This was a truly creepy and gross read. Being a short story, the intensity and adrenaline is felt throughout. The story and the ending were not predictable.
I don’t want to say too much, this is a very quick read. There are some aspects of the plot that I’d like to see fleshed out, but that isn’t the purpose here.
So, I did enjoy my last story of the year, but it did leave me wanting a little more.

Thank you Blood Bound Books and Netgalley for this gifted e-book, in exchange for an honest review! Breeding Ground is out now! As soon as I started reading this one, I was getting creepy cabin in the woods and Aliens vibes and I was here for it. I couldn't stand either of the characters, but the setting was top notch. I really wish this one was longer! The ending was terrifying and gross, but very abrupt! Overall a very fun horror novella, definitely worth the read. 4/5 stars.

If you like a story where the dread ramps up and up threaded throughout a study in the dynamics of a broken relationship under a magnifying glass; all with a horrific pay off, then Breeding Ground is the book for you. Perfectly paced, and a quick - but not TOO quick read - it'll hold your proverbials in its hands and lead you to conclusion that you'll be reading from behind a cushion.

Thank you SC MEndes and Blood Bound Books - this was such a fun (in all the right NOT fun horror ways) read. Bravo!

Really wanted to give 2.5 stars, but rounded up to 3. The writing wasn’t bad, but the twist was very obvious from the start which took out all the suspense for me. Wish it would’ve been more ambiguous, wish the story focused less on the toxicity of this couple and more on the horror aspect.

I am not a fan of the horror genre but this fast paced novella was captivating. A couple recently split up go to a backwoods cabin to test their relationship and the female discovers something wrong in her new surroundings. Elements of coercive control, obsession and gaslighting were threaded into the horror narrative.

This was a really well done psychological horror novel, it had that elmeent that I was looking for and enjoyed the concept of this. The characters were everything that I was looking for and was invested in what was happening to them. S.C. Mendes has a strong writing style and enjoyed the way this worked out.

I've been trying to push myself to read more books outside my comfort zone and this definitely fit the bill!

Lexi and Brandon have broken up, but decide to give their relationship a second chance, so they go on a getaway to his family's secluded cabin in the woods. Obviously things go wrong, but I felt the foreshadowing from the very beginning was a bit too obvious. Fortunately this novella was finished in one sitting either way, though I think more subtly about the plot twist would have kept me hooked better. The story was also disjointed at times and the characters felt a bit one-dimensional to me. If you are looking to read a short horror story with a dash of fantasy/magical realism, however, you may still want to give this one a shot!

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

Big thanks to NetGalley and Blood Bound Books for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.

Breeding Ground follows Brandon and Lexi, a couple trying to reconnect after a breakup in a cabin they once frequented. It mixes elements of horror and psychological thriller, but unfortunately doesn’t fully commit to either genre, leaving both threads underdeveloped.

The twist is glaringly obvious within the first few pages, which made the entire experience feel like I was just waiting for the characters to catch up to the obvious conclusion. It’s frustrating when a story feels predictable from the start.

The dynamic between Brandon and Lexi was uncomfortable and toxic, with Brandon’s gaslighting and emotional manipulation making the relationship hard to endure. The short length left little room for character development, and by the end, I found it hard to care about either of them.

As for the horror, it wasn’t scary or even unsettling. Given that the author is known for writing splatterpunk, I was expecting more visceral horror, but instead, it lacked the eerie atmosphere I was hoping for.

Overall, Breeding Ground didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

Lonely and reeling after a medical diagnosis, Lexi Macomber agrees to a weekend retreat at her ex-fiancée's secluded cabin. No drama. No expectations. Just a fun chance to reconnect.
A promising start quickly unravels as old grudges and buried arguments resurface. After a shower mishap ruins their final attempt at repairing the relationship, Lexi demands to leave.
Unfortunately, leaving the cabin is not going to be easy.

Brilliant story, well written and paced. It switches about and creates an air of guesswork that, in my case, totally failed. I thought I knew the end but was pleasantly surprised that I was wrong.

Wow! This book completely surprised me in the best way possible. It reminded me a lot of American Horror Story, with its eerie, unsettling vibe. You get just enough of the story to make your skin crawl, leaving you hooked. Definitely recommend!

Campy, grotesque, thrilling body horror novella that gave me the ick (from the male characters to the creature feature).

Seriously, this one will have me inspecting any cabins more thoroughly before I commit to staying in them now…

I felt so bad for Lexi- she’s obviously suffered from some serious trauma in the past. Her weekend reconnecting with her ex fiancé goes from bad to worse as she experiences psychological horror and physical violations. I don’t want to give away too many details- just be prepared to read a nightmare of a tale.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Blood Bound Books for a copy!

This was a decent novella. I liked that I was able to read it in one sitting and the storyline was good. I did think it was a bit obvious what is going to happen but the story leading up to the ending was still good and I enjoyed reading it.

"Lexi opened the door and screamed. Dismembered body parts littered the floor. Blood soaked into the carpet. Crippling pain returned to her stomach. Dry retching spasms stole her equilibrium. Lexi was unsure if she was standing or falling, and her vision faltered."


💭Lexi just wanted to enjoy their planned weekend and see what happens. No expectations, just fun. She wanted to know if her relationship with Brandon is worth rekindling and be built on something other than kids. She hates the burden of being pressured to have children (Ugh! Soo relatable.) She doesn't want any to begin with and the main reason why she called off their engagement. Turned out there are other plans in store for them and it's far from delightful.
She should have chosen that homemade sausage instead. 😂😅
This is a mix of body horror / psychological horror and creature feature. Is it all a result of experiencing antenatal psychosis or something else? Though a bit predictable, it is still enjoyable enough and serves as the perfect read to get you out of a reading slump.


Thanks to Blood Bound Books for the arc! 🖤

3.5✨

Thank you NetGalley for providing a free copy of the novella in exchange for an honest review.

This novella kept its promise : I read it in one sitting and it felt like a fever dream.

I found the dynamic between the MC’s interesting and the topic the author explored of motherhood and choice was interesting and well done.

However, this novella was 92 pages long but everything happened in the last 10 pages. I’m still not sure I know what I read, It wasn’t bad but jt wasn’t great either.

Also, if you don’t like insects ; don’t read this.

In Breeding Ground by SC Mendes a young couple attempt to repair their relationship during a getaway to a remote cabin. Tension soon mounts and there are other, stranger, things afoot in this claustrophobic novella. Cold Blooded Books on Instagram.

The best way I can describe this story is simply insane (this is a compliment!!); would probably make a good screenplay for a Netflix or Hulu original.

Breeding Ground brings you the story of Lexi and Brandon. Their relationship fell apart after a failed attempt of having kids, even though Lexi was never bothered about being a mum.
Still they decide to go to a cabin for the weekend and try to salvage whatever is left of it. Needless to say that nothing was going well, not even wine helped... and after a very eventful shower, where Lexi gets attacked by some creature, things take a weird turn.

This short story delivers psychological and body horror through a very relatable character.
Lexi dwells on motherhood and cheating. She pours her heart out and tries to justify her decisions to avoid judgement. All this whilst trying to fight whatever is taking over her body.

Little does she know that her worst nightmare is about to become real.

Immediately drawn into the world of Breeding Ground, the author wastes no time getting the reader interested in what this story is about! Being a short story, it feels as if you’re brought into the middle of a scene where you’re quickly becoming familiar with the characters backstory through while events are taking place. Although brief, I really got sucked into the wanting to know what the heck was going on! I’d definitely grab any add-ons to Breeding Ground and would recommend to anyone interested in sci-fi, short thrillers, and quick plots. I’m hoping more to this world is published in the future! It’s rare I give 5 stars and would rate 4.25 if able.

I'm not sure what I expected going into this novella. I don't think I expected it would be as disgusting as it was though. It's totally improbable and none of the characters were terribly likeable.
I would go out of my way to avoid reading anything by this author again.

Okay, this is a very, very short story. If you're looking for a really quick little horror tale grab this one. Quick and a bit creepy. 3.5 stars.