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Synthetic Sea
In the distant future of planet cracking, VR distraction, and corporate greed, grieving private detective Ryoma LeBeau takes what seems to be a simple job on the opulent casino planetoid of Scylla. Captivated by a chance meeting with the cybernetic musician Guin, he finds himself drawn to the smoky anachronistic lounge bar where they perform. But it seems there's a lot more to both Guin and this case and Ryoma can't help but pull at the threads of mystery leading him to the depths of conspiracy and memory.
Inspired by Philip K Dick novels and Ghost in the Shell, Synthetic Sea is a cyberpunk noir entwined with queer romance.
Inspired by Philip K Dick novels and Ghost in the Shell, Synthetic Sea is a cyberpunk noir entwined with queer romance.
226 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 12, 2024
2 people are currently reading
120 people want to read
About the author
Franklyn S. Newton
4 books12 followersFranklyn Newton (they/she) has been writing on and off since their teens, largely inspired by the sci-fi & horror movies that wormed into their brain when they left the tv on at night. They enjoy writing about transhumanism, the struggle for bodily autonomy and finding love. They’re based in the south of England and run a two-person book club with their partner, reading brick-sized sci-fi novels and comparing notes. Synthetic Sea is their first novel.
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November 23, 2024Read for SPSFC4- will come back and assign stars after we announce some scores!!
First posted at https://fanfiaddict.com/review-synthe...
Synthetic Sea by Franklyn S. Newton is a cyberpunk standalone that introduced readers to characters Ryoma and Guin. The reader is immersed into a world of futuristic technology and neon-lit cityscapes through the perspective of an ex-boxer/private detective (Ryoma) working a case. The cover captured the essence of cyberpunk fiction by hinting at themes of technology, digital interface, and neon-lit atmospheres. I’m quite obsessed with the cover and think I need a copy for myself!
The representation of Ryoma and Guin, two trans characters (one enby), finding love felt authentic and uplifting even though it developed a bit too quickly for me – I’m more of the “slow-burn” type. Their relationship was a testament to how well the characters and their bond were portrayed. There was a beautiful intimacy rooted in trust that developed between the two. The romance and representation were handled with great care.
In a cyberpunk setting where immersion in a tech heavy world is paramount, the integration of cybernetic technology was seamless. This kind of natural exposition helped me feel grounded without being overwhelmed. Newton’s world-building stands out as one of the strongest elements. Over the years, I have found myself gravitating towards cyberpunk aesthetics so I could go on and on about all of the elements and little details that I loved. Guin’s job as a synth jazz musician, the casino planet, synthetic parts, VR, the hive/pool, smoky lounge bars, etc etc etc. Newton knocked it out of the park with their world-building.
The detective element was my main hook at the beginning, but it ended up stalling for a little while the romance was introduced. I felt the pace snag a little when the romance took priority without moving the detective plot forward. The story lost its initial momentum. I would’ve liked to see the romance and mystery elements develop more side by side because it felt like the romance was sectioned off from the core crime and mystery.
Ryoma could’ve been assigned any job, and it may not have made a difference. Ryoma felt passive and disengaged with his case. A secondary character did most of the detective work “off page” — and when the secondary character didn’t evolve or have an interesting arc themselves, the overall mystery ended up feeling flat. I think his sister’s backstory tied into the present mystery, but it wasn’t exactly clear. It opened up the door for more unanswered questions. I thought maybe his hesitation and passiveness was from the loss of his sister, but there were a few situations that he approached hastily. I finished feeling a little unsure with Ryoma’s character arc.
The main antagonist was more of a faceless corporation with “enforcers” showing up at predictable times. This felt formulaic and pushed the plot along in a predictable way, so this didn’t work much for me. I do like when my antagonists create unpredictability and help keep a sense of surprise or danger.
Finally, there were some scenes that felt misplaced– such as one near the end that might have been better suited for the middle (pool scene, in particular). The immersion into the pool was a more exploratory moment in my opinion which felt a little out of place. Rearranging some scenes may have allowed for a more natural progression of tension and help maintain momentum without such a disruptive shift.
Overall, the fluid integration of technology and world building, along with meaningful representation, brought depth and authenticity to the narrative. The only critiques I really have involved the pacing and a predictable antagonist.
Content Warnings: Explicit, Martial arts/combat, Non-consensual medical procedures, References to assault but this is not on the page
First posted at https://fanfiaddict.com/review-synthe...
Synthetic Sea by Franklyn S. Newton is a cyberpunk standalone that introduced readers to characters Ryoma and Guin. The reader is immersed into a world of futuristic technology and neon-lit cityscapes through the perspective of an ex-boxer/private detective (Ryoma) working a case. The cover captured the essence of cyberpunk fiction by hinting at themes of technology, digital interface, and neon-lit atmospheres. I’m quite obsessed with the cover and think I need a copy for myself!
The representation of Ryoma and Guin, two trans characters (one enby), finding love felt authentic and uplifting even though it developed a bit too quickly for me – I’m more of the “slow-burn” type. Their relationship was a testament to how well the characters and their bond were portrayed. There was a beautiful intimacy rooted in trust that developed between the two. The romance and representation were handled with great care.
In a cyberpunk setting where immersion in a tech heavy world is paramount, the integration of cybernetic technology was seamless. This kind of natural exposition helped me feel grounded without being overwhelmed. Newton’s world-building stands out as one of the strongest elements. Over the years, I have found myself gravitating towards cyberpunk aesthetics so I could go on and on about all of the elements and little details that I loved. Guin’s job as a synth jazz musician, the casino planet, synthetic parts, VR, the hive/pool, smoky lounge bars, etc etc etc. Newton knocked it out of the park with their world-building.
The detective element was my main hook at the beginning, but it ended up stalling for a little while the romance was introduced. I felt the pace snag a little when the romance took priority without moving the detective plot forward. The story lost its initial momentum. I would’ve liked to see the romance and mystery elements develop more side by side because it felt like the romance was sectioned off from the core crime and mystery.
Ryoma could’ve been assigned any job, and it may not have made a difference. Ryoma felt passive and disengaged with his case. A secondary character did most of the detective work “off page” — and when the secondary character didn’t evolve or have an interesting arc themselves, the overall mystery ended up feeling flat. I think his sister’s backstory tied into the present mystery, but it wasn’t exactly clear. It opened up the door for more unanswered questions. I thought maybe his hesitation and passiveness was from the loss of his sister, but there were a few situations that he approached hastily. I finished feeling a little unsure with Ryoma’s character arc.
The main antagonist was more of a faceless corporation with “enforcers” showing up at predictable times. This felt formulaic and pushed the plot along in a predictable way, so this didn’t work much for me. I do like when my antagonists create unpredictability and help keep a sense of surprise or danger.
Finally, there were some scenes that felt misplaced– such as one near the end that might have been better suited for the middle (pool scene, in particular). The immersion into the pool was a more exploratory moment in my opinion which felt a little out of place. Rearranging some scenes may have allowed for a more natural progression of tension and help maintain momentum without such a disruptive shift.
Overall, the fluid integration of technology and world building, along with meaningful representation, brought depth and authenticity to the narrative. The only critiques I really have involved the pacing and a predictable antagonist.
Content Warnings: Explicit, Martial arts/combat, Non-consensual medical procedures, References to assault but this is not on the page
July 11, 2024
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book by the author in exchange for a review.
This story is a beautiful example of a cyberpunk sci-fi noir with a healthy dose of romance. It follows a grieving private detective Ryoma as he is trying to get back into work after having his life derailed by a traumatic death. What starts out as a simple case of uncovering a cheating husband's affair so his wife can divorce him soon turns out to be a lot more than meets the eye and Ryoma can't stop himself from digging deeper.
This story takes some of the most intruiging aspects of its genres (synthetics, cybernetic implants and their upkeep as big corporations fuck with people's bodies for a quick buck, megacities divided between the mega-rich and the seedy underbelly of poorer people struggling to survive, traumatized private investigator and traumatized lounge singer with a troubled past) and weaves it into a beautiful tapestry filled in with incredibly interesting world building.
If I didn't know this was a debut work I would not believe it to be one either. The writing and particularly the dialogue feels fluid and natural and as I already mentioned the world building manages to feel immersive without being info-dumpy, creating a rich world with interesting characters and yet never overwhelming me with that information.
For a story that moves quite fast in the escalation of the mystery, it also has its moments to slow down and let us bask in the sweet and tender moments of romance and relationship building, which added further depth.
All in all I really enjoyed this book and if you enjoy cyberpunk noir sci-fi romances I can only advise you to check it out!
Trigger warnings for: sexual assault, dehumanisation, violence, murder, massive invasion of bodily autonomy in a non-sexual way (in addition to the sexual assault), aspects of invasive body horror and loss of autonomy.
This story is a beautiful example of a cyberpunk sci-fi noir with a healthy dose of romance. It follows a grieving private detective Ryoma as he is trying to get back into work after having his life derailed by a traumatic death. What starts out as a simple case of uncovering a cheating husband's affair so his wife can divorce him soon turns out to be a lot more than meets the eye and Ryoma can't stop himself from digging deeper.
This story takes some of the most intruiging aspects of its genres (synthetics, cybernetic implants and their upkeep as big corporations fuck with people's bodies for a quick buck, megacities divided between the mega-rich and the seedy underbelly of poorer people struggling to survive, traumatized private investigator and traumatized lounge singer with a troubled past) and weaves it into a beautiful tapestry filled in with incredibly interesting world building.
If I didn't know this was a debut work I would not believe it to be one either. The writing and particularly the dialogue feels fluid and natural and as I already mentioned the world building manages to feel immersive without being info-dumpy, creating a rich world with interesting characters and yet never overwhelming me with that information.
For a story that moves quite fast in the escalation of the mystery, it also has its moments to slow down and let us bask in the sweet and tender moments of romance and relationship building, which added further depth.
All in all I really enjoyed this book and if you enjoy cyberpunk noir sci-fi romances I can only advise you to check it out!
Trigger warnings for: sexual assault, dehumanisation, violence, murder, massive invasion of bodily autonomy in a non-sexual way (in addition to the sexual assault), aspects of invasive body horror and loss of autonomy.
August 8, 2024
Deeply enjoyed reading Synthetic Sea.
Normally, noir mysteries aren't my thing, but the mix of soft quiet moments and mystery in Synthetic Sea is the perfect mix. The fear and worry, especially in Ryoma, is always palpable, and it's heartwarming to see his and Guin's relationship grow. To watch as they open up for each other (sometimes literally) was beautiful.
All the connections of the case Ryoma's working on, and the mystery aspect, tying into other aspects are so well-delivered.
All in all, Synthetic Sea is a wonderful read, and I'd love to read more about Ryoma and Guin and the world they live in.
Normally, noir mysteries aren't my thing, but the mix of soft quiet moments and mystery in Synthetic Sea is the perfect mix. The fear and worry, especially in Ryoma, is always palpable, and it's heartwarming to see his and Guin's relationship grow. To watch as they open up for each other (sometimes literally) was beautiful.
All the connections of the case Ryoma's working on, and the mystery aspect, tying into other aspects are so well-delivered.
All in all, Synthetic Sea is a wonderful read, and I'd love to read more about Ryoma and Guin and the world they live in.
August 1, 2025
I really enjoyed this story. Very interesting world building, and I’d definitely like to see a sequel or another story set in the same world. I enjoyed the characters and their interactions, as well as the way the t4t romance was presented as “normal” and integrated into the story. As some other reviews have mentioned, it could do with a more diligent copy editor, but it was far from unreadable.
I look forward to seeing more from this author!
I look forward to seeing more from this author!
April 12, 2024
(I have been given an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.)
THIS WAS AMAZING! ONE OF MY FAVOURITE BOOKS OF ALL TIME NOW!!!
Synthetic Sea is a short book, but it packs a punch with its world, characters, and fluid writing. The story has a certain feel to it that I can't explain in one word. It feels like a rainy night that is becoming an early morning. It feels full, exciting, existential, and hopeful.
We follow Ryoma, a detective, as he investigates a case and the lounge singer android Guin, who is full of a past of mystery and sorrow. The duo grow closer as they both try to solve the mystery they are after but also solve the knots within each other that were left from their pasts.
There were so many high points to the story. The characters were delightful. I loved Ryoma and Guin. Their relationship was so full of love. Both with Ryoma and Guin, you can feel the sadness and fear that comes with opening up and loving someone so tenderly. My heart ached in every moment for them. On one side, we have an ex-boxer detective who lost his sister and is trying to live despite himself, and on another, we have a synth lounge singer who think they are fated to live a lonesome life for being the way they are. There is a tragedy in a tender love and opening up for the first time, and these two both know how painful it is.
I am at a loss for words as for how much I loved it, actually so, perhaps, after a reread, I might write another review. BUT, I can say with a full heart that Franklyn S. Newton is one of my new favourite authors, and I will be all ears for their next project.
THIS WAS AMAZING! ONE OF MY FAVOURITE BOOKS OF ALL TIME NOW!!!
Synthetic Sea is a short book, but it packs a punch with its world, characters, and fluid writing. The story has a certain feel to it that I can't explain in one word. It feels like a rainy night that is becoming an early morning. It feels full, exciting, existential, and hopeful.
We follow Ryoma, a detective, as he investigates a case and the lounge singer android Guin, who is full of a past of mystery and sorrow. The duo grow closer as they both try to solve the mystery they are after but also solve the knots within each other that were left from their pasts.
There were so many high points to the story. The characters were delightful. I loved Ryoma and Guin. Their relationship was so full of love. Both with Ryoma and Guin, you can feel the sadness and fear that comes with opening up and loving someone so tenderly. My heart ached in every moment for them. On one side, we have an ex-boxer detective who lost his sister and is trying to live despite himself, and on another, we have a synth lounge singer who think they are fated to live a lonesome life for being the way they are. There is a tragedy in a tender love and opening up for the first time, and these two both know how painful it is.
I am at a loss for words as for how much I loved it, actually so, perhaps, after a reread, I might write another review. BUT, I can say with a full heart that Franklyn S. Newton is one of my new favourite authors, and I will be all ears for their next project.
June 16, 2024
Cozy, domestic fluff with the backdrop of cyberpunk alongside a darker story. I liked how the author blended the two together! It worked surprisingly well and was a really good choice. I loved Ryoma and Guin so much! A lot of care went into them and their relationship and all their quiet moments were great. If the author ever returns to this world, I'll definitely want to read more of it!
November 6, 2024
A private investigator romances a lounge singer in a cyberpunk setting, while investigating corporate wrongdoing.
I wanted to like this, it has great bones, but honestly feel it needed another 2 rounds of edits. It had typos, poor grammar, and my goodness I love commas myself, but do not need to read them in every sentence. There were some weird decisions by characters and clunky dialogue in places. All this needed to be smoothed out to keep me immersed as I read.
All in all, the core of this is a good story, but I think it was sent into the world a bit too early. Would happily read from this author again if they worked with a more 'unkind' ;) editor.
I wanted to like this, it has great bones, but honestly feel it needed another 2 rounds of edits. It had typos, poor grammar, and my goodness I love commas myself, but do not need to read them in every sentence. There were some weird decisions by characters and clunky dialogue in places. All this needed to be smoothed out to keep me immersed as I read.
All in all, the core of this is a good story, but I think it was sent into the world a bit too early. Would happily read from this author again if they worked with a more 'unkind' ;) editor.
November 10, 2024
A fun mix of noir mystery and cyberpunk with a complex and heartwarming queer romance threaded through the whole. I loved the worldbuilding and the characters, and the entire setting was perfectly atmospheric. Definitely recommend it!
August 11, 2025
I want to give this book more stars but unfortunately I just can't.
I love the world-building, the characters, the ideas, but the writing itself wasn't all the way there unfortunately.
The pacing was quite uneven, the book didn't seem to be sure if it wanted to be a detective novel or a romance. An that's fine, it can be both, but as a consequence it felt like it happened almost nothing at all and too much unimportant scenes all at once.
The ending felt super rushed compared to the rest and was somewhat surprising.
Also some typos und unfinished sentences found their way into the finished product.
All in all I still enjoyed the book quiet a lot, otherwise I wouldn't have finished it.
I am looking forward what else will be released by this author, they have great ideas and I am sure they will only get better!
I love the world-building, the characters, the ideas, but the writing itself wasn't all the way there unfortunately.
The pacing was quite uneven, the book didn't seem to be sure if it wanted to be a detective novel or a romance. An that's fine, it can be both, but as a consequence it felt like it happened almost nothing at all and too much unimportant scenes all at once.
The ending felt super rushed compared to the rest and was somewhat surprising.
Also some typos und unfinished sentences found their way into the finished product.
All in all I still enjoyed the book quiet a lot, otherwise I wouldn't have finished it.
I am looking forward what else will be released by this author, they have great ideas and I am sure they will only get better!
January 21, 2024
I have just finished this eARC yesterday and I have absolutely adored it.
Although I love sci-fi, I don’t often read romance with cyborg like characters. (My 7 years old inner child is still traumatised by The Terminator 🫢🫢) I am so happy that I ventured out of my comfort zone and read this book.
It doesn’t read like a debut at all! Two of my pet peeves are a badly written dialogue and world building which reads like a history book or a manual were absent here. The writing and the dialogues were so fluid and natural, the world building was not overdone. In fact it was written in my favourite way, little by little revealed throughout the plot.
Guin and Ryo were absolutely adorable together, their relationship is sweet and gave me all the warm, buttery feelings. There are darker themes (international or intergalactic company’s greed, SA, dehumanisation) as part of the storyline (read TW) but this is not a dark romance. I would say it read like a hurt/comfort story for me.
I would have loved to know more about the synths’ history or why Guin became a synth, but this is just a minor thing and doesn’t affect my rating or my appreciation for this book.
Although I love sci-fi, I don’t often read romance with cyborg like characters. (My 7 years old inner child is still traumatised by The Terminator 🫢🫢) I am so happy that I ventured out of my comfort zone and read this book.
It doesn’t read like a debut at all! Two of my pet peeves are a badly written dialogue and world building which reads like a history book or a manual were absent here. The writing and the dialogues were so fluid and natural, the world building was not overdone. In fact it was written in my favourite way, little by little revealed throughout the plot.
Guin and Ryo were absolutely adorable together, their relationship is sweet and gave me all the warm, buttery feelings. There are darker themes (international or intergalactic company’s greed, SA, dehumanisation) as part of the storyline (read TW) but this is not a dark romance. I would say it read like a hurt/comfort story for me.
I would have loved to know more about the synths’ history or why Guin became a synth, but this is just a minor thing and doesn’t affect my rating or my appreciation for this book.
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August 29, 2024A lot more robot romance and a lot less detective noir than I expected, but I love sexy cyberpunk so I'm all for it. Both the romance and the mystery elements were interesting. I LOVED the concept of jacking, really creative and really horrifying. Could have done with some severe copy editing to fix the typos, consistency issues, and incredible overuse of commas though.
May 10, 2024
I was provided with an ARC copy of Synthetic Sea in exchange for an honest review.
🧬 cyberpunk noir mystery
🧬 private investigator x lounge singer
🧬 casino planets & megacities
🧬 cybernetic maintenance as intimacy
🧬 hurt/comfort
🧬 trans m/nbi rep
🧬 for fans of Ghost in the Shell & Blade Runner
Franklyn S. Newton created a world i was able to become immediately immersed in. it is lush and atmospheric, without relying on heavy exposition.
i adore the soft relationship between Ryoma and Guin. they've been living rent free in my brain since i read an ARC copy in January.
this is a must read if you love cyberpunk, blade runner, noir mysteries, and stories tied together with transformative love.
🧬 cyberpunk noir mystery
🧬 private investigator x lounge singer
🧬 casino planets & megacities
🧬 cybernetic maintenance as intimacy
🧬 hurt/comfort
🧬 trans m/nbi rep
🧬 for fans of Ghost in the Shell & Blade Runner
Franklyn S. Newton created a world i was able to become immediately immersed in. it is lush and atmospheric, without relying on heavy exposition.
i adore the soft relationship between Ryoma and Guin. they've been living rent free in my brain since i read an ARC copy in January.
this is a must read if you love cyberpunk, blade runner, noir mysteries, and stories tied together with transformative love.
December 1, 2024
I read a copy of this book as a judge for the Self Published Sci Fi Competition - these are my personal thoughts rather than an indication of the book's performance in the competition.
This book has a lot to offer - a strong sense of place and deliciously created atmosphere, a very sweet romance (t4t!!!!), and super interesting work relating to synthetic bodies and everything attached to a world where that's possible.
I really enjoyed those parts of the book, and revelled in what felt like the author's joy in writing them. I especially adored the transness of this book and its romance - Guin and Ryoma are both a delight and the queernormativity was effortless.
Unfortunately, this book really needed a much more thorough edit, on both a copy editing and developmental editing level. If you're happy to look past the comma splicing and want to enjoy a romance book with a sci fi setting based on its vibes, though, this is probably a strong contender for you!
This book has a lot to offer - a strong sense of place and deliciously created atmosphere, a very sweet romance (t4t!!!!), and super interesting work relating to synthetic bodies and everything attached to a world where that's possible.
I really enjoyed those parts of the book, and revelled in what felt like the author's joy in writing them. I especially adored the transness of this book and its romance - Guin and Ryoma are both a delight and the queernormativity was effortless.
Unfortunately, this book really needed a much more thorough edit, on both a copy editing and developmental editing level. If you're happy to look past the comma splicing and want to enjoy a romance book with a sci fi setting based on its vibes, though, this is probably a strong contender for you!
March 29, 2025
3.5⭐️
this book was ok! i enjoyed reading it, and the storyline was interesting, but it didn’t flow super well. the dialogue was clunky, and it sometimes skipped over sections that left me feeling confused at what was happening. it was a super quick read and i otherwise enjoyed it!
this book was ok! i enjoyed reading it, and the storyline was interesting, but it didn’t flow super well. the dialogue was clunky, and it sometimes skipped over sections that left me feeling confused at what was happening. it was a super quick read and i otherwise enjoyed it!
February 14, 2025
Enjoyed this smart mix of space-set sci-fi, classic hard-boiled detective noir, and queer romance. Guin is such a swoony character to me. The way the author describes their synthetic body, the slow reveals (some literal), and their damaged yet open to trusting again personality just really got to me. In some ways the central mystery/case takes a back burner to the developing relationship between Guin and Ryoma, another damaged soul, but I didn't mind that because all the details of the futuristic society and their attempts to navigate through a somewhat dystopian landscape were quite fascinating. It did have a few minor editing issues but I'm still giving it 5 stars for originality and drawing me into the story and making me root for the main characters. (Content warning as noted by the author: "Content Warning: This novel covers themes of close family loss, dehumanisation, and the trauma of sexual assault, so do take care if these things are particularly upsetting to you.")
August 8, 2024
A sweet trans/enby noir/detective sci-fi romance with something to say about the nature of humanity through its portrayal of cyborgs (something you love to see in trans fiction and which trans authors often do well). The noir/detective plotline was solid, if not novel, and the romance was very sweet. Some folks may not enjoy the instalust-to-instalove pipeline, but I'm here for it. I could have used a bit more heat to the romance for my personal tastes--there are many fade to black or fade-in from a sex scene moments, which may be a little frustrating for some, but a bonus to others! The best part about the book was the design of the cyborg character and their attitude about their humanity, an excellent trans metaphor beautifully done.
June 24, 2024
I loved this! Such a cool blend of genres. The world-building was particularly strong and so immersive.
January 18, 2026
loved the scifi world and the characters, many heavy themes tackled and also tenderness- some flow issues but i love detectives and synths and the characters really drew me in. also trans rep!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews