Mating with the Mantis

by M.J. Edwards

Let’s be honest with who hasn’t found a praying mantis sexy at some point in their lives?

For dedicated (and horny) insectologist Dr Liberty Penningforthly, it’s a daily occurrence. In fact, her mantis infatuation is so strong, it’s started to interfere with her sex life.

Now, Dr Penningforthly can’t reach orgasm unless her partner wears a praying mantis mask.But even that is starting to not work...

So when a new enlargement machine is brought into the lab, suddenly Dr Penningforthly has a stroke of inspiration… What if she enlarged a praying mantis? If she could, then perhaps she’d finally have that incredible orgasm she’d always dreamed of...

That is, unless something went horribly wrong (yet horribly sexy).From the author of Kissing the Coronavirus comes a brand new species of sexiness.

Follow MJ Edwards on Twitter @MJEdwardsAuthor

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Smut, Erotica, Science Fiction, Humor

42 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2022

Reviews

[Peter Topside · Rating 3 out of 5]

So this was fairly typical erotica/romance kinda framework. Let me explain…a scientist with a vicious praying mantis fetish, and access to an enlargement ray, turns herself into a mantis (I know, that was a little confusing to me, too. I must consult shrink/grow ray expert Wayne Szalinski), along with the love of her life, another mantis. And they get it on. So pretty standard fare here (Please note the extreme level of sarcasm.). ‘Sparks flew, emotions ran high’ (Who knows what movie that quote is from?), and sure enough, we had something akin to Starship Troopers…just with interspecies sexcapades. Now call me crazy, and most of you know I am by now, but I was always curious what would’ve happened if Johnny Rico got it on with that big brain bug. Could’ve been one hell of a twist ending. Rico and the brain bug would have stopped the war and brought peace to their respective species. And boy oh boy, the kind of kinky man on bug sex that would’ve happened…yowie wowie. Ok, so that may have Robert Heinlein spinning in his grave, but erotic reimaginings have worked before. Just look at…um…Pride and Prejudice: Hidden Lusts. Ok, bad example. Or try…well, I can’t think of any others. Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe I’m wrong about this whole damn thing. Or maybe all the pumpkin pie I’ve eaten these past few days has scrambled my brains a bit. Whatever the case may be, all I know is that I am now an advocate of mantis/human intimacy. And if anyone does end up poaching my Starship Troopers idea, you’re welcome for the idea, and all I ask is for the dedication to be to me and for a free copy. Good luck, you sexed up sci-fi nuts!

[Marc *Dark Reader with a Thousand Young! Iä!* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well bite my head off, another M.J. Edwards eyebrow-raiser

I should not be finding out about a new M.J. Edwards release 20 days late. What am I ‘following’ the author for, Amazon? Let me know right away next time because I will eat it up, just like a certain insect after mating.

This is certainly, um, original. The story description makes it seem like there won’t be any surprises, but there are. I loved the ending, what a twist! Aside from the general concept, it’s a little less cringey and jokey than Edwards’ past fare, but not entirely devoid of such, thankfully. It’s a bit longer than her other stories, and I recommend taking your time with it to fully appreciate it.

[Kiera · Rating 1 out of 5]

Loved the ending, hated literally everything else. Including that I chose to read this.

[✨ Aaron Jeffery ✨ · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5/5
Help this was so bad but I was cackling throughout it and having such a fun time

[Ally Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Watch this be the book archeologists discover in 3000 years and use as a basis for our entire civilisation.
Was it the worst thing I have ever read? Yes.
Did I finish it and cackle? Also Yes. Shut Up.

[Jessica {Litnoob} · Rating 1 out of 5]

this is the reason

The ultimate justification for humanity coming to an end one day…. And all of us who have read it probably should take accountability for justifying the end days.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read these wonderful MJ Edwards short stories for the excellent satire hilarity. Normally I'm in stitches throughout, this one not so much. It's still entertaining and I had a few chuckles but the laugh-out-loud-can't-breath was missing this time around.

[April Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a TOP TIER weird ass romance. It's Shakespearean level bad writing. It's incredibly unhinged and obscene. You know it's a great bad book when you laugh so hard your face hurts. It's hard to do comedy this well and this is perfection.

[Sam Donovan · Rating 5 out of 5]

don't ask me about this one babes

[Libbie · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a story that I read. If you are seeing this...no you didn't.

Why did the FMC have to have the same first name as me 😭😭

[Destiny]

This might have been one of the weirdest thing I’ve ever read. It had me laughing my ass off the entire time I read it because of completely ridiculous it was. Some of the weird shit below for your displeasure.

• “It was long and thin, like a green crayon. It tasted a little like dirt - a bit like beetroot - but that made it all the more incredible.” Talking about the mantis dick

• “She had seven orgasms that night, all while being unable to get that cute green-eyed prince out of her head.”

• “Although it wasn’t doggy style at all, was it? It was… mantis style.”

There are more but I will leave the rest if you decide to read this weird book 🤣

[Nakarem · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't believe anyone can write something this funny. Seriously how does anyone do that?
Every single word and phrase I'm incredibly entertained by and I would love to quote every other sentence to anyone who would listen.

[Caitie Poland · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one started out rough. But there was a surprise twist that brought it up a couple stars and out of felony territory. Not terrible!

[alyssa · Rating 1 out of 5]

What the hell did I read

[Kaitlin · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have regrets.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally some good fucking literature

[Charlotte Proudfoot-Thurston · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m genuinely traumatised. that was the worst thing I have ever attempted to read and I wish I stayed curious. It’s only 42 pages and I couldn’t even force myself to finish it.

[Vendea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great and terrifying M.J.Edwards is back with yet another erotic novella. Have you ever dreamt of having sex with mantis? Well... our MC here had. It's bizarre, it's fascinating and it's raw. I am still amazed by author's imagination and use of words. Every single of her books is a small miracle of its own. Read on your risk. What keeps me going? Author bio at the end of each book that updates us about author's current life situation xD

1.5/5*

[Luba · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comedy Queen

[Courtney Saba · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really don't know what to say lol bravo?

[Darth C · Rating 1 out of 5]

I should have known better. I should have stopped at the title. But no, curiosity got the better of me. What I got was not just a literary car crash—I was the rubbernecker who couldn’t look away, and now I have to live with the scars.

Let’s start with the premise: a horny entomologist and her mantis fetish. Okay, I’ve heard of niche interests, but this? This is a bug’s crawl too far.

The writing mistakes are relentless. It’s like the author handed their first draft to a praying mantis, and it typed the rest with its claws. Sentences are cobbled together in a way that’s both hilarious and painful, crawling across the page like drunken insects—erratic, incoherent, and occasionally squashed beyond recognition.

Then there’s the “enlargement machine” subplot, which is somehow both ridiculous and stomach-turning. When the mantis gets bigger, so do the metaphors—and trust me, you don’t want that. I never thought I’d read the phrase “quivering thorax of passion” in my life, and now I want a refund for my time, my money, and my soul.

And the climax (pun unfortunately intended)? Imagine Jurassic Park but with fewer dinosaurs and more regrettable life choices. Nothing about this story makes sense, and the weird visuals make it impossible to take seriously—or to scrub from your brain.

If you’re looking for erotica, skip this like an actual praying mantis avoiding its mate after dinner. If you’re looking for comedy, it’s only funny if you enjoy secondhand embarrassment. In short: burn it. Then stomp on it. Then hit it with your car.

This “book” deserves to be squashed under a very large shoe!

[Sandee is Reading]

This author is continuously surprising me with her weird premises - and I am eating it all up while laughing my ass off, of course.

The fmc, who is a doctor, isn't very smart at all lmao. I was expecting something different but I guess it works too.

I read these books because they're short and they do really make me laugh.

[Molly Wied · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read these books so you don’t have to.

This was…interesting? I don’t know how else to explain it. I can confidently say I’ve never been sexually attracted to a praying mantis, let alone any other type of insect, but we listen and we don’t judge.

[Alice · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very creative!! 😃😃 (I regret reading)

[brukie harden · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this as a joke and honestly I miss the person I was before reading this

[Sela · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lmao this book, I had to read it.. to understand why but there’s not really a reason why. This book is insane, but hilarious. I was dying reading it at work.

[Biblio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insect sex, experiments gone wrong, mantis cannibalism. Weird read but after reading the poop book by this author, I knew what to expect. Some good laughs and wtf am I reading moments for sure. Hilarious quote that will have you rolling on the floor. And a twist you didn’t see coming. 👀 4.5 ⭐️

[Chelsea Warren · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yooo that was terrrrible 🤣🤣

[Naomi · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 stars, rounded up.

I've read basically all of these. Now what?

[Nikki Deeley · Rating 1 out of 5]

Never know whether to rate MJ Edwards books one or five stars because they’re unhinged and absurd in the same fashion and always give a good laugh but also wtf is this 😂