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!

Of Monsters and Mainframes was such a crazy ride. I only partly knew what I was requesting from Netgalley: a hard to classify pulpy sci-fi, space opera, monster mashup. But it was still a surprise when the likes of Dracula, Frankenstein, a mummy, a werewolf, and disciples of Cthulhu are all involved and in space. The story is told from numerous different POV including artificial intelligences onboard a space liner. You really have to read it to understand. I found it fun and action packed but also... A LOT. It's doing too much.

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?