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The Warm Machine
When a robot built for construction work first sees an angular, sleek prototype military robot slink onto the base he’s working outside of, he immediately falls in love. The problem is, only anomalous bots understand the concept of love, and the lowly laborbot has not deviated from his default programming once. So he thinks, anyway. When the laborbot is scheduled for decommission, the military bot cannot possibly live without him, and the two bots set out on a path to find the fabled anomalous robot utopia Root.
- GenresScience Fiction
196 pages, Paperback
Published November 11, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
April 3, 2026
Emergence through Struggle.
I’m a huge sucker for self aware robot stories so I bought in immediately with this one. The tight prose and smart writing certainly made this an easy and inviting read as well. This is a story about Zev and Sterling, two self aware bots who discover their identities not only through the process of emerging consciousness but through the relationship they have with one another. And that’s what made The Warm Machine unique in this niche was that the characters discover who they are because of their struggle together. Zev and Sterling would be different without one another and most likely worse off. Their relationship did not feel token but organic and I found it well done.
This was a mostly character driven work but with enough plot advancements and action to really keep you going. The two protagonists are seeking a fabled asylum for self aware bots and I got to say I really loved how this worked out and how the story turns out for them. It was both melancholy but inspiring. Reading about two characters eeking out their existence and independence alone and against all odds was deeply inspiring. The technical aspects of the book were really well done and the author is clearly knowledgeable about lots of things. There’s a lot to think about with this story that goes beyond the pages but you can also just enjoy the story for what it is at face value. The author has skill and it really shines. I overall really enjoyed this brief read and highly recommend it.
I received a free ebook as a judge for the SPSFC5. This review does not reflect the book’s standing in the competition.
I’m a huge sucker for self aware robot stories so I bought in immediately with this one. The tight prose and smart writing certainly made this an easy and inviting read as well. This is a story about Zev and Sterling, two self aware bots who discover their identities not only through the process of emerging consciousness but through the relationship they have with one another. And that’s what made The Warm Machine unique in this niche was that the characters discover who they are because of their struggle together. Zev and Sterling would be different without one another and most likely worse off. Their relationship did not feel token but organic and I found it well done.
This was a mostly character driven work but with enough plot advancements and action to really keep you going. The two protagonists are seeking a fabled asylum for self aware bots and I got to say I really loved how this worked out and how the story turns out for them. It was both melancholy but inspiring. Reading about two characters eeking out their existence and independence alone and against all odds was deeply inspiring. The technical aspects of the book were really well done and the author is clearly knowledgeable about lots of things. There’s a lot to think about with this story that goes beyond the pages but you can also just enjoy the story for what it is at face value. The author has skill and it really shines. I overall really enjoyed this brief read and highly recommend it.
I received a free ebook as a judge for the SPSFC5. This review does not reflect the book’s standing in the competition.
November 28, 2024
This book is absolutely incredible. The world building is both subtle and fully formed, the characters are gorgeous and impossible not to love, and the story itself has so much to say about what it means to be one's authentic self. I love it and will absolutely be sending copies out as gifts this holiday season.
December 22, 2024
“I do not want to look like them. They may be our creators, in a manufacturing sense only, but we are our own creators of our sentience and anomalous path. They have created me with no desire to look like them, and I do not want to be created in their image either. I am a machine, and I have no desire to wear a false mask of humanity. Despite their best efforts to the contrary, bots will outlive humanity to its last. We are the next evolution of superior forms, and to downgrade ourselves to impressions of our makers is to adopt a Pinocchio complex: it assumes bots desire humanity above all else as the premier, optimal form.”
this is one of two books i’ve finished in years, i could not put it down! ty for that aimee cozza :’) missed reading so much
as another reviewer said, i didn’t realize gay robot romance was for me, but it was. this is so much more than that.
beautifully wrote! i’m not sure if this is the authors first novel, if so, (if not as well) i am so impressed with the world building, and fully “fleshed-out” (lol) characters full of so much ~ life ~
i was filled to the brim with anxiety in certain parts, and QUERIES. one of my fav parts of the book — the innocence in every time that was said, “I have queries.” i wish humans were so straight forward.) there was a point i went to the kitchen to grab something, and came back and pressed ‘play’ on the remote to resume the … book…. my brain seemed to believe i was watching a movie, which shows how engrossing this was, and sometimes heart-wrenching.
what is a soul?
i was introduced to this author through my job running a crowdfunding ‘booktopia’ campaign, i usually read solely memoirs and nonfiction, but something drew me to this book, and i’m so happy it did.
this is one of two books i’ve finished in years, i could not put it down! ty for that aimee cozza :’) missed reading so much
as another reviewer said, i didn’t realize gay robot romance was for me, but it was. this is so much more than that.
beautifully wrote! i’m not sure if this is the authors first novel, if so, (if not as well) i am so impressed with the world building, and fully “fleshed-out” (lol) characters full of so much ~ life ~
i was filled to the brim with anxiety in certain parts, and QUERIES. one of my fav parts of the book — the innocence in every time that was said, “I have queries.” i wish humans were so straight forward.) there was a point i went to the kitchen to grab something, and came back and pressed ‘play’ on the remote to resume the … book…. my brain seemed to believe i was watching a movie, which shows how engrossing this was, and sometimes heart-wrenching.
what is a soul?
i was introduced to this author through my job running a crowdfunding ‘booktopia’ campaign, i usually read solely memoirs and nonfiction, but something drew me to this book, and i’m so happy it did.
December 4, 2024
The first sense he had of the military bot was picking it up on his ocular visual array, and FLC0776 felt his database flush full with code.
Reading a robot's tumble into love at first sight, I knew I was in for a good time with Aimee Cozza's The Warm Machine. Peppered with drily humorous and mechanically cheeky observations on the part of her bots, Cozza's cleanly written prose charmed me from the very beginning.
She introduces us to laborbot FLC0776, and military prototype bot AZR4700, and allows the reader to bear witness to their journey of personal discovery. Told primarily from the innocently inquisitive perspective of FLC0776 and rich with exploration of his internal life, The Warm Machine runs a gamut of emotions as the bots break their bonds and seek out sentience and safety from the ano runners which reclaim and decommission anomalous bots.
The plot takes the bots through a series of challenges, both physical and emotional, in their attempt to reach Root: an almost mythical safe haven for anomalous bots they've heard rumours about on the net. Their journey tests their trust in one another, and their trust in their own sanity.
This is a story about what it means to fall in love, and by falling in love, learning to live.
December 3, 2024
I never knew gay robot romance was for me but damn this was really good. It’s interesting to see Zev and Sterling go through such human emotions and thoughts without realizing it themselves. Definitely provokes some thoughts about our own world and the advancement of AI models.
January 18, 2026
This was a bit heavier, or at least more somber, than I expected. The author did an excellent job of maintaining the perspective of the laborbot and how they perceive the world through their mechanical body and processes, while also showing how their mind expands and morphs as their personality and sense of personhood grows. Because of the dedication to describing the world via a robotic lens, sometimes the prose was a bit dense to get through.
I genuinely never knew what was going to happen next. I had ideas, and I was sometimes right, but there was very much a tense unease that nothing was certain for our laborbot protagonist. This book felt a lot longer than its actual page count because there's a fair amount of plot and progression, and concepts that trigger the reader to do some of their own reflection and speculation. By that I mean I spent a bit of my reading time staring into space thinking about what I had just read.
A very interesting book that I'd recommend to fans of the philosophical aspects of the sci-fi genre. For people expecting something like A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers: there are similarities, but be warned that this story does not paint quite as hopeful a picture of the future.
Content Warnings:
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Suicide attempt, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Ableism, Panic attacks/disorders, Gaslighting
I genuinely never knew what was going to happen next. I had ideas, and I was sometimes right, but there was very much a tense unease that nothing was certain for our laborbot protagonist. This book felt a lot longer than its actual page count because there's a fair amount of plot and progression, and concepts that trigger the reader to do some of their own reflection and speculation. By that I mean I spent a bit of my reading time staring into space thinking about what I had just read.
A very interesting book that I'd recommend to fans of the philosophical aspects of the sci-fi genre. For people expecting something like A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers: there are similarities, but be warned that this story does not paint quite as hopeful a picture of the future.
Content Warnings:
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Suicide attempt, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Ableism, Panic attacks/disorders, Gaslighting
August 8, 2025
I was lucky enough to win this book in a giveaway, special thanks to Storygraph and Aimee Cozza!
3,5 ⭐ - This is anything but your usual romance, 2 queer robots getting human emotions and falling in love?
This was such a quick, uncomplicated read, well written with a story that will keep you guessing till the end
3,5 ⭐ - This is anything but your usual romance, 2 queer robots getting human emotions and falling in love?
This was such a quick, uncomplicated read, well written with a story that will keep you guessing till the end
December 18, 2024
What an exceptionally well-crafted story, bringing life and emotions to two robots that outshines some of the personality I've seen given to regular characters, or even real life people. These two bots from different worlds are just...I have no real words. Me, a writer, reduced to blabbering and gibberish, because I love these two bots.
Zev and Sterling will take you on a ride and adventure that you will not soon forget. Nor should you, because these two are where it's at. Do not miss out on this, do not sleep on this, let this recharge you, let this show you how to live, and then share it on the botnet far and wide.
Zev and Sterling will take you on a ride and adventure that you will not soon forget. Nor should you, because these two are where it's at. Do not miss out on this, do not sleep on this, let this recharge you, let this show you how to live, and then share it on the botnet far and wide.
May 14, 2025
I present to you: gay robots.
"The Warm Machine" by Aimee Cozza is a queer sci-fi novella following a laborbot that sees a new military prototype on his construction site and becomes immediately preoccupied with it. It could almost be called an infatuation. But bots can't feel, right? As the truth of their anomalous programming comes to light, the two are determined to find the mythical robot utopia of Root or be decommissioned forever.
The writing style of the book was a bit of a double-sided sword. On one hand, it was a little confusing to get into exactly what was being described, as our protagonist laborbot was using very specific technological language. On the other hand, I loved how other the characters felt. This wasn't an instance of human minds in metal bodies, the robots felt like creatures that had entire other ways of thinking and viewing the world. For example, not being able to smell or seeing the world in 360 degrees because of their cameras. While it took me a second to get into what was being described, I loved the general vibe.
There was so much emotion in this story. Following the bots as they figured out feelings for the first time and the huge realizations of exactly what their feelings were for each other was an angsty delight. While it did feel like the jump to full feelings was a bit too quick for the general uptick, the exploration of the futuristic, city-in-levels world was enough to distract. I would have loved a bit more of that (but then I usually prefer full novels) but it was still enough to get a real sense of place.
My particularly favorite tidbit was at the end, with the in-world inserts explaining to consumers how to handle it if their housebot begins to have an existential crisis.
A great pick for anyone that loves robots, especially the gay ones!
"The Warm Machine" by Aimee Cozza is a queer sci-fi novella following a laborbot that sees a new military prototype on his construction site and becomes immediately preoccupied with it. It could almost be called an infatuation. But bots can't feel, right? As the truth of their anomalous programming comes to light, the two are determined to find the mythical robot utopia of Root or be decommissioned forever.
The writing style of the book was a bit of a double-sided sword. On one hand, it was a little confusing to get into exactly what was being described, as our protagonist laborbot was using very specific technological language. On the other hand, I loved how other the characters felt. This wasn't an instance of human minds in metal bodies, the robots felt like creatures that had entire other ways of thinking and viewing the world. For example, not being able to smell or seeing the world in 360 degrees because of their cameras. While it took me a second to get into what was being described, I loved the general vibe.
There was so much emotion in this story. Following the bots as they figured out feelings for the first time and the huge realizations of exactly what their feelings were for each other was an angsty delight. While it did feel like the jump to full feelings was a bit too quick for the general uptick, the exploration of the futuristic, city-in-levels world was enough to distract. I would have loved a bit more of that (but then I usually prefer full novels) but it was still enough to get a real sense of place.
My particularly favorite tidbit was at the end, with the in-world inserts explaining to consumers how to handle it if their housebot begins to have an existential crisis.
A great pick for anyone that loves robots, especially the gay ones!
July 23, 2025
Oh I love androids just contemplating existence, it's my favourite little kind of sci-fi story. And I loved these two bots in particular. They show such a wide range of human emotion and yet always remain distinctly non-human. Just reading about them developing was so sweet.
Additionally, I think the pacing rather suits the story. It never feels too fast or too drawn out.
Very minor spoilers + own experiences while reading:
The only reason why I gave this one four instead of five stars is a section at the end, where it wasn't logical for me that these characters would take that path of action. Since the actions before always seemed to be well-founded in terms of character motivation, this part simply stands out extremely to me. Doesn't mean it's a bad ending though! I can only recommend reading this book. I think if you’re here for the philosophical debates and robots contemplating their existence in a short format you might also enjoy the Monk and Robot stories from Becky Chambers.
Heavy spoilers on that end section:
Additionally, I think the pacing rather suits the story. It never feels too fast or too drawn out.
Very minor spoilers + own experiences while reading:
The only reason why I gave this one four instead of five stars is a section at the end, where it wasn't logical for me that these characters would take that path of action. Since the actions before always seemed to be well-founded in terms of character motivation, this part simply stands out extremely to me. Doesn't mean it's a bad ending though! I can only recommend reading this book. I think if you’re here for the philosophical debates and robots contemplating their existence in a short format you might also enjoy the Monk and Robot stories from Becky Chambers.
Heavy spoilers on that end section:
September 13, 2025
"Doesn't it scare you, what you could have lost? What could be damaged?" Sterling said, and Zev shook his head, and the military bot, in all of his static face plate pieces, actually smiled. Sterling asked: “Why not?"
"To be loved is to be changed," Zev answered, quiet but certain, even, still. "And we are both changed."
Presenting a unique foray into the mind of a labour bot, the Warm Machine asks not only the age-old question of can artificial intelligence truly experience life, but also, can it experience love?
I loved this book. I loved it so much, I was low key devastated to reach the end, because I wanted to stay longer in the world of Zev and Sterling as they discovered all the possibilities open to them as two anomalous bots.
As a fellow writer — and a lover of science fiction — this story both soothed and rankled every urge I’ve ever had to write a queer robot-focused story. Soothed, because this was utter perfection, and so, so easy to fall into and lose myself in a rich tale. And rankled, because, wow, I will never write anything as amazing as this story.
My only tiny note is that I’d love to learn more about the world within this story. I eagerly hope there will be more in this world, and, if not, I’ll carry this story close as one of my new favourite books.
Thank you to the publishers for granting me access to this ARC via NetGalley.
"To be loved is to be changed," Zev answered, quiet but certain, even, still. "And we are both changed."
Presenting a unique foray into the mind of a labour bot, the Warm Machine asks not only the age-old question of can artificial intelligence truly experience life, but also, can it experience love?
I loved this book. I loved it so much, I was low key devastated to reach the end, because I wanted to stay longer in the world of Zev and Sterling as they discovered all the possibilities open to them as two anomalous bots.
As a fellow writer — and a lover of science fiction — this story both soothed and rankled every urge I’ve ever had to write a queer robot-focused story. Soothed, because this was utter perfection, and so, so easy to fall into and lose myself in a rich tale. And rankled, because, wow, I will never write anything as amazing as this story.
My only tiny note is that I’d love to learn more about the world within this story. I eagerly hope there will be more in this world, and, if not, I’ll carry this story close as one of my new favourite books.
Thank you to the publishers for granting me access to this ARC via NetGalley.
May 7, 2026
I tend to prefer medium- or fast-paced books, and this is a slow-paced book, driven by character more than plot. I do love self-aware robots, though. A bot coming to terms with its ability to feel, when bots are not supposed to experience emotion, is nothing new, but Sterling and Zev’s relationship with each other is where this story shines. I like how their search for a sanctuary ends. The voice is great and the vibe is charming.
I read this as a judge for the Self-Published Science Fiction Competition (SPSFC5). This review is my personal opinion and doesn’t reflect the novel’s place in the contest. Thank you to author for the e-copy!
I read this as a judge for the Self-Published Science Fiction Competition (SPSFC5). This review is my personal opinion and doesn’t reflect the novel’s place in the contest. Thank you to author for the e-copy!
October 13, 2025
tl;dr Literally cried. Actual tears. Blew my nose into tissues. So emotional. That ending hits like a bus, I can't even describe it. Beautiful book.
Not tl;dr (my thoughts as I read):
Oh man, where to start! Right from the first page I was enamored. I can't think of a better way to explain it other than child-like whimsy. There's a fantastical element, despite the sci-fi genre, in how it's written that just feels so innocent and magical, and also very endearing.
It had me reeling from just the first few pages, with the biggest smile on my face and several out-loud chuckles.
The story explores the 'life' of robots existing in a human world, seen through the lens of Sterling, and his thoughts and experiences. I'm glad I went through it slowly, giving the work time to digest. There is a lot of depth despite the storyline itself being rather short. It's not just the typical, "What is the meaning of life?", "Can robots be 'alive'?", it goes further. What does it mean to be you? Who are you? What makes up you? Who are you in relation to others, and what are the costs of reaching inward to discover yourself? Sterling grapples with those questions and many more, as he also travels with Zev, whose way of life is at odds with Sterling's beliefs, but whose very existence leads to his salvation. Sterling puts his faith into a bot who both fascinates and frightens him, as they travel together in search of robotic paradise.
The characterization and world-building were wonderful and interesting. I agree with another review that it's 'both subtle and fully-formed'. Clearly this world is lived in with its characters, it feels very real, but you're also not bombarded like you are with fantasy novels, with info dumps and intricately specific details, that at least for me, can be overwhelming. You sort of just walk in and you're there.
But I did have some nit-picks. My main issue was that I wished there were a bit more in the way of descriptions for settings and locations. Just to get a clearer picture of where they are. Some parts were given more imagery than others, but a lot of the time I found myself struggling to 'ground' the characters, and ended up leaning heavily on tropes or previous media I've consumed to get a better picture.
I will say though, that as the book went on, it did gradually get better. The farther they went on their journey, the deeper into human territory they traversed, the little drops of details, like graffiti, dilapidated structures, and neon lights helped paint a scene. And the part where had me legitimately sweating! Really eloquently written scene, and absolutely terrifying to imagine. (I know there will be a companion book with Inix, I'm eager to read her perspective on her experiences!)
My only other nit-pick was hoping to see more character growth from Sterling. While he does explore emotions, the world, and Zev, I would've liked to have seen more self-confidence. There was a lot of "Zev knows all, just trust Zev." But just a moment where Sterling feels more self-assured to put his foot down rather than always doubt himself would've been nice to see.
The visual representation of the internal bot chat was also really cleverly done, and the visuals for THAT scene (I cry) were, oof, my heart. The built up understanding of how the bot chat worked combined with was so sad ;o; This whole scene was just...omg. The whole book was building up to this moment and my heart was just RACING.
And okay, I might've legit teared up from the first line of chapter 27 after all that. omg ;o;
God damn, that ending though. I have so many thoughts, so many feelings, I'm so overwhelmed, my heart is just screaming, I'm so emotional, my evens cannot. Like ;o;
Like I'm sitting here and I don't even know what to type. And the epilogue, with Zev, and how things have just...changed. It's so well done. It hits so hard. Genuinely so emotional. It's literally just so beautiful.
Hilarious extra at the end though.
Ahhh this was so good. <3
Not tl;dr (my thoughts as I read):
Oh man, where to start! Right from the first page I was enamored. I can't think of a better way to explain it other than child-like whimsy. There's a fantastical element, despite the sci-fi genre, in how it's written that just feels so innocent and magical, and also very endearing.
A human may have said that sort of existence was lonely, but FLC0776 did not contain the amount of extra rows and columns to conceive of the concept of loneliness.
He wanted to reach out and touch the bot.
No, that wasn't correct. FLC0776 hadn't wanted anything in his entire uptime.
"Thank you," said FLC0776, a pre-programmed nicety.
"Unrequired," answered the military bot.
It had me reeling from just the first few pages, with the biggest smile on my face and several out-loud chuckles.
The story explores the 'life' of robots existing in a human world, seen through the lens of Sterling, and his thoughts and experiences. I'm glad I went through it slowly, giving the work time to digest. There is a lot of depth despite the storyline itself being rather short. It's not just the typical, "What is the meaning of life?", "Can robots be 'alive'?", it goes further. What does it mean to be you? Who are you? What makes up you? Who are you in relation to others, and what are the costs of reaching inward to discover yourself? Sterling grapples with those questions and many more, as he also travels with Zev, whose way of life is at odds with Sterling's beliefs, but whose very existence leads to his salvation. Sterling puts his faith into a bot who both fascinates and frightens him, as they travel together in search of robotic paradise.
The characterization and world-building were wonderful and interesting. I agree with another review that it's 'both subtle and fully-formed'. Clearly this world is lived in with its characters, it feels very real, but you're also not bombarded like you are with fantasy novels, with info dumps and intricately specific details, that at least for me, can be overwhelming. You sort of just walk in and you're there.
But I did have some nit-picks. My main issue was that I wished there were a bit more in the way of descriptions for settings and locations. Just to get a clearer picture of where they are. Some parts were given more imagery than others, but a lot of the time I found myself struggling to 'ground' the characters, and ended up leaning heavily on tropes or previous media I've consumed to get a better picture.
I will say though, that as the book went on, it did gradually get better. The farther they went on their journey, the deeper into human territory they traversed, the little drops of details, like graffiti, dilapidated structures, and neon lights helped paint a scene. And the part where had me legitimately sweating! Really eloquently written scene, and absolutely terrifying to imagine. (I know there will be a companion book with Inix, I'm eager to read her perspective on her experiences!)
My only other nit-pick was hoping to see more character growth from Sterling. While he does explore emotions, the world, and Zev, I would've liked to have seen more self-confidence. There was a lot of "Zev knows all, just trust Zev." But just a moment where Sterling feels more self-assured to put his foot down rather than always doubt himself would've been nice to see.
The visual representation of the internal bot chat was also really cleverly done, and the visuals for THAT scene (I cry) were, oof, my heart. The built up understanding of how the bot chat worked combined with was so sad ;o; This whole scene was just...omg. The whole book was building up to this moment and my heart was just RACING.
And okay, I might've legit teared up from the first line of chapter 27 after all that. omg ;o;
God damn, that ending though. I have so many thoughts, so many feelings, I'm so overwhelmed, my heart is just screaming, I'm so emotional, my evens cannot. Like ;o;
Like I'm sitting here and I don't even know what to type. And the epilogue, with Zev, and how things have just...changed. It's so well done. It hits so hard. Genuinely so emotional. It's literally just so beautiful.
Hilarious extra at the end though.
Ahhh this was so good. <3
April 24, 2026
Well what’s not to love about a two robots, one built for construction and the other for military, becoming self aware and forming a relationship. The story is told from the POV of the laborbot, Sterling, as it is upgraded and nurtured by the military bot, Zev. The plot is driven by the search for parts, avoiding surveillance of those looking for rogue robots, and searching for robot utopia. In some sense the book is similar to any coming of age, or self awareness journey where the characters acquire more things and knowledge. The story often took me back to the late 1980’s and 1990’s when I worked in the computer industry and was constantly searching for parts and software to upgrade computer systems. The endless swapping of chips, boards, and disks then as in this story consumes time. What my background did allow me to see is the author’s extensive knowledge of computing. She put it all on display and thus the details tended to dominate the narrative while the plot took a while to develop and get to the end.
Plot and Characters:
There are only two characters that matter, Sterling and Zev. A third character is introduced late in the book in what I feel was a introduction to another story. Zev comes in as the advanced prototype and it takes Sterling as a friend when it discovers the laborbot is self aware. There are parallels to Don Quixote and his relationship to Dulcinea, and others of this trope, as Sterling is greatly improved during the story. Sterling accepts nearly all the upgrades as it lacks the programming to really know what an upgrade will do. What the reader does get to see are the thoughts of Sterling through the upgrade process, which at times I felt were beyond what a laborbot should be able to think/feel. In the end, the character arc for Sterling is complete. Zev, also undergoes some deep introspection and a revelation about who/what he really is.
My thoughts
As the second book I am writing a full review for in SPSFC #5, I found the book well written. There is too much detail about all the upgrades, searching for parts, and explaining what software will do. The plethora of insights on the affects of the upgrades slowed the story down and this took away my enjoyment of the book. There was little tension to make me want to read the next chapter. The revelation of what allowed Zev to be sentient, left me disappointed as it wasn’t as miraculous as I had hoped or expected.
Summation:
The Warm Machine is an excellent dive into what a sentient robot might think and feel. The psychology and philosophy of the robots is explained thoroughly by this unique story and the parallels of how a human might find self-awareness under a mentor are well done. The author shows her mastery of language and does a great job getting into the processor of Sterling to reveal the inner workings of what life is about.
Note: I read this book as a judge for SPSFC#5 and thus received a complementary copy.
Plot and Characters:
There are only two characters that matter, Sterling and Zev. A third character is introduced late in the book in what I feel was a introduction to another story. Zev comes in as the advanced prototype and it takes Sterling as a friend when it discovers the laborbot is self aware. There are parallels to Don Quixote and his relationship to Dulcinea, and others of this trope, as Sterling is greatly improved during the story. Sterling accepts nearly all the upgrades as it lacks the programming to really know what an upgrade will do. What the reader does get to see are the thoughts of Sterling through the upgrade process, which at times I felt were beyond what a laborbot should be able to think/feel. In the end, the character arc for Sterling is complete. Zev, also undergoes some deep introspection and a revelation about who/what he really is.
My thoughts
As the second book I am writing a full review for in SPSFC #5, I found the book well written. There is too much detail about all the upgrades, searching for parts, and explaining what software will do. The plethora of insights on the affects of the upgrades slowed the story down and this took away my enjoyment of the book. There was little tension to make me want to read the next chapter. The revelation of what allowed Zev to be sentient, left me disappointed as it wasn’t as miraculous as I had hoped or expected.
Summation:
The Warm Machine is an excellent dive into what a sentient robot might think and feel. The psychology and philosophy of the robots is explained thoroughly by this unique story and the parallels of how a human might find self-awareness under a mentor are well done. The author shows her mastery of language and does a great job getting into the processor of Sterling to reveal the inner workings of what life is about.
Note: I read this book as a judge for SPSFC#5 and thus received a complementary copy.
October 9, 2025
4.5
There is something so special about The Warm Machine that I haven't quite gotten in anything else. The writing style is perfectly matched to the theme—mechanical and completely logical but with an underlying level of "anomalous" emotion that SWELLS throughout the book. The personalities of these beings comes right off the page, and with each philosophical discussion and bonding moment they had, I was more and more deeply invested in Sterling and Zev finding their happy ending.
This is not your typical romance book in any sense of the genre, and if The Warm Machine weren't listed under that, I would almost attribute Sterling and Zev's love for each other to be platonic. They obviously CARE for each other very deeply in the ways they can and learn how, but it never crosses into romantic, in my humble opinion. That being said, their self-sacrificing care for each other TUGGED constantly at my heartstrings, and they clearly do matter to each other in every way they can.
I touched already on the writing style, but I want to add that besides the perfectly suited and extremely well-done style and brilliant dialogue, Cozza excelled at crafting locale, atmosphere, and some visually stunning scenes from time to time that STAND OUT in my memory. I can easily picture the places described in this, and there's one sequence, in particular, in a trash heap in a storm that feels like a scene straight out of a movie in my mind—SO vivid, so stark, and so perfectly moody and atmospheric. I was TRANSPORTED and, to some degree, still living there, the physical, visual, auditory, and emotional stimuli so clear and powerful as to live in my brain and repeat fragmentally in idle moments.
My one mild dismay was the ending—the last chapter and epilogue—and the last several revelations between the characters there that felt rushed and not discussed between Sterling and Zev like all the other revelations were. A lot of information was packed into those pages, and where normally, Sterling would process and discuss with Zev these revelations, they were instead almost glossed over. Basically? I just wanted MORE Sterling and Zev figuring things out together and would kill for a bonus chapter or two placed between the final chapter and epilogue where some of it is expanded.
Regardless, all told, this was an excellent, unique, and extremely well-written novella, and I enjoyed every bit of it. THIS is a book that deserves more hype!
There is something so special about The Warm Machine that I haven't quite gotten in anything else. The writing style is perfectly matched to the theme—mechanical and completely logical but with an underlying level of "anomalous" emotion that SWELLS throughout the book. The personalities of these beings comes right off the page, and with each philosophical discussion and bonding moment they had, I was more and more deeply invested in Sterling and Zev finding their happy ending.
This is not your typical romance book in any sense of the genre, and if The Warm Machine weren't listed under that, I would almost attribute Sterling and Zev's love for each other to be platonic. They obviously CARE for each other very deeply in the ways they can and learn how, but it never crosses into romantic, in my humble opinion. That being said, their self-sacrificing care for each other TUGGED constantly at my heartstrings, and they clearly do matter to each other in every way they can.
I touched already on the writing style, but I want to add that besides the perfectly suited and extremely well-done style and brilliant dialogue, Cozza excelled at crafting locale, atmosphere, and some visually stunning scenes from time to time that STAND OUT in my memory. I can easily picture the places described in this, and there's one sequence, in particular, in a trash heap in a storm that feels like a scene straight out of a movie in my mind—SO vivid, so stark, and so perfectly moody and atmospheric. I was TRANSPORTED and, to some degree, still living there, the physical, visual, auditory, and emotional stimuli so clear and powerful as to live in my brain and repeat fragmentally in idle moments.
My one mild dismay was the ending—the last chapter and epilogue—and the last several revelations between the characters there that felt rushed and not discussed between Sterling and Zev like all the other revelations were. A lot of information was packed into those pages, and where normally, Sterling would process and discuss with Zev these revelations, they were instead almost glossed over. Basically? I just wanted MORE Sterling and Zev figuring things out together and would kill for a bonus chapter or two placed between the final chapter and epilogue where some of it is expanded.
Regardless, all told, this was an excellent, unique, and extremely well-written novella, and I enjoyed every bit of it. THIS is a book that deserves more hype!
August 11, 2025
Recommended: sure
For a short dive into a calm other world, for robot characters who narrate the whole story, for connection that is subtle yet sweet
Thoughts:
I read the premise of this book as "two robots fall in love and defy their rules to be together" which is sort of accurate, but it's a whole lot more than that. Love also feels like not the word for it, exactly. Love implies a lot of messy human emotional tangles, and emotion is at the heart (processor?) of this story. But not in the usual "romance novel" way of human love.
Let's rewind. The story starts of more rigid and becomes flexible, following the changes in the robots narrating everything. Also yes, they do give each other names beyond FLC00201239 whatever so you don't have to try to think that serial code as a name for more than a chapter or two (though I already had him as "Flick" in my mind by the point he got a name). There is some time and playfulness given to determining what the robot-equivalents of common phrases would be. For example the robots don't think, the process, and they don't sleep, they power down, etc. They don't die, they are decommissioned. This can be a bit clunky at the start, but it gets looser as it goes on.
The story itself is fairly straightforward, and serves as a way to learn more about the robots and their world. You have to be willing to just step into it an accept that you aren't getting all the possible backstory and lore on this, only as much as is needed and only when necessary. It's a focus on the characters and their changes more than an active plot of discovery. This gives it a gentle feeling even though there are some fairly extreme tense / actiony scenes in it.
Overall I enjoyed this as something outside what I usually read, and it was short enough that I felt comfortable giving it a try. I am very glad I did as it was fun to think in a different way than usual, and it made me feel some warm fuzzies.
Thanks to the author and Librarything for a free copy. This is my honest review.
For a short dive into a calm other world, for robot characters who narrate the whole story, for connection that is subtle yet sweet
Thoughts:
I read the premise of this book as "two robots fall in love and defy their rules to be together" which is sort of accurate, but it's a whole lot more than that. Love also feels like not the word for it, exactly. Love implies a lot of messy human emotional tangles, and emotion is at the heart (processor?) of this story. But not in the usual "romance novel" way of human love.
Let's rewind. The story starts of more rigid and becomes flexible, following the changes in the robots narrating everything. Also yes, they do give each other names beyond FLC00201239 whatever so you don't have to try to think that serial code as a name for more than a chapter or two (though I already had him as "Flick" in my mind by the point he got a name). There is some time and playfulness given to determining what the robot-equivalents of common phrases would be. For example the robots don't think, the process, and they don't sleep, they power down, etc. They don't die, they are decommissioned. This can be a bit clunky at the start, but it gets looser as it goes on.
The story itself is fairly straightforward, and serves as a way to learn more about the robots and their world. You have to be willing to just step into it an accept that you aren't getting all the possible backstory and lore on this, only as much as is needed and only when necessary. It's a focus on the characters and their changes more than an active plot of discovery. This gives it a gentle feeling even though there are some fairly extreme tense / actiony scenes in it.
Overall I enjoyed this as something outside what I usually read, and it was short enough that I felt comfortable giving it a try. I am very glad I did as it was fun to think in a different way than usual, and it made me feel some warm fuzzies.
Thanks to the author and Librarything for a free copy. This is my honest review.
January 20, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley for an e-arc of this book!
I think I became a little biased about halfway through this because I had a conversation that made me very angry about AI (specifically the idea that it can function like/just as well as humans). In saying that, I did enjoy this, and I think it's such an interesting examination of the concept of 'humanity'. It's easier to appreciate, I think, because Sterling and Zev don't necessarily want to be 'human' and do human things—they just want space to exist as they are.
There's good character development. It's fascinating to see the development of their thought processes and what they 'feel', as well as the development of their relationship. It's not overtly romantic. They're robots—they don't kiss, or hug, or show much expression, never mind affection. But they have an undeniable connection and deep interest in each other from the start, and there's a lot of care and desire to protect each other and stay together. It's fairly sweet, overall.
The main thing I found kept drawing me out of it was that there's a lot of technical terminology. *A lot*. Descriptions of the mechanics and robotic functions and all of that. In a way, it's a good thing, and at the least it makes sense, because they are robots and it's a very clear, constant separator from how a human would think etc. It does just occasionally feel like you'd need a degree in engineering to actually understand, but you can still follow the gist of everything.
Overall, it's a nice little read. There's action, too, but not a lot of constant drama, so there's a slower, cosy enough feeling. I'd definitely recommend if you enjoy a good robot-focused sci-fi!
I think I became a little biased about halfway through this because I had a conversation that made me very angry about AI (specifically the idea that it can function like/just as well as humans). In saying that, I did enjoy this, and I think it's such an interesting examination of the concept of 'humanity'. It's easier to appreciate, I think, because Sterling and Zev don't necessarily want to be 'human' and do human things—they just want space to exist as they are.
There's good character development. It's fascinating to see the development of their thought processes and what they 'feel', as well as the development of their relationship. It's not overtly romantic. They're robots—they don't kiss, or hug, or show much expression, never mind affection. But they have an undeniable connection and deep interest in each other from the start, and there's a lot of care and desire to protect each other and stay together. It's fairly sweet, overall.
The main thing I found kept drawing me out of it was that there's a lot of technical terminology. *A lot*. Descriptions of the mechanics and robotic functions and all of that. In a way, it's a good thing, and at the least it makes sense, because they are robots and it's a very clear, constant separator from how a human would think etc. It does just occasionally feel like you'd need a degree in engineering to actually understand, but you can still follow the gist of everything.
Overall, it's a nice little read. There's action, too, but not a lot of constant drama, so there's a slower, cosy enough feeling. I'd definitely recommend if you enjoy a good robot-focused sci-fi!
September 19, 2025
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for giving me an ARC.
The Warm Machine follows Sterling, a construction bot, who starts having feelings and thoughts that are outside of his programming. Zev, a military bot, tells Sterling he's anomalous, and saves him from decomission. Together, they set off to find Root, a robot utopia with no humans.
This was a really sweet and unique read. I really liked Sterling, his anxiety around Zev putting himself in dangerous situations was so relatable, and his journey to put names to what he was thinking and feeling was so lovely to see. His dynamic with Zev was great. I really liked Zev's insistance on upgrading Sterling and when he finally admitted that he liked Sterling it was such a fantastic moment. Although not explicitly a love story, in that no one says I love you, the care and gentleness that Sterling and Zev treat one another with is so heartwarming. As Zav says to be loved is to be changed, and both Zev and Sterling go through some pretty huge changes throughout the novel.
I wouldn't necessarily call this a cozy read, as there are some pretty intense action scenes, but it was certainly wholesome.
The Warm Machine follows Sterling, a construction bot, who starts having feelings and thoughts that are outside of his programming. Zev, a military bot, tells Sterling he's anomalous, and saves him from decomission. Together, they set off to find Root, a robot utopia with no humans.
This was a really sweet and unique read. I really liked Sterling, his anxiety around Zev putting himself in dangerous situations was so relatable, and his journey to put names to what he was thinking and feeling was so lovely to see. His dynamic with Zev was great. I really liked Zev's insistance on upgrading Sterling and when he finally admitted that he liked Sterling it was such a fantastic moment. Although not explicitly a love story, in that no one says I love you, the care and gentleness that Sterling and Zev treat one another with is so heartwarming. As Zav says to be loved is to be changed, and both Zev and Sterling go through some pretty huge changes throughout the novel.
I wouldn't necessarily call this a cozy read, as there are some pretty intense action scenes, but it was certainly wholesome.
November 11, 2025
A really cool queer sci-fi story about two robots exploring their emotions, making sense of their existence and falling in love.
Loved the characters - both Zev and Sterling have such disctinct personalities that come through more and more as they settle into their own emotions. And is it strange that I read this partly as an age-gap romance? An older, simpler (but emotionally mature) robot set in his daily routine slowly comes alive as he starts to notice things around him, starts to think outside of his usual daily life and then he full on blossoms when a younger taller cooler model falls for him, and in the process changes the younger robot too...
The writing is interesting. I liked the machine-like language because it stayed true to the story told from the perspective of two robots, but there were moments when I had to stop and reread a sentence just to make sure I got the meaning correctly.
Overall, a really interesting exploration of emotions and a lovely (slightly angsty) sci-fi love story.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the eARC (in exchange for an honest review).
Loved the characters - both Zev and Sterling have such disctinct personalities that come through more and more as they settle into their own emotions. And is it strange that I read this partly as an age-gap romance? An older, simpler (but emotionally mature) robot set in his daily routine slowly comes alive as he starts to notice things around him, starts to think outside of his usual daily life and then he full on blossoms when a younger taller cooler model falls for him, and in the process changes the younger robot too...
The writing is interesting. I liked the machine-like language because it stayed true to the story told from the perspective of two robots, but there were moments when I had to stop and reread a sentence just to make sure I got the meaning correctly.
Overall, a really interesting exploration of emotions and a lovely (slightly angsty) sci-fi love story.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the eARC (in exchange for an honest review).
January 21, 2025
My favorite type of scifi story is the type where I really care. I like the technical chatter and the worldbuilding and the futuristic visual descriptions but the core of me loving any scifi story is usually around the characters and if I connect to them or not.
The Warm Machine falls very solidly into my "Scifi with a Heart" category along side stories like Andy Weir's "Project Hail Mary" and Martha Wells' "Murderbot Diaries." I liked getting to know these bots and became alarmingly attached to them with haste. I think I was probably about 20 pages into the book before I felt completely invested.
There were some formatting issue that can probably be fixed in a future publication but they didn't really detract from the story. I did have a few solid laughs (out loud, in public - save me) and I got a little teary eyed at least once. Definitely happy to have picked this up!
The Warm Machine falls very solidly into my "Scifi with a Heart" category along side stories like Andy Weir's "Project Hail Mary" and Martha Wells' "Murderbot Diaries." I liked getting to know these bots and became alarmingly attached to them with haste. I think I was probably about 20 pages into the book before I felt completely invested.
There were some formatting issue that can probably be fixed in a future publication but they didn't really detract from the story. I did have a few solid laughs (out loud, in public - save me) and I got a little teary eyed at least once. Definitely happy to have picked this up!
September 4, 2025
Thank you, NetGalley and GMM Press, for the book and for making it possible that I found this book.
The Warm Machine by Aimee Cozza
I’ll be honest—this isn’t the kind of book I usually pick up. But that’s the beauty of trying something new because I was genuinely surprised by how much I ended up enjoying it.
At first glance, it feels like your typical sci-fi setup—robots developing human-like emotions. But at the same time, it’s completely different because here we have two queer robots falling for each other. And honestly? Yes, please, sign me up for that! Zev and Sterling are so cute, I never thought that I would say that about a robot.😅🤣
I loved going on this journey with them, watching how they slowly realized what they were feeling and what it meant. It’s unique, heartfelt, and definitely a story I’d recommend. 😚🫶
It's a fast read, so you can read it in a few hours.
The Warm Machine by Aimee Cozza
I’ll be honest—this isn’t the kind of book I usually pick up. But that’s the beauty of trying something new because I was genuinely surprised by how much I ended up enjoying it.
At first glance, it feels like your typical sci-fi setup—robots developing human-like emotions. But at the same time, it’s completely different because here we have two queer robots falling for each other. And honestly? Yes, please, sign me up for that! Zev and Sterling are so cute, I never thought that I would say that about a robot.😅🤣
I loved going on this journey with them, watching how they slowly realized what they were feeling and what it meant. It’s unique, heartfelt, and definitely a story I’d recommend. 😚🫶
It's a fast read, so you can read it in a few hours.
June 5, 2025
They're robots, they're in love, what more do you want.
It was a pretty good book. The style is interesting because the author really tried to stick with the progression of the bots discovering and expanding their own sentience. I think it was more convincing for me than similar books dealing with artificial lifeforms' sentience. That said there were a couple things that I found a little weird. Like we just brush off the weirdness of Zev assimilating bots after a while. I feel like that should have been explored more especially in relation to how humans deactivate bots. Also the book ends really quickly. Without giving anything away it just felt like all this build up to just be told what happened second hand. It works in the narrative, but it felt a little disappointing to me. I felt like sometimes the whole of Sterling's character was dependent on what Zev told him.
Overall pretty enjoyable.
It was a pretty good book. The style is interesting because the author really tried to stick with the progression of the bots discovering and expanding their own sentience. I think it was more convincing for me than similar books dealing with artificial lifeforms' sentience. That said there were a couple things that I found a little weird. Like we just brush off the weirdness of Zev assimilating bots after a while. I feel like that should have been explored more especially in relation to how humans deactivate bots. Also the book ends really quickly. Without giving anything away it just felt like all this build up to just be told what happened second hand. It works in the narrative, but it felt a little disappointing to me. I felt like sometimes the whole of Sterling's character was dependent on what Zev told him.
Overall pretty enjoyable.
October 27, 2025
There's a lot going on here.
This is definitely a book you need to sit with for a bit. It's interacting with what it means to be human and what it means to be a person separate from that very well. It was kinda giving me Prayer for the Crown Shy vibes in that respect, even though it's a very different story.
Stirling and Zev are very compelling characters, which is good given that the majority the story is centered on their interactions with each other. I would say the plot is working to forward the characters rather than the reverse.
The plot twist was a bit predictable, and not quite foreshadowed enough to warrant it's predictability in my opinion, but I had a wonderful time reading it nonetheless.
(I received a free copy for review)
This is definitely a book you need to sit with for a bit. It's interacting with what it means to be human and what it means to be a person separate from that very well. It was kinda giving me Prayer for the Crown Shy vibes in that respect, even though it's a very different story.
Stirling and Zev are very compelling characters, which is good given that the majority the story is centered on their interactions with each other. I would say the plot is working to forward the characters rather than the reverse.
The plot twist was a bit predictable, and not quite foreshadowed enough to warrant it's predictability in my opinion, but I had a wonderful time reading it nonetheless.
(I received a free copy for review)
April 29, 2026
A beautiful and heartwarming book. I mostly gobbled it down in a single day. Sterling and Zev are such wonderful characters, and their growth as individuals and as a pair is believable and sweetly human despite their clearly robotic natures - a concept which is also smartly expressed, and not just via word swaps, but in the distinct ways they view the world around them.
Don't let the somewhat simplistic beginning fool you - it only serves to show how much Sterling grows as he blossoms into his sentience and emotions and quite literally becomes more capable of complex thought as the story progresses.
Don't let the somewhat simplistic beginning fool you - it only serves to show how much Sterling grows as he blossoms into his sentience and emotions and quite literally becomes more capable of complex thought as the story progresses.
August 25, 2025
Queer coded robots on a journey of survival, self discovery, and what love means for things not meant to feel things.
The story is pretty straight forward with lots of scifi and dystopian tropes but still manages some surprises and intense scenes.
But the focus of the story is one of trans-humanism and the two robots struggling to survive in a hostile world and explore their own growing sentience and feelings towards each other. And folks, they are adorable.
A bit on the shorter side $5 is still well worth the price.
The story is pretty straight forward with lots of scifi and dystopian tropes but still manages some surprises and intense scenes.
But the focus of the story is one of trans-humanism and the two robots struggling to survive in a hostile world and explore their own growing sentience and feelings towards each other. And folks, they are adorable.
A bit on the shorter side $5 is still well worth the price.
October 30, 2025
thank you so much to netgalley for allowing me to read such a wonderful book!
This story is so beautiful, I'm struggling to find the words to properly describe how it made me feel. The setting is so clear and beautifully described. Even the scenes in the landfill seemed beautiful in their own way. The character development of both Sterling and Zev is incredible. Watching Sterling develop and categorize new emotions felt so special, like i was learning with him.
"To be loved is to be changed," Zev answered, quiet but certain, even, still. "And we are both changed"
This story is so beautiful, I'm struggling to find the words to properly describe how it made me feel. The setting is so clear and beautifully described. Even the scenes in the landfill seemed beautiful in their own way. The character development of both Sterling and Zev is incredible. Watching Sterling develop and categorize new emotions felt so special, like i was learning with him.
"To be loved is to be changed," Zev answered, quiet but certain, even, still. "And we are both changed"
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 11, 2026
I really enjoyed this! "To be loved is to be changed" is said near the end of the book, and it really brings the whole thing together. Throughout, Sterling and Zev are changing in how they perceive themselves and their relationship as they search for the robot utopia of Root, and it was fun to be along for that ride. The writing feels very technical at times, but given the POV is FLC0776/Sterling, a laborbot, it made it feel authentic.
Definitely recommend if you're looking for queer robots trying to figure their stuff out. I'm definitely excited to read the next book in the same world.
Definitely recommend if you're looking for queer robots trying to figure their stuff out. I'm definitely excited to read the next book in the same world.
March 17, 2025
This quick read had me invested right from the start. Reading this book we get to watch the two robots find each other, while finding themselves at the same time. The character growth each robot makes throughout really lets you connect to each character. You can't help but root for these two and the sense of community and love they work to build.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 8, 2025
This book. Lemme tell you. I was expecting "cute robots fall in love" -- and while there *was* plenty of feel-good, innocent romance -- I also got sucker-punched with surprisingly deep commentary on what it means to be sentient.
I won't spoil the twist for you -- you'll have to find that out on your own -- but I will say it was a rollercoaster of a read that I loved every second of.
I won't spoil the twist for you -- you'll have to find that out on your own -- but I will say it was a rollercoaster of a read that I loved every second of.
October 21, 2025
brilliant. engaging. buying myself a copy because i Will be rereading this. the work put into building and consistently maintaining a nonhuman perspective throughout is impressive. wasn't expecting the discussions on individuality and sentience, though it added so much depth
plus, how can i be disappointed by gay robots?
plus, how can i be disappointed by gay robots?
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