Reviews - Old Wounds | The StoryGraph

465 reviews for:

Old Wounds

Logan-Ashley Kisner

4.11 AVERAGE

elias_wannabe_writer's review against another edition

5.0

medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Such Well written flawed characters and a while sad throughout has a hopeful ending

rats_on_mars's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This book feels pulpy in the best way imaginable, it executes the basic horror formula phenomenally. What had me invested though was the dynamic between the main characters; both trans, both with complicated families, both having loved each other before it ended suddenly 2 years prior to the events of the book. The tension between the protagonists, their complicated emotions towards each other and their clashing transition histories are what ultimately makes this book so enjoyable. The horror elements serve to create stakes, to put the characters in extremes which then allows them to be fleshed out; neither the interplay of the protagonists nor the horror would have worked as well as a standalone but together they become a wonderful and at times devastatingly emotional read.

emily_faye89's review against another edition

4.5

dark emotional hopeful tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This was really good. It was a nice, solid horror novel, and on top of that it was a really powerful story about identity, friendship, longing, depression, and desperation. I loved it.

devination's review against another edition

4.0

dark emotional inspiring mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

This was a fun, straightforward horror romp. If you're a queer person with a love for old horror, this feels like it is for you - but just a warning, if you're a trans person it might hit a little close to home with the real world threats. Honestly I live in a country where I feels safe, so it was both a good reminder of how other trans people might experience the world, but also a bit of a downer in a already hard time. Safety exists. This is a book, not reality. Besides that, I do recommend it! Just make sure you're in the right state of mind for it.

Content Warnings

cedarflem1394's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous dark emotional fast-paced

kmartbooks's review

4.25

dark mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Horror is best when it is rooted in real-life fear, real-life danger, and real-life pain. And that’s exactly why I adored this.

At its core, Old Wounds is a tense, atmospheric survival story wrapped around a deeply emotional exploration of two trans teens grappling with identity and their past relationship. Max and Erin are both raw, real, and sometimes messy; just as they should be. Their relationship is strained, but the hurt between them is layered, and the story lets it breathe in a way that felt devastating and SO honest.

I loved how this book didn’t shy away from showing the vastly different trans experiences, especially when it comes to access, support, and safety. As I said, horror works best when it reflects back the ugly truths of our world, and Kisner nails it. The monster here might lurk in the trees, but it’s the townspeople and their horrific actions that feel the most chilling. And while the themes are heavy, the pacing is fast, the vibes are pitch-perfect rural horror, and the comeuppance for the villains? Extremely satisfying.

I’ll say it again: some of the best horror is coming from queer and BIPOC authors right now, and Old Wounds is proof of that. Dark, emotional, and brilliantly done.