Welcome to "Up My Sleeve" – Your Next Book Series Awaits
Hi, I'm Andy. I built this site to share my favorite book series and help fellow readers discover their next great
read. Whether you're into high-fantasy, epics, or thrilling adventures, you'll find spoiler-free reviews and my
recommendations here.
I love magical worlds, believable characters, and stories that hook you from the first page to the last. That’s why I
feature only completed series, because every journey deserves a true conclusion.
Here’s what you can expect from "Up My Sleeve":
- Book series that I’ve personally read
- An unending pot of poker references
- No Spoilers – Just enough to spark your curiosity without ruining surprises
- Basic information – A consistent breakdown of each series
- Searchable tags to filter by genre, theme, or my personal rating
Definitions:
- Ratings – Check the Behind the Scenes for a breakdown
- The Deal – The book blurb
- Series Ace Card – My favorite part of the series
- Magic Stack – Low, medium, or high. How prominent the magic is
- The Call – My summary of the series
- Author's Seat – The Author's website
Life’s a bit like a card game. The right story at the right time can be the perfect hand. So why
not put a new book series Up Your Sleeve?
Use the navigation above to browse the full index or search by your favorite tags.
Let’s get reading.
My Rating System
- 10/10 – Royal Flush
The absolute pinnacle of storytelling. It's like having a royal flush in poker, the perfect
hand. With mind-bending worlds, unforgettable characters, and a plot that keeps winning, this is a series I'd happily shuffle into my hands anytime.
- 9/10 – Straight Flush
Almost a royal flush, just missing that one card. This series is like having a straight flush in poker –
incredibly strong and almost unbeatable. I'm definitely ready to ante up for another round.
- 8/10 – Four of a Kind
Exciting, memorable, and full of surprises. Like four of a kind, powerful and satisfying, even if not flawless. I’d gladly shuffle up for another round.
- 7/10 – Full House
A solid read with a consistent mix of ideas and characters. Like a full house, not the top hand, but still strong and dependable. A hand worth playing again.
- 6/10 – Flush
Stylish and fun, but missing the sequence that would make it great. Like a flush, it looks good, but doesn’t always deliver. I'm on the fence about folding or going for another round.
- 5/10 – Straight
Not terrible, but not exactly a winning hand either. It's like having a straight, a basic hand that doesn't
stand out. Not a hand I'd want to play again.
- 4/10 – Three of a Kind
Had potential, but it's like having three of a kind in poker, not bad, but certainly not a winning hand.
Not enough to keep me in the game.
- 3/10 – Two Pair
Frustrating and forgettable. Like two pair, easily beaten and not worth the shuffle.
- 2/10 – One Pair
Weak and disappointing. Like one pair, not enough to stand a chance. A regretful bet I wouldn’t recommend.
- 1/10 – High Card
A complete bust. Like a lone high card, the weakest hand possible. An instant fold, best forgotten.
To-Read Series
Here’s what’s on my radar. There are so many good series I want to read, but not enough time!
- The Long Price Quartet by Daniel Abraham
- The Winnowing Flame Trilogy by Jen Williams
- Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne by Brian Staveley
- The Faithful and the Fallen by John Gwynne
- The Traitor Son Cycle by Miles Cameron
- The Grey Bastards by Jonathan French
- The Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart