What do you think?
Rate this book
The Transition
A transgender teen’s post-op recovery is derailed when he is bitten by a werewolf and his body begins to change. A thought-provoking page-turner that will haunt you for days!
Hunter’s life is at a turning point: After years of fighting his father for it, he’s gotten top surgery. He’s finally starting to feel comfortable in his own skin . . . only to be attacked by a strange creature in his backyard.
The encounter should kill him, but his best friend Gabe intervenes, and Hunter is able to walk away from the incident with his life—and new body—mostly intact. Still, something isn’t right. First, his wounds are healing quickly—too quickly. Then there are the feverish nightmares, the sudden return of his period, and his teeth . . . they’re falling out of his head.
Enter Mars, Hunter’s other best friend. A horror movie devotee, Mars points out the obvious: That mysterious creature was a werewolf, and Hunter is becoming one too—unless they can figure out a cure, which basically means they have to kill the creature that bit him.
Now, Hunter, Gabe, and Mars are in a race against time. A voice that could only belong to the creature itself is worming its way into Hunter’s head, and as the days pass, it’s only getting louder. It promises revenge on Hunter’s transphobic peers if he succumbs to his lycanthropic transformation. Or he can reject the monster and fight alongside his friends before the body—and life—he’s fought so hard for slips away for good. The choice is Hunter’s.
Hunter’s life is at a turning point: After years of fighting his father for it, he’s gotten top surgery. He’s finally starting to feel comfortable in his own skin . . . only to be attacked by a strange creature in his backyard.
The encounter should kill him, but his best friend Gabe intervenes, and Hunter is able to walk away from the incident with his life—and new body—mostly intact. Still, something isn’t right. First, his wounds are healing quickly—too quickly. Then there are the feverish nightmares, the sudden return of his period, and his teeth . . . they’re falling out of his head.
Enter Mars, Hunter’s other best friend. A horror movie devotee, Mars points out the obvious: That mysterious creature was a werewolf, and Hunter is becoming one too—unless they can figure out a cure, which basically means they have to kill the creature that bit him.
Now, Hunter, Gabe, and Mars are in a race against time. A voice that could only belong to the creature itself is worming its way into Hunter’s head, and as the days pass, it’s only getting louder. It promises revenge on Hunter’s transphobic peers if he succumbs to his lycanthropic transformation. Or he can reject the monster and fight alongside his friends before the body—and life—he’s fought so hard for slips away for good. The choice is Hunter’s.
326 pages, Hardcover
First published September 30, 2025
29 people are currently reading
4762 people want to read
About the author
Logan-Ashley Kisner
4 books239 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
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews
January 29, 2026
AJW has been my entry point into horror-adjacent stories with trans protagonists, and since then, I can’t seem to get enough. There’s something especially powerful and gut-wrenching about teenage trans rage that pulls at my heartstrings.
Hunter has just undergone his top surgery when he’s attacked by something that looks like a huge feral dog. His injuries are grisly, but they quickly stop bleeding... and they don’t hurt. At all. After tentatively establishing an actual werewolf situation with his friends’ help, Mars and Gabe, the path should be clear - kill the monster, stop the infection that makes Hunter lose his hard-won bodily integrity. It might not be so easy when the monster in question brings Hunter a sense of familiarity.
I just love how YA stories don’t flinch from the uncomfortable topics - gender dysphoria, body horror, cruelly casual transphobia (intentional in the form of bullying, or otherwise - even the condescension of the “well-meaning” people concerned about trans kids going through transitioning and potentially regretting it can be very harmful). Makes it into a potentially triggering read, especially at this backwards time, but I’m sure it can provide a great catharsis.
All I have to do is make it two more days and this might finally be over.
I tell myself this as if I haven’t been telling myself that for my entire life. Just a few more years and I’ll start testosterone; just a few more years and I’ll have my perfect chest; just a few more years and I’ll stop feeling like I’ve got trans branded on my forehead. Never now. Never soon. Always somewhere in that distant, unspecified future. It makes my skin crawl.
Hunter may not appeal to many readers, he’s not exactly likeable, but I’m pretty sure he’s not meant to be. He can be seen as a very passive character for most of the story, letting things happen to him while often snarling at his friends who are trying to help. And still, given what he’s dealing with, he’s easy to sympathise with. Most of all, he’s supposed to be relatable to the trans kids who go through transition and still find themselves angry and confused and hurt because society rarely lets that be an easy fix.
I genuinely could have done without the love triangle/possible poly situation between Hunter, Mars, and Gabe, because the plot itself provided enough drama. I know teenagers and their feelings tend to be messy, even (or especially) in life-threatening situations, but it doesn’t need to be a rule. But... maybe that’s just my grumpy self wanting some meaningful friendships speaking because I truly liked both Mars and Gabe, and they were a much-needed beacon of hope for Hunter.
I very much appreciated that I actually couldn’t tell where exactly the story is heading - what would be considered an actual happy ending to Hunter’s situation? In hindsight, it’s quite clear, but I actually hesitated, and that says something.
they make us monsters, hunter. they belittle us and treat us like animals. they all deserve it because they make us monsters, but we can make them regret it.
Hunter’s complicated relationship with his father was a great addition that grounded the story in reality even more for me. This supportive yet often absent and very much could-be-better parental figure didn’t try to be yet another monster in this story, and that was a relief.
Obviously, I can’t speak with any kind of authority on the matter, so at the end of the day, I’m just glad books like this one exist for people who might need them, who might feel seen. My actual rating would have been 3,5 ⭐ but I was so damn moved by the end of the book, I say fuck it, rounding up with zero regrets.
Hunter has just undergone his top surgery when he’s attacked by something that looks like a huge feral dog. His injuries are grisly, but they quickly stop bleeding... and they don’t hurt. At all. After tentatively establishing an actual werewolf situation with his friends’ help, Mars and Gabe, the path should be clear - kill the monster, stop the infection that makes Hunter lose his hard-won bodily integrity. It might not be so easy when the monster in question brings Hunter a sense of familiarity.
I just love how YA stories don’t flinch from the uncomfortable topics - gender dysphoria, body horror, cruelly casual transphobia (intentional in the form of bullying, or otherwise - even the condescension of the “well-meaning” people concerned about trans kids going through transitioning and potentially regretting it can be very harmful). Makes it into a potentially triggering read, especially at this backwards time, but I’m sure it can provide a great catharsis.
All I have to do is make it two more days and this might finally be over.
I tell myself this as if I haven’t been telling myself that for my entire life. Just a few more years and I’ll start testosterone; just a few more years and I’ll have my perfect chest; just a few more years and I’ll stop feeling like I’ve got trans branded on my forehead. Never now. Never soon. Always somewhere in that distant, unspecified future. It makes my skin crawl.
Hunter may not appeal to many readers, he’s not exactly likeable, but I’m pretty sure he’s not meant to be. He can be seen as a very passive character for most of the story, letting things happen to him while often snarling at his friends who are trying to help. And still, given what he’s dealing with, he’s easy to sympathise with. Most of all, he’s supposed to be relatable to the trans kids who go through transition and still find themselves angry and confused and hurt because society rarely lets that be an easy fix.
I genuinely could have done without the love triangle/possible poly situation between Hunter, Mars, and Gabe, because the plot itself provided enough drama. I know teenagers and their feelings tend to be messy, even (or especially) in life-threatening situations, but it doesn’t need to be a rule. But... maybe that’s just my grumpy self wanting some meaningful friendships speaking because I truly liked both Mars and Gabe, and they were a much-needed beacon of hope for Hunter.
I very much appreciated that I actually couldn’t tell where exactly the story is heading - what would be considered an actual happy ending to Hunter’s situation? In hindsight, it’s quite clear, but I actually hesitated, and that says something.
they make us monsters, hunter. they belittle us and treat us like animals. they all deserve it because they make us monsters, but we can make them regret it.
Hunter’s complicated relationship with his father was a great addition that grounded the story in reality even more for me. This supportive yet often absent and very much could-be-better parental figure didn’t try to be yet another monster in this story, and that was a relief.
Obviously, I can’t speak with any kind of authority on the matter, so at the end of the day, I’m just glad books like this one exist for people who might need them, who might feel seen. My actual rating would have been 3,5 ⭐ but I was so damn moved by the end of the book, I say fuck it, rounding up with zero regrets.
August 26, 2025
4.25 stars!
Unsurprisingly, this book is great! With its twists on werewolf tropes, The Transition vividly explores the fears and anxieties that trans people have surrounding both transition and detransition.
Hunter is a few weeks post top surgery and ready to start the rest of his life when a wolf bites him and sets in motion and new and uniquely horrifying transition. We've all heard about werewolf analogies when in comes to transition and largely that idea has been reclaimed by the trans community as empowering, but Kisner takes it in a different direction, instead emphasizing how becoming a werewolf goes against bodily autonomy in the way that transition doesn't. It's a super impactful story with a great cast of complicated characters with messy feelings, which I love. I'm having top surgery in less than two weeks (insert confetti here) and by the time this review goes up I will be a few weeks post-op, so the place that Hunter is in his transition hits very close to home.
Update 8/26/25: I am almost 6-weeks post op and had just about the easiest recovery I've heard about! Definitely no werewolves involved.
If you are trans and reading this book, I do recommend heeding the content warnings. The Transition discusses a lot about social anxiety surrounding being trans and the doubts that lead to detransition, which are important to see represented but can also be difficult to read about. Take care of yourselves, because god knows it's not the best time to be a trans person in the US. Still, as the book outlines, we aren't alone in this.
I'm glad that political turbulence can't stop books like this from being written and ending up in the hands of the people who need it. Stay strong, folks!
Thank you to Logan-Ashley Kisner and Delacorte Press for this ARC in exchange for my full, honest review!
Happy reading!
Unsurprisingly, this book is great! With its twists on werewolf tropes, The Transition vividly explores the fears and anxieties that trans people have surrounding both transition and detransition.
Hunter is a few weeks post top surgery and ready to start the rest of his life when a wolf bites him and sets in motion and new and uniquely horrifying transition. We've all heard about werewolf analogies when in comes to transition and largely that idea has been reclaimed by the trans community as empowering, but Kisner takes it in a different direction, instead emphasizing how becoming a werewolf goes against bodily autonomy in the way that transition doesn't. It's a super impactful story with a great cast of complicated characters with messy feelings, which I love. I'm having top surgery in less than two weeks (insert confetti here) and by the time this review goes up I will be a few weeks post-op, so the place that Hunter is in his transition hits very close to home.
Update 8/26/25: I am almost 6-weeks post op and had just about the easiest recovery I've heard about! Definitely no werewolves involved.
If you are trans and reading this book, I do recommend heeding the content warnings. The Transition discusses a lot about social anxiety surrounding being trans and the doubts that lead to detransition, which are important to see represented but can also be difficult to read about. Take care of yourselves, because god knows it's not the best time to be a trans person in the US. Still, as the book outlines, we aren't alone in this.
I'm glad that political turbulence can't stop books like this from being written and ending up in the hands of the people who need it. Stay strong, folks!
Thank you to Logan-Ashley Kisner and Delacorte Press for this ARC in exchange for my full, honest review!
Happy reading!
June 12, 2025
In THE TRANSITION, Hunter will have the worst month of his life. Only most of that will be because of the (trans) werewolf thing.
An expanded list of content warnings can be found here (trust me, you'll probably want them), and I've even thrown together a little soundtrack to help the horrors go down easier.
Stay brave.
An expanded list of content warnings can be found here (trust me, you'll probably want them), and I've even thrown together a little soundtrack to help the horrors go down easier.
Stay brave.
September 23, 2025
Got an arc from ALA
this was fun! Very much a love letter to classic horror that manages to blend humor with OH DEAR GOD WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT. I devoured it (pun only semi intended) in about two days. Also I’m not sure if the parallels/subtle criticism of trans infighting was intentional or just very applicable but assuming it was: I see what you did there.
If you liked Hell Followed With Us, you’ll like this
this was fun! Very much a love letter to classic horror that manages to blend humor with OH DEAR GOD WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT. I devoured it (pun only semi intended) in about two days. Also I’m not sure if the parallels/subtle criticism of trans infighting was intentional or just very applicable but assuming it was: I see what you did there.
If you liked Hell Followed With Us, you’ll like this
Want to read
September 10, 2024haven't read old wounds YET but I'm already deeply invested in anything Logan is bringing to the table
June 5, 2025
This is trans horror at it's very best. It's about transformation, about how painful it can be to exist in a world that seems determined to fight who you truly are, and how living a life while trans is absolutely, fully worth it.
September 23, 2025
How far would you go to keep the body you’ve dreamed of having since puberty slapped you in the face?
Hunter is a 17 year old trans teen, and after years of fighting with his father for it, he’s finally had top surgery. Dad is… supportive now, but took a lot of convincing.
The healing is going as to be expected, he’s making sure to not lift his arms up too high, and massaging his scars to help diminish their appearance.
But one day, while he and his best friend Gabe are hanging out at his home, Hunter is viciously attacked by something while letting his dog Norman outside. Gabe arrives just in the nick of time with a hockey stick, and breaks it over the back of the beast attaching Hunter. It runs off, and Gabe and Hunter start to assess the damage.
He was bitten twice, on his arm and his leg, but the wounds are closing up suspiciously fast…
Over the next several days, Hunter’s body begins to betray him. His cycle returns, which is strange because he has been without the pesky thing since starting testosterone two years ago. His skin starts to react to a silver necklace that he’s had for over 3 years. A tooth rots out of his head overnight. But it’s his other best friend Mars that points out the obvious. We might just be dealing with a case of lycanthropy.
It’s a race against time, and pestering over-protective parents while the trio tries to figure out how to save Hunter from befalling the curse of the creature that attacked him.
I feel like the intended narrative in this is going to go over a lot of people’s heads, but I’d like to try to spell it out. This is an exploration of the loss of bodily agency that trans people have been experiencing for decades. This story struck so incredibly many chords.
Hunter’s connection to the lycanthrope highlights the anger that blooms from the societal treatment of transness, especially as a teenager… and the way that it just constantly has to be swallowed down. The unrelenting wave of hatred that ends up resolving into self destruction… the question that is answered in this book is, do you fall victim to that hatred, or do you face it head on?
Hats off to Logan-Ashley Kisner on this one, it was fantastic.
Hunter is a 17 year old trans teen, and after years of fighting with his father for it, he’s finally had top surgery. Dad is… supportive now, but took a lot of convincing.
The healing is going as to be expected, he’s making sure to not lift his arms up too high, and massaging his scars to help diminish their appearance.
But one day, while he and his best friend Gabe are hanging out at his home, Hunter is viciously attacked by something while letting his dog Norman outside. Gabe arrives just in the nick of time with a hockey stick, and breaks it over the back of the beast attaching Hunter. It runs off, and Gabe and Hunter start to assess the damage.
He was bitten twice, on his arm and his leg, but the wounds are closing up suspiciously fast…
Over the next several days, Hunter’s body begins to betray him. His cycle returns, which is strange because he has been without the pesky thing since starting testosterone two years ago. His skin starts to react to a silver necklace that he’s had for over 3 years. A tooth rots out of his head overnight. But it’s his other best friend Mars that points out the obvious. We might just be dealing with a case of lycanthropy.
It’s a race against time, and pestering over-protective parents while the trio tries to figure out how to save Hunter from befalling the curse of the creature that attacked him.
I feel like the intended narrative in this is going to go over a lot of people’s heads, but I’d like to try to spell it out. This is an exploration of the loss of bodily agency that trans people have been experiencing for decades. This story struck so incredibly many chords.
Hunter’s connection to the lycanthrope highlights the anger that blooms from the societal treatment of transness, especially as a teenager… and the way that it just constantly has to be swallowed down. The unrelenting wave of hatred that ends up resolving into self destruction… the question that is answered in this book is, do you fall victim to that hatred, or do you face it head on?
Hats off to Logan-Ashley Kisner on this one, it was fantastic.
October 15, 2025
WOW. I did not know I needed or wanted a trans werewolf story. I have never been interested in werewolves before. This GOT me. Such a fantastic exploration of the trans experience and the “othering” that occurs from small-minded people. Hunter’s internal wrestle with what it means to be a monster and what it means to be himself was masterfully done and the deep-seated convictions of the wolf added such a profound nuance to his sense of identity. Characters you’ll root for, romance(s) you’ll swoon over! Read this one STAT, y’all.
August 5, 2025
3.5 - 4 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Children's Books for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Earlier this year, I read Logan-Ashley Kisner's debut and completely adored it. I knew immediately that I wanted to check out his sophomore novel, especially seeing the comps to Ginger Snaps. I'm happy to say that I enjoyed my time with this book.
The story follows Hunter, who after having top surgery, is attacked by a werewolf. We follow him as his body begins to change in ways completely out of his control, while he and his friends are scrambling to find a cure before his first transformation.
Hunter was such a compelling main character. He is truly going through the most stressful month of his life. Kisner continues to write his protagonists as flawed and nuanced people and allows them to make mistakes. It feels especially important to show trans characters being imperfect and still deserving love and care.
The horror elements were done very well, especially the body horror and the terror of your body becoming unknowable to you. There was a chapter that leans a bit experimental and I was very surprised and impressed by Kisner's approach. I think the character dynamics in this book are captivating. I found Hunter's relationship with the werewolf that changed him so fascinating. I also really enjoyed what the author termed the "biblically accurate love triangle" and the outcome. I loved how firmly Gabe and Mars were in Hunter's corner and fought to protect him. I also really loved how well Kisner captured how emotionally devastating a friend breakup can be, even years after the fact.
Logan-Ashley Kisner has quickly become a new author to watch for me. I'm so interested in seeing what he continues to do in the future.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Children's Books for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Earlier this year, I read Logan-Ashley Kisner's debut and completely adored it. I knew immediately that I wanted to check out his sophomore novel, especially seeing the comps to Ginger Snaps. I'm happy to say that I enjoyed my time with this book.
The story follows Hunter, who after having top surgery, is attacked by a werewolf. We follow him as his body begins to change in ways completely out of his control, while he and his friends are scrambling to find a cure before his first transformation.
Hunter was such a compelling main character. He is truly going through the most stressful month of his life. Kisner continues to write his protagonists as flawed and nuanced people and allows them to make mistakes. It feels especially important to show trans characters being imperfect and still deserving love and care.
The horror elements were done very well, especially the body horror and the terror of your body becoming unknowable to you. There was a chapter that leans a bit experimental and I was very surprised and impressed by Kisner's approach. I think the character dynamics in this book are captivating. I found Hunter's relationship with the werewolf that changed him so fascinating. I also really enjoyed what the author termed the "biblically accurate love triangle" and the outcome. I loved how firmly Gabe and Mars were in Hunter's corner and fought to protect him. I also really loved how well Kisner captured how emotionally devastating a friend breakup can be, even years after the fact.
Logan-Ashley Kisner has quickly become a new author to watch for me. I'm so interested in seeing what he continues to do in the future.
June 15, 2025
I. Am. Feral. As often as being trans feels like a fight against the rest of the world, it just as often feels like a fight within myself. Do I risk my safety to ensure I'm being properly represented as myself, or do I compromise my mental and emotional health to try to gain physical safety? Do I let someone else's hatred kill me, or do I let my self hatred kill me? Just when Hunter has checked his "ideal self" boxes, he's forced to undergo a change he did not consent to. Compounded by the bullying he's undergone for years, this transformation pushes him to the very edge of sanity, and the option of becoming a monster only gets more and more appealing. Kisner explores the internal battle Hunter faces in a realistic and intimate way, demonstrating that the vulnerability needed to form meaningful connections with people and the strength to stand up for oneself can go hand in hand. Lady Gaga was right, love is like a brick, you can build a house AND sink a dead body.
This book is scary, in a visceral and gorey way. It's gut wrenching and heartwarming in all the right places. It made me nauseous, it made me laugh, and it made me cry. It's brilliant and it's beautiful and it's the kind of book that makes me wish I could write a review worthy enough for it. I'm a diehard Kisner fan at this point, and I cannot wait to read what he comes up with next.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
This book is scary, in a visceral and gorey way. It's gut wrenching and heartwarming in all the right places. It made me nauseous, it made me laugh, and it made me cry. It's brilliant and it's beautiful and it's the kind of book that makes me wish I could write a review worthy enough for it. I'm a diehard Kisner fan at this point, and I cannot wait to read what he comes up with next.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
May 31, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for an e-ARC of this book!
Kisner DELIVERED with this one y’all! The slow crawl of Hunter’s transformation gave me similar vibes to Benji from Hell Followed With Us in the best way. The voice of the wolf in his head was well in that I couldn’t tell if it was Hunter or an outside consciousness at first, and I’m not sure if Hunter could either.
My main issue was mostly just with the formatting of the actual e-book, because there were times, when the voice was becoming more coherent, that I had trouble differentiating between the voice in hunter’s head and the other ‘regular’ text on the page. Not sure if it was just the font chosen, but I’ll find out when my physical book arrives in September (because I 100% preordered as soon as I was able).
Kisner DELIVERED with this one y’all! The slow crawl of Hunter’s transformation gave me similar vibes to Benji from Hell Followed With Us in the best way. The voice of the wolf in his head was well in that I couldn’t tell if it was Hunter or an outside consciousness at first, and I’m not sure if Hunter could either.
My main issue was mostly just with the formatting of the actual e-book, because there were times, when the voice was becoming more coherent, that I had trouble differentiating between the voice in hunter’s head and the other ‘regular’ text on the page. Not sure if it was just the font chosen, but I’ll find out when my physical book arrives in September (because I 100% preordered as soon as I was able).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
February 24, 2026Original Review at Before We Go Blog: https://beforewegoblog.com/review-the...
Logan-Ashley Kisner’s work has been on my radar since the publication of his YA horror debut, Old Wounds, but although I’ve greatly enjoyed his non-fiction explorations of horror and transness on screen (and have cited him in my own articles and dissertation), it’s taken me till the publication of his trans werewolf novel, The Transition, to get my ass in gear and read his fiction. Like Old Wounds before it, The Transition is a work of Young Adult horror that centres trans identity and experience. Given Kisner’s academic background in Film Studies, it’s no surprise that The Transition situates itself within the tradition of cinematic rather than literary depictions of transness and horror, and it newly incorporates transness into a vast body of teen horror fiction and film. The Transition is particularly indebted to the body horror and werewolf subgenres, and it’s easy to imagine it making the jump to the silver screen (though with lycanthropic allergies being what they are, maybe we should make that the platinum screen instead). Although I’m aware from Kisner’s own non-fiction of the influence the Ginger Snaps series has had on his work and thought, I’d most recommend The Transition to fans of Teen Wolf (both the original movie and the TV series).
One of the many ways The Transition leans into and embraces its generic origins is in its plotting. There’s a lot about The Transition that feels standard, but if that’s the case, it feels intentional and self-aware. Those aspects of the work that are anything but standard are specifically the ones related to the protagonist’s identity. Through this approach, The Transition opens up the classic teen horror story to trans characters and readers. The novel follows Hunter, a transmasc teenager who’s recovering from top surgery while navigating interpersonal conflict with his friends and father, dysphoria, and transphobic sexual harassment from the local bully. When Hunter is attacked and infected by a werewolf while walking the woods outside his house, it’s left to Hunter and the two best friends he’s secretly in love with–Mars and Gabe–to find a cure before Hunter’s transformation becomes permanent. Critical to The Transition‘s emotional core is a lingering conflict between Hunter and his former best friend, Riley. When Hunter and Riley were fourteen years old, Riley rejected Hunter after Hunter was sexually harassed by Riley’s boyfriend, Ethan. Riley claims that she doesn’t believe Hunter’s account, despite the fact that Ethan continues to bully Hunter. Hunter’s ongoing conflict with Ethan, his regrets and frustrations concerning Riley, and his romantic interest in Gabe and Mars are critical to The Transition‘s emotional stakes, and lend the novel a powerful weight. Each of these conflicts–internal and external–develops alongside Hunter’s growing sense of his supernatural connection with the werewolf who bit him.
As a trans author, scholar, and reviewer, I was particularly impressed by Kisner’s rendering of uniquely trans experiences. From the description of the aftermath (and aftercare) of Hunter’s top surgery, to the way the novel’s trans characters wrestle with self-loathing and the rejection of trans identity, Kisner’s depiction feels raw and true. Scenes of transphobia, likewise, are relatable rather than caricaturish, and there were many points during my reading when I found myself nodding along with Hunter’s experiences both of himself and a largely transphobic society. A big part of The Transition is its exploration of the innate horrors of the body, and particularly the parallel between a not-uncommon self-perception of the trans body as subreal, and the potential of reconstructing oneself along intentionally monstrous lines. While other recent trans monster narratives (e.g. Soraya E. Quinn’s Teeth, Lee Mandelo’s The Woods All Black, Rien Grey’s The Scales of Seduction, Dani Finn’s Grey Angel, etc ) position monstrosity as self-affirming, The Transition offers a different perspective. Here, the choice to become monstrous is instead a metaphor for the refusal to live a trans life and the danger of retreating into toxic, self-isolating, and self-annihilating behaviours. Neither use of the figure of the monster is correct or superior, rather, they each represent potentially fruitful ways of interrogating the relationship between transness, monstrosity, and self-expression.
Some of that self-expression emerges, in The Transition, as a debilitating anger. Hunter himself is a deeply angry, deeply wounded individual, even before a ravenous beast takes a chomp out of his arm. Although Hunter’s father and two best friends are well-meaning and incredibly supportive, he has a tendency to lash out at them, and I can’t say that Hunter’s an easy character to get along with. As someone whose anxieties tend to manifest more as depression, stepping into the shoes of a protagonist–even a teenage protagonist–who’s more likely to yell at or argue with someone offering aid than to thank them was a challenging (though not unrewarding) experience. That said, Hunter comes across as a realistic teenage protagonist and the reasons for his anger make sense given the context. He’s well-drawn, and I can imagine that for a great many trans teens picking up The Transition, Hunter will be an important character, whose on-page struggles with both outward and inward-directed rage are relatable.
For me, the stars of the book, however, were Hunter’s best friend, Gabe, and another trans man named Lawrence. More than just the dutiful, protective friend, Gabe comes across as someone whose depth of character is disguised by his relative quietness. There’s also a meaningful yet subtle narrative associated with Gabe that I thought was exceptionally well-handled by Kisner. There were just enough hints that revelations associated with the character felt well-earned and satisfying, yet it was never something that felt unnecessarily drawn out just for the sake of it. While I might have preferred that those revelations were addressed earlier by the text in order for the fallout conversations between the characters to carry more weight and enjoy more room to breathe, I was ultimately pleased with how Gabe’s development shook out. Gabe is also a very easy character to like. Lawrence, in contrast, is incredibly messy, but in a way that satisfies, and some of my favourite passages in the book were from Lawrence’s perspective. It’s probably the adult reader in me–so take my experience with a grain of salt–but there was a level of texture, nuance, and resonance to Lawrence’s voice that I did find myself yearning for from the novel as a whole. Much of this will be down to The Transition‘s target demographic, rather than any fault with the book itself, but where Hunter–despite a clear personality–occasionally feels a little surface-level, Lawrence feels like a demonstration of the kind of rich character work I was hoping for based on Kisner’s non-fiction. Although the work as a whole is perfectly well-written, with clear, accessible prose, Lawrence’s chapters were where I really got a sense that Kisner can write. Again, I suspect this is a facet of my age and personal tastes rather than a failing of the novel. If anything, the fact that Kisner is able to switch between a simpler narrative voice and the more stylized Lawrence passages showcases the command he has over his work.
While The Transition is an impressive book in many respects, and while I personally enjoyed a lot of what Kisner engages with in terms of trans identity, certain aspects of the novel feel unbalanced. Where the book really sings is in its middle portion–a sizeable chunk of the book, to be clear, and well worth engaging with, even if the opening doesn’t initially grab you. Here, Kisner digs more deeply into Hunter’s past and the emotional richness of his interpersonal conflicts. The werewolf element, which I had expected based on Kisner’s background to be the most powerful element of the book, feels less critical to the story Kisner is telling. Aspects of the ending, though frenetic and intense, didn’t quite land for me how I was hoping, and while the Lawrence chapters brought a delicious grit to the page, elsewhere I was surprised by the straightforwardness of style and atmosphere. The premise of The Transition is so full of promise that I think I just wanted more from it than was reasonable to expect–more layers, a willingness to either get more visceral or, conversely, to engage more with the camp, high school melodrama of some of its forebears. All that said, there’s a lot that Kisner does exceptionally well, and it may be the case that as a reader of primarily adult fiction I’m bringing an invalid set of expectations to the work. I did ultimately enjoy The Transition, and I’m especially eager to see whether Kisner will bring his obvious skill to the adult horror scene.
The Transition is undeniably a good book and an easy read–accessible, polished, and clearly written, with important themes at its heart. I’ll certainly be purchasing copies of it for trans teen family members and get the sense that it will resonate most with a younger demographic who are truly in the thick of the conflicts and feelings that Kisner explores. Certain aspects of the plot are likely to appeal no matter your age–Kisner’s treatment of Riley and Hunter’s fractured friendship really resonated with me, and Lawrence’s desperate attempts to wrestle with life in a transphobic world are particularly–if sadly–relevant to our present moment. Beyond this, it’s incredibly exciting to see trans authors directly engaging with horror and the monstrous, becoming a louder voice in genres that have for too long been eager to talk about us without speaking with us.
Logan-Ashley Kisner’s work has been on my radar since the publication of his YA horror debut, Old Wounds, but although I’ve greatly enjoyed his non-fiction explorations of horror and transness on screen (and have cited him in my own articles and dissertation), it’s taken me till the publication of his trans werewolf novel, The Transition, to get my ass in gear and read his fiction. Like Old Wounds before it, The Transition is a work of Young Adult horror that centres trans identity and experience. Given Kisner’s academic background in Film Studies, it’s no surprise that The Transition situates itself within the tradition of cinematic rather than literary depictions of transness and horror, and it newly incorporates transness into a vast body of teen horror fiction and film. The Transition is particularly indebted to the body horror and werewolf subgenres, and it’s easy to imagine it making the jump to the silver screen (though with lycanthropic allergies being what they are, maybe we should make that the platinum screen instead). Although I’m aware from Kisner’s own non-fiction of the influence the Ginger Snaps series has had on his work and thought, I’d most recommend The Transition to fans of Teen Wolf (both the original movie and the TV series).
One of the many ways The Transition leans into and embraces its generic origins is in its plotting. There’s a lot about The Transition that feels standard, but if that’s the case, it feels intentional and self-aware. Those aspects of the work that are anything but standard are specifically the ones related to the protagonist’s identity. Through this approach, The Transition opens up the classic teen horror story to trans characters and readers. The novel follows Hunter, a transmasc teenager who’s recovering from top surgery while navigating interpersonal conflict with his friends and father, dysphoria, and transphobic sexual harassment from the local bully. When Hunter is attacked and infected by a werewolf while walking the woods outside his house, it’s left to Hunter and the two best friends he’s secretly in love with–Mars and Gabe–to find a cure before Hunter’s transformation becomes permanent. Critical to The Transition‘s emotional core is a lingering conflict between Hunter and his former best friend, Riley. When Hunter and Riley were fourteen years old, Riley rejected Hunter after Hunter was sexually harassed by Riley’s boyfriend, Ethan. Riley claims that she doesn’t believe Hunter’s account, despite the fact that Ethan continues to bully Hunter. Hunter’s ongoing conflict with Ethan, his regrets and frustrations concerning Riley, and his romantic interest in Gabe and Mars are critical to The Transition‘s emotional stakes, and lend the novel a powerful weight. Each of these conflicts–internal and external–develops alongside Hunter’s growing sense of his supernatural connection with the werewolf who bit him.
As a trans author, scholar, and reviewer, I was particularly impressed by Kisner’s rendering of uniquely trans experiences. From the description of the aftermath (and aftercare) of Hunter’s top surgery, to the way the novel’s trans characters wrestle with self-loathing and the rejection of trans identity, Kisner’s depiction feels raw and true. Scenes of transphobia, likewise, are relatable rather than caricaturish, and there were many points during my reading when I found myself nodding along with Hunter’s experiences both of himself and a largely transphobic society. A big part of The Transition is its exploration of the innate horrors of the body, and particularly the parallel between a not-uncommon self-perception of the trans body as subreal, and the potential of reconstructing oneself along intentionally monstrous lines. While other recent trans monster narratives (e.g. Soraya E. Quinn’s Teeth, Lee Mandelo’s The Woods All Black, Rien Grey’s The Scales of Seduction, Dani Finn’s Grey Angel, etc ) position monstrosity as self-affirming, The Transition offers a different perspective. Here, the choice to become monstrous is instead a metaphor for the refusal to live a trans life and the danger of retreating into toxic, self-isolating, and self-annihilating behaviours. Neither use of the figure of the monster is correct or superior, rather, they each represent potentially fruitful ways of interrogating the relationship between transness, monstrosity, and self-expression.
Some of that self-expression emerges, in The Transition, as a debilitating anger. Hunter himself is a deeply angry, deeply wounded individual, even before a ravenous beast takes a chomp out of his arm. Although Hunter’s father and two best friends are well-meaning and incredibly supportive, he has a tendency to lash out at them, and I can’t say that Hunter’s an easy character to get along with. As someone whose anxieties tend to manifest more as depression, stepping into the shoes of a protagonist–even a teenage protagonist–who’s more likely to yell at or argue with someone offering aid than to thank them was a challenging (though not unrewarding) experience. That said, Hunter comes across as a realistic teenage protagonist and the reasons for his anger make sense given the context. He’s well-drawn, and I can imagine that for a great many trans teens picking up The Transition, Hunter will be an important character, whose on-page struggles with both outward and inward-directed rage are relatable.
For me, the stars of the book, however, were Hunter’s best friend, Gabe, and another trans man named Lawrence. More than just the dutiful, protective friend, Gabe comes across as someone whose depth of character is disguised by his relative quietness. There’s also a meaningful yet subtle narrative associated with Gabe that I thought was exceptionally well-handled by Kisner. There were just enough hints that revelations associated with the character felt well-earned and satisfying, yet it was never something that felt unnecessarily drawn out just for the sake of it. While I might have preferred that those revelations were addressed earlier by the text in order for the fallout conversations between the characters to carry more weight and enjoy more room to breathe, I was ultimately pleased with how Gabe’s development shook out. Gabe is also a very easy character to like. Lawrence, in contrast, is incredibly messy, but in a way that satisfies, and some of my favourite passages in the book were from Lawrence’s perspective. It’s probably the adult reader in me–so take my experience with a grain of salt–but there was a level of texture, nuance, and resonance to Lawrence’s voice that I did find myself yearning for from the novel as a whole. Much of this will be down to The Transition‘s target demographic, rather than any fault with the book itself, but where Hunter–despite a clear personality–occasionally feels a little surface-level, Lawrence feels like a demonstration of the kind of rich character work I was hoping for based on Kisner’s non-fiction. Although the work as a whole is perfectly well-written, with clear, accessible prose, Lawrence’s chapters were where I really got a sense that Kisner can write. Again, I suspect this is a facet of my age and personal tastes rather than a failing of the novel. If anything, the fact that Kisner is able to switch between a simpler narrative voice and the more stylized Lawrence passages showcases the command he has over his work.
While The Transition is an impressive book in many respects, and while I personally enjoyed a lot of what Kisner engages with in terms of trans identity, certain aspects of the novel feel unbalanced. Where the book really sings is in its middle portion–a sizeable chunk of the book, to be clear, and well worth engaging with, even if the opening doesn’t initially grab you. Here, Kisner digs more deeply into Hunter’s past and the emotional richness of his interpersonal conflicts. The werewolf element, which I had expected based on Kisner’s background to be the most powerful element of the book, feels less critical to the story Kisner is telling. Aspects of the ending, though frenetic and intense, didn’t quite land for me how I was hoping, and while the Lawrence chapters brought a delicious grit to the page, elsewhere I was surprised by the straightforwardness of style and atmosphere. The premise of The Transition is so full of promise that I think I just wanted more from it than was reasonable to expect–more layers, a willingness to either get more visceral or, conversely, to engage more with the camp, high school melodrama of some of its forebears. All that said, there’s a lot that Kisner does exceptionally well, and it may be the case that as a reader of primarily adult fiction I’m bringing an invalid set of expectations to the work. I did ultimately enjoy The Transition, and I’m especially eager to see whether Kisner will bring his obvious skill to the adult horror scene.
The Transition is undeniably a good book and an easy read–accessible, polished, and clearly written, with important themes at its heart. I’ll certainly be purchasing copies of it for trans teen family members and get the sense that it will resonate most with a younger demographic who are truly in the thick of the conflicts and feelings that Kisner explores. Certain aspects of the plot are likely to appeal no matter your age–Kisner’s treatment of Riley and Hunter’s fractured friendship really resonated with me, and Lawrence’s desperate attempts to wrestle with life in a transphobic world are particularly–if sadly–relevant to our present moment. Beyond this, it’s incredibly exciting to see trans authors directly engaging with horror and the monstrous, becoming a louder voice in genres that have for too long been eager to talk about us without speaking with us.
November 2, 2025
unflinchingly faces the reality of the inward effect of trans people’s othering and how it inflicts self-doubt and self-loathing as violence, doing so in such a way that if you can’t relate personally, you still feel the weight of that burden through every page. despite the horrors that come with being trans in a cis society, transness itself is inherently liberating, and this novel is an excellent reflection on the difficulty of navigating those contradictions while still trying to figure out exactly who you are and who — or what — you want to be in this world.
i love these characters and i love their relationships with each other, and i see a lot of myself in all of them. the depth of interiority and vulnerability we’re allowed to see with hunter in contrast with his external walls is striking. the switch to second person perspective for chapter 18 and the follow-up gut punch of chapter 20 will stay with me forever.
a bookshelf necessity!
i love these characters and i love their relationships with each other, and i see a lot of myself in all of them. the depth of interiority and vulnerability we’re allowed to see with hunter in contrast with his external walls is striking. the switch to second person perspective for chapter 18 and the follow-up gut punch of chapter 20 will stay with me forever.
a bookshelf necessity!
October 14, 2025
!!!!!!
feeeeelings ah
Easy one of the best books of my life, y'all need to read this fr.
feeeeelings ah
Easy one of the best books of my life, y'all need to read this fr.
Want to read
January 2, 2026I saw a hockey stick on the cover....
October 14, 2025
there is just something so so satisfying about this book. i love the setting, the build up, how the characters reflect real trans people and thoughts. it does an excellent job at conveying how much friendship matters and the complexity of growing up.
this isn't just a horror book though! i laughed so many times reading this, i was tense, i was filled with joy, i was even in tears at points. even if you are not trans it still hit home, everyone knows how it feels like to want to just be some kind of normal, to be authentically yourself and for that to be enough. i cannot wait for logan to break into the adult genre, i will read anything he puts out!!!
this isn't just a horror book though! i laughed so many times reading this, i was tense, i was filled with joy, i was even in tears at points. even if you are not trans it still hit home, everyone knows how it feels like to want to just be some kind of normal, to be authentically yourself and for that to be enough. i cannot wait for logan to break into the adult genre, i will read anything he puts out!!!
December 30, 2025
4 Stars
This is a great book with a very niche audience that I hope manages to find it. It's high-concept horror à la Paul Preciado, heavy in the theory in a good way. Do I generally recommend it? I guess so, though I'm not sure I know a lot of people who will really appreciate it. Still a good book. Just, you know, for the right person.
Anyway, I could say more, but I've saved all that for my full review over at Gateway Reviews. Swing by if you feel like it!
Note: I was provided with an ARC by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.
This is a great book with a very niche audience that I hope manages to find it. It's high-concept horror à la Paul Preciado, heavy in the theory in a good way. Do I generally recommend it? I guess so, though I'm not sure I know a lot of people who will really appreciate it. Still a good book. Just, you know, for the right person.
Anyway, I could say more, but I've saved all that for my full review over at Gateway Reviews. Swing by if you feel like it!
Note: I was provided with an ARC by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.
October 3, 2025
eARC received from Netgalley.
For context, I read the Old Wounds ARC in early 2024 and loved it. I immediately cataloged this authors work alongside other YA horror authors that I had read and loved, like AJW and Freddie Kolsch. His next works were highly anticipated by me and I was itching to get my hands on an early copy. And boy oh boy- did Kisner knock it out of the park again. Deep, raw emotion collides with the skin in a mess of teeth and flesh in The Transition. As somebody who experience their teenage years as a semi-closeted transmasc, Hunter's transition struck home. Watching him tumble through every stage of euphoria and grief imaginable while fending off a werewolf was both lovely and thrilling. I was enraptured by the supernatural of it all, which is usual for me, as I normally stray clear of any werewolf content, but the idea of Hunter becoming the hunter was a little too intriguing to ignore. All that said, I will forever enjoy YA books about the horrors and the highs of being trans, and the fight we wage to be ourselves, whether it be against others or even ourselves.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!
For context, I read the Old Wounds ARC in early 2024 and loved it. I immediately cataloged this authors work alongside other YA horror authors that I had read and loved, like AJW and Freddie Kolsch. His next works were highly anticipated by me and I was itching to get my hands on an early copy. And boy oh boy- did Kisner knock it out of the park again. Deep, raw emotion collides with the skin in a mess of teeth and flesh in The Transition. As somebody who experience their teenage years as a semi-closeted transmasc, Hunter's transition struck home. Watching him tumble through every stage of euphoria and grief imaginable while fending off a werewolf was both lovely and thrilling. I was enraptured by the supernatural of it all, which is usual for me, as I normally stray clear of any werewolf content, but the idea of Hunter becoming the hunter was a little too intriguing to ignore. All that said, I will forever enjoy YA books about the horrors and the highs of being trans, and the fight we wage to be ourselves, whether it be against others or even ourselves.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!
December 11, 2025
Once I read and enjoy an authors books, I usually will gravitate towards their books as soon as I find out about a new or upcoming release. When that happens, I don’t really feel a need to read the synopsis. I pick up a book based on how the cover makes me feel, overall vibes and my love of the person who’s writing it. Needless to say, I did NOT know I was about to read a werewolf story.
I’ve heard the correlation between mermaids and transgender kids. Being able to easily shift from human to fish-person is a beautiful way to explain not feeling correct in the body you were born in. Never has it come to mind that werewolves also shift in a similar way. So when I started reading this and realized where it was going, the lightbulb of curiosity sparked and I was shocked no one had done this before. A trans werewolf is ICONIC! I’ll be taking no notes on that!
Almost immediately after he has his top surgery, Hunter is bitten by what he thinks is a rabid dog. Overtime, little things make him think that more could be going on. Like an aversion to silver. The necklace he’s warn for years has begun to burn and his tooth suddenly turns black and falls out, only for him to find it was one that had a filling. If it wasn’t for his two best friends, he’d be all alone, because his father is always leaving him alone and his mother lives hours away.
On top of what he’s already dealing with, he has to also contend with the transphobic and misogynistic comments from bullies at school. Constant harassment from one of his ex-best friend’s boyfriends, who at one time assaulted him, only for that same friend to choose to believe her boyfriend’s lies.
It seems like his life is about to implode and that’s all before he starts hearing a voice in his head that isn’t his own.
This was such a well written and smart idea for a YA horror novel. My one complaint is animal death. I don’t have many triggers, but on page animal death is something that makes me physically ill. I was warned before going into this, so I expected it and it had less of an impact. Had I not been warned, I would have lost my sh!t and thrown the book. I’m glad I didn’t, because it was so freaking good.
I’m a Logan-Ashley Kisner super fan! Give me all the queer horror please and thank you!!!!
Thank you to the publisher and author for my gifted finished copy!!!
I’ve heard the correlation between mermaids and transgender kids. Being able to easily shift from human to fish-person is a beautiful way to explain not feeling correct in the body you were born in. Never has it come to mind that werewolves also shift in a similar way. So when I started reading this and realized where it was going, the lightbulb of curiosity sparked and I was shocked no one had done this before. A trans werewolf is ICONIC! I’ll be taking no notes on that!
Almost immediately after he has his top surgery, Hunter is bitten by what he thinks is a rabid dog. Overtime, little things make him think that more could be going on. Like an aversion to silver. The necklace he’s warn for years has begun to burn and his tooth suddenly turns black and falls out, only for him to find it was one that had a filling. If it wasn’t for his two best friends, he’d be all alone, because his father is always leaving him alone and his mother lives hours away.
On top of what he’s already dealing with, he has to also contend with the transphobic and misogynistic comments from bullies at school. Constant harassment from one of his ex-best friend’s boyfriends, who at one time assaulted him, only for that same friend to choose to believe her boyfriend’s lies.
It seems like his life is about to implode and that’s all before he starts hearing a voice in his head that isn’t his own.
This was such a well written and smart idea for a YA horror novel. My one complaint is animal death. I don’t have many triggers, but on page animal death is something that makes me physically ill. I was warned before going into this, so I expected it and it had less of an impact. Had I not been warned, I would have lost my sh!t and thrown the book. I’m glad I didn’t, because it was so freaking good.
I’m a Logan-Ashley Kisner super fan! Give me all the queer horror please and thank you!!!!
Thank you to the publisher and author for my gifted finished copy!!!
September 13, 2025
This is such a fascinating exploration of physically transitioning, bodily autonomy, and self-acceptance. I don't reach for horror really ever, but this premise was so intriguing I couldn't resist, so I demanded my weak stomach get its shit together and couldn't put it down.
TW: Transphobia, including deadnaming & hate crimes; Blood & gore; Death of named characters (gruesome but not overly detailed); Dead animals, including graphic descriptions (bird, coyote, werewolf); Needles; Self-harm (skin-picking, burning); Panic attacks (on-page); Discussion of suicide
CW: Body horror; Pet death (overall theme, no graphic depictions); Body dysphoria; Menstruation; Mentions of vomiting
Hunter just got top surgery and his drains removed, finally feeling more like his true self, even though he stills hold a lot of resentment for his father who delayed his physical transition. Then Hunter is attacked by a werewolf and begins to notice strange occurrences, like his period returning, an aversion to silver, his nails growing thick and sharp, and vivid nightmares. With his two best friends Gabe and Mars by his side, Hunter needs to kill the werewolf that changed him to stop his own changing and get his old life—and his old body—back.
The werewolf transition is (obviously) a metaphor and it's so well-executed. The whole time we're in Hunter's head as he battles anxiety, depression, panic, self-loathing, jealousy, hatred, loneliness, and body dysphoria. His house keeps getting destroyed so the cold winter air seeps in, furthering the creepy, survivalist atmosphere. The use of past werewolf myth was fun to see integrated as well.
*Very mild spoilers below, including in the description of the representation*
In a classic YA move, the parents are all noticeably and conveniently absent and the characters skip school with nearly zero consequences. The ending was a tad rushed as well, though I do find it satisfying. I wish Annie's character was utilized more, and I wish there was a better wrap up regarding the friendship breakup. But the epilogue was so perfect I can mostly forget my other qualms with the ending.
Rep: trans bisexual main character; half-Filipino, non-monogamous, bisexual side character; Korean, gender-questioning side character
Many thanks to Get Underlined for the early copy of this book! All opinions are my own.
TW: Transphobia, including deadnaming & hate crimes; Blood & gore; Death of named characters (gruesome but not overly detailed); Dead animals, including graphic descriptions (bird, coyote, werewolf); Needles; Self-harm (skin-picking, burning); Panic attacks (on-page); Discussion of suicide
CW: Body horror; Pet death (overall theme, no graphic depictions); Body dysphoria; Menstruation; Mentions of vomiting
Hunter just got top surgery and his drains removed, finally feeling more like his true self, even though he stills hold a lot of resentment for his father who delayed his physical transition. Then Hunter is attacked by a werewolf and begins to notice strange occurrences, like his period returning, an aversion to silver, his nails growing thick and sharp, and vivid nightmares. With his two best friends Gabe and Mars by his side, Hunter needs to kill the werewolf that changed him to stop his own changing and get his old life—and his old body—back.
The werewolf transition is (obviously) a metaphor and it's so well-executed. The whole time we're in Hunter's head as he battles anxiety, depression, panic, self-loathing, jealousy, hatred, loneliness, and body dysphoria. His house keeps getting destroyed so the cold winter air seeps in, furthering the creepy, survivalist atmosphere. The use of past werewolf myth was fun to see integrated as well.
*Very mild spoilers below, including in the description of the representation*
In a classic YA move, the parents are all noticeably and conveniently absent and the characters skip school with nearly zero consequences. The ending was a tad rushed as well, though I do find it satisfying. I wish Annie's character was utilized more, and I wish there was a better wrap up regarding the friendship breakup. But the epilogue was so perfect I can mostly forget my other qualms with the ending.
Rep: trans bisexual main character; half-Filipino, non-monogamous, bisexual side character; Korean, gender-questioning side character
Many thanks to Get Underlined for the early copy of this book! All opinions are my own.
September 21, 2025
Thank you @delacortepress for the advanced copy to review!
This is my first book by @transhorrors and it will definitely not be my last. I absolutely ADORED this horror novel. Not only was it scary and kind of gross (especially at the end lol) but it tackled coming of age and it is about a trans bi teen who just wants to feel like himself.
Hunter was an incredibly easy character for me to root for, even as he was attacked in his back yard. I absolutely LOVED the found family in this book with Gabe and Mara being Hunter’s people, especially as his dad was never home and his mom lived in a different state. Their sweetness with him was the best:
I lived for Hunter’s inner monologue and all of the feelings he had just pouring out of him. His love for his best friends was evident and their love was the same for him. I loved how Gabe wanted to stomp the hate out of Hunter’s bullies and how Mars worked on the practical solutions to their… little problem. (Eek!)
The social commentary in the novel is truly fantastic and I loved all of the insight into Hunter’s body dysmorphia, especially after being attacked. His journey was so hard to follow because I just wanted him to be happy!! (Yes… I know it’s a horror book but a girl can dream! lol)
I really loved the ending and the journey to get there was so satisfying. I found myself absolutely flying through the pages to see what would happen and I was epically pleased by Hunter’s story. (Also Gabe and Mars. IYKYK)
Out on 9/30 so don’t miss it!!! You still have time to preorder. And I’m going to dive into Old Wounds!!
This is my first book by @transhorrors and it will definitely not be my last. I absolutely ADORED this horror novel. Not only was it scary and kind of gross (especially at the end lol) but it tackled coming of age and it is about a trans bi teen who just wants to feel like himself.
Hunter was an incredibly easy character for me to root for, even as he was attacked in his back yard. I absolutely LOVED the found family in this book with Gabe and Mara being Hunter’s people, especially as his dad was never home and his mom lived in a different state. Their sweetness with him was the best:
I lived for Hunter’s inner monologue and all of the feelings he had just pouring out of him. His love for his best friends was evident and their love was the same for him. I loved how Gabe wanted to stomp the hate out of Hunter’s bullies and how Mars worked on the practical solutions to their… little problem. (Eek!)
The social commentary in the novel is truly fantastic and I loved all of the insight into Hunter’s body dysmorphia, especially after being attacked. His journey was so hard to follow because I just wanted him to be happy!! (Yes… I know it’s a horror book but a girl can dream! lol)
I really loved the ending and the journey to get there was so satisfying. I found myself absolutely flying through the pages to see what would happen and I was epically pleased by Hunter’s story. (Also Gabe and Mars. IYKYK)
Out on 9/30 so don’t miss it!!! You still have time to preorder. And I’m going to dive into Old Wounds!!
November 6, 2025
picked up this book at my local bookstore before it was officially released and decided to read it now for a school paper i'm writing with the question of "why do monsters feel like such a good trans allegory?", and this book definitely delivered.
quote i loved: "I just sit there, staring at my hands, thinking about the last thing the voice said to me: We are beyond their comprehension. "
hunter was way more relatable than i envisioned in different ways than i was expecting. very happy i picked up this book :)
quote i loved: "I just sit there, staring at my hands, thinking about the last thing the voice said to me: We are beyond their comprehension. "
hunter was way more relatable than i envisioned in different ways than i was expecting. very happy i picked up this book :)
Read
April 29, 2025i'll talk about it when it's closer to release
October 20, 2025
[ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review]
Trans YA horror mixed with werewolves! You really can have it all.
Hunter, a trans teen, is just trying to recover from his top surgery when he’s attacked not only by a gigantic dog (but we all know it’s more than that) and also verbally and emotionally attacked by his long-term bully. Lucky for him, he’s got his two bffs Gabe and Mars by his side through it all… even when things start to get too out of hand.
This was really great. A bit darker and heavier than I was expecting, but that’s not a bad thing. A really strong submission for YA horror and even better that it’s a trans story. A great spooky time read, but would be perfect year round, too.
Trans YA horror mixed with werewolves! You really can have it all.
Hunter, a trans teen, is just trying to recover from his top surgery when he’s attacked not only by a gigantic dog (but we all know it’s more than that) and also verbally and emotionally attacked by his long-term bully. Lucky for him, he’s got his two bffs Gabe and Mars by his side through it all… even when things start to get too out of hand.
This was really great. A bit darker and heavier than I was expecting, but that’s not a bad thing. A really strong submission for YA horror and even better that it’s a trans story. A great spooky time read, but would be perfect year round, too.
December 3, 2025
This was a beautiful and complex take on the transgender experience, set against the backdrop of lycanthropy.
Loved the relationship between Hunter and his best friends, and how his relationship with Gabe evolves.
Great story, well written.
Loved the relationship between Hunter and his best friends, and how his relationship with Gabe evolves.
Great story, well written.
February 17, 2026
*immediately after watching a 6 foot tall werewolf brutally murder two people* “yall i think i might be a woman”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 31, 2025
3.5 stars!
This book read like a film but in a good way, I feel like I flew through it and was immersed in the story while reading.
The way it took the familiar warewolf lore and respected that while still adding new intriguing elements was clever and well done.
I liked Hunter as our main character, he’s sympathetic, messy and realistic as he goes through the worst month of his life, poor guy.
My only major critique is that I felt like the supporting cast weren’t fully fleshed out. I enjoyed Mars and Gabe as characters, particularly Gabe’s storyline, but I feel like they could’ve done with a bit more attention.
Thank you to NetGally and the publishers for providing me with an ARC of this book.
This book read like a film but in a good way, I feel like I flew through it and was immersed in the story while reading.
The way it took the familiar warewolf lore and respected that while still adding new intriguing elements was clever and well done.
I liked Hunter as our main character, he’s sympathetic, messy and realistic as he goes through the worst month of his life, poor guy.
My only major critique is that I felt like the supporting cast weren’t fully fleshed out. I enjoyed Mars and Gabe as characters, particularly Gabe’s storyline, but I feel like they could’ve done with a bit more attention.
Thank you to NetGally and the publishers for providing me with an ARC of this book.
December 31, 2025
solid! i thought the characters were very likable and fun to watch (though GOD hunter you are so teenage transmasc) and the werewolf media references were very fun. i think the part where i struggled with this was in the werewolf metaphor. i was having trouble understanding what this book was trying to say. because when im going to read horror book about a trans person experiencing horrors, i want them to kill those horrors and feel good about it. i'm not sure how i feel about the fact that hunter ended up killing lawrence, especially because i was very drawn to what lawrence was saying (perhaps more conceptually than literally but still). i think there need to be more stories about trans community and this kinda made me sad? i was hoping that hunter would turn and accept that part of himself but still defeat lawrence? idk how that would work but im thinking like the ending of hfwu style. i dont know! maybe i need to discuss it with more people, perhaps i just didnt get it. very possible! certainly a fun read overall
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2026
Serious, complex, current subject matter, compelling yet challenging, and then ... bang! A werewolf!? What the heck?
The MC comes across as painfully sympathetic, even as the reader wants to reach out and interrupt every mistaken move! (Powerful writing.) Disappointed in the usual teen tropes though - extreme lack of supervision by parents (all the HS characters), inept handling of bullying by the administration, complete distrust of authority by the characters, not a CLUE to report violent attacks or their own missing animals. Complete self-absorption by the MC, and all the supporting characters let the victim call the shots?
And yes, a werewolf story is FUN, but this becomes increasingly annoying.
It seems the story is trying to tell the experience of a trans person, and its unclear if the author realized it was actually arguing against?
The story also plays fast-and-loose with guesses and 'rules' about lycanthropy, applying convenient bits of vampire lore and witchcraft that - sorry - just don't track.
Lots of stupid and lame plot points made - that could have just been 'side-stepped' instead. Regardless, it is a fun read.
The MC comes across as painfully sympathetic, even as the reader wants to reach out and interrupt every mistaken move! (Powerful writing.) Disappointed in the usual teen tropes though - extreme lack of supervision by parents (all the HS characters), inept handling of bullying by the administration, complete distrust of authority by the characters, not a CLUE to report violent attacks or their own missing animals. Complete self-absorption by the MC, and all the supporting characters let the victim call the shots?
And yes, a werewolf story is FUN, but this becomes increasingly annoying.
It seems the story is trying to tell the experience of a trans person, and its unclear if the author realized it was actually arguing against?
The story also plays fast-and-loose with guesses and 'rules' about lycanthropy, applying convenient bits of vampire lore and witchcraft that - sorry - just don't track.
Lots of stupid and lame plot points made - that could have just been 'side-stepped' instead. Regardless, it is a fun read.
October 21, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
“The scar on my chest is not from something taken from me. It’s a mark of everything I chose to let go of in order to keep myself alive. So when I look in the mirror, I get to be proud that I’m here to have scars in the first place.”
“The scar on my chest is not from something taken from me. It’s a mark of everything I chose to let go of in order to keep myself alive. So when I look in the mirror, I get to be proud that I’m here to have scars in the first place.”
Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews