I gave up on this book 25 % in.
I had really high hopes for this one, but we were basically 100 pages in and only on our 3rd scene. It felt really repetitive and slow-moving because of the fact that the AI´s processing was so fast that the plot dragged on as if in slow-mo.
The voice of the AI was just not for me.

A cheeky and whimsical story that focuses on the pulp monsters most of us know - vampires werewolves mummies and undead creatures.

It was definitely more silly and absurd than dark and scary with moments of gore and lots of heart. The development and growth of Demeter and Stew and even the Spider drones was very interesting. The first half felt more like vignettes with minor references to previous events then The remaining story reads more like your standard novel.

Things are a bit clunky as a result and some of the events are hard to piece together fully with the reliance on other perspectives to fill in the blanks.

I thought the story was cute and fun. Took me ages to read for some reason. I’d like a bit more darkness I think a balance with the whimsy could have kept the pacing up and made it more fast paced. I think things just happen quickly and neatly but it didn’t make it fast paced in my opinion.

Would still recommend to others and I look forward for more books by Truelove.

I received a free copy of an ARC from NetGalley and Truelove but all thoughts are my own.

OF MONSTERS AND MAINFRAMES has a fun, outlandish premise that drew me in—classic horror monsters in a far future pulpy sci-fi setting—and it delivers on that premise. Alas, no one is more disappointed than I am to report that I DNF'd it at 56%. For me, all the stuff going on, including lots of POV shifts, resulted in a story that fell flat and surprisingly quite slow in pacing. I wasn't invested in any of the characters or lost whatever investment in the plot I had developed early on, and even the suggestion of a sort of hate-to-love arc for the two ship AI systems couldn't keep my interest. Was it too pulpy for my preferences? Maybe. Regardless, this just didn't do it for me.

Thanks to Ezeekat Press (Bindery Books) and Netgalley for the advance copy of this title.

I’m not sure this book was for me. I found myself getting irritated at the AI and wanting to skim parts. I also got a little confused with all the characters. But overall, it was still a fun and interesting premise and the ending was beautiful. It really brought the story together, but I wish it didn’t take until the end for it. Also, the cover of this book is gorgeous so kudos of the designer! I think it’s possible I’d read another book by this author as I enjoyed her writing, but this particular story just wasn’t for me. Thank you for the copy!

5 stars

This was so much fun! It's like Murder Bot and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy had a little pirating baby. I found myself laughing and needing to read on to see what happens. The characters are all so memorable and unique. It spans a long time, something that I usually don't like, but found it interesting to see how everything unfolds. I didn't know how much I needed vampires, werewolves and Frankenstein in space. A fun, campy good time.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced copy to form opinions from.

This was such a fun time, and not what I expected when I picked it up. This is How to Lose the Time War but also throw in classic monsters like Dracula, the Werewolf and Dracula's monster set on space ship that has a love hate relationship with the AI Medic.

I never knew where the story was going so it really kept me engaged through out. a solid second pick from Jaysen and Eezkat Press.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery for this ARC!

Of Monsters and Mainframes is a fun sci-fu novel involving AI as if it was humanoid. I loved the references to classic stories that we all know and love. I was rooting for Agnus the whole time. You will enjoy this book if you enjoy space travel, mythology/folklore, and found family.

This book surprised me in the most wonderful way. I loved the way that it was written and that we had these mythical creatures like vampires, werewolves aliens throughout the story, but we didn’t have to have lore piled onto us as readers and instead just got to enjoy them as characters in the story. I absolutely fell in love with the AI characters in a way I wasn’t expecting. One of my favourites of the year so far. Thank you to Netgalley and Bindery books for he e arc in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to Bindery Books for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

DNF'd at 14%!! I have come to realize that I am overly picky with science fiction and have found OF MONSTERS AND MAINFRAMES to not be my sci-fi preference. I did not like following the story through Demeter, a spaceship AI, especially the tone from the writing. I did not find the plot intriguing enough to follow, so I decided to stop reading at this point. There are plenty of other readers who have loved or really enjoyed reading this debut novel; I wish I was one of them.

⭐️ 4.7 stars
What a cool story. This was something completely different from what I usually read, and honestly, it was exactly what I needed. Told from multiple perspectives, each voice felt distinct, like every character had their own personality—especially the AI.

The vibe is chaotic if I try to explain it out loud: space, monsters, AI sass, and oh yeah… Dracula. But somehow it all works. It’s sci-fi, it’s horror, it’s cozy found family in space. The banter between Demeter (the ship) and the other AI systems was one of my favorite parts. Genuinely funny and sharp without overdoing it.

I loved the diversity in the cast and how it wasn’t just for show. Everyone felt like they belonged in this weird, messy crew. The blackout time jumps and shifting POVs meant I didn’t always know what was going on—but I kind of loved that too. It kept things moving, kept me guessing.

If I have one complaint, it’s that the ending felt a bit rushed. I would’ve liked a little more time to sit with the impact of everything that happened. But overall? This was fresh, fast-paced, and full of heart.

🖤 Final thoughts:
This is the kind of book that sounds unhinged on paper but ends up being warm, smart, and weirdly comforting. I really enjoyed it.

✨ Best for:
Readers who love chaotic space adventures, classic horror vibes, queer found family, and AI with attitude.

What a fun, unique book! Of Monsters and Mainframes centers a few Artificial Intelligence programs leading a transport ship-and how its inhabitants keep dying in wild situations. The humans don't believe the ship when it tells them that Dracula was on board, thus creating years and years of weird events.

I just liked the vibe of this story. It gives POVs to many different characters too, creating a kind of eclectic, energetic, outlandish atmosphere. It's a little bit funny and quite heartfelt, especially by the end.

If you enjoyed the Murderbot series, you will most likely enjoy this one!

In conclusion, really liked!

Thanks to Netgalley and Ezeekat Books for the e-ARC!

This story was not for me but I bet it will be for those that love SciFi/horror mixing. I was hoping it was a little more adult but it felt very YA.
It's such a cool premise, with the sentient ship and the monsters killing the humans. It just didn't work for me unfortunately.
Campy isn't my vibe, I guess!
3.25 is my rating rounded

Thank you to #NetGalley for this ARC. my thoughts are my own

Thank you to Bindery Books and NetGalley for this ARC!

This is a great debut. I was intrigued by comparisons to Becky Chambers and the Murderbot series, and this definitely delivered on that. I love the relationships between the sentient ship, the medical AI, and the rest of the crew.

I would recommend this to any sci-fi fan, but also readers who might want to try reading more science-fi. I hope to see more from this author!

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

This was a surprisingly delightful read - equal parts nostalgic and futuristic, which is a tough balance to strike, but one this book pulls off beautifully.

As I read it, this book brought to mind everything from Short Circuit and WALL-E, to Fright Night and Star Wars. The mashup of sci-fi, fantasy, and mystery elements felt fresh yet familiar, with a fast-paced, action-packed plot that kept me turning pages.

It’s a wild ride in the best way - fun, inventive, and packed with so much personality. I highly recommend it for fans of fantasy, sci-fi, thrillers, and anything in between.

Buckle up for a fun, genre-blending adventure.

Thank you to Bindery Books and Ezeekat Press for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Such a delightful, charming story that reinterprets all of the classic monsters in a fun sci-fi setting. What if the Demeter was a spaceship AI whose passengers all kept dying under strange, supernatural circumstances, and what happens when she, her medical AI, and a motley crew of monsters team up to take down Dracula? Comparisons to <i>Murderbot</i> and <i>Hitchhiker's Guide</i> feel very apt; my one note is that it would have been nice for most of the supporting characters to be fleshed out as much as the one who earns the spotlight, but I was all in for the ride here and I'm so glad I checked this book out for myself.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this edition from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Huge thanks to Bindery Books and NetGalley for an eARC copy of this story in exchange for an honest and unbiased review!

Yay for sentient robots with hearts/motherboards made of gold! This story was a delightful mishmash of monster story. quirky sci-fi, and some horror. I love when a book can surprise me and this one did. I think it has a broad appeal for lovers of "cozy" fantasies & sci-fi, modern gothic fiction and retellings, and found family fans. I've been recommending it to others ever since I read it.

This book is a total trip—in the best way. The Book of Monsters and Mainframes mixes sci-fi and horror with just the right amount of weird, and it somehow makes monsters and tech feel like they belong in the same story. The vibe is part Black Mirror, part retro creature feature, and it keeps you guessing the whole time. The world is super creative, a little creepy, and totally immersive. If you're into strange, twisty stories with heart and a bit of chaos, this one’s a fun, wild ride.

4,5/5

This was such a delight and joy to read. It truely felt like it was doing something new with old tropes. I have always been a fan of the classical monster trope so I was skeptical at first if the setting would fit but it does so and effortlessly. The story was well paced and it's full of heartful and witty banter but there was also action and a bit of sadness. It was the perfect mix. The only thing I didn't like was the romance at the end. It felt a bit... off. But maybe that was because it happened too fast for my liking. Also I think that this book didn't need any romance at all to work. The found family trope was more than enough.

Of Monsters and Mainframes was a perfect balance of funny, tense and heartfelt. The main characters and interludes brought this world to life in a way that is believable, and relatable. I never imagined that I would struggle to decide who I liked more between Angus, Frank or Demeter.

I will be recommending this book to anyone and basically everyone who appreciates tongue in cheek, relatable fantasy/sci fi.