A sentient spaceship AI, Demeter, teams up with her medical AI and a ragtag crew of supernatural misfits—including a werewolf, a mummy, and Frankenstein’s monster—to stop Dracula after a series of paranormal murders threaten her mission and existence. Blending sci-fi, horror, and queer found-family themes, the story explores identity, connection, and what it means to be a “monster” through fast-paced, witty, and heartfelt adventures in deep space.

Reader Review Summary

Set in a far-future universe where spaceships shuttle humans between Earth and Alpha Centauri, the story centers on Demeter, a sentient AI ship whose passengers keep dying under mysterious, supernatural circumstances. The deaths are not due to technical failures, but to the machinations of classic monsters—most notably Dracula, who boards Demeter and begins killing humans. To avoid decommissioning and clear her name, Demeter teams up with her medical AI companion Steward and a crew of legendary figures: a werewolf, a Frankenstein-like engineer, a pharaoh/mummy, a vampire, and a fleet of spider drones. The narrative unfolds through multiple points of view, including both AIs and various monsters, and is structured as a series of interconnected episodes or voyages, often featuring time jumps and shifts in perspective. The book blends science fiction, horror, and fantasy, and incorporates elements of queer and LGBT representation, with a focus on found family and unconventional relationships among its cast of non-human and supernatural characters.

Readers frequently praised the book's humor, banter, and the dynamic between Demeter and Steward, highlighting their dialogue and emotional arcs as standout features. The depiction of AI personalities—particularly Demeter's anxious, caring nature and Steward's grumpy pragmatism—was cited as engaging and memorable. Many enjoyed the interplay of classic monsters in a space opera setting, the inclusion of queer and sapphic relationships, and the found family dynamic that develops among the crew. The book's fast pace, witty chapter titles, and the way it balances absurdity with moments of genuine emotional depth were also noted as strengths. Several reviewers mentioned being moved by the relationships between the characters, including the platonic and romantic bonds, and appreciated the way the story explores themes of identity, belonging, and what it means to be a 'monster.'

Some readers found the book's structure and pacing challenging, citing frequent time jumps, abrupt narrative shifts, and a choppy or disjointed flow that made it difficult to stay emotionally invested. The large cast of characters and the sheer number of monsters and subplots led some to feel that character development outside of Demeter and Steward was lacking, with side characters sometimes feeling underdeveloped or hard to connect with. A few reviewers felt that the central plot—repeated supernatural attacks on Demeter—became repetitive, and that the resolution of certain storylines, including the defeat of Dracula, was unsatisfying or anticlimactic. Others noted that the writing style could be overly anthropomorphized for AIs, or compared the book unfavorably to works like Murderbot or Gideon the Ninth in terms of prose quality and subtlety. The audiobook production was described by one reader as overacted, and some found the romance elements unconvincing or abrupt.

The book is marketed as a blend of pulp horror and classic sci-fi, with a focus on queer and LGBT themes, and is recommended for readers aged 16 and up due to violence and gore. It has received an average rating of 4.21 out of 5 from over 1,800 ratings and nearly 700 full reviews, indicating a generally positive reception despite some criticisms. The narrative includes references to and playful reinterpretations of public domain monsters, and incorporates meta elements such as binary code and TTRPG-like sequences. The book was published by Bindery Books, with involvement from book influencer Ezeekat, and has been described as suitable for fans of works like Murderbot Diaries, Gideon the Ninth, Becky Chambers, and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.