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geekwayne's review against another edition
2.0
'At the End of Your Tether' by Adam Smith with art by V.V. Glass is a graphic novel about a boy looking for something that maybe he's not meant to find.
Ludo Carre is in love with Arlo Quinonez. They've made mixtapes together and formed a real connection. One that got broken up with the moving around of families. Now, it's 1997 and Ludo is moving back to his home. The problem is that Arlo has gone missing. Now Ludo has gone in search of her, but he may find things about Arlo that he wished he hadn't found out.
The story and art here were just kind of mediocre. By the time the reveal hit, I was already a bit checked out of the story. I liked the characters, and the end of the story was strange.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Oni Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
Ludo Carre is in love with Arlo Quinonez. They've made mixtapes together and formed a real connection. One that got broken up with the moving around of families. Now, it's 1997 and Ludo is moving back to his home. The problem is that Arlo has gone missing. Now Ludo has gone in search of her, but he may find things about Arlo that he wished he hadn't found out.
The story and art here were just kind of mediocre. By the time the reveal hit, I was already a bit checked out of the story. I liked the characters, and the end of the story was strange.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Oni Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
booksandshan's review
3.0
3 out of 5 stars.
I was provided an early copy of this from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
For fans of Brick or Paper Towns comes At the End of Your Tether, the story of a boy who goes searching for his missing ex-girlfriend only to discover that some things aren’t meant to be found.
I've seen a few reviews commenting on their dislike for the art style but I myself quite liked it. The concept of Ardo's character was something I enjoy in novels. This wasn't a simple story of two teens getting together it's something new and interesting.
I am a huge fan of graphic novels and comic books. They are quick easy reads and this was certainly a quick read. I wouldn't really say easy... The plot started to get confusing from pretty early on.
The story did contain a lot of flashbacks which is made clear by the 'Then' and 'Now' in the corners. I did eventually see this but the flashbacks do happen earlier on in the story before anything really happens so you isn't it obvious that this is the case. Not only because of the flashbacks but some scenes don't really flow into each other in a way I would of liked.
It was overall an interesting concept and I think it's a story you will have to read a few times to catch all the information needed. I will re-read closer to the time. A sequel would be great for this as it's a storyline that could be followed up from Ludo's perspective.
Thank you again to NetGalley and the publisher for this early copy.
I was provided an early copy of this from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
For fans of Brick or Paper Towns comes At the End of Your Tether, the story of a boy who goes searching for his missing ex-girlfriend only to discover that some things aren’t meant to be found.
I've seen a few reviews commenting on their dislike for the art style but I myself quite liked it. The concept of Ardo's character was something I enjoy in novels. This wasn't a simple story of two teens getting together it's something new and interesting.
I am a huge fan of graphic novels and comic books. They are quick easy reads and this was certainly a quick read. I wouldn't really say easy... The plot started to get confusing from pretty early on.
The story did contain a lot of flashbacks which is made clear by the 'Then' and 'Now' in the corners. I did eventually see this but the flashbacks do happen earlier on in the story before anything really happens so you isn't it obvious that this is the case. Not only because of the flashbacks but some scenes don't really flow into each other in a way I would of liked.
It was overall an interesting concept and I think it's a story you will have to read a few times to catch all the information needed. I will re-read closer to the time. A sequel would be great for this as it's a storyline that could be followed up from Ludo's perspective.
Thank you again to NetGalley and the publisher for this early copy.
mksiggy75's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
mildhonestbonsai's review against another edition
4.0
**NOTE: I received e-ARC via NetGalley in conjunction with Oni Press in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. I did not receive compensation from the publisher for my review and so the opinions expressed within are of my own.**
I would like to start off first and foremost that whoever decided to compare this book to the likes of Brick and Paper Towns really does not fit this book whatsoever. I completely went in on the book thinking that this was going to be a Detective noir about the case of a missing girl and her ex-boyfriend taking the detective role in figuring out what happened to her. This story was nothing like it but in fact, I think it was something very unique and I'm afraid that comparison really steers the reader away from a really good story.
If I were to compare this storyline to anything else it would be Donnie Darko. This graphic novel definitely requires multiple readings to fully pin down all the small details of the story.
On the surface, the story centers around a teenage boy named Ludo who is a military brat at an Air Force Base where his mother was the head of Military Police. He meets another fellow military brat, Arlo. They eventually spark a relationship but sadly that relationship is broken up because Ludo and his parents leave the base due to a transfer. They eventually do come back to the base and Ludo takes the opportunity to find Arlo. To his surprise, he finds out that Arlo has gone missing for quite some time. Ludo couldn't believe it since he spoke to her the night before he moved back to the base and she answered her home phone. This is where the time traveling/time loop begins to unravel.
Was it very hard to keep track of what was going on at points? Absolutely, but I kept on reading because I wanted to know more and find out how it all connected in the grand scheme of the story. The artwork is very nice for the graphic novel but I will say that at some points it was hard to tell what version of Ludo or Arlo I was seeing since the drawings were very similar to each other.
This story is about loss and moving on. I thought it was a very original and fresh take on that theme. Here we start off with Ludo longing about Arlo during his time living outside of the base and playing her recorded cassette tapes over and over to the point where he knows the dialogue word for word. When he finds out that Arlo goes missing, he goes on a desperate search to find out what happened and gets himself into trouble for taking it into his own hands. It takes Arlo's time traveling self to have him understand that who he spoke to wasn't the Arlo that he knew in his timeline but a different Arlo who was also connected to the one speaking to Ludo at the moment. She takes a hard talk with him that he needs to let go but to understand that Ludo in the other timelines ends up being happy with Arlo and have kids of their own. Will this Ludo bump into Arlo from time to time (no pun intended)? Of course, but in the end, he needs to move on and not obsess over searching for Arlo whatever time she may be bouncing around. In that, it was a really poignant story.
It was a really good and quick read.
I would like to start off first and foremost that whoever decided to compare this book to the likes of Brick and Paper Towns really does not fit this book whatsoever. I completely went in on the book thinking that this was going to be a Detective noir about the case of a missing girl and her ex-boyfriend taking the detective role in figuring out what happened to her. This story was nothing like it but in fact, I think it was something very unique and I'm afraid that comparison really steers the reader away from a really good story.
If I were to compare this storyline to anything else it would be Donnie Darko. This graphic novel definitely requires multiple readings to fully pin down all the small details of the story.
On the surface, the story centers around a teenage boy named Ludo who is a military brat at an Air Force Base where his mother was the head of Military Police. He meets another fellow military brat, Arlo. They eventually spark a relationship but sadly that relationship is broken up because Ludo and his parents leave the base due to a transfer. They eventually do come back to the base and Ludo takes the opportunity to find Arlo. To his surprise, he finds out that Arlo has gone missing for quite some time. Ludo couldn't believe it since he spoke to her the night before he moved back to the base and she answered her home phone. This is where the time traveling/time loop begins to unravel.
Was it very hard to keep track of what was going on at points? Absolutely, but I kept on reading because I wanted to know more and find out how it all connected in the grand scheme of the story. The artwork is very nice for the graphic novel but I will say that at some points it was hard to tell what version of Ludo or Arlo I was seeing since the drawings were very similar to each other.
This story is about loss and moving on. I thought it was a very original and fresh take on that theme. Here we start off with Ludo longing about Arlo during his time living outside of the base and playing her recorded cassette tapes over and over to the point where he knows the dialogue word for word. When he finds out that Arlo goes missing, he goes on a desperate search to find out what happened and gets himself into trouble for taking it into his own hands. It takes Arlo's time traveling self to have him understand that who he spoke to wasn't the Arlo that he knew in his timeline but a different Arlo who was also connected to the one speaking to Ludo at the moment. She takes a hard talk with him that he needs to let go but to understand that Ludo in the other timelines ends up being happy with Arlo and have kids of their own. Will this Ludo bump into Arlo from time to time (no pun intended)? Of course, but in the end, he needs to move on and not obsess over searching for Arlo whatever time she may be bouncing around. In that, it was a really poignant story.
It was a really good and quick read.
bibliotequeish's review against another edition
2.0
This graphic novel was mix of "Donnie Darko" and "The Light House".
It's a weird combination, but an interesting one.
It's disappointing because this had the potential of being something really great.
When it starts, you have no idea whats going on, and you're excited because youknow think you're in for a good story.
And then all this other stuff happens and the books ends .... and you have no idea whats going on.
As a reader you try and piece the parts you understood together, but in the end you are only assuming you know the story.
And that's how this book was for me.
Desperately fitting fragmented parts of the story together, hoping it makes sense in the end... and then it doesn't .
It's a weird combination, but an interesting one.
It's disappointing because this had the potential of being something really great.
When it starts, you have no idea whats going on, and you're excited because you
And then all this other stuff happens and the books ends .... and you have no idea whats going on.
As a reader you try and piece the parts you understood together, but in the end you are only assuming you know the story.
And that's how this book was for me.
Desperately fitting fragmented parts of the story together, hoping it makes sense in the end... and then it doesn't .
cplatyp's review against another edition
4.0
This graphic novel offers one of the most interesting perspectives on love I've ever read.
becandbooks's review against another edition
3.0
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
This was a gorgeous story featuring two army-base kids making a connection in a lifestyle that means constantly moving around. But when Ludo finds out his ex- and best friend, Arlo, has gone missing things his life starts to change.
The artwork in this graphic novel was a style that I love - simplistic but colourful and just aesthetically pleasing when paired with storytelling. Reminding me of illustrations by Fiona Staples in the Saga series, they were just enjoyable and wove the story-line together well.
While I adored our main characters, Ludo and Arlo, in their own way, the overall character development was a bit flat for me.
Without spoiling too much, this does have a little bit of time/dimension travel involved. A lot of other reviewers have stated that this wasn't clear and ended up causing some confusion. I don't disagree. While I don't think it was downright confusing, there was something missing to just make it clear to the reader.
But overall, I love the concept of the story that is weaved together by these fantastical elements. I enjoyed the novel and am interested in keeping an eye out for Adam Smith in the future - maybe a baby Vaughan on the horizon?
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
This was a gorgeous story featuring two army-base kids making a connection in a lifestyle that means constantly moving around. But when Ludo finds out his ex- and best friend, Arlo, has gone missing things his life starts to change.
The artwork in this graphic novel was a style that I love - simplistic but colourful and just aesthetically pleasing when paired with storytelling. Reminding me of illustrations by Fiona Staples in the Saga series, they were just enjoyable and wove the story-line together well.
While I adored our main characters, Ludo and Arlo, in their own way, the overall character development was a bit flat for me.
Without spoiling too much, this does have a little bit of time/dimension travel involved. A lot of other reviewers have stated that this wasn't clear and ended up causing some confusion. I don't disagree. While I don't think it was downright confusing, there was something missing to just make it clear to the reader.
But overall, I love the concept of the story that is weaved together by these fantastical elements. I enjoyed the novel and am interested in keeping an eye out for Adam Smith in the future - maybe a baby Vaughan on the horizon?
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
illbefinealone's review against another edition
3.0
I really liked the story this graphic novel has. I think the idea behind it was really interesting. It was a bit twisty and confusing up until the very end, which I have some mixed feelings about. It started off better, but overall it was intriguing enough to me to finish it and untangle it for myself.
The best part of it however, was the art. It was beautiful, and I loved the feeling they went for with the color scheme as well.
I don't think this graphic novel is for everyone. But if you are interested in this, give it a shot.
*Copy received through NetGalley
*Rating: 3/5 stars
The best part of it however, was the art. It was beautiful, and I loved the feeling they went for with the color scheme as well.
I don't think this graphic novel is for everyone. But if you are interested in this, give it a shot.
*Copy received through NetGalley
*Rating: 3/5 stars
lonelyfangirlirl's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0