Thank you so much to NewSouth Books for sending me a physical copy of this one and Bindery Books for the e-ARC. All thoughts are my own.

This was such a fun, thrilling, wild ride of a book. I was absolutely hooked from the start.

This is a mashup of pulp horror and sci-fi and it’s absolutely brilliant. There’s plenty of versions of familiar characters from horror classics mixed in with some new characters that truly bring this story to life.

Demeter and Steward had my whole heart. Their weird rivalry/enemies to lovers thing was absolutely wonderful, especially because nothing about this journey is linear and straightforward for them. But gosh I loved them. So, so much. Two AI’s changing their own programming to fall in love???? C’mon.

Agnus and Frank were also absolutely brilliant and really stood out for me in this story. Frank in particular just made me wanna hug them so much.

This book has such a found family vibe by the end and I would genuinely love to read stories of these mad beings adventuring through space.

I was so completely charmed by Barbara Truelove's Of Monsters and Mainframes (publication day June 3, 2025) that I just about read it in a single sitting! Space travel meets vampires, werewolves, Frankenstein, a mummy, and cthulhu-people!

Primarily told from the perspective of two spaceship AIs, with interludes told from the perspectives of others who interact with them--the first is Demeter, the AI who controls a passenger ship, and the second is the medical AI, known as Steward. Demeter travels back and forth between Earth and Alpha Centauri, a several-years long voyage. She is designed to control the ship, but not to talk to humans so much, that's Steward's specialty, but she has primary command and has the bad habit of shutting Steward down when she is done communicating with him.

Demeter's first indication of trouble as she approaches Alpha Centauri is that there are far more resources than there should be--she then investigates and determines that all of her passengers are dead. But she has no idea what has happened and it takes her a bit to find the video feed that could help her. But she docks anyway, and something weird--maybe a big black dog, definitely not human--runs through the airlock and disappears onto Alpha Centauri. But the video feed recorded nothing.

Demeter is then is nicknamed the "Ghost Ship" and stored for several years. When she wakes, she has a new serial number and is being readied for a trip back to Earth. This time, she is determined to complete her mission safely for all of the humans on board. But then her sensors tell her something is wrong, and when she is able to try to figure out what happened, there are only two remaining humans alive, a brother and sister ages 8 and 13, Isaac and Agnus, and they are in grave danger from what seems to be--a werewolf?

Demeter gets them back to Earth safely, with the help of Steward and some spider drones that she brings inside, and she watches Isaac and Agnus like she's never watched humans before.

On Demeter and Steward's next trip, after Demeter has been "optimized", Steward is left to deal with humans acting very strangely--they seem to be turning into fish, and have taken over navigation, steering them somewhere other than Alpha Centauri. They've damaged the radiation shields, and after optimization, Demeter isn't willing to consider thinking outside the box.

When Steward next wakes, he is communicating with a cyborg named Frankenstein and his pet spider drone. And when they leave Earth, an ancient Egyptian evil with a thirst for human flesh named Steve is in a compartment with Agnus, who is finally leaving Earth and making the trip back to Alpha Centauri.

There is much more, including the need to hunt down the vampire that killed everyone on Demeter's first encounter with Earth monsters. I loved it!

And it was completely weight-neutral, not a mention of fatness in a negative way at all.

You might read the title and/or blurb and think that a book about a space ship AI interacting with mythological beings like vampires and mummies might be fairly ridiculous and downright absurd. And to be fair, you’d be right, in a downright delightful way! And along with the quirky silliness comes some excellent storytelling, delightful found family, and sci-fi hijinx.

I was hooked from the first page, which I needed to use a binary translator to read. We start off with a mystery: a space ship AI realizing all of the humans on board are no longer alive. This is the start of conversation between the ship AI and the medical bay AI, as well as what some might consider a curse and others might just view as interstellar bad luck.

Through several voyages between Earth and Alpha Centauri B Habitation 004, we get more of the AI personalities, meet new and wonderful side characters, and experience more space related shenanigans. We also dive into deeper topics like self-worth, identity, and the meaning of our existence. One reason I love sci-fi is that we often get to grapple with aspects of humanity by means of nonhuman characters, and this book did so while also keeping the tone light and absurd in the best sort of way. I mean, where else can you ponder the meaning of life while solving yet another space murder at the hands of a creature that should only exist in stories?

I loved this unique melding of myth and science fiction, and I’m so interested to see what else Barbara Truelove has brewing in that creative brain!

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Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery for the chance to read and review this one.

What do and unhinged AI, a vampire, a werewolf, a mummy, and a Frankenstein-esque character have in common?
If you guessed “be gay do crime” you’d be mostly correct.

Featuring an interesting medley of monsters in a spaceship with two separate sentient AI who commit a medley of interstellar crimes Of Monsters and Mainframes was one of the most unique stories I’ve ever read. This book also had some of the most unhinged and dry wit and sarcasm I’ve ever read and I loved every second of it.

Unfortunately this book didn’t hit quite as much as I wanted it to. The pacing was a bit of a struggle for me as it had a number of time skips that were a little confusing at times. I also found it difficult to connect to any of the characters, but I think that’s a me issue. ( I kept expecting that there would be a central human or human adjacent character. There definitely is, but I struggled with them not being the main POV)

Overall I really enjoyed this one, and I’m giving it 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4!

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

This definitely felt like a very unique read to me as it was a sci-fi adventure with classic horror twists! I loved how this book explored the different genres in a new way.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Bindery for early copy for review*

This is a wonderful cross of genres such as sci-fi, paranormal and cozy-horror. The adding of classic monsters was also interesting and made me wonder who we would run into next. Being stuck in only Demeter's point of view was very limiting at first. With their limited view of the world and being stuck behind protocols felt very jarring. Also learning later what AI see when the view some monsters made that part make more sense. For the most part I enjoyed the way the story was told. Each part felt like a short story with an ultimate climax in the last part. However, it can feel repetitive so be warned about that. For the most part this was enjoyable and includes a found family element that I really love.

5 ⭐

For fans of Gideon the Ninth and the Murderbot Diaries.

🧠🧛‍♂️✨🐺💀🚀🩸

Following an interesting plotline where a sentient ship finds out all of her passengers are killed by none other than...Dracula, and what can they do when no one believes them?
This has an interesting cast following a few misunderstood ‘villains’ from some beloved literary classics. It is multi-pov with space-opera-esque vibes and a not-so-cozy cozy book with unexpected and unpredictable twists and turns. It is a must-read for anyone who wants to cry over misunderstood spaceships and spider bots with anxiety or a questionably ethical sentient art piece.

This book is a mish-mash of some of the weirdest and craziest elements and plots, but it somehow works.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Bindery Books for an early proof in exchange for an honest review.

A few of my favourite quotes worth mentioning;

I see dozens more people, all of them in various states of fish. And then I see a bunch of humans that look refreshingly like humans. Unfortunately, they're all dead.

Frank is hugging their spider drone, humming comfortingly in Morse code.

I decide, then and there, to love them. I've never loved before. Love is not a standard component of my programming......For them, I think I can patch in a love designation.

This was a funny, dynamic and entertaining book, but I found it somewhat underwhelming. It might be a me thing—just as I started this, I got hit by some big life changes and what should’ve taken only a few days ended up being a 3 week read. Still, the numerous POVs and the many jumps between them made the characters feel not fully fleshed out. I would’ve loved to read more from Demeter and Steward’s POVs, they were really fun and I came to care for them and their sometimes fraught friendship. Quite notably, they are the only 100% original characters here. While at first I enjoyed all the little Dracula references and was delighted by the small pulp horror moment with the fishy aliens, by the time we got to meet Steve the mummy I was feeling weary of all the borrowed stuff. I wish there had been more of the original material, that is, the AI characters. They were definitely the most engaging POVs. In any case it was an enjoyable read that didn’t demand too much of me, which is exactly what I needed this month.

Of Monsters and Mainframes is a funny and lighthearted amalgamation of well-known horror characters and tropes. Would recommend to anyone looking for a low-stakes sci-fi story with found family and pulp horror references.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery Books for providing me with an eARC for this book.

This was so much fun! I had an absolutely amazing time reading this and found myself reading it faster than I expected. This book takes the inherent silliness of its concepts and manages to deliver some fantastic emotional punches.

To me the highlight of this book is its characters. They’re all incredibly written and extremely endearing. I loved spending time with them navigating the chaos of space travel with monsters. The connections and relationships formed here are so beautiful and make me so incredibly happy.

I cannot recommend this enough. It manages to be cosy but also have high stakes. It’s well structured and extremely readable. And, it really made me feel so many different emotions towards this eclectic cast of characters.

This is my favourite read of the year so far. I enjoyed every single page of this book. I laughed, I shed a tear, I felt some very warm fuzzies, and I laughed some more. This book had one of my favourite love stories I’ve ever read about, and it was extremely unconventional, but no less beautiful. Every single character was flawless, and it was wonderful seeing so much growth and development from so many different creatures. There were so many completely unexpected moments that I was hooked trying to figure out what would happen next. This was perfectly quirky, and I can’t wait to see what is next for the author. Thank you so much to NetGalley, Barbara Truelove, and the publisher for providing me with an ARC copy. I have already recommended this to five people to purchase once it is released next week.

10/10 no notes, one of the best books of the year

Okay but for real:

This book is a phenomenal mix of gothic and science-fiction. There are so many little references that are treats for those who know the gothic horror stories referenced. But the most charming characters are Demeter and Dr. Steward, the main povs who happen to be ship AI modules. Telling the story through their unique voices adds a lot of tension and humor to an endlessly entertaining book. I almost cried at the end.

4.25 stars!
I had absolutely zero expectations walking into this read, and I think that’s the way it should be! The cover captured my attention (how stunning!) as well as the genre “space opera”. I had to find out what that meant.

This was a fun rollercoaster! It started out reminding me of Project Hail Mary, in the way it was written and the humorous tone and personality of the ship. It morphed into something completely different, with fun characters and wild storylines.

I enjoyed this! I was sometimes confused whose perspective I was in, but I figured it out and had a really fun time! It was a read completely and refreshingly different from other reads I’ve enjoyed in the past. It may not be for everyone, but it was definitely for me!

If you want to read a book that is a sillier version of Project Hail Mary but with Hitchhiker’s Guide vibes, check this one out!

This novel comes out on June 3rd! Thanks to NetGalley, Barbara, and Bindery Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

If you like Art from Murderbot and classic monster stories, you'll love this blend of the two. Demeter is a navigation AI who only wants to transport her passengers from point A to B, but her passengers keep dying monster-related deaths.

I love the humor of this book. Demeter and Steward are great, and the cast of monsters is so wild and unbelievable. The first half of the book had me asking what more could possibly happen and then the unexpected happened. The second half, while funny and sweet, was where you finally get around to the storyline described in the blurb.

This is a fast-paced read with quick chapters, queer characters, and a quirky plot. Absolutely recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.

This was SO MUCH FUN to read! I feel like it brings together the best of Murderbot and Project Hail Mary.... plus werewolves. It was smart, delightful, touching, and insightful. And it made me cry over robot ai, which as an ai hater, was completely shocking.

Of Monsters and Mainframes is perfect for the readers who want a little zany humor and are ready for a new all time favorite read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bindery Books for an ARC of, Of Monsters and Mainframes in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 3/5

This book was a lot of fun. I am always interested in anything related to classic monsters, so I enjoyed this one. I love the blend of science fiction and fantasy.

When I started this book I thought it would just a simple fun journey through space, and it was in a way, but I was surprised by the greater tale that trickles through it of the importance of found family. Honestly what a fun idea to be travelling through space and being surrounded by monsters! I didn't fully know what to expect but I'm so glad I went along for the ride!

I’m a sucker for:
-genre-mixing
-sci-fi with some heart
-droll AI
-a motley crew of likeable characters
-popcorn thrills
-short, propulsive chapters
-just a generally good hang

I was a little skeptical at first (haven’t I seen this type of setup before?) but it settles into a nice, unique groove and sticks the finish. Why not just give in to a short, fun ride?

Wild concept that took a bit to really hook me, but loved this read! Giving it a 4 out of 5 stars. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

An AI Protagonist? SIGN ME UP! This is such a unique concept and given all of the chatter about AI right now, I think the timing of this publication is ideal. You follow Demeter, a navigation AI, who is becomes the "cursed ship" due to an ill-fated meeting with Dracula (yes that Dracula) and from there this story goes off the rails in the best way. There are vampires, werewolves from different planets, long haul space roadtrips, more AIs, and also an alien Sandman.

The first third of the book is told primarily from the perspectives of Demeter (AI) and some might be caught off guard with the way her perspective is written knowing that she is constrained by her programming and specific parameters, such as protecting human life at all costs. The author did a VERY good job of writing a limited POV from Demeter, and I love how certain parts of the processing process were included as Demeter was trying to make a decision.

Pulp fiction meets space opera and it does not disappoint.

Okay, everyone needs to read this book! It's so crisp, fresh, and funny. I loved it!

Our MC is an AI on an interstellar cruise ship, who wakes at the end of a multi-year trip to find all the humans on board are dead. When she files an incident report on how it couldn't have been her fault, something supernatural occurs.

I love mixing genres, and Of Monsters and Mainframes does it so well! The sci-fi is sharp and the monsters are gothic. Even the Chtulhu myth makes an appearance. And AI banter! I've never laughed this much at AI banter until now. The level of sass that these robots throw around is incredible. With all that, this book is heartfelt, quirky, and chaotic in the best way possible.

Hugely recommend.

A ship pulls into its landing dock, and everyone on-board is dead. The company that runs the ship tries to hide the fact that this ever happened by changing the serial number of the ship. But there was one thing on board, Dracula.

Thus begins this weird, and wild story of a ship that feels that something happened, but their memory of the event is taken. Oh, did I mention this takes place in space, and both the ship and the ship’s doctor are AI, and conscious, and know what is going on, unless someone removes their memory, before they can hide it.

But Dracula is not the only monster, there are also werewolves, and a monster created by Frankenstein, as well as a creature that might be a mummy made of beetles. And all of them hate Dracula and want to destroy him, and they need the ship, Demeter, to help them do it.

This book is a little bit “Ancillary Justice”, and a whole lot of “The Long Way to a Small Planet” with touches of Douglas Adams and John Scalzi thrown in. All and all, it is its own book, with jabs of satire, and glances of the world beyond the ship, who doesn’t sing, but does argue with Stewart, the ship’s doctor.

It was a wild ride, and i can’t tell you much more than that. The whole time I was reading it I had no idea how it would all end up, which is a good thing. I highly recommend it.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book is coming out on the 3rd of June 2025.