives are threatened. However, would a trans girl or trans woman in the situation think such a thing? Would they think such a thing in that situation?
I'm not a trans woman, so I don't know. I think I know what Kisner was getting at, but I'm not sure how to feel about that.
Nonetheless, Erin is a great character. At the end of everything, she realizes, despite the trials and tribulation her and Max's relationship has gone through, that she has to live her own life for a while.
Max's journey was probably the most stressful one to get through, and I think that's intentional. Max has been through so much shit and the main conflict of the book makes him more stressed-out and frightened over it. I will not lie; for a while, I thought Max was going to say something about how trans girls have it better than trans boys. That kind of discourse has been going on social media, especially twitter, for a while now. If you saw the online kerfuffle about Julia Serano's Whipping Girl and MitchFest awhile back, you know what I'm talking about. Thankfully, however, Max never says this. However, throughout the earlier parts of the book, Max clearly displays jealousy towards Erin's family life. Eventually, he does break down to her and reveals that because of all the support she got, and all the abuse, bullying, and self-harm he received, he did come to hate her. He says it wasn't right, but he just internalized all his pain and projected it onto her. Like I said in the beginning, these trans teens are messy. Max probably more than Erin. Kisner does not condone what Max does, but nonetheless shows the raw feelings of a trans teen disallowed what he wants and needs.
Max's journey is another great one. He learns that even though he is running off to a better future, he cannot run from the girl he once cared about. He learns that none of it is her fault. Again, it's Erin who does most of the fighting here, but Max gest tougher in his own ways and expresses his anger in other ways.
Now, you probably notice that I haven't mentioned the beast all that much and, well, that's one of my major criticisms of Old Wounds. We see hints of the beast when Erin and Max get to the small Kentucky town, but it's full appearance isn't until much later. This is probably because, as I said before, the human threats are the biggest threats; trans people will always be in far more danger at the hands of cis people than other creatures or beings. However, when the book, especially the synopsis on the book flap and on the damn cover itself, promotes itself on a monster, you expect to see it! I wanted more of the monster! Not only that, but the climax of the book is a little disappointing. It's still an awesome moment for Erin, as always, but it's kind of over with in the blink of an eye. I should note here that the monster's origins are never outright explained, only suggested at. That is perfectly fine. A lot of horror stuff weakens itself by explaining the threat's origins when it doesn't need to; Kisner avoids that pitfall.
Other than that, Old Wounds is a solid novel. The pacing is great and the prose is just right for a contemporary YA horror. There's maybe a few cringy moments, but they're nothing overly harmful nor overstay their welcome. Th epilogue is very good too, winding the tension down and seeing Max and Erin off to their futures. Not going to lie, this would make for an excellent film. Maybe someday!
September 4, 2024
The husband brought me an arc back from ALA
This is intense and trippy without holding your hand about it, it feels like a twilight zone episode at times, one that’s painfully, achingly topical and hard to read at times. The characters are so messy and far from perfect, they fuck up and hurt each other and find their way back to each other in the end. I dont know what I expected going into this but it wasn’t this, but i definitely enjoyed what i got!
This is intense and trippy without holding your hand about it, it feels like a twilight zone episode at times, one that’s painfully, achingly topical and hard to read at times. The characters are so messy and far from perfect, they fuck up and hurt each other and find their way back to each other in the end. I dont know what I expected going into this but it wasn’t this, but i definitely enjoyed what i got!
May 22, 2024
Cryptids for trans rights!!! absolutely couldn't put this one down, an instant classic in the queer horror cannon.
June 24, 2024
I wanted to love this book, but it missed the mark, slightly. I enjoyed it but felt like it was a really great novella that found itself lost in the page count of a novel. The central plot point, the two being taken hostage and offered as sacrifice, doesn’t even show a glimmer of starting to happen until we are more than 40% done with the book. Everything before that is spending time with our characters as they escape their respective homes and hit the road. This time is used to develop the characters and fill in their backstory, it isn’t wasted, it just spoon feeds the audience way more than we need and goes on too long. And some of the scenes in the car get to be a bit much… We get a list of novels in one of our character’s bags, then a list of the albums available in the car, then we go back and forth between song lyrics and reading from a novel aloud? It felt really forced, and I felt like it was telling me a lot more about the author than about the characters. So, I didn’t love that. I feel like the story would have been much more visceral if we had only one or two of these setup chapters and then got right into the central conflict, letting more of the characters’ backstories leak out as they fought for their lives instead of having it all front-loaded.
Once the characters meet the central conflict the pacing was good. It felt a little disheveled and disconnected, but that was mirroring the characters’ experience and it worked. Both of the protagonist’s were very lovingly and honestly created, and they did both feel genuine and real. Sometimes they felt a little too easy or convenient, showing two different sides of the teenage trans experience in a way that felt like a clear set-up. Still, I felt like I knew them both, and the chasm between their personal experiences did factor into the story, though it felt like it came up and was resolved more quickly than I would have liked. If anything, they just felt young to me. Both are 18, and this story is right after they have graduated high school, but for a good portion of the story they both read younger, as maybe 16, or so, and it is a little hard to really accept their logic and decision-making when they are actual legal adults. There just felt like a discrepancy, and while characters in horror stories always get a little leeway with their decision-making, and while both characters had their own personal traumas and internal conflicts mediating their decision-making, I still felt like they were ignoring their hard-earned, lived experiences and acting in ways that felt more like sixteen-year-old kids who stole their parents’ car.
The writing itself was mostly fun, save for some cringey moments quoting songs and poems. It kept my attention and propelled the characters forward in ways that I wasn’t ever bored. I liked the central conflict and the symbolism it offered, how the dangers in the woods and the dangers of the humans around you are different types of threats that can prove equally deadly. The central protagonists weren’t particularly interesting, they felt expected and a little boring, but they served their purpose in the story. The way the central conflicts were resolved felt a little too easy, and also not very surprising. That isn’t to say the ending was unearned, or not fulfilling from a reader standpoint, I just hoped for a little more. Considering the symbolic elements of the central creature in the woods, the fear of “normal” society, and finding the inner strength to save yourself against society, there was so much more viscera to be scooped out and gobbled up in the never-ending night of those Kentucky woods.
When all is said and done, considering the topic, this story felt very gentle. There is nothing wrong with that. I have read a decent amount of other queer- and trans-horror, including stuff classified as YA, and many of those felt more graphic and threatening, for the characters and the readers. This felt more didactic than experiential. I didn’t feel like I was put in the place of these characters, I felt like I was given a lecture about what these characters experienced. And that is fine, the characters were compelling and won me over. The bloody action in the woods was well-done, whether fighting humans or beast, and the ideas around what they experienced and why were all fun to think about and play with.
I want to thank the author, the publisher Delacorte Press, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Once the characters meet the central conflict the pacing was good. It felt a little disheveled and disconnected, but that was mirroring the characters’ experience and it worked. Both of the protagonist’s were very lovingly and honestly created, and they did both feel genuine and real. Sometimes they felt a little too easy or convenient, showing two different sides of the teenage trans experience in a way that felt like a clear set-up. Still, I felt like I knew them both, and the chasm between their personal experiences did factor into the story, though it felt like it came up and was resolved more quickly than I would have liked. If anything, they just felt young to me. Both are 18, and this story is right after they have graduated high school, but for a good portion of the story they both read younger, as maybe 16, or so, and it is a little hard to really accept their logic and decision-making when they are actual legal adults. There just felt like a discrepancy, and while characters in horror stories always get a little leeway with their decision-making, and while both characters had their own personal traumas and internal conflicts mediating their decision-making, I still felt like they were ignoring their hard-earned, lived experiences and acting in ways that felt more like sixteen-year-old kids who stole their parents’ car.
The writing itself was mostly fun, save for some cringey moments quoting songs and poems. It kept my attention and propelled the characters forward in ways that I wasn’t ever bored. I liked the central conflict and the symbolism it offered, how the dangers in the woods and the dangers of the humans around you are different types of threats that can prove equally deadly. The central protagonists weren’t particularly interesting, they felt expected and a little boring, but they served their purpose in the story. The way the central conflicts were resolved felt a little too easy, and also not very surprising. That isn’t to say the ending was unearned, or not fulfilling from a reader standpoint, I just hoped for a little more. Considering the symbolic elements of the central creature in the woods, the fear of “normal” society, and finding the inner strength to save yourself against society, there was so much more viscera to be scooped out and gobbled up in the never-ending night of those Kentucky woods.
When all is said and done, considering the topic, this story felt very gentle. There is nothing wrong with that. I have read a decent amount of other queer- and trans-horror, including stuff classified as YA, and many of those felt more graphic and threatening, for the characters and the readers. This felt more didactic than experiential. I didn’t feel like I was put in the place of these characters, I felt like I was given a lecture about what these characters experienced. And that is fine, the characters were compelling and won me over. The bloody action in the woods was well-done, whether fighting humans or beast, and the ideas around what they experienced and why were all fun to think about and play with.
I want to thank the author, the publisher Delacorte Press, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 9, 2024
Old Wounds by Logan Ashley Kisner is a horror story about two transgender teens who wants dated in high school but after Max came out he abruptly broke up with Aaron and totally stopped speaking to her but because of a promise to run away with him after their graduation they do just that. After stopping at a gas station six hours out things become strange and only get stranger. From a monster in the woods to backcountry yokels in a crooked town Sheriff things aren’t looking good for the two teens. It seems the local monster Has to eat a female to keep the town safe and dry and tag Max is it but how could he be it? I really wish the storyline would’ve had more of the Bullet Beast in it, not to be mistaken with the bullet County beast. I have never read a book that a character in my mind had a theme song until Aaron because it while reading it and ever since finishing every time I think of her I think of Christina Aguilera song fighter because OMG Aaron is a bad ass. I really loved her, her personality and it almost seemed she could be a real person as far as Max goes I really could take him or leave him I found him to be moody and unlikable it’s a what Aaron season him IDK? I also found Max just assume people were staring at them because they were transgendered not because they were strangers in a small town his assumptions kept irritating me because who cares what these people you will never see again think of you. Do I recommend the book… Yes will I read it again… Probably not but I do think it is a great example of what transgender teens go through minus the monsters of course but having said that I still enjoyed it. #NetGalley, #LoganAshleyKisner, #OldWounds,
February 4, 2025
Old Wounds felt like a very old school horror, and I absolutely loved it. The story focuses on two trans kids who get stranded in a rural town that wants to sacrifice them to a monster. We also get a glimpse at their lives being trans and the difficulties they face trying to prove their existence to others. One character experiences a lot of abuse at the hands of their family and peers, and it’s really gut wrenching to read. This is a story where the humans are far more terrifying than the monsters. This is an important story that everyone should read, especially now at a time when the government is trying to erase trans people. The characters felt real and authentic, and I felt like I really got to know them and their struggles over the course of the story. It all felt very cinematic, and everything moves quickly. Logan-Ashley Kisner is now an author I will forever be watching!
January 26, 2025
Such a good horror book combined with a coming of age trans teen story. I need this as a movie.
January 1, 2025
I’ll be honest, Old Wounds is a book I picked up solely for the purposes of seeing if the trans colors on the cover were a deliberate choice, but as soon as I read the hook in the cover blurb, I knew I had to give this a read.
Logan-Ashley Kisner tells the tale of a young trans man and a young trans woman stuck in the backwoods of rural middle-America, chosen to be sacrificed to a cryptid that feeds on girls. The hook, of course, is the philosophical dilemma around whether a mythological creature is as bound to the gender binary as the masochistic hicks looking for a sacrifice.
This is a book that’s very much about gender identity and the transgender experience. It’s about the different paths Erin and Max have taken to becoming themselves, and how those journeys have shaped their attitudes and opinions. She had it relatively easy, with the love of her family, while he’s fought against hatred and disapproval at every step. Even when things are at their darkest – literally, in a night that seems destined to never end – how they’re treated by the hateful hicks is cruel and unfair.
As for the horror, I loved a lot of this, especially the creepiness, the mystery of the cryptid, and the all-too-human violence of their captors. Where it fell a bit short/flat, though, is in the . . . well, I can’t say resolution, so I’ll just say ending.
https://sallybend.wordpress.com/2024/...
August 21, 2024
This is hands down one of my favorite books I've read this year. Which, considering the amazing books I've gotten my hands on, is saying something.
I literally couldn't put it down. I read it all in one sitting, skipping lunch because I couldn't bear to put it down. There are so many things I could say about this book--how much it horrified me, how much it made my heart hurt, how much I've ranted about it to friends in the last few days, how unapologetic and vivid the writing was, how much I adored these two messy flawed trans kids--but the biggest thing I've found myself thinking about it how it managed to be hopeful, heartfelt, and empowering. This story wouldn't have worked or captured me in the way it did without that. Because while the horror was great, those things were what lifted this book to fantastic.
It never flinched, it never let up, it had a chokehold on me the entire time I read, and this is a book I'm already wishing I could read for the first time again.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I literally couldn't put it down. I read it all in one sitting, skipping lunch because I couldn't bear to put it down. There are so many things I could say about this book--how much it horrified me, how much it made my heart hurt, how much I've ranted about it to friends in the last few days, how unapologetic and vivid the writing was, how much I adored these two messy flawed trans kids--but the biggest thing I've found myself thinking about it how it managed to be hopeful, heartfelt, and empowering. This story wouldn't have worked or captured me in the way it did without that. Because while the horror was great, those things were what lifted this book to fantastic.
It never flinched, it never let up, it had a chokehold on me the entire time I read, and this is a book I'm already wishing I could read for the first time again.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 31, 2025
This is why representation in media is so important. That is ME on the page. That is me, and I survive. Kisner has written a trans horror story with so much heart, it had me crying 40 pages in. Not to mention it's so scary, I slept with the lights on (sorry, Eli). The monster design is horrifying and the social horror nails it on the head, but isn't overwhelmingly negative about the trans experience. It's really hard to have hope as a trans person in America right now, but this book gives me hope. The kids are alright, and they're armed with whatever is in reach. You are not allowed to give up. I am not allowed to give up.
December 15, 2024
One of my newest fave genres is queer horror. When you put the gays into a sticky situation, we fight. I love that about us… especially when it’s written this well.
Max has dealt with being the trans boy in a small town with parents who keep telling him he’s a girl. He’s spent all of it being penned in and forced to be someone he’s not. So as soon as he gets a chance, he plans an escape. And he asks his ex girlfriend to join him.
Erin hasn’t had the same difficulties as her ex has. When she told her mom that she was a girl, her mom helped her. She has had a much better support system, but when the boy who broke up with her without any reason why asks her to go with him cross country to Berkley in California, she says yes.
They sneak out in the middle of the night, throwing their phones out the window along the way down a back road where no one will find them. (They need to make sure they won’t be dragged back kicking and screaming) But along the way, the two front tires suddenly pop. And if it isn’t sabotage with dozens of nails embedded within them, I don’t know what is.
Not only do they end up in a small town in the middle of nowhere, there’s also the urban myth about the cryptid that feasts on girls. Which at this point, I kept thinking that this was a GENIUS idea for a book. Because you know these backwoods people are gonna have backwoods mindsets.
This gave me the perfect amount of 🤯WTF, Hicksville BS mixed with queer trans rage and revenge against people who would sacrifice (and have done it many times before) unsuspecting people. But this time, they got a little more than they bargained for.
If this is what I have to look forward to from Logan-Ashley Kisner, then I need their next book immediately! IMMEDIATELY, I SAID!!
Max has dealt with being the trans boy in a small town with parents who keep telling him he’s a girl. He’s spent all of it being penned in and forced to be someone he’s not. So as soon as he gets a chance, he plans an escape. And he asks his ex girlfriend to join him.
Erin hasn’t had the same difficulties as her ex has. When she told her mom that she was a girl, her mom helped her. She has had a much better support system, but when the boy who broke up with her without any reason why asks her to go with him cross country to Berkley in California, she says yes.
They sneak out in the middle of the night, throwing their phones out the window along the way down a back road where no one will find them. (They need to make sure they won’t be dragged back kicking and screaming) But along the way, the two front tires suddenly pop. And if it isn’t sabotage with dozens of nails embedded within them, I don’t know what is.
Not only do they end up in a small town in the middle of nowhere, there’s also the urban myth about the cryptid that feasts on girls. Which at this point, I kept thinking that this was a GENIUS idea for a book. Because you know these backwoods people are gonna have backwoods mindsets.
This gave me the perfect amount of 🤯WTF, Hicksville BS mixed with queer trans rage and revenge against people who would sacrifice (and have done it many times before) unsuspecting people. But this time, they got a little more than they bargained for.
If this is what I have to look forward to from Logan-Ashley Kisner, then I need their next book immediately! IMMEDIATELY, I SAID!!
April 16, 2025
***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 who 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.
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 who 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.
September 13, 2024
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.
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.
October 8, 2024
Thank you NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review !
Rating : 4.5/5 ⭐️
TW: Homophobia, Transphobia, SH, violence, murder
*
*
This book was *chefs kiss* 🤌🏻
I really have no notes besides I wanted a slightly different ending. The story had me hooked from the very beginning and what a rollercoaster of emotions it was ! I can’t wait to read more by this author.
*
*
FYI: on a 5-point scale I assign stars based on my assessment of what the book needs in the way of improvements:
*5 Stars ~ Nothing at all. Chefs kiss. No notes.
*4 Stars ~ It could use some slight adjustments here and there but pretty solid overall.
*3 Stars ~ Adjustments need to be made and rewriting needs to be done. Good but could be a lot better. I read it once and don’t need to do it again.
*2 Stars ~ This book needs a lot of work. Whether it be rewriting the plot, characters, style or ending. Something or everything needs to be changed.
*1 Star ~ Dumpster fire.
Rating : 4.5/5 ⭐️
TW: Homophobia, Transphobia, SH, violence, murder
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This book was *chefs kiss* 🤌🏻
I really have no notes besides I wanted a slightly different ending. The story had me hooked from the very beginning and what a rollercoaster of emotions it was ! I can’t wait to read more by this author.
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FYI: on a 5-point scale I assign stars based on my assessment of what the book needs in the way of improvements:
*5 Stars ~ Nothing at all. Chefs kiss. No notes.
*4 Stars ~ It could use some slight adjustments here and there but pretty solid overall.
*3 Stars ~ Adjustments need to be made and rewriting needs to be done. Good but could be a lot better. I read it once and don’t need to do it again.
*2 Stars ~ This book needs a lot of work. Whether it be rewriting the plot, characters, style or ending. Something or everything needs to be changed.
*1 Star ~ Dumpster fire.
October 31, 2024
A chilling and thought provoking read that's equal parts horror and an exploration into the nuances of the trans experience.
This was the kind of horror that makes you want to scream at its MC's to 'stay in the car and don't spilt up' because you know nothing good is about to happen. It's predictable but in the best kind of way. It's tense, eerie, atmospheric and downright stressful. The balance between the paranormal and human horrors was superbly executed and Max and Erin were both endearing characters with strong voices.
This was such a strong debut and I can't wait to read more from Logan-Ashley Kisner in the future!
TW: transphobia, misgendering, homophobic slurs, sexual assault, mention of suicide attempt and thoughts
This was the kind of horror that makes you want to scream at its MC's to 'stay in the car and don't spilt up' because you know nothing good is about to happen. It's predictable but in the best kind of way. It's tense, eerie, atmospheric and downright stressful. The balance between the paranormal and human horrors was superbly executed and Max and Erin were both endearing characters with strong voices.
This was such a strong debut and I can't wait to read more from Logan-Ashley Kisner in the future!
TW: transphobia, misgendering, homophobic slurs, sexual assault, mention of suicide attempt and thoughts
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