Breeding Ground

De: S.C. Mendes

Narrado por: Terra Hicks

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.

One obstacle leads to another, and Lexi is faced with a dire decision: either she’s hallucinating or her ex is plotting to kill her.

Breeding Ground is a psychological horror novelette; a fever-dream of 12K-words, perfect to listen to in a single sitting.

©2024 S.C. Mendes (P)2025 S.C. Mendes

breeding ground...

Breeding ground states it reads like a fever dream, and I would have to agree. I can honestly say this wasn't at all what I expected.

BREEDING GROUND was kind of body horror, kind of domestic horror, and maybe a splash of psychological thriller. It's honestly the perfect fast-paced F'd up novella if you want something to read in one sitting.

Warning, though....If you don't like bugs... just don't. Because ick!

Stawwwppp

Short listen while cooking and relaxing. That is until I got the creepy crawlies while listening. I shouldn't be making all the faces I did while listening. There were times where I wanted to pop Lexi in the forehead, she could be annoying. The story was enjoyable.

Fast-Paced, short creepy read.

This was a fun, fast-paced body horror that had a dash of body snatchers feel to it. It had the right amount of creepiness and suspicious that kept you wondering whay would happen next.

The narrator did a great job with her delivery, however her voice felt a bit young for the character, but that may just be a perspective thing on my part.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Toxic Cabin Nightmare

TL;DR:
Breeding Ground blends horror and thriller in a tense, fast-paced escape. Toxic relationship dynamics collide with body horror in a secluded cabin. The motherhood twist adds real stakes. It’s gross, intense, and oddly compelling. Keep reading for the full review.

Synopsis:
Lexi Macomber, feeling vulnerable after a medical diagnosis, agrees to spend a weekend at her ex-fiancé’s remote cabin. She hopes for no drama and maybe a chance to reconnect. Soon old resentments bubble up and a shower accident ends any attempt at fixing things. Lexi decides to leave. Yet something in the woods won’t let her. Alone with mistrust and trauma, she must discover whether the stalking force is real or a terrifying hallucination. This body horror novelette is a vivid fever dream exploring trust, desire, and fear in just 12 000 words.

Spillin’ the Book Tea:
This was horror meets thriller and exactly my kind of read. Brandon and Lexi’s relationship is so toxic it almost feels like another character. The motherhood subplot made the stakes feel real and gritty. It was gross in all the best ways and the pacing kept me hooked. I did guess a few turns sooner than I expected, but it didn’t hurt the tension. Breeding Ground is a compact horror thriller that turns a cabin retreat into a visceral nightmare. Thank you to S.C. Mendes, Blood Bound Books, and Booksprout for the audiobook copy and the opportunity to provide this candid review!

The Vibes It Brings:
😬 Toxic ex-fiancé drama in the woods
🌲 Cabin isolation with creeping dread
🤰 Motherhood fears and survival stakes
🤢 Body horror elements that hit hard
🎢 Fast‑paced novelette with fever‑dream energy

Narration:
I struggled with the narrator Terra Hicks. I couldn’t find the right speed to feel comfortable. The tone sometimes pulled me out of the story rather than draw me in. Despite that, the voice felt earnest even if it didn’t sync with me.

Final Thoughts:
Breeding Ground packs a serious punch in a compact package. The toxic relationship and body horror merge into a disturbing psychological ride. Even with some predictability, it keeps you flipping pages. A small but bold novelette that sticks with you.

Not every pregnancy is a blessing...

Story: Lexi thought a weekend at the cabin with her ex-fiancé, Brandon, might bring closure—or at least some answers. Their relationship had crumbled after her diagnosis shattered their plans for a family. Now, she’s unsure if they’re rekindling what they had or just making peace with what’s lost. But something is wrong. Strange plants, parasitic wasps, and Brandon’s unsettling behavior put her on edge. Then, after a horrifying encounter, Lexi’s body begins to betray her—bloating, nausea, crippling pain. Brandon insists she’s imagining things. As Lexi fights to escape, she uncovers the gruesome truth about what's really going on with her body. She's carrying something's young. And they’re ready to tear their way out

Audio: Narrator Terra Hicks does a good job with the story. The audio quality is good and there were no issues.

Another genre checked off the list—body horror!

This one definitely gave me all the creepy icks, which, to be fair, is exactly what it was supposed to do. I just wish there had been a bit more backstory and world-building; I didn’t fully grasp the context until well into the story, and then suddenly—it got weird, and then it was over.

The narrator did a great job conveying emotion in the audiobook, which definitely added to the eerie atmosphere!.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Creepy Story

3.5 ⭐️ | Enjoyed this psychological horror short story! The narrator did a good job in the audiobook and I am always amazed when they do the male and female voices justice. This narrator did just that. I also enjoyed the sound effects between chapters, that was a nice touch. Lexi and Brandon’s story was terror filled and emotional at the same time. As the inability to conceive, took a toll on their relationship yet the creatures they encountered while at the cabin changed this getaway to a nightmare. Overall an enjoyable listen, and will appeal to fans of horror novels that come with creatures that will creep you out.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.