Old Wounds (2024)
Two transgender 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. A pulse-pounding thriller perfect for fans of Midsommar and Hell Followed with Us!
Erin and Max are two transgender teens trying to get to California. Max is desperate to finally transition, and Erin is longing to understand why she’s on this trip to begin with. The last she spoke to Max was when he suddenly broke up with her two years ago.
But when they find themselves stranded in the middle of the woods in a small Kentucky town, they realize they have much bigger problems. The locals need a female sacrifice for the monster that lives in the woods—according to them, the sun won’t come up again until the monster eats a girl . . . and it only eats what it kills. Fighting back is futile; no one selected as the offering has ever survived the night, and as far as the locals are concerned, their perfect candidate was just delivered.
The thing is, the locals don’t know who they just trapped as their sacrifice. They don’t know Erin and Max’s secrets, which could be a death sentence on a good day. And the monster that lives in the woods has never faced prey who have already fought so hard to live.
Art by Zoë van Dijk
Trade Reviews & Press
★ The Bulletin (October 2024)
"[A] triumphant trans-formation of horror-genre basics, standing as one of the most heart-under-the-floorboards vital debuts of the year. [A] dark, atmospheric telling shot through with new-horizon hope, strength, and solidarity, making this a powerful and crucial read."
Publishers Weekly
"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."
Kirkus Reviews
"An ode to the strength of trans kids, in the face of all kinds of terror."
The Bookseller (Editor's Choice)
"This YA horror thriller is simultaneously gripping, entertaining and thoughtful... trans and queer teenagers on both sides of the Atlantic will find it a cathartic and comforting treat."
School Library Journal
"[A] nuanced look at the complexities of being trans in our current landscape and a thoroughly enjoyable horror thriller, this book is sure to appeal to teens who love Jordan Peele films or Tiffany D. Jackson."
Booklist
"This smartly executed, propulsive thriller works on multiple levels: as a chilling and violent creature-feature with folk horror elements and as a painfully honest portrayal of trans people's everyday fight for survival."