Mic Drop

Cape High #16

by R.J. Ross

"You're graduating," Dad says. I'm standing in front of his desk, trying to look as righteously indignant as possible, but he hasn't even looked up from his computer. In fact, I haven't even said anything yet--I just stormed in.

"I don't want to graduate!" I say.

"Max, we don't have time for you to keep playing at school like you are," Dad says. "You've gotten past the telepathic wall problem you had, you're a full-fledged, fully realized super, now. Yes, you need a bit more practice with your telepathy, but that's something that I can help you with, if you would give me about an hour. You need to be--"

"I need to be in the school!" I burst out, knowing I'm being childish and not caring. "I need to be with my friends--with my girlfriend! I can't just--"

"I need you to focus, Max," Dad says, his voice far too calm for my comfort. This is supposed to be an argument, right? So why does it feel so one-sided? "Once you graduate from Cape High, I will be turning over several aspects of the Hall to you. I cannot rightfully do that to a person who has so much homework to do."

"What?"

"I'm going to make you my second-in-command."

Genres: Superheroes

277 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 22, 2016

Reviews

[Jennifer Linsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a fan of Superhero Lit, and it was R.J. Ross who made me one. Supervillain Dad was the first of the genre I read, and I've been following her series eagerly ever since. So when I say that this book had the deepest character development to date, you know I'm not saying it lightly.

The motivations of all the characters are explored more fully than Ms. Ross has done in the past, and it's done well, while at the same time keeping most of the light-hearted mood that she has always established for these characters.

I have only one criticism, one request for Ms. Ross: as we near twenty books in the series, isn't it time for a character who's a Sapphist?

[Erika · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the world of Cape High, where nothing is what it seems, we finally got Max's book. He is the first to graduate, and maybe because of that, I feel like this is the most grown up book of the series. We have a lot of silliness and good feelings, like in all the books, but the issues that Max is going through during the book are the most human. All characters have issues and layers, and problems, but I liked to see Max in this book, because, even if we kind of guessed there was some kind of conflict with his father, in this book, we realize that he has mommy issues. The fact that his mother left him affected him more than he let others see, and the way he grew up makes him crave a family.

So when Max's new mission makes his past collide with his present, we get ourselves a very good book. This series is one of my feel good readings, the kind of books that I know will make me giggle, will keep me entertained, but won't fail in giving me a deep plot with a little bit of drama, a lot of plans and good guys kicking ass.

Max wants to belong, he wants a family, since his mother left him when he was a baby and his father was always busy, and he finally found that with Cape High, which apparently was planned by his father to give him a place to belong and the education he needed. So when they told him that he is going to graduate, he doesn't want him, but when they tell him that he is going to be the second in command of Central Hall and that he will be in charge of the villains, he accepts.

His first mission is to find Massteria, but a series of unfortunate events cause his plans to change, he can't wait until he graduates to go after him, because, after he is attacked, his memories of his mother and her family puts them at risk, so they have to be moved to a safe place until Massteria is captured. The problem is that Massteria is not working alone, and his mother is not happy with the idea of being surrounded by supers.

Zoe, for some reason, decides that Max needs to be free so he can take better decisions, so she decides for them to take a break, which is not helping Max at all, he understands her reasons, but he already knows what he wants to do and how, he doesn't need any time to decide what to do once he graduates. So without Zoe, and with a mother that is desperate to go back to her own life, he starts making mistakes, and even puts himself at risk, almost dying.

He finally captures Massteria after he and his daughter kidnap his sister, but then his daughter goes after him during the event he plans for his graduation. At the end they manage to capture the daughter, in a very anti-climactic fight, and then take both of their powers away. Max kind of fixes his relationship with his mother and siblings, and then graduates and goes to train under the Hall leaders so he can one day take over Central Hall. After that we have a few bonus stories.

So... I hated his mother, even if they did a really good job of trying to explain why she acted the way she did, and even after she showed him that she did care about him after all. I didn't like Zoe in this book, she was too illogical and self-centered, but I liked that she was jealous most of the time.

[Kosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

my love for this series knows no bounds.

[Jessyca Yoakum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trying for no spoilers

Almost everyone that has read this series has been looking forward to this character since the first book, and here he is. Even though the wait for this book was a little longer, personally, I think Max deserved getting a longer book. It was nice getting a view of other people's minds (which isn't a spoiler since anyone reading the series knows his ability) and his own. There was definitely an improvement on character development! It was also nice to see characters that have been question marks in the past.

Looking forward to seeing what happens after Christmas both in the series and in real life! Any longer of a review and I'll end up with spoiling so I suggest others read the book before that happens!!

[Mim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mic Drop was an interesting story, and it was interesting to get to know Max better - though we perhaps didn't go as deep as we might of, the story definitely showed a different side to him.

Perhaps the biggest thing about this story is that it seemed to mark the end/change of direction of a phase in the Cape High stories. We started out with characters who were barely at the start of their journey/powers, and now 16 books in, that really wouldn't be an accurate description now. I've really enjoyed all 16 books so far (some more than others), so I'm curious to see whether a phase change marks a positive step for the series or not.

[M.L. Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite book in the series. It's a little more serious than the rest of the series so far, but it worked with the perspective. I loved seeing the super villains interact and stand for each other, and seeing Max's past. It had the perfect amount of humor and serious emotional moments. Not to mention the show battles that happen through the book; they're some of my favorite moments, and I can so clearly see how the Cape High kids future battles might be.

[Anne Glover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like this book

I can see how this book is for young readers. I had higher hopes for Max. When I saw we were going to learn about Max's mom I was sure we would go in deep. He forgives her too quickly.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

As usual, I tend to read an entire series if I like it. This is book 16 and I've enjoyed them all. I like the character development which carries on from book to book. The main characters are the super teens attending Cape High and assorted adult Supers both hero and villain.