A former engaged couple decide to try and rekindle their romance and think it's a good idea to spend the weekend at a secluded cabin in the woods. But, things don’t go as planned and there are other forces that will decide the couple’s fate.
The story did draw me in and even though I knew how it was going to end I wanted to keep reading to find out how we were going to get there. It’s a short read and can be finished in a short amount of time. The only critique, it lacks on character development but it makes up for that with the story and the final ending.
Thank you, NetGalley and Blood Bound Books for this copy of this enjoyable little short story.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this book!!

What a good book!! This one had me hooked from page one! I could t put it down. I loved the writing style of this book. I lived the characters and they had great chemistry.

Lexi and Brandon take a trip to a secluded cabin to see if their relationship is worth salvaging. However, they didn’t realize what horrors awaited them in the woods.

I loved this story! It worked great as a short story and I definitely wanted more when I was finished. The author did a great job building suspense and the feeling of unease. Although the story was a bit predictable, I loved the execution overall. Would definitely read more from this author.

Thanks to Net Galley and Blood Bound Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

#NetGalley #BreedingGround

Breeding Ground is a short novella that can easily be read in 1 sitting. This story dives into the lives of Lexi and Brandon who decide to venture out in a cabin located in a forest to bring back a spark in their relationship and lives. However, Brandon starts to act very strange. Let’s just say that the trip to the cabin may not end how they expected. Shout out and thank you to S.C. Mendes for allowing me the opportunity to read this thriller novella on NetGalley and for the opportunity to ARC read your book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Blood Bound Books for allowing me to read an ARC of this book. This is a great, spooky quick read. I really enjoyed this one; it was the right amount of creepy and scary. Great ending too!

Breeding Ground is a tiny little story that packs a big punch!

Lexi and Brandon are out in the forest to reconnect after a tumultuous time in their relationship. Some good food, wine, sex; everything a couple needs to feel closer together. Brandon starts to act… strange. Is it just cabin fever? Regrets? Or something a bit more sinister?

This novella is a nice psychological thriller/horror mixup, it reads super quick and I felt the story was well crafted. It’s left me feeling itchy and icky… so that’s a win in my books!!

Thank you to S.C. Mendes for allowing me to beta read this back in September, and for NetGalley for the opportunity to ARC read the finished work! My review is happily volunteered.

I knocked this novelette out in about an hour, which is part of the problem. I wanted more from the story (at least another 30-40 pages would've made a big difference). I really enjoyed the story, but didn't have enough time to care for the characters as much as I would've liked to. I enjoyed the author's style, and I think there is definitely something here but, as good as it is, it almost feels like the author rushed through it, almost throwing away the suspense, just to get to the end. I would try to read more from this author because I DO see elements that I like in the writing. I just wish this one was a little bit more flushed out.
3.5 Stars, rounded up to 4.

This was a super short horror novella following Lexi and Brandon, a recently split couple trying to rekindle their relationship in a cabin in the woods. I found it was very predictable, and I was expecting some twist at the end but it fell short. I felt the suspense could have been stronger, possibly by making the story a bit longer. The characters didn’t have time to grow on me or develop personalities outside of their toxic relationship. The writing was good and the overall plot was decent, aside from being predictable. I enjoyed the mental aspect of it: Brandon’s gaslighting and Lexi’s previous history with trauma/hallucinations and how it played a role in the story. For it being as short as it is, it was an enjoyable read.

Thank you to Blood Bound Books and NetGalley for the review copy! This review is my honest opinion.

What a WEIRD AF read. I’m still not sure if it’s a good or bad kind of weird, but weird it was for sure.
The best part might be the length though, way under an hour of reading time. 35 minutes maybe?
Was it really a horror? I’m not sure. It was uncomfortable, yes. It was also very, very predictable. Yeah, unfortunately, I’m not entirely too sure about this one. Sorry.

This strange book is a very short read, I think it took me 40mins max. Our story jumps right in, read the synopsis and go from there because theres no time to explain things. I found it easy to keep up with but the imagery wasn't as strong as I tend to like for horrors, nonetheless i enjoyed the story. Even I wasn't sure who was right and what was totally happening til the end. I think this could open the door to some strong body horror or twisted imagery, I'd like to read more from this author.

Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for a copy of this book.

[Please note: I don't review with star ratings so I give each author and book 5 stars for the creativity, effort and energy alone, that goes into writing and publishing each book. Stars are a commendation of art]

It was easy to guess the plot within the first couple of pages and I think the sexual nature elements were just added for shock value when really they just made me feel uncomfortable. The storyline itself was a good idea but it could have been executed better

AHH what?! Come on! I need to know more, I am so invested yet strangely confused. This was such a quick, exciting, gross read. Yet I still need more. I have so many questions! A great short story to keep you on edge.

Thank you to Blood Bound Books for providing me an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

What should have been a fun weekend gateway quickly turns into something much sinister. The twist might have been a bit easy to guess, but the story is still creepy as hell

I'm not accustomed to reading many novellas, so this 39-page story was outside my comfort zone and didn't allow enough time for me to become truly invested. I would have preferred a more developed storyline concerning the characters' relationship, with additional pages to draw readers into their world. The suspense was minimal, and the plot's direction seemed predictable; it wasn't particularly creepy or scary, just odd, leaving me uncertain about my feelings towards it. Lexi and Brandon's decision to visit a cabin in the woods to rekindle their romance takes a dark turn, and despite Lexi's desire to leave, the woods seem to have other intentions. I appreciated the novella's brisk pace and direct approach, which was occasionally unsettling. I'm open to exploring more works by this author, as my lack of enthusiasm might stem from a general disinterest in novellas. My thanks to Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Blood Bound Books for providing a review copy.

This is a quick, nasty novella that can be read in a single sitting. If you enjoy the body horror of David Cronenberg, this will be right up your alley. S.C. Mendes continues to impress me. 4 stars

Rating: 4/5

This story got under my skin in the best possible way. Breeding Ground starts out with an uneasy weekend reunion between Lexi and her ex-fiancée at a remote cabin, but it quickly shifts into something far more disturbing. The tension rises fast, and before you know it, you’re as trapped and uncertain as Lexi is.

What I loved most is how it plays with reality. Is Lexi just stressed and hallucinating because of her diagnosis, or is something genuinely sinister going on? The atmosphere is claustrophobic, and the author packs a lot of unease into a short read. The ending left me unsettled and thinking about it long after I finished.

I would have liked a bit more backstory on the relationship’s breakdown, just to fully grasp the emotional stakes. Still, for a quick, creepy read that messes with your head, this hits the mark. If you enjoy psychological horror that leaves you guessing, it’s definitely worth a try.

Incredibly well written horror novelette about a young couple on a weekend retreat at a secluded cabin.. Eerie, creepy, and disgusting descriptions will please and thrill those who love gory horror, with the addition of disorienting psychological implications that make you wonder if it's really happening or just the observations of a disturbed mind.

As a horror fan, this short story was perfect for a quick read in these dark evenings and it gave me the thrill I needed. I have read and enjoyed a few works by the author and I will definitely be reading more in the future.

3★
Thank you NetGalley for the e-arc of this book.
This was a short story about a broken up couple that goes on a retreat in hopes to reconnect, but something in the cabin has different plans for them.
I really liked the writing in this, it really kept me reading even though you can guess from the beginning what is gonna happen. I think some things could've been more decribed in details, especially some of the body horror. Overall I still really enjoyed it.

A good horror short story will not give away the plot so quickly. Like, it was OBVIOUS what was happening?

I don't know, I think I expect more from horror. I want it to go some place deeper, darker and explore the human condition. Not just a gaslighting and abusive man with his ex.

Thanks NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.