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Cape High #1-4
The Distort Arc: Cape High Omnibus #1
Books 1-4 of the Cape High Series by R.J. Ross:
Super Villain Dad
America's Grandson
Hello Kitty
Don't Know Jack
"So it's agreed--as part of your parole, you'll become principal of Cape High," Mastermental says.
"No, it's not agreed," Nico snaps. He takes a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. "It is not agreed, because none of the super parents will want their children taught by a super villain. Ask them! I'm sure they're all listening right now--heck, I'm betting this little interview is on Super TV right this instant." He looks to the flashing light he's finally noticed, knowing that he's being recorded. "For your kids' sakes, call right now and tell Double M that he's insane."
This is how it starts, for us, the super kids, the cape brats, the students of Cape High.
Super Villain Dad
America's Grandson
Hello Kitty
Don't Know Jack
"So it's agreed--as part of your parole, you'll become principal of Cape High," Mastermental says.
"No, it's not agreed," Nico snaps. He takes a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. "It is not agreed, because none of the super parents will want their children taught by a super villain. Ask them! I'm sure they're all listening right now--heck, I'm betting this little interview is on Super TV right this instant." He looks to the flashing light he's finally noticed, knowing that he's being recorded. "For your kids' sakes, call right now and tell Double M that he's insane."
This is how it starts, for us, the super kids, the cape brats, the students of Cape High.
- GenresSuperheroesYoung Adult
556 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 28, 2014
38 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 24, 2016
Well, I can't blame the books, but this started a reading binge. I went thirty-six hours without sleep or food and read about 12 books in the series. (the heat exhaustion episode taught me well though and I remained well-hydrated!!!)
The books are great though!! Not as hardcore as DIRE : BORN or Worm but just as good! If you like Please Don't Tell My Parents I'm a Supervillain you'll probably like these ones, a little bit older though.
The books are great though!! Not as hardcore as DIRE : BORN or Worm but just as good! If you like Please Don't Tell My Parents I'm a Supervillain you'll probably like these ones, a little bit older though.
May 27, 2016
I had originally planned on giving this a three - due to the fact that every character's "voice" is the same, the unrealistic emotions (getting over your father abandonment takes more than a day or two, likewise, if you don't trust people so much that you end up in the streets you don't recover in a couple of days). The plot is pretty flat - very little ups and downs. The only way you know you hit a climax is by checking how many chapters are left. Really, this reads more as a collection of short stories and a collection of novels.
But... that would have left this series as a 3. So what caused me to completely tank it? Well, I realized that the superhero stuff is really camouflage for what are teen romances. Nothing wrong with that... except what the books are telling kids a romance should be like.
If the girl you likes says no, keep trying. If she runs away force her to sit down and talk to you. No means maybe. Maybe means yes. Girls don't know their own mind, so keep at her till she gives in and loves you. It's okay, because it's LOVE!
Really.
Book one - the girl says no many times, and even runs away (crossing state borders!) but he keeps going at her, acting like she is his girlfriend already - up to and including bribing her father to force her into a date.
Book two - she doesn't want a romance so he decides to make her his "partner" because how will she be able to resist him when they work together?
Book three - she repeatedly tells him to go away, but he keeps coming back because what she wants isn't important, is it? Even when she explains why she DOESN'T want him he dismisses it. He even forces her to sleep (in cat form) with him. It's supposed to be cute. It isn't.
Book four - it's fine to intimidate a girl with sexual come-ons, because if she likes you she'll respond favorably.
But it's LOVE, right?
WRONG. This is unacceptable behavior. At any age. It's stalking. It's harassment, it's creep. It's definitely worth a restraining order or two. But do the adults even care? Oh no, they're HELPING the boys. Because the girls don't know what's good for them. And they think it's CUTE.
These books are subtly teaching teens all the wrong lessons in relationships - that subterfuge is good, than refusing to let her say no is good, that forcing her to do what you think is right is acceptable. How can anyone want to read this? And how can the author this this is appropriate behavior by ANYONE?
It isn't. And you shouldn't support it by reading this.
But... that would have left this series as a 3. So what caused me to completely tank it? Well, I realized that the superhero stuff is really camouflage for what are teen romances. Nothing wrong with that... except what the books are telling kids a romance should be like.
If the girl you likes says no, keep trying. If she runs away force her to sit down and talk to you. No means maybe. Maybe means yes. Girls don't know their own mind, so keep at her till she gives in and loves you. It's okay, because it's LOVE!
Really.
Book one - the girl says no many times, and even runs away (crossing state borders!) but he keeps going at her, acting like she is his girlfriend already - up to and including bribing her father to force her into a date.
Book two - she doesn't want a romance so he decides to make her his "partner" because how will she be able to resist him when they work together?
Book three - she repeatedly tells him to go away, but he keeps coming back because what she wants isn't important, is it? Even when she explains why she DOESN'T want him he dismisses it. He even forces her to sleep (in cat form) with him. It's supposed to be cute. It isn't.
Book four - it's fine to intimidate a girl with sexual come-ons, because if she likes you she'll respond favorably.
But it's LOVE, right?
WRONG. This is unacceptable behavior. At any age. It's stalking. It's harassment, it's creep. It's definitely worth a restraining order or two. But do the adults even care? Oh no, they're HELPING the boys. Because the girls don't know what's good for them. And they think it's CUTE.
These books are subtly teaching teens all the wrong lessons in relationships - that subterfuge is good, than refusing to let her say no is good, that forcing her to do what you think is right is acceptable. How can anyone want to read this? And how can the author this this is appropriate behavior by ANYONE?
It isn't. And you shouldn't support it by reading this.
September 4, 2018
I liked the first one. But then every other entry in the series is the same formula - pick a new character, then have them get a girlfriend or boyfriend.
If they are a character that has already been paired off, then just some hijinks, but nothing much happens to advance any plot.
Not high literature, but enjoyable enough as a light read.
If they are a character that has already been paired off, then just some hijinks, but nothing much happens to advance any plot.
Not high literature, but enjoyable enough as a light read.
January 28, 2018
Fun series
Could use a little bit more editing—mostly learning the difference between commas and semicolons—and a bit formulaic but fun. Short but reading, especially as there are already 19 plus some side stories. Off to the next omnibus!
Could use a little bit more editing—mostly learning the difference between commas and semicolons—and a bit formulaic but fun. Short but reading, especially as there are already 19 plus some side stories. Off to the next omnibus!
January 16, 2017
Simple, sweet fun. POV changes are well done, although I didn't always follow immeadiately who I'm running along with at the moment. Some things (like Zoe's reaction to her romantic interest) are a bit overdone, but overall a quite amusing read.
It takes a bit to like each new character who poses as the main protagonist in their particular book part, but overall they are all interesting and - although I miss some character's POV (Nico!! A book simply from his POV, please!) - the main protagonists are fun enough to carry on reading. As long as Nico is in each book. Yes, I adore that supervillain father. I dare you not to!
Some stuff is a bit annoying or overdone (I swear the author is addicted to hooking people up), but overall I can recommend it. 4 well deserved stars for intelligent teenagers, cooperative and actually-there adults who do notice when something is up, Nico, light comedy, good plot, Nico, bit of unpredictability, and so on. Plus, I didn't want to bash in the head of some teenager figure due to idiocacy. Now go on, if you are into superheroes/villains, you'll love this one.
It takes a bit to like each new character who poses as the main protagonist in their particular book part, but overall they are all interesting and - although I miss some character's POV (Nico!! A book simply from his POV, please!) - the main protagonists are fun enough to carry on reading. As long as Nico is in each book. Yes, I adore that supervillain father. I dare you not to!
Some stuff is a bit annoying or overdone (I swear the author is addicted to hooking people up), but overall I can recommend it. 4 well deserved stars for intelligent teenagers, cooperative and actually-there adults who do notice when something is up, Nico, light comedy, good plot, Nico, bit of unpredictability, and so on. Plus, I didn't want to bash in the head of some teenager figure due to idiocacy. Now go on, if you are into superheroes/villains, you'll love this one.
March 31, 2015
A great read. All about teenage super heroes. Some don't realize they are supers and coming into their power at puberty becomes a bit of a challenge. Oh and lets not forget that where there are super heroes, there are super villains, but that's ok as long as they follow the rules.... So lets get an super ex-villain and make him principal of a newly created school for supers, both heroes and villains, now toss in his two teenage children he didn't know he had and a few other kids from various super backgrounds and hang on for the ride. I think this would be a good book for teens to read. I enjoyed it. Good characters, good plot, lots of snappy conversation, and some well scripted destruction..... well you don't want to get tossed into Cape Prison just because you broke something you weren't supposed to do ya?
July 15, 2015
This was... cute. And when I say cute I mean cute on steroids, sweet to the n-th power. It's a superhero story, but don't expect anything dark and gritty. Even the supervillains are nice. Often the teen soap opera/family drama aspect is dominant. Everyone gets a boyfriend/girlfriend, and even the powers are cute, like the animal shapershifter supervillain's daughter who transforms herself into a supercute cub.
If you can get past that, this is entertaining fluff. I enjoyed it, but I can only get a certain dose of this before going into overload.
If you can get past that, this is entertaining fluff. I enjoyed it, but I can only get a certain dose of this before going into overload.
August 4, 2016
The Cape High series has a bout a dozen books now and I have enjoyed them all. The characters are a mixed bag of teenage super heroes & villains plus various super powder adults. There are a lot of fun twists as each new character mixes into the school. These are probably "young adult/teen" stories but very enjoyable for adults also. Remember the angst of your teenage years and add learning to use your super powers.
September 22, 2014
This was a 4 book set (middle grade). The first book was good, but not exactly what I was expecting. I liked the world building, but instead of focusing on the heroics, it focused on early high school romance. The other books all continued with this basic setup; a bit of story with a bit of angsty romance and then minuscule advancement of the overall Distort story.
October 31, 2014
I really enjoyed these books. Each one is told form a different character;s perspective.. As a previous reviewer had said, everyone's motivation seems to be to find love which turns out to be a recurring theme throughout the series. I like the dynamics between the heroes and villains where the majority of villains are there to make the heroes look heroic.
December 20, 2014
Simplistic but enjoyable
The strength of this series is the complex characters. The weaknesses are the simplistic relationships and predictable plots. But for what these books are, they are very well done.
Recommended for fans of teenage supers, school kids, or good characters. Just watch out for the youthful plotting and first-look romances.
The strength of this series is the complex characters. The weaknesses are the simplistic relationships and predictable plots. But for what these books are, they are very well done.
Recommended for fans of teenage supers, school kids, or good characters. Just watch out for the youthful plotting and first-look romances.
January 3, 2015
Wonderful teenage garbage
The most disturbing part of this series is the continuous shifting of point of view . The characters are well-developed , if simply and quickly . A wonderful bit of brain candy but not much more.
The most disturbing part of this series is the continuous shifting of point of view . The characters are well-developed , if simply and quickly . A wonderful bit of brain candy but not much more.
April 29, 2020
Quite enjoyable, great world-building and characters with a good sense of humor thrown in. Plot's kind of simplistic though, kind of predictable.
August 29, 2015
Fun super stories
The individual stories are fast paced and fun. Characters are a little predictable but the powers are interesting. Fun read!
The individual stories are fast paced and fun. Characters are a little predictable but the powers are interesting. Fun read!
March 30, 2017
Fun, if somewhat odd superhero story. 3.5 stars
What do you get when you build a school for kid superheroes and villains....? Well you get Cape High. A lighthearted and fun superhero series with some added romance aimed at teens. In all this is a collection of four novella length sorties that complete the first arc of the Cape High series. The individual stories can stand on their own, but reading them in sequence will add to your reader enjoyment. Overall this is an entertaining story and rather positive view on heroes and villains. No dark and gritty here, juts a bit of teenage fun and a happy ending at the end. Add a few well timed jokes and interesting characters and you get a solid teen series.
What do you get when you build a school for kid superheroes and villains....? Well you get Cape High. A lighthearted and fun superhero series with some added romance aimed at teens. In all this is a collection of four novella length sorties that complete the first arc of the Cape High series. The individual stories can stand on their own, but reading them in sequence will add to your reader enjoyment. Overall this is an entertaining story and rather positive view on heroes and villains. No dark and gritty here, juts a bit of teenage fun and a happy ending at the end. Add a few well timed jokes and interesting characters and you get a solid teen series.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews