Mantis

by Erica Summers

Prophetic chain-smoking bisexual, Mantis, finds herself in the midst of a nightmarish demon apocalypse and soon seeks help from her estranged friend, Black Eyed Betty, a born-again former prostitute. It isn’t until Betty’s seven-year-old son, Gabriel, is abducted, that they decide
to join forces on a dark journey to rescue him.

Hours later, a bubbly exotic dancer and her smitten co-worker are recruited to aid them on their hilariously hellish misadventure. With Mantis at the helm, the band of unlikely misfit degenerates sets out on a bizarre thrill-ride through the quirky American South,
battling sinister creatures, chasing painful memories, and negotiating with a slew of twisted
characters for pieces of a mysterious holy relic.

Genres: Horror, Novels

336 pages, Paperback

Published January 28, 2024

About the author

Erica Summers is an independent filmmaker, artist, film industry grip, and writer with an unwavering passion for horror. Several of her award-winning feature films have screened worldwide, including Obsidian, Mister White, & Loverboy (available on most streaming services.)

Born and raised in Wyoming, Erica spent most of her life in the swampy American South. She now resides in Connecticut. In her downtime, the bizarre bisexual is typically slathered in garden dirt, kayak fishing, or devouring horror movies with her boyfriend.

Erica also writes spicy romance novels under the pen name Odessa Alba and humorous cozy mysteries under the pen name Trixie Fairdale.

She is also a co-owner of Rusty Ogre Publishing.

Reviews

[Nat Whiston · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so much fun! Erica did a fantastic job with this demon infused pre apocalypse story. Plus the girl did her research!? I loved the religious horror aspects infused with some pretty badass bitches. You know me, I love some powerful female characters and Erica brings some serious game with their back story and development. I mean, Mantis has such a constantine vibe mixed with Dean Winchester and faith from buffy the vampire slayer vibe that I am living for! Straight in with dead demons in the first chapters and you know she is hardcore, when she is stuffing the corpse of a THIRD demon in her cupboard. That scene alone reminds me of Nicholas Cage disposing of the mechanical characters in bin bags in Willy's Wonderland. Then we have the brilliant set up between her and old friend Betty, because of that consistent tension and banter between the new two. Made for an incredibly witty back and forth, but as the story goes on Betty's little boy is taken by a demon named Lucy. It's all out to bring back the crew, we are here to kick ass and chew bubblegum. And Mantis is all out of Bubblegum.

Bringing two more brilliant characters that develop their relationships further as the story goes on. I mean, this beast of a book was constant, if it wasn't demon fights and missions to acquire artefacts. It was scenes of Lucy which again, I love the twist with this character. Erica took this character and added her own mythos while also adding in parts of scripture which was really insightful. Plus I love the dream sequences with the four horsemen, for obvious reasons. Having delved down the route of religious horror, pre-apocalypse story telling myself. Setting up for the apocalypse for me, requires a lot of detail, backstory and research into religious context which Erica did exceptionally well. The ending was also a shock to the system and the fight scenes were beautifully timed, each sequence flowing seamlessly into the next. Honestly, what a hell of character selection and book! I love that she left an opening for part two because I would love to see Mantis make a reappearance. The characters with their painful backstories have so much potential to be taken further.

[kristy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bought this book as it sounded intriguing and man it was! If you like demons and end of days with some humor thrown in your in for a treat. This unlikely team of people team up to save a son and the world along the way. It starts off strong and it just keeps going. Was fast pace and kept your reading. Highly recommend

[Bookaholic__Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun book! It's such a crazy and wild ride with some of the most insane and badass characters. Once again, we get some very strong female leads and queer representation, which is common with Summers books.

This really is a fantastic blend of genres. I loved both the horror and the humor elements. If this gang got a show, I would watch the shit out of it. Other readers have said it gives off supernatural vibes, and I can totally see that!

I listened to the audiobook, and I thought it was great. I was especially fond of the narrators voice for both Mantis and Sweet T.

Definitely recommend checking out this audiobook!

I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Happy Goat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review at Happy Goat Horror:
https://happygoathorror.com/2024/08/2...

The gang gets back together (plus one new member) when Betty's son is kidnapped and monsters start showing up. The gang in question is one of my favourite groups of women in fiction (plus an excited DJ who's never had a demonic adventure before), and I loved them. I actually have a group of friends somewhat similar to this fantastic group, so I felt right at home reading about their misadventures. The stakes are high, and so is the tongue in cheek comedy.

Mantis might be one of the best protagonists ever. Her general attitude cracked me up. I'd definitely recommend this if you're looking for a good time with a book that fuses horror and comedy.

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grace was Mantis's girlfriend years ago but with her death it threw Mantis into a spin. Mantis is a former Marine and very vociferous and mean as a snake. She was with a friend when she was accosted for the third time by a monster. Third time is the charm and she's headed to a friend for help or info or both. Betty lives in suburbia and has a son. She is not happy to see Mantis and even more so when another monster attacks her neighbor. Then she finds her son missing. So off they go for backup. They arrive in Texas at a strip joint where she meets up with Sweet Tea and Dylan. Dylan is a DJ who wants more than friendship with Sweet Tea but no luck. Now the cast has been set. All these people go on a mission: save Betty's son. The things they have to do and see and accomplish seems to build one on top of the other. To make matters worse is that is seems they also have to contend with the end of days. But there is a method to their madness or an end result to this madness. Mantis had a dream with some kind of creatures and a symbol. She's seen the symbol a few times now and they are on the path to finding what they discover is an artifact. For what they have no clue. But it' better to be looking for something than nothing. Will they make the connection in time to save Betty's son?
A wild ride that will have the snark and sass rolling out of each page and the reader in a perpetual state of:WT!!!.

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

[Jules Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book went somewhere I definitely did not expect it to. I wasn’t mad about it, either.
I definitely ended up enjoying it. I did listen to the audiobook version, and I can’t say I’m always a fan of the narrator, but her range of voice was perfect for all the different characters. There were a few times at chapter changes I had to go back and I didn’t miss anything.. but, again, audiobook 🤷‍♀️
This book has raunch, fun, accidental drug usage, tons of profanity, demon unaliving, people unaliving and more. It made my commute to and from work so much better.
The book has an unreliable narrator and keeps you on your toes. You know the what, but not the why or how this is going to go down. I am not usually a whoozey, trigger person, but there was ONE part that made me cringe JUST a little bit 👌 pequeño, but Summers helped with immediate revenge (thank you for that).
If you need a break from the heavy, emotional, mind-f*ckery… you can still get that in Mantis, but get some laughs with it, too.

[Ali O · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a fun and wild book! It’s got humor, horror, demons & sex! It’s a very enjoyable read and a really fast paced book.
(“The corset made from human skin” was one of my favorite lines!)
There are lots of powerful female characters, which is always awesome to see! The main Character Mantis, is definitely an exciting and wild person! The goal of the story is to find Betty’s son and deal with all of the craziness that leads up to that and afterwards as well. The ending was my favorite part of the story! So much going on that I wasn’t able to stop listening!

I feel like this is a great summer read! This author is definitely one to follow!

The narrator did a great job with the audio book!
Thank you to Erica Summers for the audio version of this awesome book!

[Emma Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mantis by Erica Summers is a wild audiobook ride through a darkly comedic apocalypse. Following the tough, no-nonsense Mantis and her ragtag crew of unconventional heroes, the story combines horror and humor in equal measure. With unforgettable characters—a reformed prostitute, a vivacious stripper, and a DJ madly in love—this audiobook keeps you laughing and gripping your seat as they battle sinister creatures and twisted villains across the Deep South. Summers crafts a gritty, hilarious journey packed with gore, grit, and razor-sharp wit. Perfect for fans of irreverent, apocalyptic road trips, this is an unforgettable listen that’s both outrageous and oddly heartwarming.

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

[Nina Diab · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has a lot of good reviews and I do enjoy apocalypse-themed stories, but I just couldn't get into this one. Mantis is a strong heroine, which I can always appreciate, though I didn't really like her or her attitude. We do have quirky supporting characters. And demons to slay. I listened to this audiobook for about an hour and forty-five minutes before stopping. I'm not saying it's bad, but just isn't for me at this time. I might consider going back to it in the future. Tina Smith's voice definitely suited Mantis' personality.

Overall: 3 stars
Performance: 3 stars
Story: 3 stars

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun book! Such a crazy and wild ride with of the most badass characters. Great female leads and What a fun book! It's such a crazy and wild ride with some of the most insane and badass characters. Once again, we get some very strong female leads and queer representation.

For me it was a bit hard to get into the book due to the sex scene right up front but the more I listened to it, I was able to get into it abit more. A great blend of Genres and I love that in a book. It makes them interesting! The Horror and the Humor was great. The audiobook narration was one of the best I have heard in a while for this type book!

Disclaimer - I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mary D · Rating 5 out of 5]

This a great book following 3 people as they save the world. There are religious references that get heavier as the book goes on and they are fictional if you are not ok with a religious-based plot this may not be the book for you as it uses religious proficies as a base, then creates a new storyline. I loved the book even though Sweet Tea was done dirty and I will never get over that!.

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

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was really friggin good. I was blow away. I love me some Mantis. And Dylan definitely grows on you. I hope to see more of Mantis in the future. Even Betty brings her own brand of badness to the table. I thoroughly enjoyed the heck out of this book.

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

[Joan Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, Erica Summers

Wow this was a wild ride that i am glad I read to the end. I am a Universal Christian and the beginning was definitely between a Pepper X to a Carolina Pepper from page one.

I love the main character sassiness and clever wit. The Twist was a great payoff and brilliantly written.

[Louise Storey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great light hearted story. Great characters with some depth, apocalyptic and demonic premise with a few little twists in there for good measure. I’m yet to read something by Summers that I haven’t enjoyed.

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

[Gleeful Goblin Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gleeful Goblin Review: It's so hard to describe this story! What I can say without spoiling the rest of it is that this is ALL about the characters. If you like funny/ridiculous semi-horror such as Dogma, Evil Dead, or Stan Against Evil I think this story is definitely for you. 5/5 Stars.

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

[Brittany Britton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mantis by Erica Summers is an excellent post- apocalyptic Sci-Fi. Tina Smith did an incredible job with the narration. The story is witty, interesting, entertaining, enjoyable, horrifying, thrilling, fast paced, action packed, funny, dark humor, and a strong Female lead.

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

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

You gotta read this book. Wow! I was totally amazed and entranced by this book. It is way better than your average five star book. Original, fast-paced and the characters were original, irreverent and that was perfect. I hope to hear and read more from this author ASAP! Amazing talent.

[Rainbeaux Harvest · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story, Mantis is my new superhero. Mantis made this story, her character made this story. Mantis started out strong but began to fizzle out. Don't let that deter you, it picked back up and ended on a high note.

[Heather Wohl · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good. SO interesting and fun. I absolutely love the characters and it’s a super fun read!

[Kayleigh Dobbs · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun story! It starts small and opens out into potential consequences as big as they can get.

A really good time and I'd recommend it to fans of horror and comedy.

[Kimberly Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read! I definitely enjoyed the characters and the storyline itself was interesting. It didn’t scare me, but it easily made me laugh on several occasions. Would recommend to anyone looking for a light-hearted semi-spooky story, with a few laughs. 🖤

[Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book by Erica Summers is such a fun read! It's got everything I love!Strong female leads, Supernatural vibes, humor and an apocalypse! But the best part is the friends made along the way. 🥰 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Amber Upson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved going on this journey with Mantis, Betty, Sweet Tea, and Dylan! This was a fun read that kept my interest throughout! Looking forward to reading more from this author.