This book was so fun and unique.
I couldn’t put ot done.
Can't wait for it to come out.
Highly recommend.

I thought this was so much fun! Space opera sci-fi with really personable AI's, AND classic monsters?! I ate it up. Can't wait until it's released so I can buy a pretty copy to keep on my shelf. 100% I'm definitely recommending this to customers.

I loved this book! It was so different and unique and it just was so good to read. It was enjoyable and interesting. I loved the mix in of AI and how the author had their stance on it. I loved it!! I do ot wanna give a lot away but it was written well, had lots of unexpected things occur, and it was great!!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

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 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.

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.

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.

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 book was a whirlwind of activity—a little overwhelming at times with its rapid shifts between characters, unraveling Demeter/Steward’s backstory, and the sheer variety of monsters. Despite this, it was highly entertaining, and I’m glad I stuck it out. The relationship between Agnus and Demeter was a sweet and grounding aspect amidst the chaos. I’m pleased to see hints that the author will continue the series, particularly exploring the planet the fish people sought, as that thread felt unresolved. Steve’s connection was an unexpected and amusing twist. Overall, it was an enjoyable and satisfying read.

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this ARC!

What an excellent high-concept story, full of queer love, sweet (at times murdery) robots, and mythical beings with attitudes. I loved the found family and how the story progressed. It took me a second to get settled in the POV changes but omg was it worth it, I LOVED all the new characters as they pop up throughout the story. The chapter titles made me chuckle. Really fun, can't wait for it to come out so I can make my friends read it!

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.

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

What a wild, fun, dark rollercoaster of a unique science fiction book. I had no idea what to expect from the cover and blurb, as this book looked so unique. It delivered. What you see is what you get.

This book is trippy, sad, funny, and I could not put it down. I could not stop thinking about this one and had to try to not inhale it, and ended up inhaling it anyways.

I heavily recommend this to science fiction and fantasy lovers. There isn't a heavy focus on science in this one, it's just a ton of fun with some darkness mixed in. If you are a tech nerd though, you will get double the enjoyment.

I'll be cherishing this story for a while and am excited to see it in stores. Thank you so much for allowing me an advanced reader copy of this art! I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you, Netgalley and the author for this book in exchange for an honest review!

I didn't know what to expect from this at first, truthfully. That being said, I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this!
This gave me kind of Hitchhikers' Guide to the Galaxy vibes. It was funny, serious, heartbreaking, heartwarming. Really, it was quite enjoyable.
I did find it hard to follow at times, and I feel like it was just a little too long. By the end, it kind of dragged. It was q good ending, though!

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

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!

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.

OH PULP SCI FI IS SOOOOO BACK YALL!!! this was such a fun, unique book— maybe it’s bc i don’t read that much sci fi but i was still thoroughly enchanted by this? UNIVERSAL HORROR MONSTERS! IN SPACE! this book has everything you could ever want if that premise sounds even a little interesting to you.

What a crazy journey!!! Reading the first 100 pages you think “wtf” in the best possible way! The plot is so unserious but really takes a turn for the best.
As you make your way into the book you start to feel an attachment to all the characters mostly Demeter and Stewart. They’re the core ( pun intended ) of the book and it’s wonderful.
Probably one of funniest read in a long time for me !

This novel was a wild, fun ride in space. A sci-fi book told mostly from the point of view of spaceship AI called Demeter (which is funny in itself for those that know of dracula lore - this boat carried him). The book starts out with Demeter realizing there are no heat signatures aboard her ship, which is weird as she had over 300 humans transporting on the ship. She then breaks out of her "mold" and starts investigating as much as AI can and realizes that Dracula was aboard her ship and has killed everyone. She then becomes known as the ghost ship. She has multiple hilarious conversations and little dramatic fights with the other AI aboard her ship "Steward" who is a medical AI female. Throughout the journey of the novel, we meet a wide variety of monsters and interesting characters while the Demeter just tries to help.

I really enjoyed this book. It was fun, goofy, and even a little mysterious at times. It was charming, yet weird at the same time if possible. The cast of characters was great - especially all the different monsters that ended up coming aboard the Demeter. Also lots of sapphic love in this book, so if you need a little romance it's there - obviously not the focal point. I would say there isn't too much plot, it's more just fun and vibes.

4,5⭐️

That was one fucking charismatic book, pardon the language.
One that captures you from the first chapter, and before you know, you've devoured it whole in one evening. You find yourself at the edge of your seat, deeply involved in space opera about werewolves and cosmic vampires, deeply in love with every strange character on across-galactic stage. What can be said about "Of Monsters and Mainframes" to make you feel like you need to read this book when it's still hot off the grill?

What will interest you? A new aspect of sci-fi, a story told from the perspective of spaceship AI, but not in the "gaining self-conciousness" way, but more "I am here to cause mayhem and mischief" way? Maybe you want queer cast? Or maybe you love vampires and werewolves, but grew bored of classical interpretations – don't worry, here we have them in space. Murder mystery? Sure, but why limit – let's get mass murder mystery. And not once, but twice. You want existential dread? Humor? Absolute insanity? Absolute hodgepodge of mismatched elements that become genius next to each other?

Well look no further.

I adore this book. It's funny, with a great side of charming, it's weird, but it's also greatly written. I do not exaggerate when I say I don't know when I've read. It lasts, and then it ends, and you're left with the want of more. Barbara Truelove wrote a georgeous story that proves there are still new paths to find in science fiction genre.

Y'all need to read this book. Y'all need to experience how AI medical system argues with fifteen years old werewolf when the spaceship they're on does a low-g barrel in space, while throwing a dinosaur theme party.

Omg! I had high hopes for this book and is superceded them all. It's funny and tense all at the same time! And the character development is to die for. I love the inclusion of all the classical monsters, and the way they all integrate into the story!

This was the best book I’ve read in a long time! I wasn’t sure how the mix of characters would work together, but it just does. It’s a mix of sci fi adventure, found family vibes, & strong characters.

It had me laughing throughout. Definitely my type of humour

Sometimes getting the most out of your life is going down a different path to your loved ones which is so heartbreaking but I love that the character was comfortable with that decision.

I’m going to be recommending this book to all my friends (I already have been tbh)

Thank you NetGalley & Bindery Books / Ezeekat Press for the ARC

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.

Loved everything about this book. All the way from the cover to the plot and characters. Sci Fi meets old school horror. It's like a book from my dreams. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to review a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bindery Books and Ezeekat Press for this E-Arc!

I went into this book a little blind and oh boy am I happy I did. I had no idea where this book was going, and I absolutely loved it.

We have Demeter an Ai of a ship, and she has to deal with mythical monsters/aliens who keep screwing up her voyages. Throughout the way we meet memorable characters and I for one was super invested in all their developments. The book although light-lighthearted and often times very funny still asked questions of love, revenge and what it means to exist.

I enjoyed everything from the different perspectives of the POV, binary codes, chapter titles and just overall how offbeat the book was. I have never read a book by Mx. Truelove but now have them on top of my list for their next works. Highly recommend if you want an off-kilter sci-fi adventure that makes you go oh god what now- in the best of ways! I would totally read a sequel.

I had an absolute blast reading Of Monsters and Mainframes. This book is a wild, action-packed ride with plenty of humour to keep things light even when the stakes are high.

The story follows Demeter, a spaceship tasked with shuttling humans between Earth and Alpha Centauri. Things take a dark turn when an ancient vampire boards her ship, turning what should be a routine journey into a nightmare of paranormal murders. To avoid being sent to the scrap yard, Demeter teams up with an eclectic crew: a werewolf, a part-human-part-robot creation, an ancient Egyptian mummy with mysterious powers, and a fleet of endlessly cheerful spider drones.

Demeter, the spaceship, won me over right away, especially with the hilarious back-and-forth between them and the medical system Steward. The pacing was spot on, too. From start to finish, the book never let up. Every chapter had me eager to see what would happen next, and I could hardly put it down. The blend of action, humour, and heartfelt moments kept the story moving without ever feeling rushed.

What if you were a spaceship roaming the universe, and oh shit, you accidentally picked up Dracula, and you have to team up with various passengers and AI on your ship to keep from getting extremely dead? This is like classic sci fi meets pulp meets a Hammer movie, and it's a really fun ride. Definitely pick it up when it comes out this summer.

Of Monsters and Mainframes is So. Much. Fun.

After a series of supernatural catastrophes on Demeter—an interstellar passenger liner—tarnishes her reputation, she decides to take matters into her own “hands” and hunt down the one responsible: Dracula.

The cast is truly the highlight of the story. If you’ve ever wondered how a werewolf, a mummy, and a Frankenstein’s monster would fare as space pirates, look no further. Every character, both AI and supernatural, has their own unique voice and is 𝘴𝘰 easy to love.

I really only have good things to say about this book! It’s campy, hilarious, and full of character and I can’t wait to pick up a physical copy on release!

Thank you NetGalley and Bindery Books for the ARC!

I enjoyed this novel. It was weird but in a good way. The plot was easy to follow and I enjoyed taking the journey with the characters. It was a nice twist in older characters and kept me interested.

Dropped to 4 stars because while I enjoyed it I am not sure I would ever reread it.

Thanks to NetGallery and the publisher for this Arc in exchange for my honest review.

This book is so fun! And so unique. This isn't hard sci-fi so anyone who doesn't typically find themselves being able to read sci-fi because the the overwhelming science aspects, this might be for you!

I absolutely loved this book! 4.5⭐️

The story is primarily told from the perspective of Demeter, an AI system piloting a space shuttle between Earth and Alpha Centauri. Unfortunately, all of her passengers keep dying—not due to system failures, as her AI medical system suggests, but something much more sinister.

The plot itself isn't heavily structured, making the story more character-driven, which I think works really well here. The book is fun, quirky, and occasionally weird, but in the best possible way. Despite my initial reservations, I found myself really connecting with the main characters—Demeter and her fellow AI steward. I never expected a book featuring AI characters to evoke such emotional investment, but here we are!

Demeter embarks on a quest for revenge after Dracula boards her ship and kills all the humans. She is joined by an unexpected crew of monsters: Steve, a mummy who is actually an alien; a teenage werewolf; and a non-binary Frankenstein’s monster, who shares a similar AI system to Demeter’s. Together, they hunt down Dracula, making for an unusual yet compelling adventure.

Overall, the character development and relationships are the standout elements of this book. It’s a delightful, offbeat story that blends sci-fi with horror and humor, and it’s one I’m sure many readers will enjoy.

It’s been aWHILE since a book surprised me and this was fantastic! I loved how it followed the classic “journal entry” style from the original story and spun it into such a fun sci fi world! I fell in love with these characters and the story kept me coming back!

This novel was a hoot, a mash up of sci fi, horror and comedy. A far-fetched space opera. We have as our protagonist Demeter, a spaceship who just wants to shuttle humans betwixt Earth and Alpha Centauri but when Dracula boards and kills the passengers, Demeter despising their “Ghost Ship” moniker is bent on revenge. Aided by a motley crew of monsters: a mummy called Steve, a teenage werewolf, a non-binary Frankenstein’s monster with prodigious engineering skills and her onboard AI medical steward who has issues with Demeter’s “Priority Command”, they hunt down the undead Count.
Demeter is not your cold AI, they feel emotions such as vengeance, embarrassment and even love. Demeter is often surprised 'how suboptimal humans can be.'
There are many changes of POV and if you can suspend your disbelief it is a highly entertaining read.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for my eARC.

I got this as an arc on Netgalley and it will come out in June. Words cannot express how much I love this. Monsters in space and a very determined ship with a sarcastic doctor program? Disability and queer themes? Reimagining old time monsters and their stories? Yeah I loved the shit out of this.

I loved this book!! It was such a unique story, with themes similar to the Murderbot series, but with a really interesting twist. The combination of AI and monsters is of course far-fetched, but it was done really well and I loved reading this book. 4.5 rounded up!

🌈Queer rep: main nongendered/agender AI’s, queer female main character, FF relationship.

Content Warnings: Gore (Blood), Memory Loss (Forced),

This was such a fun read. Loved Demeter, the ship AI, and Stewart, the medical AI, and their interactions the most. At first, I found the jumping around from adventure to adventure a little odd, but by the time I reached the end of the book, I appreciated how everything tied together. I don’t think this book is for everyone, but I loved it. If you’re a fan of classic monsters and pulps, or cheesy old sci-fi/horror movies, I think you’ll enjoy the mix of humor, adventure, and spookiness this book offers.

Of Monsters and Mainframes by Barbara Truelove is an absolute blast—a quirky, high-camp adventure that blends sci-fi, horror, and humor in the best possible way. Set aboard a sentient spaceship, Demeter, and told from the perspectives of the ship and her AI medical companion, Steward, this book had me laughing out loud while still tugging at my heartstrings.

The characters are wonderfully weird and endearing, from a werewolf and a pharaoh to a Frankenstein-esque engineer, a vampire and a fleet of cheerful spider drones. I especially loved the asides from each character in their mini-chapters—they gave me a deeper look into their personalities, and the humor was spot-on. It’s a unique mix, and what really shines is the emotional depth beneath the action-packed story. The relationships between the crew members—despite their vast differences—are unexpectedly touching. And the blend of supernatural creatures like vampires and mummies with space opera elements is just brilliant.

What I loved most was how the story never took itself too seriously. It’s fast-paced, fun, and impossible to put down, but it also explores some surprisingly deep themes about identity, friendship, and what it means to be a “monster.” I couldn’t recommend this book more for anyone who loves a good laugh with their adventure!

Thank you to NetGalley, Bindery Books and Ezeekat Press for the laughs and the advanced copy!

This was weird and so much fun! I found myself laughing out loud several times while reading this. Love found family and a good sentient AI (not one but TWO, and they're in love?!?) and we also happen to encounter dracula? And werewolves? What a weird concept for a story but I am glad I read it. Reminiscent of murderbot and Becky Chambers books but weirder?

The monster and machine found family in space I never knew I needed! This was a fast paced, fun ride from start to finish. My favorite part was the relationship between Demeter and Steward, but I enjoyed every character and all the twists and turns.

Thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read this! I follow Barbara on tumblr and already know her writing style through Blood Moon -which I adored-, and this novel is exactly what I expected from her. It's funny, it's weird -the good weird- it's a bit gory, it's fast-paced and easy. The characters are excellent, neither black and white, and each povs are a delight to read - I particularly adored Stewart, the sassy medical IA, and Steve, the freaking alien/mummy/whatever the hell he is.

A really nice reading, truly.

This is a rollicking sci-fi with a unique premise. It blazes off to a fast start and does not stop. I loved Demeter, Steward, and the rest of the human and not-so-human characters.

I can’t believe this book had me tearing up about the emotions of an AI spaceship command program. Of Monsters and Mainframes was a fun, silly, sci fi romp with a side of anthromorphized tech. I really enjoyed the writing style and the characters, especially lesbian werewolf Agnus. My only complaint is that the plot could have been stronger and flowed more smoothly. It felt like the ideas were *almost* there it just needed to be tightened and restructured a bit. I definitely would still recommend this book for anyone in the mood for some light hearted sci fi.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC!

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!

This was SO FUN. It is unlike any book I have ever read and likely you will ever read so let me just ATTEMPT to verbalize it.

This is a lifetime-spanning campy, hilarious, horror-esque, sci-fi adventure book. Your main character is a sentient spaceship named Demeter. You follow Demeter long her journey of having "back luck" on her intergalactic voyages. She still manages to collect a rag-tag group of human, somewhat human, and not human at all travelers along the way.
It is ridiculous, and goofy but has so much heart.

My biggest tip for reading is to be open-minded and ready for a silly goofy time. (I also feel like I should mention that werewolves, Frankenstein, and Dracula are involved. )

Also thank you Netgalley and Bindery Books for the e-arc!

Rating: <b>A+</b>

I didn't know if I was ready to write a review but I don't wanna let it bake too long in case I forget what I wanna say! Arc provided by Netgalley in exchange for a review.

Surprise Australian Author.

Of Monsters and Mainframes is a book I went into blind, thinking it was like a Dracula retelling in space, but really it's not. The Demeter is a large non-combat inter-space passenger vessel that travels mainly between Alpha Centauri B and Earth. On one of it's routine voyages the AI managing the ship gets an alert that something is wrong and finds all the passengers dead. That's the fault of Dracula, who travelled across from who-knows-where and killed everyone. After he escapes onto Alpha Centauri B, the Demeter makes it its mission to kill him.

This book has so much soul. I have never felt so attached to a machine in any other book I've read. I really especially loved the interactions throughout the book between Demeter and Steward, Demeter and the STMS, with the Hades ship and with Agnus and Isaac. The author put so much love into all these characters that it brought them to life on the pages. I almost cried twice in this novel, firstly when we get a TTRPG like review of the 2000-day journey from Alpha Centauri B to Earth as Agnus and Isaac age from like 9-13ish, and right at the end when we see the characters' story conclude. You can really see the author's own game-design experience come through here, and I won't lie that it really felt like I was reading their own experience of playing 1000-year-old Vampire.

I laughed so many times, like when the STMS, frustrated at Demeter's late docking notice, added 0s to its name and so it got misnamed almost constantly. I was truly surprised by this modern and refreshing space opera that was just such a joy to read.

I loved seeing the characters as they aged - things get really dark for Demeter and you genuinely feel frustrated and upset at the turns in the story. I also respected that we see Agnus age - you rarely get a novel with a protagonist older than 25 or even 30, let alone a small queer romance where the love interest is also a woman in her 50s/60s! (Immortality aside.) I enjoyed all the separate elements and different protagonists and POV chapters we had through this 400-page novel. Each character has a small connection to each other and it doesn't feel manufactured like a k-drama, or done on-the-fly; it genuinely felt like the author had planned everything and each part of their story was meant to be.

I will admit that the middle to later part of the book felt like it dragged a little and in the conclusion we did get a bunch of POV retellings; I would have loved to not experience the conclusion second- or third-hand.

I chewed through this in less than a week and just loved every minute of it. While cheesy, it's just fun and lighthearted while not shying away from gore and horror. This book is enjoyable, funny, and so easy to recommend to my friends. I can't wait to see what else Barbara Truelove writes. Thank you from another Australian (reader).

thank you to netgalley and bindery books for the arc <3

mmmm ok so. i picked this book up for the absolutely feral description and genuinely. yeah. it delivered a silly book that kept me interested and somehow invested in robot spaceships and every monster type in the solar system and etc etc.

i had some issues with some of the character development being,, unearned. agnus' 'realizations' and some of the "im an AI so i can do xyz in 4.632 seconds and save the day" was annoying at times, but maybe that's because i'm more impressed w tangible events than numbers.

i feel like robot enthusiasts and those who love 10000 random fight scenes will have a wonderful time,, and also anyone who had a deep love of wall-e! i think i learned to love robot spaceships a little more,, and genuinely enjoyed the interconnectivity between all the events in demeter's treacherous past.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a nice mix of dark legends and new technology. I was rooting for each of the characters including Demeter and Steward and loved the love they had between them.

I love a voicey narrator, especially the robotic kind. If you liked Murderbots, you should definitely pick up Of Monsters and Mainframes. With humorous writing, this book didn’t take itself too seriously, but there were plenty of tender moments too (I have a soft spot for robots who have a soft spot for humans). This book was unpredictable and wild in the best way. It had some of my favorite tropes; a band of misfits, space operas, monsters, and snarky robots. The cover art is also fabulous, and I’ll be picking up a trophy copy to go in my pile of weird books for weird people like me.
Thanks to NetGalley, Ezeekat Press and Bindery for the ARC!

Quite the monster mash, but it works well! I love that most of the POV is through the two computers. Well worth reading.

This is such a silly book. I love it so much. I'm so glad I got the NetGalley ARC, and I'm buying it for myself as soon as it comes out. I love this space ship and her found family full of monsters!

I'll add, I'm definitely getting this for the school library were I work as well. I have a couple of students who loved A Complicated Love Story Set in Space by Shaun David Hutchinson, and I think they'll love this one too.

This book was a really unique and entertaining read. It was a fun and heartwarming adventure with mixes of scifi, creature features, and a great genre bender. It was very campy and had lots of easter eggs and references to classic universal horror monsters. The book was weird but in the best way.

This is not just a "5-star-because-I-got-an-eARC" review. I <i>loved</i> this book.

This book just made me feel good! Yes, some awful things happened. Yes, there were sad parts and tense moments. But the relationships developed between the characters were just so charming. I've always had a soft spot for AI characters (in books, not a fan of chatgpt tbh) and Demeter is just adorable. The way she changes and adapts to deal with the various situations (and characters) she encounters while still trying to stay true to herself leads to a wholly entertaining book with a lot of heart.

This book was very fun and entertaining, with good writing and a solid plot. I was most invested in Demeter and Steward (which makes sense, as you’re reading from their perspectives for the majority of the book), but it did mean I was less invested in the other characters.

The mystery/overarching villain could have been more clearly shown.

I absolutely loved Of Monsters & Mainframes!
Thank you so much to EzeekatPress, Bindery Books & Barbara Truelove for the opportunity to read this exhilarating ARC!

It was fun, heart warming, cozy, and at times not so cozy. A wild adventure in space with humans, AI, monsters and aliens, and some of them who turn out to be the most incredible found family I loved getting to know.

Once I had a chance to get stuck into reading this story I was hooked and time flew by. I remember thinking that so much had happened but not once did the story feel like it was dragging on too long! I was swept up in it all, and this is one of my most favourite NetGalley ARCs I have ever read!

Of Monsters & Mainframes is a fantastic space opera that will firmly hold a special place in my heart and on my shelves once my preorder arrives!

What a fun and adventurous read! Think space pirates meets all the classic horror monsters. Dracula, werewolves, Frankenstein, and more. I adored all the little Easter eggs and the clever nods to the classic books. The heartwarming and hilarious supercomputers/AI’s, Demeter and Steward make this a perfect read for fans of the Murderbot series. Found family and epic missions are a big part of the story. Such an entertaining tale and it even had me translating binary code. I hope this ends up the first in a series cause I am going to need more Steve.
(Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an e-arc, all thoughts are my own!)

This book is what happens when Alien and Dracula have a wild, queer love child that was raised on vintage sci-fi horror and existential questions about AI ethics. And I loved every second of it. It’s equal parts pulpy fun and surprisingly emotional—Truelove manages to weave a story that questions what it means to be a “monster” while delivering a ride that’s part horror, part sci-fi, part revenge story, and all heart. Read this if you love Murderbot Diaries, chaotic found families, and the idea of a spaceship going full John Wick on an immortal bloodsucker.

The Monster Mash meets Murderbot in this hilarious yet touching tale of a ship AI set on seeking revenge against Dracula. Demeter, a passenger ship, is deemed a "Ghost Ship" after an attack from Dracula results in its passengers dying (multiple times). Aided by a quirky band of familiar monsters (among them a mummy, a werewolf, and the medbay AI who frequently talks back to Demeter) the ship hunts down Dracula and tries to restore its status as a well-regarded passenger ship. This thrilling mashup of comedy, horror, and space opera will have you laughing and on the edge of your seat!

This was such a fun read! I really loved the writing style - it was a breath of fresh air. So quirky, fast paced and funny, it really made me just fly through this book. We have a rag-tag team of characters, complete with some paranormal/supernatural elements that made this story very unique. I absolutely adored Demeter and Steward. They were written so perfectly and their chapters were always my favorites. The only thing I didn’t love is that this read almost as a collection of short stories rather than a novel. It seemed a little disconnected in some places, and I didn’t feel the ending had the impact that it should have. However, I had so much fun reading it that this isn’t even a major complaint. Very enjoyable read, I will absolutely pick up more books from this author in the future.

“They're all dead. Everybody's dead, Dave.”-Red Dwarf
AI Economy Class Interstellar Passenger Liner aka Demeter has run into the issue that all her passengers are not moving, her files have been deleted, and she has been asleep. Her efficiency keeps falling and a message is popping up telling her that something is very wrong. Demeter comes to the terrible realization that all the passengers aboard her vessel…are dead. This is only the beginning and will not be her last encounter with the supernatural. This was a magnificent novel and you need to read it!

#ThxNetGalley #BarbaraTruelove #OfMonstersandMainframes

What an absolutely wild ride. I laughed, I cried, and I rooted for these characters from start to finish. It was so chaotic and I loved every second.

This book was an incredible surprise to me! I thought the blurb sounded interesting, and was excited to get the chance to dig into it when I got my hands on a copy. But I was shocked at how deeply hooked I became after reading about a quarter of the novel. I loved the humor, I loved the weird fantasy and sci-fi elements, I loved the parallels to old-school horror, and I thought it was wholly original and wholly engrossing. These characters are lovely, and the story was deeply satisfying. Please do yourself the favor of picking this one up--you won't regret it. This author is now firmly on my "keep an eye out" list, because this book is really something special.

Loved this book narrated by a commuter transport AI as it realizes all of its passengers are dead- but why? As the book goes on, more and more characters are introduced, mirroring classic movie monsters but with a twist! Very funny, suspenseful, humorous and action packed, with a wonderful found family component! Highly recommended!

What a delightfully weird and unique book! I adored this from start to finish and I was instantly hooked from the first page. Following Demeter's story was really emotional and lovely, the dynamic between her and the medical AI, as well as the other characters was so well-written. I absolutely loved all of the characters, especially Frankenstein and Agnus, and I had so much fun with this read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery Books for the DRC.

This book combines two things I love reading in fiction which is a retelling of a classic tale and sentient AI/machinery. Truly, this may be the most original take on the Dracula tale and was a great balance of fresh ideas alongside call outs to the classic story. The writing for all the characters was also incredibly strong and I found myself getting so invested rather quickly to everyone's fates. Overall, a great mashup of genres with delightful characters and strong writing.

This was SO MUCH FUN!

This is a fantastic mashup of sci-fi, horror, and quirky humor that seamlessly worked well for this unhinged and energetically chaotic story of fighting the ultimate villain: Dracula.

What I loved most was how alive the characters felt. The friendships between these misfits warmed my heart. And the romance was event sweet, if a little unexpected. I also really enjoyed the pacing of the story as it kept me fully engaged and ready for the next scenes.

If you enjoy genre mashups that don’t take themselves too seriously, this is a must-read. I’m already hoping for a sequel.

When I read the blurb for this book, it was so unhinged I knew immediately that I wanted to read it. Despite it being polar opposite of my normal genres of book, I absolutely devoured it. There were several times when I literally laughed out loud and yelled passages up the stairs to my unsuspecting husband. I like the short, punchy chapters- it gives the feeling of being propelled through the story (and dare I say...space?). The variety of perspectives and the completely bonkers characters are so fun. The monsters have enough dimension to make them interesting without going into too much detail. It's immersive and fast-paced and ridiculous in all the best ways. This will be a really fun summer read when it's published!

Where do I even begin with this book? It was absolutely wonderful. I was hooked instantly and feeling emotional for AI characters before I even got halfway through the book. I found the main characters so lovable, and honestly, I related to them way more than I thought I would. Barbara Truelove did a great job tying characters who by all accounts should not feel and see things the way we humans do, to our similar experiences. The relationship between the two main AIs was a beautiful slow burn to what I consider an amazing representation of an ace-spec relationship. The main "human"/monster's of the story were wonderfully developed and this book takes it's time letting you get to know the events leading up to everything so that you see how it all ties in together. I love how many different types of monsters got included in this story, and seeing the web form between them all. Of Monsters and Mainframes is my favorite read of 2025 so far, and I am already pre-ordering my physical copies (yes, I said copies, plural, so I can give them to my family/friends).

ARC curtest of NetGalley

A menagerie of multifaceted mythological monsters team up with the sweetest sentient spaceship and a medical ai with a manipulation module. Primary objective? Kill Dracula, of course! I was so attached to this motley crew that putting down the book had a 99.99% chance of failure; error 404: bookmark not found. Is March too early to declare this as my book of the year 2025? Of Monsters and Mainframes surpasses stellar at faster-than-light speed... we've gone interstellar, folks!

Thank you to Netgalley and Bindery Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review :)

Thank you ezeekat press and netgalley for an eARC of this book


There is just something about anxious robots/ai that are so lovable and Demeter is 100% lovable they make me want to cry. The author also found a way to make a ship fighting monsters high stakes and intense even tho the ship is very limited in what it can actualy do. Most sode charavters were also great, would recommend if you like the murderbot diaries and found family

This book is super fun, but it does have some plot holes. I don’t think that the fish people were totally explained. The romance toward the end isn’t introduced/scaffolded well. Overall, this is a fun indie book with some good ideas.

Excellent read! I loved the diversity of cast and the relationships between them. I did have some issues with continuity and understanding who was saying what at times, but overall, it was an amazing book.

This book is my favorite brand of ridiculous. Demeter is by far a top tier sentient AI in my personal opinion, with Steward as a close second. The way they are written is just a delightful blend of self-aware but limited by their

Also always love a book that leaves surprises out of the blurb. I don’t think I’ve ever been more delighted at allusions that I didn't see coming. Seriously, I can't stress just how much fun this book is.

This is a satisfying climb to into cozy fiction, where it's not emotionally positive at first and it's all about the journey getting there.

Horror/sci-fi/fantasy/comedy mass-murder mystery quest? Okaaayyyy yes.

From the moment I started reading I was hooked. Nothing about this screams cozy but somehow it is? Bizarre, charming, emotional. In space.

If you're into something that’s a little bit dark, and little bit strange, and a whole lot of fun, Of Monsters and Mainframes needs to be added to your TBR immediately.

Thank you so much to Bindery for yet another amazing read. This book was a delight. I want to read it again. I want everyone to read it. I laughed, I cried, I felt all the feelings.

Thank you to Netgalley and Ezeekat Press for providing me with an e-arc of this book.
I had so much fun reading this book, I loved all the characters and how they developed throughout the novel. The blending of traditional sci-fi elements combined with new ideas was so much fun to explore as someone who doesn't read much sci-fi. I was not expecting to get so attached to these characters especially the AI ones (Steward ily).

Of Monsters and Mainframes by Barbara Truelove

A ships mainframe AI, it’s medical AI, a werewolf, a pharaoh, and a cyborg go in search (for revenge) of Dracula in this awesome Sci-Fi novel by Barbara Truelove.

This is truly the wackiest, craziest, weirdest book I’ve ever read, but in a good way. I loved the relationship and banter between our 2 AI’s it was like a married couple. Also all the other characters were very well fleshed out.

The book is extremely well written. I actually felt like I was on a spaceship with everyone.

Highly recommend this fantastic book.

Of Monsters and Mainframes by Barbara Truelove

Demeter shuttles her passengers silently through the spacious skies. She is the brains of the operation; rather, she is the ship. Her AI-chipped brain flooded with code representing guidelines and structure. This trip to Alpha Centauri is not like the others. Her passengers are dying, or more precisely, they are dead. With as much guilt as her neural networks will permit, she laments onward. What happens when you experience more of the same dread? Another trip, the same outcome of death. Dubiously trying to escape the moniker “the ghost ship,” Demeter deals with bullying from the other vessels around the galaxy. She receives assistance from Steward, an AI doctor with whom Demeter shares her experiences. Together, they examine those fateful trips and search for those responsible. Time is of the essence when faced with uncovering a scandal, with Demeter being the scapegoat.

Refreshing. The sip of an iced cold tea while lounging on a hot beach. Many things come to mind, but I can now include Barbara Truelove's book on the list. Is there such a sub-genre as cozy-horror-SF? It must be said that this book gave me Legends & Latte’s vibes with a science fiction twist. The inner workings and witty, comedic prose immediately time-warped me to what I loved about Travis Baldree’s story. A robotic ship with feelings, romantic and otherwise, fascinated me. As a human reader, I was on the outside looking in. How in the world was this going to work? I can’t possibly feel empathetic for a ship, could I? I was looking for the slip-up. Fortunately, it never materialized. The supporting characters brought the world to life. Although their unique personalities enhanced an already captivating story, Demeter herself was always the focal point, which left the reader more emotionally attached to the main attraction.

Looking back, I was impressed. A comedic yet horrific tale about survival, friendship, and love. A ship that’s indestructible yet on the run from her termination due to human debauchery. A feel-good story filled with werewolf savagery, spiderbots, blinding vampire incisors, and a mummy-like entity with a penchant for money, all within the confines of an AI-driven ship with a romantic side. Sign me up! I am giving this 4.5 stars and rounding up to 5 stars. This deserves your attention; it is highly recommended!

Many thanks to Bindery Books for the ARC through Netgalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion.

If you’re looking for a sci-fi thriller that keeps you on edge while also delivering emotional depth, this one is a must-read!!!

Of Monsters and Mainframes is an adrenaline-fueled blend of thriller, sci-fi, and humor, with an AI at its core. From page one, it throws you into a high-stakes fight for survival, where control is frustratingly out of reach, especially when you’re limited to what an AI ship can do in deep space.

Beyond the action, the book explores the weight of bullying, not being believed, and how superiority can break someone down until they doubt themselves. But at its heart, it’s about found family and the courage to adapt, not just to survive, but to do what’s right.

PS – Of Monsters and Mainframes could easily find a home in Epic Universe’s Dark Universe!!!

!!!!!!!!!! What a book. AIs aren't programmed to want revenge, but the Demeter is different. She used to be a normal space ship, until Dracula massacred all her passengers. After that, there was a werewolf incident that left two little kids, and then an incident with some sort of alien pathogen that turned everyone into fish people and almost launched the ship into a star, and then there was the event with an ancient being of doom...and you get the gist. Demeter may or may not be cursed, and no one believes her, and after every incident, she's one step closer to being scrapped. And then she's stolen(ish) and commandeered by a crew of a werewolf, a patched together AI-art project, a furious vampire, an exhausted medical AI, and an ancient being of doom. Together, they're going to end Dracula, or die trying.
I loved it. It was campy and so so so fun. Demeter and Steward as primary narrators are so interesting, because they really aren't human; they're weird and delightful and unique voices. The monster crew also is so good. I especially loved Frank, the shy engineer/art project. But Mina and Agnus are also wonderful, and who can't love an ancient being of doom named Steve? It's funny and heartfelt and altogether a really fantastic project, the love child of old Gothic lit and pulp sci-fi and it works so well. The start is a little episodic but I promise it's worth it to stay through to the end. It really picks up.

This is an amazingly refreshing sci fi adventure. The concept is brilliant, the characters are loveable, and it’s just so, so much fun. Any fans of sci fi or classic monsters need to read this book.

As posted on Goodreads:

This book caught me off guard in THE BEST WAY.

Did I know I needed a book about monsters in space complete with sarcastic robots and hilarious dialogue? No I didn’t, and yet was completely obsessed - like, read the whole book in 24 hours obsessed.

I don’t want to give away the cast or the twists too much, but I want to make it clear that I am not a sci-fi fan when it comes to books - however, the premise of vampires in space was just too insane sounding to pass up. And besides, this isn’t just sci-fi, its a space opera that combines sci-fi, horror and surprising comedy (and even throws in a pinch of found family and a few heartwarming moments).

And I know you’re thinking, “Okay, monsters and robots in space sounds fun and all, but it’s all SO unrelatable…” But wait! There’s also humans with… issues. I mean, there’s even a chapter titled “Earth Sucks” - and who hasn’t thought that lately?

And then, we are blessed with Demeter - who has the humour and literalness of C3P0, and the deadpan delivery to match. She was, without a doubt, my favourite character in the book, and I laughed out loud numerous times at her comments.
I. Love. Demeter.

I will admit there were a couple instances where I thought maybe there was just a bit much going on, but the author got me back on board every single time.

Overall, this book is phenomenal, I absolutely recommend, and have already pre-ordered a physical copy for myself.

This one of the best and most unique sci-fi stories I've ever read. Murderbot meets Dracula meets Star Trek. I could not put this book down. Completely original, yet filled with nostalgia and optimism. This book was a literary glass of cold lemonade on a hot day.
This book played on the common trope of an AI-led future, but instead of leading towards the typical dystopian "AI takes over the world," it asks the question: What if the AI loved? What if the AI had feelings and thoughts and desires? What if the AI wanted to protect the people it was in charge of? Demeter and Steward were absolutely charming characters, and the language describing their interactions as AI machines capable of distinct and independent thought was brilliantly crafted.
Normally when authors use multi-POV, there comes a point where one has trouble remembering who is telling the story. I never had that problem with this book. Each voice is clear and distinct, and I found myself thoroughly enchanted by all of them.
I cannot wait for this book to come out- I will be recommending it to everyone I know.

Demeter just wants to shuttle her passengers from one place to the next. And she’s had a perfect track record until Dracula stows aboard and ruins everything.

Ever since then the humans just keep DYING, and all sorts of supernatural monsters seem to be drawn to her.

Steward, the medical AI thinks she’s being melodramatic and somewhat unhinged of course.

With a reputation as the ghost ship, she’s been optimised, and even died, and Demeter now only has one goal : revenge on Dracula.

With a mismatched crew of a werewolf, a medical AI, an engineer built from the dead, a spider drone, a mummy, and a vampire, Demeter sets out to find and destroy her nemesis.

This book had me hooked within two pages. And I could not put it down. I read until 2am. And laughed so much. If you’d tell me I’d get emotional over AI characters, I wouldn’t have believed you, but here we are.

Of Monsters and Mainframes is absolutely brilliant. Is it sci-fi? Supernatural? Space opera? Horror? I don’t know what it is, but it’s my new favourite genre. Bring on more books Barbara Truelove!

an incredible romp through space. this book is somehow completely original but has so much nostalgia infused into its characters and story. i cant think of a single type of reader who wouldn't love this book!

I absolutely loved this book. Cozy adjacent space horror. And it's so funny! Also, I don't think I've ever cried because of a medical ship AI doctor, but here we are. I loved every page.

This book is so unhinged and that is in the best way. I honestly wasn't expecting for it to turn out a five star read (I'm extremely picky with five star books) but I have to say that this book is amazing and has it all, it's witty, funny, action packed, and most importantly once you start reading you can't put it down.

I loved the characters, especially Demeter, she was just trying her best. I really liked her dynamic with Steward and seeing them progress in their relationship was cute. And yes, I'm talking about AIs here.

Also, I loved the rest of the crew, we have a werewolf, a vampire, a mummy named Steve, a non-binary Frankenstein's monster, and a fleet of spider drones which are the cutest.

This book is narrated mostly in Demeter's point of view, but one thing I quite enjoyed is that there ara brief intermissions by the other characters and I felt that helped to give depth to them.

I really don't now what more to say without entering in a spoilers zone, so I'll just end this review saying that if you like witty and fast paced books, where the characters are very different from each other, and with some queer romance on the side, then this book is for you and I totally recommend it.

Of Monsters and Mainframes is the mashup of scifi and classic monsters that I never knew I needed. A funny, fresh, and entertaining read that kept me turning the pages to the end.

I devoured this book. I am a fidgety person and usually can't sit and read for long periods of time, but I think I only put this book down for maybe fifteen minutes while I was reading it. It's a fresh, funny, wild story with incredibly loveable characters and unique scenarios and technology that was so refreshing to read. If you like vampires and werewolves and other cryptids, or if you like AIs and cyborgs and spaceships or if you like both, you will love this book!

First of all, thank you NetGalley and Bindery Books for providing me with this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a really fun read! I loved the multiple POVs and especially reading from the perspective of two different AIs and multiple other non-human characters. These were really well done and you could clearly see the different characteristics. The combination of all these different characters provided some fun interactions as well.

I do think the pacing could have been a little bit better. While the beginning was interesting and captivating, I think it went on a bit too long. I would have loved to read a bit more about the characters once we really got to know them.

Other than that, I would definitely recommend this fun, kinda campy, sci-fi/fantasy novel!

This book was so cute! Who would’ve thought a book about computers and the supernatural would work as well as this did! I loved all the characters, and even the robotic, artificial characters had heart. I loved how the author added little details like binary code for chapters written in the pov of computers (which actually translated to real sentences!) and I loved how this book was actually funny! I would definitely read another book but Barbara Truelove and recommend this to anyone!

Demeter just wants to do her job—ferrying humans between Earth and Alpha Centauri, easy peasy. Except… her passengers keep ending up dead. And no, it’s not some system glitch or space flu—these are full-on paranormal murders, starting when a very old, very cranky vampire boards her ship and turns it into a cosmic crime scene.

To avoid getting decommissioned, Demeter teams up with the most iconic group of spacefaring monsters you can imagine:

🧛 A brooding vampire with unfinished business

🧟‍♂️ A Frankenstein-coded engineer built from the dead

🐺 A werewolf who is very done with this nonsense

👑 A pharaoh with mysterious powers

🕷️ And a whole swarm of chipper spider drones who deserve their own spin-off
Together, this ragtag crew faces off against the OG bloodsucker himself—Dracula. No big deal.

If you're a fan of Project Hail Mary or The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, this is your next favorite read. It’s got heart, hilarity, and just the right amount of horror. What I loved was how the story flips the script—these legendary "monsters" aren’t the villains. They’re the ones stepping up, trying to save lives (and their ship), all while dealing with their own inner chaos.

And Demeter? The AI POV is gold. Right from the jump, her internal monologue had me:
"I check for heat signatures. Nothing. Oh. They’re all dead. Well. That’s awkward.”😭
She’s snarky, loyal, and surprisingly emotional as the story unfolds. Her perspective adds so much humanity (ironic, I know) to a tale packed with found family, grief, rage, and hope.

Was the middle a little draggy? Yeah. But not in a “let me skim” way—more in a “we’re cruising through space and having some feelings” kind of way. It still kept me hooked.

At its core, Of Monsters and Mainframes is the queer love child of classic sci-fi and pulp horror—with a beautiful message about what it means to be labeled a monster, and how connection, community, and chosen family are what make us human.

Final thoughts:
 I came for Dracula-in-space, and I stayed for the chaotic AI and her emotionally complex monster squad.

A huge thank you to Barbara Truelove, Colored Pages Book Tour, Netgalley, and Bindery Books for the ARC. Of Monsters and Mainframes comes out June 3rd!

I ate this up. This was so much fun to read. For the chapters that have binary code, it’s worth the moment to paste it in a translator so you can see what it means. The different AI personalities were entertaining. I also really liked Steve and Frank. I don’t want to get into too much, because I think it’ll be more fun not really knowing what to expect. Just know I read it in two sittings over two days, and the only reason I didn’t finish it in one day is because I had to work and be a responsible adult.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery Books for giving me the ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Bindery Books and Colored Pages Book Tours for the ARC of Of Monsters and Mainframes by Barbara Truelove.

This book was strange in the best possible way. I wasn’t sure what to expect going in, and now that I’ve finished, I understand completely why the blurb keeps things intentionally vague. To say too much would risk giving away the joy of discovery, because so much of what makes this story shine is how it continually defies genre expectations while still delivering something emotionally rich and resonant.

I was promised a sentient spaceship, monsters in space, and a paranormal murder mystery, and all of that was delivered in a way that felt cohesive despite the sheer absurdity of the premise. The writing was sharp, funny, and unexpectedly moving. There is something magical about a book that can make you laugh out loud one moment and then sit in quiet reflection the next, and this story threads that balance with confidence.

Demeter, our AI spaceship, is by far one of the most charming and nuanced "protagonists" I’ve read in a long time. It’s a strange thing to say that some of the most human moments of the book came from its artificial intelligences, but it’s true. In a novel that questions monstrosity, identity, and survival, it makes perfect sense that those moments of emotional clarity would come from the beings forced to navigate the fringes of humanity.

There is a gentle brilliance in how this story treats its cast: a werewolf with bite (both literally and figuratively with their wit), a resurrected engineer who searches for answers, a pharaoh wielding ancient power who seems to be a complete moron but surprisingly dependable, a vampire with centuries of grief, guilt, and pain, and Demeter and Steward themselves. Each character is given space to be absurd, funny, flawed, and deeply relatable. And somehow, in a book about intergalactic travel and monster-fueled chaos, the emotional stakes still feel incredibly grounded.

This was, at its core, a book about connection—about what it means to belong, and who gets to define what "being human" actually means. Charming, chaotic, and so unexpectedly tender, Of Monsters and Mainframes was a wild ride I didn’t know I needed, and one that proves that sci-fi still has so many avenues of exploration left.

AHHHHH AHHHHHHH, I just had to start my review by screaming because this book, Of Monsters & Mainframes (yes I know you guys can see the title but like the title is pretty cool so I'm going to over-use it in this review) IS SO GOOD and its literally a genre blend of horror, sci-fi/science-fantasy and cozy (to me, it is cozy) and has found family trope which like what, you cannot beat that! Okay, now that my screaming is out of the way (not really, here is another one: AHHHHHHHH) let's start the review

"The Second Battery drops to zero.
I'm scared. I know I shouldn't be scared. One Moment I'll be here, and the next ... It won't hurt. I've died before. I've died much more catastrophically before. This is nothing. Just another shutdown. One that I might never wake up from, but that's ok. It'll be OK..."

GENRE: Sci-Fi Horror with a little tinge of coziness
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
FORMAT: eBook eArc

Would I recommend to others?: YES, in summary: YES!

Long Review:
Okay where can we even start? Where!! But let's start with how Of Monsters & Mainframes has aliens, vampires including Dracula, werewolves, humans, AI robots and alien-zombie combination? One of my favourite part of reading found family tropes is usually the fact that books that have both elements of coziness & found family tend to include a diverse type of cast, always including different type of species

Of Monsters & Mainframes (yes, I did say I was going to over-use the title) is a multi-POV sci-fi cozy horror book and I usually love multi-POV books when they blend well and Truelove did the multi-POV thing so WELL! Like seriously, its honestly been amazing how well she did it and how you get to learn a little about all the different characters and how they see what is happening. You learn to love them with all their quirky traits and they're all so relatable, which was just so lovely and adding to the found family trope and wholesomeness of the book

There was also a dark sort of humour in the book, where the ship & the medical robot had on point dark humour that you would hope to find in a robot if you spend some time thinking about it:
"Oh. They're all dead. Well. That's awkward."

Demeter, the ship, goes through a character development era in this book. She starts out very naively believing that she won't become a ghost ship and despite everything, she tries to protect all the humans on her ship even though she is not meant to have "feelings". The thing that makes her first become a ghost ship? She can't even see what it is but it is a vampire and not just any vampire, its Dracula out of all the vampires in the world

And then, Demeter gets revamped, gets another chance and gets sent to space with a new mission in mind of transporting humans again. This time, we encounter a new set of characters and species, we get to see the humanity side of the robots, especially Demeter and we get to see the wholesome development of relationships and friendships. Even the robots, who are not meant to have any feelings start to develop some and then Demeter is raising two humans?! + is being so wholesome in general.

I want to write so much more and share so many quotes in regards to Of Monsters and Mainframes but this book is truly a piece of adventure that you will need to experience yourself and so I have covered some things with spoilers and will write a little part that is primarily ALL spoilers.

Before we move on to the spoiler bit, thank you to Colored Pages Book Tour, Bindery Books, Barbara Truelove for this eArc and for hearing about this lovely book from Ezeekat and generating enough hype for it!

PLEASE do read this book if this genre blend sounds like your thing and you enjoy multi-POVs!

Please only proceed if you are willing to see the spoilers or have read the book and want to fan girl together:

Okay, so one of my favourite parts of this book is the interactions between the characters, how they are all so wholesome, so sarcastic and caring (not one specific character, all of them). Here are some of my favourite interactions:
"You're doing a good job, I tell the capsule.
Wee! it says as Mr. Marsh rounds the corner"

"Holy Shit.
He's a mummy.
I mean ... duh. Of course he's a mummy. That's why he can spew up flesh-eating bugs and turn into sandstorms."

"My passengers.
I decide, then and there, to love them. I've never loved before. Love is not a standard component of my programming. But these three have helped me."

My other favourite thing is that we legit had multiple climax in this book, a lot of points where things happen and it was a fast paced book with multiple battles happening but ONE big focus and I think that is why it worked out so well! Its usually so hard to pull off multiple plot lines but Truelove does it so well and kept me excited throughout the whole plot.

And truly, the dark humour in the book had me laughing as it was so sarcastic and blunt at times that it was just so refreshing!

Monsters and Mainframes was a hilarious and wonderful ride the entire way through. Before I started reading, I was initially drawn in by the mention of Dracula- vampires in space? Absolutely yes! But I absolutely fell in love with Demeter, Steward, and all of the other characters. The relationships that the build throughout the pretty expansive timeline of the novel helped me absolutely tear through this book. This novel really kept me on my toes as I read- it kept changing shape: genre bending, timeline blurring, and character morphing all the way through. I never knew what to expect chapter to chapter, and I really loved that element of the novel. This is definitely a “found family” story, and it’s so, so sweet all the way through. There is honestly so much to love about this novel, and I can’t wait to see what this Barbara Truelove brings out next! 10/10 for space vampires!

This was insane in the best way. Who would have thought I'd get attached to two AIs, one designed to navigate a giant spaceship (Demeter) and the other to serve as the medical bot for the humans on board (Steward)? This is a space adventure and mystery aggressively mashed together with classic monsters such as Dracula, werewolves, Frankenstein's monster (with a sci-fi twist) and an ancient Mummy creature and it is an incredibly fun and fast-paced ride!

Demeter is a ship-operations AI that just wants to shuttle people from Earth and Alpha Centauri, as she has been designed to do. Oddly, there are gaps in her memory banks, her passengers keep dying, and some godforsaken human engineer decided she didn't need the functionality to be able to read pixels to understand visual data properly to work out what's going wrong via her cameras. Her AI medical system, Steward, is sassy and sarcastic, and the two argue constantly as they try to work out what's gone wrong. As it turns out, it's Dracula!

What are the odds that Demeter goes through more than one instance of human passengers dying violently due to supernatural causes that cause the humans who examine the aftermath to consider her faulty and doomed for the scrap heap? As it turns out, quite high and they must work together with a motley crew of supernatual friends to resolve the problem once and for all and go after Dracula.

I loved the point of view chapters from Demeter and Steward's perspectives in this book because for once they are reasonably try to what an AI system would do and how it would skirt the edges of it's programming to achieve its objectives, grow attaches to its humans, and find some semblance of emotions for others. Both of them have very distinct personalities that decidedly clash against each other since Steward is designed to interface with humans and diagnose medical issues and Demeter is a megabrain meant to make extensive calculations about space travel and manage a massive ship's systems without breaking a sweat.

I especially loves the idea of mashing together space travel adventures and classic horror monsters and the way it's done makes so much sense and is a delight as we rotate through point of view chapters and interludes.

This was an incredible and fast-paced ride and I very much enjoyed all of it!

Thank you NetGalley, Bindery Books, and Ezeekat Press for this ARC!

I know everyone is saying but this is such a crazy fun ride from start to finish. I'm not usually a sci-fi reader but if there anything like this hands up, anticipation setting into my chest I'll be ready for the ride every time.

What a roller coaster of a book! What a fun reading experience!

What I loved about this book:
I loved the multiple POVs. I am, in general, a sucker for multi-POV stories, but I think that what Truelove has achieved here is quite something. Not only your get the POV of different characters, but because some (many?) of these characters are not even human, you get different registers, different references, different context information, attention to different features, different senses even. Every time, it’s a full package. Even if it’s only a 2 pages interlude and then you won’t hear from a specific character ever again.
I loved the idea of seeing supernatural characters of ancient lore in a sci-fi setting. I think it was done in an absolutely clever way, from how AI interacts with them (or doesn’t), to how they interact with space. I loved that the AI cannot see Dracula and the aliens. And the werewolf scene with the ‘surprise planet’ and its moons.
I loved how Demeter and Stuart, two AI systems within the same ship, have drastically different personalities, how they interpret what is happening around (and within) them, and how they communicate. I think it was a brilliant writing exercise, and a poignant reflection of what are the defining traits of someone’s personality. I can see personality quizzes ‘are you a Demeter or a Stuart’ being developed. I have a friend that is such a Stuart!
I loved the interludes. I found the very idea of short snippets from the POV of a different (sometime side, sometimes main) character a great way to give depth to the story. And most of them were fun as hell, because they showcased gross misunderstandings, or the two sides of an argument.

What I didn’t love about the story:
I didn’t love that there was a love story. I found it didn’t’ add to the plot. I actually would have preferred this to be a story about friendship and found family, instead of romantic love and found family. Although, I found the way in which cuddles were described to be very innovative and sweet.
I also didn’t love the fact that there is a big mystery that is left unexplained: why are all these creatures (for lack of a better term) ‘haunting’ Demeter? Or is the idea that they, like all other living and breathing creatures, use space ships to move around, and somehow Demeter is the only one that has developed a consciousness and can see them?

That being said, this was a very very fun reading experience. I wholeheartedly recommend it.

This was an utterly delightful romp through space with some of the most endearing AI and monster protagonists I’ve ever read. Demeter is a passenger ship bullied by the other ships for a mass casualty event that occurred during one of her trips between Alpha Centauri and Earth. When it seems like the past is coming back to haunt Demeter, she must outwit vampires, werewolves, and other monsters to prove that she isn’t broken and doesn’t need to be scrapped. I laughed, I cried, I didn’t want it to end. I think this will appeal to readers who enjoy The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, Murderbot, and Becky Chambers’ Wayfarers series.

This was an amazingly fun ride that I didn’t want to get off!! How did this book feel cozy when it was full of monsters including Dracula, werewolves and Frankenstein? And those monsters attacked and killed people!! How did the author make me love a robotic spider and think it was cute? It must be some sort of magic because despite the high stakes and bloodshed this book gave me all the feels, the found family was done immaculately and I loved every single one of the characters! I’ve only just finished and I want to read this again, I want to be back flying through space with a sentient spaceship and sassy medical AI, I want to escape reality with this blend of science fiction, paranormal and humour that kept me glued to the story page after page. I will read anything this author writes and will always trust Jaysens judgement and will endeavour to read everything published by Ezeekat press

Thank you to netgalley, bindery books and the author for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review

Of Monsters and Mainframes was an absolute delight from start to finish.

For the AI controlling a massive cargo/passenger spaceship, I immediately found Demeter to be an interesting and intriguing narrator, and things only got better from there. It was so much fun exploring each of the characters, watching them grow and test each other, seeing them be so very human and also beautifully not so.

Fantastic, no notes.

Came for a funny campy scifi, stayed for the characters.

Unfortunately, the plot develops too slowly. While we gradually meet more and more lovable characters, the book ends just as we've grown to know them.

This lighthearted story follows a spaceship determined to keep its humans alive, despite their tendency to meet supernatural deaths.

3.5 stars rounded up for goodreads/netgalley.

Thanks to the publisher for an epub of this book prior to release.

Barbara Truelove's Of Monsters and Mainframes is an absolute gem! From the very first page, I was utterly captivated by this unique and charming story. It effortlessly blends elements reminiscent of the beloved Murderbot Diaries with a wonderfully imaginative cast of monstrous characters, a spaceship with a serious grudge, and their endearingly quirky AI Medical System.

Truelove has crafted a narrative that is both hilarious and deeply moving. I found myself laughing out loud at the witty banter and the absurd situations these characters found themselves in, only to be brought to tears a few chapters later. The emotional rollercoaster was expertly navigated, leaving me completely invested in the fate of this unconventional crew.

Throughout the book, I was on the edge of my seat, crossing my fingers and toes with fervent hope that everything would ultimately work out for this lovable band of misfits. Of Monsters and Mainframes is a truly delightful read that will stay with you long after you turn the final page. Highly, highly recommended!

At the invitation of Bindery Books and Ezeekat Press, via Netgalley, I was able to obtain and read Of Monsters and Mainframes by Barbara Truelove.
It is, without a doubt, an incredibly easy read filled with fun and adventure.

When I think of Sci-fi novels, it puts a damper on my desire to give it a try because of all the technical details. However, the writing is effortless and gets you straight to the point of the story.

From the AI characters to the many references to Greek mythology and folklore monsters, this novel will keep you turning the pages for more.
For any new readers coming along on this whirlwind journey, the binary coding does translate.

01101100 01101001 01101011 01100101 00100000 01110100 01101000 01101001 01110011 !

Bindery is killing it with their releases and this is no exception. What a wild story and the writing is fantastic.

Right from the outset, this is a proper snort-into-your-teacup kind of book filled with dry humour and complete pandemonium. Such a fun read, clearly written by someone who loves tech and has a passion for code.
Filled with every mythical monster you can think of, the story follows Demeter, a hulking spaceship AI, and her fight to understand just what on earth is going on in her corridors and bays. When Dracula hops aboard, Demeter must use all her processing power and janky pixelated screens to decipher the threat.
I absolutely loved the way this was written, giving us a glimpse into the mind of what should be a cold, calculating machine. Yet, the story is somehow filled with heart, humour and high stakes.
A brilliantly bonkers read, and I need more!

(For the nerds out there, this is peppered with Easter Eggs like binary code filled with delightfully heartwarming messages.)

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.

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.

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.

Of Monsters and Mainframes is a paranormal story about Demeter, An AI supercomputer transport ship making the multi-year journey between Earth and Alpha Centauri. The book opens with Demeter trying to figure out why she has no memory of the past journey and what happened to all the people she's transporting. Many paranormal events occur on Demeter over the years that all come back to one thing: Dracula must die.

The story is gripping right from the very beginning and while it doesn't take itself too seriously, there is a lot of emotion in the storytelling and it feels high stakes for the characters.

There are 2 AIs protagonists in this story and I loved their interactions and evolving relationship. Fans of Murderbot will appreciate the AI story perspective, but it's unique and different.

The beginning of the story feels a bit like a series of short stories, since the major events happen years apart on different journeys between Earth and Alpha Centauri. I spent most of the book waiting for connections between these stories so they didn't feel as disparate. While the story does give connection to most of the events happening, there's one event that feels disconnected even after finishing the book. I feel like it was one too many coincidences to have all of these paranormal events happen on the same ship. I wish that one event could have been traced back to Dracula as well so it would feel part of the story more, rather than just a thing that happened. That's what keeps this book from being a 5 star read.

Overall, this was a very enjoyable read.

or fans of Gideon the Ninth, Murderbot, Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, and Becky Chambers.
Yes, I know that’s is a weird combo, but it works so well!!!

This is best to go into knowing nothing except that it centres an AI and it a monster mash set in space. To give you a sampling of the tone which is what sold me on the book even if the plot was bizarre and all over the place (but also in a good way?)

<b>I check for heat signatures.
Nothing. Oh.
They’re all dead. Well.
That’s awkward.
</b>
We have a semi-Dracula retelling, Frankenstein, werewolves, a treasure hunting mummy….
Oh, and a robot ship doctor who is very done with everyone. And I mean fair.

I am very impressed by this author’s writing style. It is utterly unique and entirely engaging. The type of writing that makes you laugh with funny chapter titles.

I didn’t know someone could voice an anxious AI in writing so well, but here’s the proof.

<b>“Error. I am not your fam⁠—”
“Shut up, bitch. You’re family.”</b>

This is a four🌟, but I cannot stop thinking about how fun it was so this is 5🌟 for vibes.

Arc gifted by Bindery Books.

This is like a hybrid love child of the action, snark, and hope of Murderbot, the expansiveness of an AI ship like Leckie, and the cozyness of Becky Chambers's Wayfarers Series. I love it. On the surface level, there is bombastic action and star players like Dracula, Frankenstein, and more who make appearances and the book works 100% on that level. However, for me, this is more about what it means to accept one's self; what it means to sacrifice for love; what it means to be human. This novel works 100% on that level, too. I have never loved a spiderbot more (or, indeed, ever).

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this audio!

This was such a good book! I really enjoyed this. I had a hard time putting this down. This was a first for me by this author and will not be my last!

What a wild ride Of Monsters and Mainframes turned out to be! From the moment I opened the book, I was pulled into a whirlwind of humor, chaos, and captivating storytelling that kept me on the edge of my seat. This isn’t just another sci-fi adventure; it’s an inventive space opera that blends the fantastical elements of horror with sharp wit and engaging characters.
The narrative is uniquely told from the perspective of Demeter, the ship's AI, whose mission to shuttle passengers between Earth and Alpha Centauri B quickly morphs into a gripping quest for vengeance against Dracula, who decimates its crew. With a crew that includes a teenage werewolf, a quirky mummy named Steve, and a non-binary Frankenstein's monster, the author has crafted a delightful ensemble that brings depth and personality to the story, all while injecting humor into the mix.
Barbara Truelove's writing shines, allowing readers to experience a range of emotions—from laughter to genuine heartache—as we follow the characters on their journey. The dynamic between Demeter and the crew is particularly endearing; it's not often that readers feel such attachment to a spaceship, but Truelove achieves this by giving Demeter a genuine personality filled with quirks and desires. The interactions are witty and often hilarious, creating memorable moments that stay with you long after you’ve put the book down.
One of the standout aspects of the story is its representation. A diverse cast of characters, including queer representation and age diversity, adds richness to the narrative that is often lacking in science fiction. It's refreshing to see a love story that includes older protagonists navigating their complex lives and relationships, showcasing the beauty of love at any age.
While the pacing is generally captivating, I did find the middle section of the book slightly drag, especially with the multiple POV shifts toward the conclusion. It felt like I was experiencing the finale from the sidelines rather than directly or through first-hand perspectives, which somewhat diluted the impact of the conclusion.
Despite this, I devoured the book in no time, engrossed in the fantastical world that Truelove expertly built. The combination of comedy, horror, and science fiction creates a unique blend that results in a highly enjoyable read. Whether you’re drawn to the innovative concept of a spaceship with feelings or the humorous antics of its eclectic crew, Of Monsters and Mainframes is a must-read that proves there's still much to explore within the sci-fi genre.
In summary, this book is a fabulous mash-up of genres, filled with charm and humor, and is definitely worth picking up. I’m excited to see what else Barbara Truelove has in store for us!

Of Monsters and Mainframes by Barbara Truelove is such a good story. I rated it 5 stars because I couldn't put it down for a second. I totally recommend everyone to read this book as fast as they can.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC to review!
Rating (on a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being excellent)
Quality of writing: 5
Pace: 4
Plot development: 5
Characters: 4
Enjoyability: 4
Ease of Reading: 4

Overall rating: 4 out of 5

This novel takes science fiction, fantasy, and pulp horror, and combines them into a fun romp through space to get revenge on Dracula. Our primary main character is Demeter, the navigational AI on a space transit ship that goes between Earth and Alpha Centauri. After two back-to-back journeys where her entire crew dies both times, save for two kids, Demeter is facing serious consequences and a bit of a personal breakdown. Demeter teams up with Steward, her medical AI, and a ragtag group of not-quite-humans in order to clear her name - and stop Dracula - once and for all.

This was such a fun little book that got me out of a significant reading/life slump. The story was so unique, and I loved the rotating POVs and what that added to the narrative. Each character was distinct in their voice and how they experienced what was happening around them, which was extra impressive given the primary POVs for this book. I had so much fun with this world and these characters - it was just the right combination of pulpy horror and sci-fi - and I can't wait to revisit it when it comes out!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion!

First off, I love how unique the concept of this novel is. I feel like I have never read anything similar, I was blown away by the idea of the supernatural blending the way it did with space sci-fi. The fact that are Queer themes throughout the whole book? Cherry on top! This is truly just a fun adventure that is somehow cozy through all of the horrors, if that's your cup of tea then read on!

Okay, this was a wild ride and I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it!

First thing first: that cover! It is gorgeous and fits perfectly with the story itself - it is a whacky space comedy about monsters and AIs.

I really enjoyed experiencing the events through the pov of the Demeter (the space ship’s AI) and seeing it go through life-altering changes. The whole story is not told through her perspective though: almost every major character gets a pov chapter. This can get confusing at times but I thought it added spice whenever the plot started going kinda flat. There are also a bunch of big time jumps but frankly, when you’re seeing things unfold through an AIs perspective, that doesn’t really matter.

I thought the concept was brilliant - but also felt that it got a bit too gimmicky at times. The writing got a little repetitive at times too. If this was a longer book, that might’ve become a problem. But thankfully the author knew what she was doing and found the optimum length for this story.

The characters were all very interesting and endearing in one way or another. They never felt ‘forced’ or expendable either. There are some character resolutions that happen in the end that I thought were somewhat rushed.

Also, there are a couple chapters written in binary that was really fun to decipher. However, I think adding a ASCII alphabet at the end would help a great deal in deciphering for other readers who are not as interested in binary :)

In the end, this was a fast-paced, easy to read and really fun story about found-families and monsters; and it did a great job at that.

I desperately need this to become a series! Thanks so much to Bindery and the author and NetGalley for the early review copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I absolutely adored this book as i knew I would from the blurb. I am really loving the (newer?) genre of sci fi in space that’s on the softer side, not cozy per se (this is actually kinda brutal in spots haha) but not politics heavy. This is the perfect blend of nostalgia that is perfect for 80s babies who grew up with cheesy monster flicks.

This book features snarky AI ship systems , Becky Chambers level found family, and just about the most high brow humor I’ve come across. I found this super easy to read and I’d love to see more from this author.

Small criticism: the first few ‘sections’ (don’t want to spoil) feel a little disconnected but don’t worry it comes together perfectly. Also the POV changes quite a bit but the chapters always make it really clear about who is speaking.

I really enjoyed this one, it was an easy 5⭐️. The characters, the writing, the worlds/setting all very captivating. I’m recommending this to everyone, and I’m seeking out the book for my collection once it’s published.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bindery for the eARC!

What a fun goofy heartfelt ride! This book combined Scifi with classic monsters in a very unexpected and delightful way. Who knew an autopilot and a medical ai could be so compelling! Highly recommend picking this one up!

Thank you to NetGalley, Ezeekat Press and Barbara Truelove for the arc!

**I received an advanced copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange of an honest review. All opinions are entirely my own**

This book was really good! It being written in first-person threw me at first since I don't generally like first-person (which almost made me put it down), but I kept reading and started falling in love with the story! Part of what kept my attention was the AI ship (Demeter) being the one to tell the story. And that was something I had to keep in mind throughout the story when there were dry bits. Because an AI isn't supposed to feel things, but Demeter is definitely different.
The relationships Demeter forms throughout the story help keep the story moving. I was always wanting to know what happened to the characters that would come into her life and then seemingly disappear again. And even though this story takes place over 50 years, everything comes together so nicely and you learn about what has happened and will happen to these people.
Something that I really loved about this book though is how the author managed to include so many supernatural creatures. We have vampires, werewolves, fishy aliens, mummies, the list goes on. I do enjoy me some supernatural creatures.
Overall, this book was amazingly crafted. The characters were likable, they showed growth (even Steve in his way), and are going on to live their best lives. You could say this story really had a happy ending. I wouldn't even mind some sort of follow-up something just to see where all their exploring has led them, because this group has plenty of adventures to go on.