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

This one was truly horrifying and impossible to put down. Glad to have read it during the season I did and before it is published. Definitely recommend this!

This was spooky and scary and heartbreaking at points. I don’t know what it was missing but I just wanted MORE. I wanted to understand the monster more, I wanted something a little more satisfying as far as backstories went. It was a good read, it just wasn’t as engaging as I had hoped.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an arc. Terrifying (just in time for Halloween) and not just because of the monster. I need MORE of these characters and their thoughts. It was so powerful reading a trans story about survival.
This book came at a perfect time for me.

Old Wounds by Logan-Ashley Kisner
ARC via Netgalley
3/5

I love reading about topics I won't ever experience because, even if it's fiction, there's still enough to help me with just being a more understanding person, whatever the situation/lifestyle/mindset is.

Having said that, I enjoyed Old Wounds, however there was one thing that just really frustrated me with the book and kept me from possibly enjoying it more. I don't know if this is a me thing due to being unable to understand fully the lives of Max and Erin and everything they went through in their lives. Max was almost insufferable at times, making it very hard to like him. Don't get me wrong, I don't have to like a character to enjoy the story, but he was just so frustrating! Is it likely due to things you find out about as the story goes on? Absolutely without a doubt. However, the way he treated Erin and the jealousy towards her really bothered me. Again, this may be due to my lack of understanding, but it made me dislike him some when I was supposed to feel sympathy. I did at times; his mom and her boyfriend were horrible. There were times I wanted to hug him. But there were moments where I just wanted to shake him and yell that it's not a competition.

Erin, however. Oh, I adored her. She was bad ass even when she was scared. She was put through hell and was ready to fight the entire time. She was a bloody vengeful goddess. She also stood by Max even when he vanished from her life, and still cared about him. I. Loved Her.

One thing I did appreciate with this, is that it was a trans horror book but also it was just a horror book. It wasn't pushy, it wasn't suffocating, and it wasn't hate-filled like I feel can happen. This was just a horror book about two people who happen to be trans, and that isn't shoved in your face but is part of the story - if a Cryptid kills females, how does that work when a person is trans? Nonbinary? What will it hunt? That was such a clever idea, one I've never thought of or come across, and I had a lot of fun with what Kisner did with that.

I really did enjoy this, but I think Max's attitude just frustrated me a lot to where moments I found myself wanting to just move on and get more to Erin.

Read if you like: Cryptids and monsters, trans horror, a kick butt strong female, gruesome comeuppance

I was really excited about the premise of this book, but was pretty let down in the actual execution of it. The whole first 40% of the book was just back story and making sure the readers understood the dynamics of being transgender. The rest of the story was just thrown together about halfway through, and by that point, I was just exhausted by all of the over explained background.

Rather than “show, don’t tell” - this whole novel was just telling.

Thank you, #NetGalley and #DelaCortePress, for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun, creepy read where the human villains were worse than the monster. I liked and felt for both leads. This wasn't exactly a happy book, but it was suspenseful and the trans element really added an interesting twist to the monster's hunt.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

thank you netgalley for the e-ARC!

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

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

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

4.5 stars, rounded up

Thanks to NetGalley for an eARC of this title!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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