I loved this unique story. It was a fantastic sci-fi tale, so different than anything I've read in a long, long time. Give me all the sci-fi monsters!

Intergalactic space travel from the view of the spaceship's AI, add some monsters and you get this book.
I simply loved it, I enjoyed every minute of it!
The cast of characters and the POVs really worked for me and it was a quick, enjoyable read!

This was a really fun book. Part 1 is told from the perspective of the ship, Demeter. She's flying her passengers between Earth and Alpha Centauri when something happens and they all die. She swears that it's Dracula - but that's silly because Dracula doesn't exist. The ship's medical AI, Steward, and the humans think that something's wrong with Demeter and she's malfunctioning.

She gets another chance and on her next run there's a werewolf who kills almost everyone. Again, no one believes Demeter. She's able to save two children who she bonds with as they finish the journey to Earth.

As the story progresses, we keep meeting more monsters. The story is also narrated by Steward (the medical AI) and Agnus, one of the children that Demeter saves, as well as interludes by different characters. It took a little getting used to, but over all, I enjoyed the narration style. The character development was done very well. At first, Demeter and Steward hate each other. As the story progresses, they learn to work together and appreciate what the other is able to do.

The pacing of the story was a bit slow and repetitious. The first few sections were just "monster - everyone dies - no one believes Demeter" and repeat. The different parts come together at the end and it mostly worked, but at times, it was a struggle to get there.

The writing was awesome. There were so many funny parts that had me laughing. The character interactions were great and I enjoyed how the author included the different monsters and their backstories in this sci-fi world.

Overall, it was a fun and enjoyable book.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this advance review copy.

4 stars due to plot holes, rounded up to 5 because I don’t care, I *adored* this. Yes, at times it was hokey and cutesy. Other times it was utterly illogically random. At no point is the origin of vampires or “Steve” mentioned, nor how coincidental it is that all these monsters met and created a found family or even exist in the same universe.

But wow was it fun. I loved Demeter, and Steward too, and each of their little foibles, and the growth of their relationship was beyond brilliant. Agnus and Mina finding another brutal killer monster to love and appreciate them was somehow beautiful in its completed arc.

And that cover is bloody brilliant.

My thanks to NetGalley for an ARC — I’ve already preordered a physical copy of my very own (and another to sell in the shop). May everyone find and love this adorable monstrous gem!

what in the world did i just read (complimentary). this took some of my absolute FAVORITE aspects of gothic horror/popular characters but added this campy feel to a modern world of AI (what am i even explaining rn??) and made it such an amazing experience. like, this is probably the most unique book i have ever read and i need something else by truelove to fill the void!!!!

Of Monsters and Mainframes is a fantastic book. It is engaging and fun and full of adventure. This book is unique. I absolutely love this story. The book is well written and the plot flows quickly. The characters are interesting and wonderfully quirky. I could not put the book down and I highly recommend it.

This book was absolutely bizarre in the best way ever. Sentinet AI, vampires, Werewolves & Monsters - not a normal combination but brilliant all the same.

I loved every second of this - the first half is slower paced and more thoughtful introducing you to the characters and the 2nd half is full on supernatural hijinks.

Due to my chronic pain lately I don’t feel that I was able to engage with this work as well as I could have if I was feeling 100%. However, with that said, I still enjoyed the crap out of this book.

A thrilling scifi adventure reminiscent of the murderbot diaries. I loved the unique perspective of sentient AI and the relationships it forms to humans. Not to mention the action packed excitement of gender bending elements of horror, Dracula, and werewolves galore. Totally worth reading and rereading for fun!

Of Monsters and Mainframes, by Barbara Truelove, 4.5*

This one is a weird mashup of genres in the absolute BEST way. Part campy horror, part cozy, part sci-fi, this story has a unique cast of characters that I loved all the way through.

Our main character is a sentient AI that controls a spaceship. The ship’s medical AI and the ship AI serve as the main POVs that the story is told through. What I liked was that POV would occasionally shift to other side characters as the novel progressed. This helped to get in the heads of the characters and understand their side of things.

I won’t spoil plot, but I really think people are going to have a lot of fun with this one.

Of Monsters and Mainframes comes out on June 3rd, 2025.

Thanks to NetGalley and Ezeekat Press/Bindery Books for giving me this ARC in return for an honest review.

This book kept me on my toes but also had me on the floor laughing. It was so much fun to follow these characters on their weird space journey/murder mystery situation. The ending didn't wow me though.

I am such a sucker for books with AI space ships, unlikely crews and adventures. This would be perfect for fans of A Long Way to a Small Angry Planet, Murderbot Diaries and Lite Horror - somehow it’s Cozy sci-fi horror. Is that even a thing? LOVED.

Thank you Ezkaat press and Netgalley for a chance to read this in advance!

I thank Bindery Books for the early access! I unfortunately did have to DNF at 21%. I feel like the writing style is great, and I really love Demeter, but what I didn't like was the mixing of genres. Genre-mixing is fine in general, but I didn't like this particular approach. However! I'd love to see more sci-fi from this author as I feel they have a knack for it! Will definitely be keeping an eye out for more!

Wow! I really enjoyed this read. It was thoroughly different than anything I've read in a long while. I loved the uniqueness and the story itself.

Want a fun book about an AI space pilot trying to make sense of folkloric monsters?
Look no further.

This is the book I didn't know I needed, and I absolutely loved every moment!

It starts like an SF adaptation of the classic Dracula novel, but with an added cheek. You'll smile broadly throughout, especially if you know your gothic lit. But if you don't, that's ok too, the AI duo in this book will keep you chuckling and wondering just what can come up next.

I have a feeling this is going to be one of my top 5 of 2025 releases - the year's starting strong!

I was a bit apprehensive at first that it wouldn't be my kind of story, but oh my goodness did I love it. From the monsters to explosions to the children raised by AI (which you wouldn't think would be fun to read about, necessarily, but it was a great time. I think this was a cozy story, just not in the way you would necessarily expect. However, it was full of love and hope and also chaos and danger, but in the end it was about family, whatever that means to you.

Given to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

This is a wildly inventive and adventurous romp of a sci-fi novel! I can confidently say I have never read a book quite like this. You would think classical monsters and space would be a bit of a weird mash-up, but no this author pulled it off flawlessly and had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I'm usually not a fan of large time jumps, but I think in this instance it was needed and added a lot of depth to the story. My one wish is that the overall main team of characters/plot would have met a bit sooner in the story. Besides that one small nitpick, this is a real banger of a book and I can't wait to see what more this author has to offer in the future.

What a warm story for characters that in reality shouldn't be that warm at all! Emotionally, I felt them all! I enjoyed the humour throughout the book too! I really enjoyed this book a lot and excited to find more books by Barbara Truelove :)

This is exactly the book I wanted to read today. It’s the perfect blend of sci-fi and fantasy that I wish I could find more often. I loved every reference, especially the Lovecraft which came out of left field but was incorporated beautifully. The characters were all really fleshed out and the world was so interesting. I only wish that a) it was longer and b) that more time was spent in the middle. Some of the relationships felt kind of thrown together and so much of the development seemed to happen off page. But I honestly feel like this book was what I needed, I’ve been having a very grounded and serious 2025 so this book added some very necessary whimsy and fun.

This was a super fun read. It was a unique take on a space opera and despite all the action and drama, it was a comforting and cozy read. I enjoyed my time with it and couldn't put it down. I enjoyed all of the world-building and the characters. Recommended.