No Capes

by Joe Cool

Every Super has two secrets: their identity and whose side they’re really on.

High school swim star Madeline Roberts is an NSRP (Non-Super Regular Person) with three major problems:

Her mom’s “accidental” death is looking a lot less accidental.
A cocky Supervillain keeps leaving notes in her locker.
Her friends and family are clearly hiding something.

As Madeline searches for the truth about her mom, she’s pulled deeper into a world of powers, lies, and a Supervillain who might be at the center of it all.

Suddenly, math homework doesn’t seem so challenging.

Wattpad Novel

Reviews

[fayetree]

me when i wanna reread this wattpad book only find out that not ONLY was it supposed to be turned into a show before covid happened but it’s now being edited to be published SO I CANT READ IT!!! RELEASE IT NOW!!!!!!’n

[Christina-Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy of this book, however this is an honest review!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ would def recommend to anyone thinking about picking this gem up.

I first read this book on Wattpad when I was in high school, and it quickly became one of my favorites. When reading it again over 10 years later I made a conscious effort to not let the nostalgia affect my opinion on this revised, soon to be published version. Even while doing this, it still really is a great YA book.

I love the mystery of trying to figure out who “D.S.” Is while accompanying Madeline, not Maddy, along her journey. This book starts off at a good pace of intrigue and keeps it coming. Even though I had read this before and knew how it ended, after finishing the story I find myself still thinking about it days later. Definitely on my list of books I would be rereading asap if I acquired amnesia somehow!

[Ashley Catelyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was so excited to read this as I'd been searching for ages after it got taken off Wattpad, but it just disappointed me🥲

I loved it in 2019, stayed up all night reading it then actually, but a second read has now just highlighted how flawed it is. Maybe I'm too old for it now, idk.

Overall, it had a promising idea, but the execution was lacking.

[WhatJennahReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever had a book stick with you so much that you go YEARS without reading it but it's as if it's your "Roman Empire" and it just keeps popping back into your mind?

No Capes is that for me. I originally found it on Wattpad many many years ago and when it was taken off Wattpad I felt like a piece of my soul was taken. I religiously followed Elizabeth on all of her social media to get any glimpse of when No Capes would come back and I saw finally it was. Being a part of her Discord allowed me to get an early copy of this book and I couldn't be more thrilled.

📚 ARC Review 📚

Being what I consider my own personal Roman empire, I may be a little biased on this book. It was everything I remembered and more. There was romantic tension, secrets, mystery and badass superheroes. The entire time you're left trying to figure out who is Golden Ace and who is Dark Static. You think you have a guess and then you have doubts. Oh well, no, maybe it's this other person. 🤔 Even though I've read the book before I was still finding myself being surprised with the outcome and all the final twists being resolved.

Overall, if you like superheroes, want a cozy YA leaning romance, and want to see into a piece of my "Roman Empire" aka soul, please pick up No Capes!

Thank you Liz for the advanced review copy and for bringing me so much joy with the publication of this book. 💓

[cardamombunz · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars for pure nostalgia

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘No Capes’ by Elizabeth Seibert started as a Wattpad sensation. A book I remember discovering out of the blue, which introduced me to a whole new genre of Wattpad books: superheroes.

Seibert balanced the teenage life well. We follow Madeline as she not only opens an old wound of her mother's death and enters a world of superheroes and supervillains, but she also struggles as an average teenager, competing in swim sports, and crushes. We don't get much of the mundane. Each school scene had a purpose.

Re-reading it, I couldn’t be more proud. It has undergone significant improvement after years of editing. And it still held that fascination as I read it with older eyes. I honestly couldn't believe that, despite my being 99% sure from memory of who Dark Static is, Elizabeth Seibert’s writing and red herrings kept throwing me off! I went through all three boys, TWICE, in my decision of who Dark Static's secret identity was. Yet, it wasn’t frustrating like some mystery books. I felt satisfied in the final reveal, and I felt ecstatic when my theories were confirmed.

The ending felt quick. Perhaps I would have liked more on the Supers’ reactions to their boss’ secret. That is, I guess, the restraint of the first person. If the main character is somewhere else when other characters make a revelation, it goes unseen by the readers. Positioning the protagonist to witness their reactions and allowing some time to make it significant.

Otherwise, the whole lead-up to the end was a thrilling ride. From the fluffy and - sometimes electric - romance, to the suspense and the chapter cliffhangers! I had to restrict myself from reading too quickly; I couldn’t put the Kindle down! I have so many questions, a good thing for a cliffhanger of a book. Like, are we to find out what Aaron meant? “Someone knows”. There is so much to learn about Supers, their powers, and the mystery of their appearance 15 years prior. Is this a hint at a sequel? Because I am so in!

[Mackenzie Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I originally read No Capes back on Wattpad and it was one of my favourite books of all time on there. After reading an ARC of the new self-published version I can safely say it was filled with all the nostalgia I hoped it would be. No Capes is a delightful story with an intricate plot line and fun humour. Seibert is honestly a master at the way she keeps you guessing about the secret identities of multiple superheroes with red herrings and plot twists.
It should be noted that this is the kind of book where you need to be able to suspend disbelief to enjoy yourself, as one could poke holes in the logic of superpowers if they wanted to. Personally, I think it is more enjoyable to let go of being pedantic about these things. Go with the flow of the plot and you will enjoy the very likeable characters and easygoing humour of the book. If you are like me and read the Wattpad version over a decade ago don't stress, the changes that have been made won't ruin the story you used to adore! If anything I think they're all improvements.

[Bryn Zilch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve followed this book since the Hyperion Gold days and have loved it all along, but somehow it’s so much better in its final version than it was back then!! I don’t know how she took one of my favorite books and managed to make it ten times better, but she did and I’m so glad!! If you like superheroes, mystery, romance, or all of the above, this book is for you!!

[amari 🤍 · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.8 stars…wattpad/childhood classic 😌

[Maddy Moore ☺️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhh I can't wait to finally be able to read this book again. This was one of my absolute favourites on Wattpad back in the day. So excited to see the edited + published version.

Edit: It was everything I had remembered and hoped for. I had totally forgotten the twist at the end! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Kate Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is the best news of my life. i check up on this progress multiple times a year. FOR YEARS!!! i could cry. maybe god IS real?

[Faduma · Rating 4 out of 5]

So cute

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

No Capes Review

5 ⭐️

No Capes by Elizabeth A. Seibert is such a wonderful read! I remember first discovering it years ago, finishing it in a day, and going back and rereading whatever scenes I felt drawn to multiple times a day for months and months. I was majorly disappointed when it was unpublished, but the news of a potential TV show was beyond exciting, and here we are, about five years later, finally getting the book back, revamped and published to enjoy again.

The story follows Madeline Roberts as everything she thinks she knows twists and warps until nothing makes sense anymore—especially not the mysterious Super villain leaving notes in her locker.

Madeline is forced to unravel the truth behind her mother’s death and contend with everything it reveals while grappling normal high school events, like being a star swimmer, having an ex-best friend who may or may not hate you, and also Super conspiracies.

Seibert balances the teenage experience with a unique take on superheroes and powers beautifully, and crafts an interesting world full of mystery. Having read this book I don’t even know how many times before when it was up on Wattpad, I can definitely tell that it has been improved upon without sacrificing any of the original charm that made me love No Capes. In fact, opening the book and reading the first few lines had me tearing up, remembering how much I loved and missed these characters and this world.

I also have to give credit where it’s due—Seibert is a master at concealing those secret identities. Even knowing exactly who each Super was before hand did not help me, she had me questioning absolutely everything I knew about this book so many times.

[Shreshtha · Rating 4 out of 5]

No Capes presents the story of Supers aka superheroes, and NSRPs- i.e. Non-Super Regular Persons. Our protagonist is an NSRP who constantly gets tangled with Supers of her city, by fate or luck or people's machinations. I had read this story first when it was first being published on Wattpad, and had been looking out for its publication ever since. The story seemed unique in its own way, even though it incorporated the repeated genre of superheroes.

Even though we know of our FMC, the story will keep you guessing who the MMC is. I went through so many motions.... guessing that he is the one, he is the one, but then he wasn't the one. It was similar to placing bets, losing, yet coming out satisfied with the outcome. I had the same feelings for this book as I did when I first read it years ago. Moreover, I never thought I would never be able to read as if I were reading it for the first time, but it finally happened. I had no recollection of the plot...and it felt amazing

I personally felt that the start was a bit slow to captivate the readers, but it certainly got better as the story progressed. Some aspects of the story didn't make sense, like Fox hating on FMC, or her superfluous crush on Damien, and also the smallest budding feelings she had for Aaron.

I would also have liked to see more of the other characters than just focusing on a few, without fleshing out others. For example, with how Kristen was described, I had built up her image as someone who was not so great at designing and making clothes, but voila, towards the end, we see her having made a perfectly beautiful dress for the FMC, which was very inconsistent and jarring to discover.

[Leiana Day · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC obtained in return for an honest review, not required to be positive, yada yada yada 🤪

Just as good as I remembered! I'd read this several years ago on Wattpad, and it was so disappointing when it was unpublished. Next best thing, I read the Christmas special several times 🤣 DS is iconic. Cheesy, charmingly overdramatic, and occasionally annoying (okay, often annoying), but iconic.

One of the other reviewers notes that the mystery was very well done—I second that. I've known DS's identity for *years* and I was nearly questioning my own sanity. Same with Golden Ace (the superhero formerly known as Hyperion Gold). Several very cute boys, all of them acting suspicious. But do not fear, all will be revealed at the end 😎

Couple of notes here:
- I hadn't remembered the LGBTQ characters. Personally I don't care for their addition to the book, because I'm a Christian and God tells us homosexuality is a sin.
- The profanity, which seems really unnecessary. There's only a handful of instances, too, so it would've been easy to take out.
- Arielle is a more interesting character than I'd thought when I read it last 👀 No spoilers. But some scenes from her point of view would be cool!
- Really original take on superpower weaknesses. A little cheesy but fun.

Anyway, it was a good comfy superhero read. Here's to hoping for a book 2! 💥🦸‍♀️

[Zara Khan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was OBSESSED with this story when it was on Wattpad. I literally read it religiously, and I have a note in my notes app keeping track of my rereads and hints at the secret identity reveal that kept growing with each reread…. So of course I was upset when I went back for my 6th or so reread and saw it was taken down, but then instantly got excited when I saw it was getting published!!

5 years later, I get the email saying it’s been published… I did NOT hesitate to buy a copy even though I was so deep in a reading slump. I had hope that if any book would help get me back into reading, it could be this one, and I am so happy to say I was right. Well, I managed to finish a book after 6 months, so it could be the push I need.

This was most definitely a comfort read back in my Wattpad days, and I love that it was just as fun to read now. I’m always a sucker for secret identity plots. I’m a teen wolf girlie at heart and I love seeing people’s reactions to the reveals. The character dynamics carried, and this book is just 😙🤌🏼 overall. 12/10 for real.

[siaaa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Never thought I’d be here rating a book I first read on Wattpad but here we are. Gosh, this story was such a big throwback to my teens and it perfectly encapsulates everything I loved about the writing on that platform.
No Capes takes such a fun and effortless approach towards superheroes; the story was oddly comforting and equally funny.
I’m so glad I have the worst memory on this planet because while my brain remembered a few plot points, I’d totally forgotten which character each plot was associated with. So seeing things click as I went along was extremely satisfying.
To conclude, this has been some of the most fun I’ve had recently while reading and rediscovering something teen me loved was fully worth it.
The only thing that I wish was different was that I hope we had more chapters to have some of the rushed things towards the end explained more easily. But, putting that aside, this was perfect!

[Isabelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is appropriate and approachable for younger audiences, but I am in my early 20s and had fun reading it as well!

It is both fun and lighthearted, while also dealing with some more serious and emotional moments. The superhero world-building is creative and engaging. I also loved the mystery elements. I grew attached to the main character and the people in her life.

I also loved the setting. As a former swimmer, I could really feel the draw of the swim team aspect for the main character. This book actually got me to go back to open swim.

Ultimately, this is clearly a book from a young author with room to grow, but she has so much potential. I definitely foresee myself rereading this!

[Larissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

No Capes is an absolutely phenomenal book. I first discovered it on Wattpad, and later on had the privilege of being both a beta reader and an ARC reviewer. Even years later, it continues to hold my attention like few stories ever have.

The plot is refreshingly original, offering a unique and clever twist on the classic superhero narrative. It blends just the right amount of romance with a tightly woven, consistent storyline that keeps you turning pages.

I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who enjoys creative storytelling, character-driven plots, or a fresh take on heroes. I'm beyond excited for the official release, it remains one of my all-time favorite reads!

[Martina · Rating 5 out of 5]

(2017)
De los mejores libros que he leído. Lo releí dos veces más, con los años, y lo sigo amando. Deseo fervientemente que lo vuelvan a subir así lo puedo releer y quizás imprimir solo para tenerlo guardado. Amo a los protagonistas, amo a los personajes secundarios, amo a los usuarios que comentaban cosas muy cómicas, amo la ambientación y el ritmo de la historia. No me entretienen los superhéroes, pero esta historia es la más grande excepción.

Muy recomendable, mi historia favorita de Wattpad. Ojalá fuera un libro físico, porque lo compraría.

[Min N · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahh i’m so exited for this book to be published again. I had the amazing opportunity to read it early and honestly it took everything in me not to finish it the night I got it. I managed to savour it for a whole day and i’m blown away. The nostalgia hit like a truck and the story has only gotten even better. The chemistry between Fox and Madeline is sweet and exciting and the plot is even more cooler than before!

[RllyLiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read the book yearssss ago on wattpad. I stayed up all night & literally could not stop until i finished. Read it in its entirety in ONE. SITTING. when i found out it was getting published & i could own a physical copy i was absolutely floored. I havent stopped talking about this release for years now. Its not like the majority of whats being put out there right now, in the absolute BEST way possible. If you are looking to try something new…definitely go for this

[Emily W · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been following this story since its Wattpad era but never got to finish it before it was pulled for edits and publishing. It was really fun to be back in Capital City with these characters again. The book has some typos and its fair share of weirdly worded sentences, but I still loved it and I can't help but feel like a proud best friend of Elizabeth even though we've never met. Congrats to her for making her Wattpad story fully realized 🐤

[xo · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. ⭐️ I remember reading this in my middle school days, where I’d come home and binge read on Wattpad. This story stuck with me. I found myself thinking about it a couple of days ago. I went onto Wattpad to read it only to discover that the author published it!

I thoroughly enjoyed the concepts of humans and superhuman. The story building and character dynamics in this book were well done. I particularly loved watching the relationship between Maddy and Dark Static unfold.

[Rebecca J · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED this book!! For an OG Hyperion Gold fan, this book was a dream come true. Multi-layer characters, entertaining banter, and cool superpowers - what more could you want? The descriptions really make you feel like you're right there with Maddy. I hope there's a sequel!

[Maya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this bc I read it as a teen on Wattpad, maybe it was nostalgia goggles but it was as good as I remember! Really enjoy the mystery elements and the romance.

The extra twist at the end surprised me, not sure it was foreshadowed enough but was fun to read.

[Abby Saywell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this on wattpad years and years ago, and I’ve just finished reading the published version. It’s crazy to reread it again now so many years later but I absolutely loved it still. Love a superhero romance!

[diaryofadelusionist · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was so cutee

[Elizabeth Seibert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wrote this book, so I think it's pretty great. Thank you all for reading it too!

[aiyzzz 🤎 · Rating 5 out of 5]

i LOVED this book when i first read it on wattpad. can’t wait to read it read after it’s published