Peach Boy Riverside 1

by Coolkyousinnjya

[Quirky Cat]

Peach Boy Riverside, Vol. 1 is the start of a new series, written by coolkyousinnjya and illustrated by Johanne. It's also one of the odder and more entertaining series I've read recently, with several surprises mixed in.

Sartrienne Aldriac is a princess who desperately wants to get out of her kingdom and explore the world. She almost got her chance when a bunch of monsters came to destroy her kingdom, as her father would rather she run than face what was to come.

Instead of losing her family and kingdom, she watched as an odd sort of hero stepped up to face the monsters. Only, Momomtaro may not have the most altruistic intentions in mind.

Peach Boy Riverside, Vol. 1 is not a series afraid of gore – I can tell you that much. Part of the premise (or so it felt to me) was the line between hero and monster. The hero in this tale revels in all things blood and gore – though thankfully, he keeps his bloodlust focused on monsters (for the moment).

This tale is apparently inspired by classic Japanese folklore, in which a boy is born from a peach, only to rise up and battle ogres. You can see the connection in the title and a bit in Momotaro's origin.

But honestly? It mostly feels like its own being. I feel like it's important to emphasize the 'inspired' part of that description because it certainly doesn't follow the same path. Or focus.
There's a surprise third character introduced into this mix. I won't spoil her introduction or any of that. But I will say that I surprised myself by enjoying her presence far more than I expected.

Thanks to Kodansha Comics and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Check out more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks