Set on a spaceship ✅
Told mainly through the POV of two AI systems ✅
A spaceship full of dead people ✅
Vampire - wait ... what?🤔
Werewolf - WHAT⁉️😲

I didn't know how all the above was going to work together, but this book was the most fun read I've had this year. From the moment it opens with the spaceship's mainframe Demeter discovering that her already slightly tarnished reputation is about to get a lot worse because her crew and passengers are all dead, this book is non stop action and entertainment.
I loved the 'voices' of Demeter and the medical AI, Steward, and the competitive nature of their interactions, each trying to outdo the other. And I really enjoyed the other characters and how their story arcs evolved.
This is my first book by Barbara Truelove and I'm going to be checking out her back catalogue because I REALLY enjoyed it!

From page one, I WAS HOOKED. This story is equal parts delightful and terrifying. Barbara Truelove is certainly an author to watch. Her characters are so beautifully developed and this story was such a FUN RIDE. 5 enthusiastic stars!

I really enjoyed Of Monsters and Mainframes. I loved the various AI characters, their unique perspectives, and all the campy hijinks that ensued. There were a few large time skips throughout the story but I felt like most of those worked well.

I haven’t seen anyone mention it yet so I did want to mention that this book tickled the same part of my brain as when I read Project Hail Mary. (Except, you know, with ‘classic’ monsters and the ship as the main character.)

Overall this was a fun read with a lot of heartwarming and action-packed moments.

Thank you NetGalley, Bindery Books, and Ezeekat Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 💕

(4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨) This is the reason I love to read ARCs. I read the description of this book and said, “this sounds like a crazy good time,” and it was 10x more crazy, & 10x more of a good time then I thought it would be. I laughed so much during this book, over the writing style, the content, even the chapter titles. A love story between technology, vampires, werewolves, etc? I can’t wait to get my physical copy of this book! 💕

I am generally not really into scifi but this was an incredible read that I couldnt help but wonder if parts were satire but I certainly saw jabs at us as a 20th century human. The best way I can describe this book is like an enhanced version of Wall-E but amplified and with so many moving parts and literal monsters.

My favorite read of 2025 so far! Barbara Truelove, I shall read anything you put out now.

The story focuses on Demeter, a spaceship AI ferrying passengers between plants and settlements in the universe. On one fateful trip, a monster kills all of the passengers, and Demeter earns the name "ghost ship." No one believes her, including the other AI on board, Steward, the medical unit AI. Through Demeter's journeys, she encounters more monsters, friends, and dashing adventures - even though Demeter's are not programmed to for feelings or adventure. I loved this unlikely-found family tale - recommend it

Steward and Demeter's relationship is the best: "To improve the efficacy of our relationship, I think we should collectively move these issues into the recycling bin. That would increase efficiency.." "Good. They settle their code against mine, small but precise and painfully perfect. I love you too, Demeter."

So shockingly fun with some awesome characters, fun romance, excellent dramatic sections, and a satisfying end. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

This was a wild ride! Fast paced and full of wit. It reeled me in from the very beginning with an AI space ship as the main character. The plot was fast paced and action packed. There were some distinct Murder Bot vibes, especially at the beginning, but this story was still fresh and totally original.

The characters, while seemingly absurd, were so well imagined. They were bold, defiant, quirky, diverse, and all distinctly unique, each with their own voice, motivations, and point of view. One thing this book did really well, that others often fall short on, was the point of view shifts. There was no confusion with the shifts. They felt natural and intuitive. And they added to the story instead of distracting from it.

This was such a satisfying read that I can't help but love it.

I was very excited for this book. I like genre-bending stories, and this one seemed right up my alley. And in the beginning, I was enjoying it, but unfortunately, that did not last.

The humor and the AI characters were fun, and the setup of the plot was intriguing, but about halfway through, we're introduced to another POV. A character that is supposed to be in her 30s but talks like an annoying teen. It was almost painful to get through her chapters. And her POV really highlighted how weak the writing and dialogue were.

And then I noticed that I was well over the midpoint of the story, and we hadn't even begun to think about the revenge, which was supposed to be the whole set-up of the plot. What were we doing all that time then? I couldn't tell you. And when the plot finally starts happening, it's not very exciting. Many moments happen off page, including the climax. Dracula is supposed to be the villain, and nothing is done with him. He's barely even present, and we get zero answers about anything.

The world-building was also lacking. I didn't expect it to be super elaborate, but I expected it to be more…interesting. The book is set hundreds of years in the future, and yet the world barely looks and feels any different from our own. Even when dozens of years pass in the story, it is barely noticeable. For a book that is supposed to be creative, it really lacked imagination at times.

Huge thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for providing me with an E-Arc of this book!

CW: Death, Blood, Violence

4.5 / 5 Stars

People keep comparing this to Murder Drones, and I get it—I’ve seen the show. But as someone who grew up on Star Trek, the space opera of all space operas, I couldn’t help but draw comparisons there instead. So, just imagine Star Trek, but the Enterprise was part of the crew. Now add way more death and monsters. Boom—you get this book. Which basically translates to: I absolutely loved it and devoured it in a single day.

Our main character is Demeter, the ship’s navigation AI, and it was incredible to watch her evolve throughout the story. The more time she spends with Angus—a child she saved from a werewolf attack—the more she develops a sense of identity that feels almost human. This book really leans into the question of what it means to be "alive," and Demeter’s growth is at the heart of that exploration.

It probably won’t come as a surprise that, while the book has a solid plot, it’s very character-driven. Yes, Demeter is at the center of it, but so is Angus.

That doesn’t mean the rest of the crew is any less great. Every member of this unlikely team brings something unique to the table, and their relationships make for an emotional, sometimes hilarious, and deeply rewarding reading experience. It’s found family at its best, and I couldn’t get enough of them.

There are also two (question mark?) romances in this one. I have mixed feelings about one of them because the spark and buildup were there, but since romance wasn’t the book’s main focus, we only really get the beginning and the end of it. The other ship? I’m not saying anything—you’ll have to see for yourself. But we spend the most time on that one, and honestly? It’s pretty cute.

The one aspect I felt was slightly lacking? Dracula himself. His name alone carries a weight that makes him a menace—both in sheer presence and in the devastation he leaves behind. His actions haunt almost every member of our found family. But after the opening, he’s mostly sidelined. The few chapters where he does appear? Phenomenal. He absolutely commands the page, stealing the spotlight with his chilling presence. I just wish we had gotten more of him.

For example, there's a subplot in the middle of the book where we shift focus to an alien fish-like species that worships Cthulhu and tries to take over the ship. While this section gave us more time with Steward (who I adored), it ultimately didn’t feel essential to the larger narrative. No hate to Steward—she’s fantastic—but I almost wish we had used some of that time for more Dracula instead. Especially since, by the end, he’s... well, still just there, almost as if he’s been waiting for our misfit crew to stumble upon him. And for someone as powerful as Dracula, that felt just a little too convenient.


That being said, this book was absolutely amazing. I had a fantastic time reading it, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who asks.

Thank you NetGalley and Bindery Books for the ARC.

It’s all functions and gigabytes until Dracula shows up. And y’all thought saying fantasy names was hard just wait until you read some of these. It was heartwarming to see how each character sought freedom despite their processing restrictions.

This book will change your perception of technology from the very first chapter. Following the story through multiple perspectives, the story begins with: Demeter, a passenger ship’s AI system, Of Monsters and Mainframes humanizes technology in a unique and interesting way.

After having some core memory from her system deleted, Demeter tries to find answers for why all 312 of their passengers died before arriving to their destination. After being labeled a “ghost ship”, she gets a “revamp”, a new serial number and continues going on flights with not so happy endings. The flights are constantly being bombarded with “monsters” ranging from Werewolves to a Cthulhu like entity.

Every single thing you read matters, something mentioned in chapter one makes an appearance of great importance later down the road and so on. The pacing is absolutely magnificent, keeping you clutched in its grasp desperate for more answers.

Okay and the found family??? The description of comprehending “human” emotion and learning how to deal with it??? All of the love present… from learning what it is to seeing who everyone loves, the inclusion and representation?? Absolutely amazing. It’s just truly a beautiful story!!!

Pub Date June 3 2025

ARC provided by Bindery Books, Ezeekat Press and NetGalley. Thank you.

review posted to NetGalley & Goodreads

Received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

To be extremely honest, this would've been an instant purchase anyway because it looks and sounds like the most campy, fun space opera. It also has elements from Dracula and Frankenstein? Dracula + Frankenstein + Artificial Intelligence? How and what do you mean? This could either be absolutely genius or crash and burn spectacularly.

I am happy to announce that I LOVE THIS SO MUCH😍
This is probably the only time I'd be caught crying over a found family that consists of not just misfits and monsters, but AI. The most hilarious, wonderful AI that I wish is what we are going towards in the future instead of whatever we are currently misusing the technology for.

The story is well-paced, the character endearing, the world typical of a space opera but I adore the additions of monsters from classic gothic literature (truly the key to my heart), and this is just the perfect campy read when the mood catches.

this book was so fun! it's giving murder bot diaries with a splash of supernatural pop culture for every horror/sci-fi fan out there who loves to see their literary faves transported into a space AU. i thought it was imaginative, witty, funny, endearing and a genuinely engaging read! it doesn't take itself too seriously, which makes for a nice easy to read story, and one that is incredibly memorable. i would love to see a series of these characters and what they get up to!

I literally almost cried when I finished this book because I didn't want it to end. Almost everything about this book was perfect, and the little imperfections weren't enough to drop my rating from a 5 star.

Truelove expertly mixed sci-fi and fantasy elements! Classic monsters in space? Phenomenal. She took old-school monsters and revamped them to fit the spacey setting. I think that pitching certain monsters as aliens was a great idea. All of the loose ends tied together really nicely in the end.

I love stories about sentient AIs discovering what it is to love. This book checked that box not once, but twice. Demeter and Steward were by far my favourite characters, and I enjoyed every word in their chapters. Something about AIs going from stiff, logical beings to squishy little beans makes my heart happy. The other characters were also great, though some of their flaws did annoy me. But that's what character flaws are meant to do, so well done Truelove!

There were some parts of the book that were a little repetitive, and it felt like certain memory loss explanations were shortcuts.

Otherwise, I'm in love! This book reminded me of why I love sci-fi so much. I will definitely be picking up more books by this author!

What a breath of fresh air in the Sci-Fi genre.

Of Monsters and Mainframes is told from the POV of the spaceship's AI, Demeter. As her name indicates, she will be dealing with Dracula, and a few other monsters too.

The first half of the book reads like interconnected short stories that are then weaved together in the second half to bring everything into a tight ending.

I don't have much to say honestly because I just had a lot of fun reading this book. Both AIs are quirky and fun, I loved the way they retold some classic monster tales, it manages a good balance between serious topics and levity. It was a great read honestly and if you're looking for something easy to read (I read this while on vacation), I think it's perfect.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book

Find my Reviews on Goodreads, The StoryGraph, and Fable

This book was such a fun journey to read. I made frequent stops in the first half of the book to wonder how I was only so far in and where this story could take me. There's humor and heart and utter chaos to reel you in.

A ship's AI has a string of terrible luck in monsters on board and that leads to chaos in numerous ways. It takes a while to see how the story all comes together, but it does in the end.

I don't think this was the best written book I've ever read and the pacing was a little off in spots, but the overall story kept me moving and I sped through it.

I cannot express how much I loved this book. I am not sure what I was expecting but it blew my expectations out of the water. I loved everything about this book. I was hooked from the first paragraph and did not want it to end. The cast of characters was unique, heartfelt, and they were so well developed.

Honestly, this was space exploration at its finest. We meet our ship Demeter (who is also an AI) and her medical AI Steward and there is immediately a tension to the story that keeps you intrigued. Their interactions are priceless and their crew is fascinating. The storytelling was on point and was such a great time.

The mix of sci-fi, fantasy, and horror was so well weaved together. If you love any of those genres this is the book to pick up. I can't wait to recommend it to all my friends. This is easily a 5 Star read for me. Thank you to the publisher for providing an advanced readers copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley, Bindery Books and Ezeekat Press for gifting me an early copy of Of Monsters and Mainframes!

We are following Demeter, an AI that is also a ship! She transports humans from one planet to another. The issue is that she starts having problems during some of her trips.

I had an AMAZING time reading this book. The concept was genius and you can only get attached to the characters as they are funny, caring, and also quite unique.

Demeter’s relationship with Steward was hilarious!

I enjoyed reading about a lot of literary/mythological references and see them in another setting!

I would highly highly recommend this book

This book is like nothing I’ve ever read before! Of Monsters and Mainframes is a lighthearted, mysterious jaunt through space with a spaceship and the monsters that come along for the ride. I loved meeting Demeter, the ship’s AI, and felt real worry and care for her during and after every adventure.

The book is a lovely mix of soft sci-fi, mystery, and horror that brings characters, like Dracula, from the late 19th century into the space travel days of the 25th century. I really found the adventure engaging and was fully absorbed in the journey.

I also really love the themes around found family, finding your place in the world, breaking or rewriting your programming/purpose in life, and embracing the unknown that permeate the story. I had a great time reading this novel and I think it’s a great story for anyone interested in a bit of whimsy, space, and rewriting (our own) narratives!

This review is my honest opinion of the book. Thank you to NetGalley, Bindery Books, and Ezeekat Press for providing a digital copy for me to read in advance of the publication date.