The Lucky Machine

by Aimee Cozza

After a life of subservience wrought with extensive memory wipes, personal autonomous android model NX makes the fateful decision to slip from the mid-upper reaches of the city. In the dilapidated lower levels, she meets a talented but disillusioned cyborg named Sylvan who extends to her a temporary place working in his shop. As they sew the bonds of friendship and regain Sylvan's lost passion, NX hones her own unique for optimism, for charm, and for creating. With a little help from some friends -- and a bit of luck -- NX evades the forces that intend to recapture her or destroy her. The lower levels are easy to get lost in, but can she hide forever?

190 pages, Hardcover

Published January 11, 2026

Reviews

[Vico Whitmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely brilliant follow up to The Warm Machine following Inix, briefly met in the first book. The Lucky Machine is fun, insightful, and deeply felt as it explores the nature of art, humanity, and what it means to build community in the underbelly of a near future city. This book is incredibly timely and needed.

[Tory K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a lovely, heartfelt follow-up to The Warm Machine. I really enjoyed getting to learn more about the city (viewed briefly in TWM) and it’s inhabitants, as well as NX herself! The world felt well-considered and alive. I really enjoyed the focus on friendship as well, which I think is a bit underrepresented in modern fiction. If you’re looking for a cozy sci-fi read, this is definitely one to put on your TBR list.

[blackbirds · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading the Warm Machine, I, of course, wanted more Inix, and the Lucky Machine does not disappoint! She was such a fun POV to read because of her general personality and I loved being along for the ride as she became more and more herself and more into creating and selling clothes. After reading the Warm Machine, I was always a little tense, waiting for the inevitable link up between the two stories.

Delightfully cozy with a fun robot pov learning how to be herself. Definitely recommend if you want something a little more low key and personal!

[Christiane Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

You might think that tying together a rogue anomalous android once used only for human pleasure, a disillusioned man with cybernetic parts, underground fashion designs, and a setting that invokes the feel of Kowloon Walled City would be a difficult task, but not for Aimee Cozza. This story is cozy in all the right ways - there is some danger but also soft fabrics, second chances, growing friendships, and beautiful character growth.
NX is a loveable character who could have been written as naive, thanks to the limited memories that she managed to hold onto despite nightly memory wipes. Instead she is hopeful in the purest of ways; she knows that the world is dangerous, but she continues to see and support the best parts of it.

I recommend this and it's companion The Warm Machine highly for folks who need hopeful stories in their lives.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

What more can I say, other than the author has done it again? A repeat of The Warm Machine in the best way possible. I found a perfect sequel within the pages of The Lucky Machine, and every moment spent with NX and Sylvan was just so...endearing. An almost cozy slice-of-life SciFi that I wasn't 100% aware I needed.

But I did, I needed this. Sure, its a SciFi dystopia, but in these pages there's still hope, warmth, optimism, and something to look forward to. Whether that's seeing the sunlight when leaving the depths of the city, or that people care even when you don't think so, or both.

You do not want to miss out on this book, or this author, or the other book. Go read them. Right meow.

[Imber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve decided 2026 is the year I get back into reading, and when I saw Aimee Cozza advertising the launch of a story about a robot and friendship, well, how could I resist! And I couldn’t be happier with the fact I picked this book up, it’s is everything I needed out of a story. Cute and sweet with just enough tension to really have me reading nonstop (in fact I finished the whole thing in only two sittings). Inix is the sweetest type of character and I really enjoyed watching her figure out her own autonomy and build connections with Sylvan and level three. I also really adored Sylvan! And Feint has left me wanting with so many questions!

Overall it’s a nice optimistic stiry that left me feeling good after reading it! So 10/10 I would absolutely recommend and trust me I will be recommending it to, pestering even, every friend I have to check it out XD

[William Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely followup to The Warm Machine, this one focuses on Inix, a side character from that story, and tells her tale. Where the first book is all about the bots, this one covers a lot of bot/human interaction and also a bit more worldbuilding on the society. A very nice addition to the bot universe, full of wholesome relationships and lots of pattern-making!
Looking forward to more entries!

[Britney Ireland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you #NetGalley for the copy of #TheLuckyMachine in return for my honest opinion and review.

Oh man I didn't know this was a follow up book and I now will go back and read the one before it. I enjoyed this read and recommend it to readers. It kept me interested the whole way thru from start to finish.