I really enjoyed reading this book, it worked so well as a blend to the two genre. The characters had that feel that worked with the Dracula element and enjoyed the whole of a scifi novel. The overall feel worked with the story and had that vampire element that I was looking for and enjoyed the overall concept. Barbara Truelove wrote this perfectly and am excited for more from reading this.

This was such a fun romp through space I was sad to see it end. I was apprehensive of whether the genres would blend effectively but as soon as I finished the first chapter I knew the writing style would nail the combination of urban legend and space opera. The characters were easy to love and the twists and turns kept me hooked to the point where I could’ve finished this easily in one sitting.

The pacing changed a bit in the second half which threw me off a little but the foundation of the first half was so strong that it was still a great conclusion. Would love for this to have been a series!!

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with an eARC

When I look at this book as a whole, it was a wild, cheeky ride with some pretty humorous parts throughout. However, when I step back, I see a bit more things that I wish were a little different.

This book has some pretty huge pacing issues, for me. Even for a novel set in space, I think it jumps around far too much. I think there's a way to do it that feels less like a whip-cut to another moment, but I don't think the author achieved that here. Because of the way this jumped around, I felt like the building up of friendships (like the blurb advertises) didn't quite end up working.

I think the challenge from writing from the POV of an AI (at least, in this instance) is that the author intentionally limits the POV. This does add to some tension, but leaves the reader at a loss for certain character building and shaping moments that would have lent a bit more to the ending.

Creatively, I think this was an interesting and fun idea. In terms of execution, though, I really wish there'd been more done differently to deliver a satisfying novel.

Demeter is a super liner who ferries people and cargo between Alpha Centauri and Earth. On consecutive trips she is boarded by Dracula and then a werewolf who is accidentally triggered by a wayward moon. Poor Demeter gets a completely unearned reputation as a ghost ship, even though she saved two children from the second trip. And then parented them for years until they arrived on earth. Her reward is to be warehoused for decades and to be assigned a new identity each time she is recommissioned.

The first law of robotics is never harm a human. Then Demeter must save the people and complete the mission of arrival at the appropriate planet. But Demeter develops a new mission - kill Dracula! She must risk herself, her partner Dr Stew the med unit, Agnus, the daughter of her heart and various other characters she has become quite fond of in order to complete the mission.

What a hilarious mash up of genres and tropes! Anthromorphic spaceship AIs a la Murderbot plus Dracula, werewolves, an ancient Sumerian mummy monster, queer relationships that crossed genders and genres, jailbreaks and a thrillling climax. I know it sounds crazy and over the top but it works superbly. I laughed and got teary and cheered Demeter on. I was absolutely hooked and could not drag myself away.

Thanks to the author, Barbara Truelove, the publisher #BinderyBooks and #NetGalley for the ARC and the opportunity to review this book.

Highly recommended

This is a fun book with some notable pacing issues. The first two sections — the first with Dracula — was tense and heavily atmospheric. I was wholly invested in what was going on until there was a jarring jump and now it’s Demeter dealing with a werewolf. And then Cthulhu worshipers and Frankenstein, and then a mummy. The werewolf section went on way too long, in my opinion, going from a taut horror story to a slice of life and then the POV shifts from Demeter to the medical robot and more of a comedic tone, then to Frankenstein and Agnus with a more muted vibe, and back and forth and back and forth.

Still, there are some great moments in this book. Once all the many stories are over and it’s time to get the whole crew together there are moments of great character work from Demeter and Steward (the medical AI) as the two of them begin to … well, to fall in love. Their romance is truly the highlight of the book, though it only really begins in the second half. Their banter, their sniping and power games, the way they both approach handling the people they care for … it’s sweet and charming.

There are ideas here about bodily autonomy (even if that body is a space ship), about finding people who understand you, about loyalty versus duty and freedom versus being property. But by far my favorite bit in this, beyond the spider drones who are so cheerful, so perfectly adorable is the tiny, itty-bitty camera bot in a pill, meant to be swallowed. It wants to be eaten, it finds joy in doing its work, and it deserved a better ending than it got.

If the author chooses to write more in this universe, I will be right there, pushing my way to be first in line. Thank you so very much to Net Galley and the publisher for letting me have an arc of this book!

WHAT WAS THIS? I have never read something so funny, witty, and so full of heart. It’s like “The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen IN SPACE.” Demeter is a lovable AI transport ship who reprograms herself to adapt to strange fish people and the full canon of monsters. Dr. Steward is the lovably “human” medical AI who manages to make weirdly dark jokes at the best moments…and the spider robots!!!!! They’re so excitable and sweet.

Everyone else? Just let it unfold. This is a wonderful story. I want everyone to read it. It brought me so much happiness.

Just read it when it comes out! It’s love and chaos!


Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. All (overly excited) opinions are my own!

Very little plot, mostly vibes. A werewolf, a vampire, two rogue AIs, and an ancient Egyptian mummy walk into a spaceship. Also, Frankenstein is here, for some reason. And Chtulu worshippers.

Absolutely hilarious. I had so much fun reading this!

This book brilliantly blends sci-fi and the supernatural, unfolding aboard a spaceship that serves as the main character, along with its AI medical unit companion. The book felt like 2001: A Space Odessey meets Sierra Greer's book Annie Bot. Told largely from the spaceship's and medical unit’s perspectives, it is surprisingly profound. The plot features sentient ships, werewolves, vampires, mummies, spider-like robots, and a Frankenstein creature made of human and robotic parts, all set across space.

The story is flawlessly executed and builds significant relationships between characters from different backgrounds, woven into the narrative with ease. These unexpected bonds add emotional depth, without drawing away from the story.

This is notably not a genre I typically reach for, so I was surprised to find so much joy and love and hope between these pages. What a beautiful story of what’s possible when you break free from society’s narrative about who it’s possible for you to be.

I wanted to love this book so much but it just fell short for me.

It was a quick read, fast-paced but almost too fast-paced for me.

It definitely has the “no plot just vibes” vibe, similar to Becky Chambers’ Long Way to a Small Angry Planet. It took until about 75 percent (ish) through the novel to get to the major plot material, while the characterization was strong I just couldn’t seem to connect to any of the characters which is so unfortunate. I just wish there was a more centralized and present plot throughout the novel to complement the vibes.

It’s a casual read. Something fun and not overwhelmingly demanding. But it also lacks in structure and memorability.

Of Monsters and Mainframes is a wild, fun ride through space with classic monsters and quirky AI characters. The humor is sharp, the adventure engaging, and the found family theme hits all the right notes. While the plot gets a bit chaotic at times, the characters make it a memorable, heartwarming journey.

I went into this wanting something like Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, but it didn’t hit for me. I couldn’t understand the point of having all of these well-known monsters (but in space!) except that it makes for a flashy tagline. And having so many different POVs, all in first person, was fractured and confusing. Who was the main character? Even at the end of the book I couldn’t tell you. This premise could have worked with more focus.

Fantastic, I loved it. Quirky humour, robots, fantasy animals, fairytale monsters and adventures in space. We want more. Surely there must be a sequel. Thank you so much to the author. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

Beyond a measure of doubt, Barbara Truelove is the fresh, new voice that the sci-fi genre has sorely needed. Historically, I haven't been the biggest fan of sci-fi, I feel like a lot of the genre is mired in overly complex and inaccessible jargon as well as highly dominated by the literary musings of overly egotistical male main characters. Yet, "Of Monsters and Mainframes" feels like a completely new take on the genre, providing a story that feels so completely brand new and compelling, and one that left me wanting for more from this author.
Despite the book containing a vast array of characters, Truelove balances each of their personalities and perspectives with ease. With each character introduction slowly building on top of pre-existing storylines, it's easy to sink into each character's story and instantly fall in love with every single character. From Demeter's blunt remarks to Dr. Steward's sassy comebacks to Agnus's unbridled rage and everywhere in between, it's clear that the author has full mastery of her cast of characters. To that end, the characterization throughout the book was laid out so well, the trajectory of each of their arcs was done well, and I especially loved the bonds that Demeter grew between herself and her monsters.

That being said, my one and only critique of this story would be in the overall building of the story. The story is so intensely plot-focused that there are moments when characters make decisions that feel far outside the realm of possibility. I don't mind the various jumps in time itself, I think that decision makes sense in the grand scheme of an AI main character, but the romance at the end felt entirely contrived and a detraction from the overall message of found family. I also was expecting a far more catastrophic ending for the Varna company, but alas it felt like the implosion of their enterprises was briskly shoved under the rug.

But all in all, I think the story is solid, the characters (particularly Demeter and Steward) are insanely loveable and the wholesome nature of the ending is sure to warm any reader's heart.

If you're looking for a weird little romp through space, this book is for you! The author takes classic stories we love, like Frankenstein and Dracula, and makes them her own, but in space! It was such a fun story with a delightful ending. It's cozy, but also excited and keeps you on your toes. I was sucked in from beginning to end.

The genre of this book is complicated. It's a space opera/supernatural/alien/mystery book. There are epic spaceship things happening along with some very emotional things. Plus AIs becoming human like and learning to love along with all k8nds of supernatural myths and legends just out in space. Was very quick and fun to read and really caught me off gaurd.

What. A. Book!

I didn't know what to expect from this based on the description, but wow was I floored. Dracula from the perspective of the ship is what I was expecting, and I got that and so very much more!

I want to recommend Of Monsters and Mainframes to everyone I've ever met. From it's lovable cast of AI ships, classic monsters, and ethically questionable ship doctor-robots, to it's tightly plotted storyline, it consumed me for days! I don't read that quickly anymore, but every free moment I had was dedicated to reading this book.

It's also so funny. Like, seriously. I kept laughing and then having to read passages to my husband, who also got more than a few chuckles out of it. The phrase "Fuck yeah, robot arm" has become a mainstay in our apartment.

I really just can't say enough great things about Of Monsters and Mainframes. The more I think about it, the more I realize how expertly plotted it is, and how wonderfully the plot is driven by the characters.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bindery Books/Ezeekat Press for the digital ARC. I can't wait to order a physical copy and read it all over again!

Demeter is trying her best and I love her with my whole heart.

If this going to be a series I am very excited to read what comes next. I absolutely loved Demeter as our main POV, and the dynamic between her and Steward was great.

I did struggle with the pacing a bit; I feel like so much happened to get us to the ‘Let’s kill Dracula” point, and I had jumped to some conclusions about how the story would go based off the blurb/first chapter, so I felt kind of adrift for the middle section of the book, but it hooked me again by the end.

Overall, this was a fun, fast paced romp, perfect for those that like a little absurdity mixed in their scifi, and the type of people who will packbond with a roomba.

Of Monsters and Mainframes tells the story of Demeter, a spaceship shuttling humans between Earth and Alpha Centauri. When Dracula - yes, that Dracula- decides to make a feast out of her passengers, Demeter makes it her new mission to get revenge, with the help of the most dysfunctional motley crew space has ever seen.

I truly loved every second of this book. Truelove's writing is incredibly fun and made me want to get to the next chapter to see what was in store for our little band of space misfits. The story itself is a wild ride, complete with vampires, werewolves, aliens, AI, and spaceships galore. And the characters -- simply put, I love everyone on this vengeful and endearing spaceship and I would follow them through whatever adventure might come next (and boy, do I hope there is more coming).

Finishing this book on Christmas Eve is truly like a little holiday gift to myself. Thank you to Bindery Books/Ezeekat Press and NetGalley for an ARC. This is truly one I will cherish and come back to for lightyears to come.

This was delightful! A found family AI journey across the stars. It was hilarious—never have chapter titles made me laugh so hard. Love this.