Description

OLD WOUNDS…new monsters. Two trans teens end up in a small, isolated town, where they must escape the locals who plan to sacrifice one of them to an ancient monster that only eats girls… This is the freshest YA horror thriller of 2024, perfect for fans of Darren Charlton and Aiden Thomas.

Erin and Max are two trans kids, 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.

“Terrifying, tender, and unflinchingly honest. Old Wounds demands your attention from the very first page and never lets up.” Rory Power, New York Times bestselling author of Wilder Girls

“Wholly original, endlessly subversive and genuinely terrifying.” Laura Steven, author of The Society for Soulless Girls

“A terrifying, masterful debut… Old Wounds is a gripping exploration of gender, sacrifice and the real monsters we’re running from.” Lex Croucher

Publisher Review

Terrifying, tender, and unflinchingly honest. Old Wounds demands your attention from the very first page and never lets up. * Rory Power, New York Times bestselling author of WILDER GIRLS * A terrifying, masterful debut that’s startlingly original while remaining pure horror to its bones. Old Wounds is a gripping exploration of gender, sacrifice and the real monsters we’re running from. * Lex Croucher, author of GWEN AND ART ARE NOT IN LOVE * Wholly original, endlessly subversive and genuinely terrifying, Old Wounds is doing something completely fresh in contemporary horror. * Laura Steven, author of EVERY EXQUISITE THING * Old Wounds is a riveting, spine-chilling horror story that will shred your nerves and shatter your heart in the best and worst ways. A phenomenal debut. * Kat Ellis, author of HARROW LAKE * Breathtakingly tense and stunningly original, Old Wounds offers a nightmarish ride through the backwoods of rural America. * Amy Goldsmith, author of THOSE WE DROWN * Tense, terrifying and gripping – there’s a mounting sense of dread on every page in this captivating, original horror. * Ravena Guron, bestselling author of THIS BOOK KILLS * This YA horror thriller is simultaneously gripping, entertaining and thoughtful, and trans and queer teenagers on both sides of the Atlantic will find it a cathartic and comforting treat. * The Bookseller, Editor’s Choice * …Kisner sculpts two complex, believably flawed protagonists without demonizing nor glossing over their mistakes as they navigate their trauma. While violent and spine-tinglingly creepy on the surface, Kisner’s debut is also a hopeful story of connection and community, and a fiery ode to the trans youth who must fight for survival in a society set against them. * Publishers Weekly * The action-packed narrative frequently cuts between scenes and characters, creating a filmlike rhythm that propels readers forward. This work shines a spotlight on transgender people in a genre in which they are underrepresented; it puts Max and Erin through the worst but ultimately empowers them. An ode to the strength of trans kids, in the face of all kinds of terror. * Kirkus *