This one was fun. Something with the only trigger I have -spolier, it's the creature.

The social commentary regarding how society views infertile women of a certain age. The pressure they are under, from families and friends alike.

3 stars because I'd like it have been longer and more fleshed out.

Nice! This was a quick novella, it was like under 50 pages or so.

It sort of read like an episode of the Twilight Zone and I loooooooove that show.

The beginning of the book is a “couple” hiking 🥾 to a cabin somewhere in the woods. When I say couple I don’t mean as present tense and they broke up and are well lonely so trying to reconnect but not really. It’s a weird vibe.

The MC Lexi is about sick to death of her ex finance going on and on about bugs and being especially fascinated by the poor caterpillar that fell prey to the Trichogramma wasp.

It eventually all comes full circle but let’s just say these 2 have issues and it goes from bad to worse.

Make sure you check trigger warnings for this one before reading.

This was a weird book. A fun experience with a wild ending. I would definitely read more work from this author.

This is so good!!! The perfect horror story!! Great setup, you're not sure if this is going to be a horror about female suppression and frustration or if there will actually be monsters! Then all hell breaks lose and it genuinely sucks you in to the horror!
I would've loved this to be longer!!!

This was creepy, but yet fun at the same time. Wouldn't have minded it being longer. I definitely would have loved some more.

This story was gross, had body horror, psychological trauma, and creepy bugs. While short this story was great!!! Cant wait to read more by this author!

I really enjoyed this read. It was a quick to the point creepy book. You immediately feel a sense of dread and unknowingness if the FMC is a reliable narrator. You’re not sure if she is crazy or if the events are actually happening. It wasn’t predictable for me I was on the edge of my seat waiting for the next event to transpire. My heart was pumping and my leg was shaking regular reading this book had great lead up and punch with the climax and plot. Highly recommend for a fast paced read. The ending was unexpected and exciting.

This little story is creepy and icky, and I loved it.

There are a lot of layers to this story with a great mix of body horror, psychological trauma, and creepy bugs.
I loved the eerie atmosphere and the constant feeling that something is not quite right, it kept me immersed and on the edge of my seat, all the while trying to figure out where the story is going to end.
If you are looking for something short, dark and creepy, then you will love this.

Quick read that delivers the gruesomeness it promises. Loved it! Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a chance to read this book.

A quick, fast-paced read guaranteed to make your skin crawl. A little hard to get on board with the characters due to the short length but overall an enjoyable and creepy read.

Breeding Ground by S.C. Mendes is a twisted, unsettling novella that reads like a bad fever dream or a trip gone horribly wrong. The line between reality and hallucination is so blurred that I found myself questioning what was real alongside the FMC, Lexi.

What intrigued me most was the commentary on women’s roles and societal expectations, particularly the pressure to bring children into the world. Lexi’s refusal to conform made for a thought-provoking narrative, but her relationship with Brandon was hard to stomach. His gaslighting and disregard for her health were deeply frustrating, especially given their supposed connection.

That said, this book delivers for fans of body horror and psychological horror looking for a strange and fast-paced read. However, a fair warning: this isn’t for anyone with an insect phobia.

While this book left me feeling conflicted, I enjoyed the ride and am still thinking about it. If you’re looking for something bizarre, give this one a try.

Thank you to Blood Bound Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is definitely a true one-sitting novella, but I wasn’t completely captivated by it. The end was where all the of the action was, the first like 75% was just this build up of a toxic relationship and at times it felt painfully slow. All in all, it was decent once we got to the main guts of the story and was bizarre which worked for me. Thanks to Blood Bound Books for my digital review copy.

This was a very quick and satisfying read. It was just what I needed as a palate cleanser between denser novels. Lexi and Brandon are spending the weekend at Brandon’s cabin to see if there is still any spark, their engagement ended when Lexi discovered she could not get pregnant and Brandon wanted children more than anything. Lexi is an anxious mess and it’s hard to know what she’s imagining and what’s real. If you like a bit of body horror and a fun, quick read then I recommend this book.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Breeding Ground by S.C. Mendes

I really loved this quick creepy chilling read. I thought whilst reading I had it all worked out, another twist and turn in the story threw me sideways. There are two main characters called Lexi and Brandon who have decided to go on a long weekend hoping to salvage their relationship after a brief separation. They decide to go to a cabin in the woods which is a bit remote I hear you say ....... now what could possibly go wrong hmmmm !!!!

Lexus falls ill, she is hallucinating but hasn't got any idea why. Now if you want a quick afternoon read in between the longer reads, this novella is a cracking read I loved it approx 50 pages. This totally surprised me with the conclusion of this story ❤❤

Ahh! This was a super exciting novelette! Easy read, and so interesting. I zoomed through this! The writing was great, the storyline captivating, and the ending was just what I wanted. Gross! 5 stars all day.

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

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.