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The Agapéd Bearer #4
Dreyma's Curse
It’s been over a year since the Glory Spar shook the Kingdom of Boolavogue. King Caelum has been doing his best to reign and pick up the pieces, and Lisa has been helping amongst her fellow monster slayers. Life is returning to normal, but an unsettling truth presses upon Lisa. With high school graduation looming in less than a year, she grapples with the weight of her secret relationship with Cal. Pursuing him, her life as a Hunter will fade away, and she will be faced with the burden of becoming a Queen—a truth that would have to reach her mother.
As monster spawnings rise, people are mysteriously vanishing from nearby towns. Lisa ventures to discover the culprit, but fear begins to take its toll. Voices trail her down the halls. Nightmares morph with reality. Monsters roar where mere shadows remain. Foul magic is at play, the unseen relentlessly tormenting Lisa, and it won’t rest until her mind is drowning in insanity.
With the help of Gaius, Lisa goes on a quest to discover why she is being haunted by terrors, hoping to find a cure. What they discover is far worse than either could’ve ever imagined… and now, a curse is at play that could bring calamity to more than just her life.
As monster spawnings rise, people are mysteriously vanishing from nearby towns. Lisa ventures to discover the culprit, but fear begins to take its toll. Voices trail her down the halls. Nightmares morph with reality. Monsters roar where mere shadows remain. Foul magic is at play, the unseen relentlessly tormenting Lisa, and it won’t rest until her mind is drowning in insanity.
With the help of Gaius, Lisa goes on a quest to discover why she is being haunted by terrors, hoping to find a cure. What they discover is far worse than either could’ve ever imagined… and now, a curse is at play that could bring calamity to more than just her life.
- GenresFantasyChristian Fiction
604 pages, Paperback
Published May 31, 2025
34 people are currently reading
524 people want to read
About the author
Hannah Taylor Lindsey
4 books283 followersHannah Lindsey is the author of the Agapéd Bearer Saga, a YA coming-of-age fantasy with a wonderful mentor/mentee, the chosen one, and found family trope. And of course, tons of magic.
Hannah also illustrates her story and characters, showcasing her artwork on Instagram (@hmnnah.art) and on her website hmnnahart.com.
She lives with her husband in the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee.
WISHING STARS (book 1) and PARAGON GAMES (book 2) is out now!
Hannah also illustrates her story and characters, showcasing her artwork on Instagram (@hmnnah.art) and on her website hmnnahart.com.
She lives with her husband in the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee.
WISHING STARS (book 1) and PARAGON GAMES (book 2) is out now!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
August 31, 2025
I am currently recovering from having my heart torn out of my chest. I don't know where the organ is anymore.
RIP.
My official review:
✨Dreyma’s Curse✨
I didn’t expect to feel so emotional after reading this book. I knew it would end in a cliff hanger, but I hoped it would have been a happier finale…even though I just knew someone was going to die. And die they did.
I’m still torn up over it. Don’t know how I’ll recover. On that note; it’s amazing how we can grieve the loss of fictional characters when they are so expertly written.
All sorrow aside, this book was fantastic! It has just enough spook without it being *too* horrific (I’m very much a wimp, okay?) and the friendships and world-building always blows me away. Every. Single. Time.
When I think the stakes can’t get higher, they always do. I’m forever amazed at Hannah’s brain 😂
This 4th installment in The Agapéd Bearer series definitely feels like the transitional point in Lisa’s life, and Hannah executed it brilliantly! It’s filled with so much tragedy, but hope lies on the horizon, even if we can’t see it yet.
Of course, it’s an immediate 5 stars, but my broken heart screams otherwise (IYKYK😭) this is still my favorite series, but I am not okay 🙃
I am eager to read book 5 now, if not for some redemption, but for my heart to mend. (Please & thank you 🫶🏼).
Content:
Epic battles
Wholesome romance
Horrors & hauntings
Death 😭
Sacrifice
True love
Amazing world-building
RIP.
My official review:
✨Dreyma’s Curse✨
I didn’t expect to feel so emotional after reading this book. I knew it would end in a cliff hanger, but I hoped it would have been a happier finale…even though I just knew someone was going to die. And die they did.
I’m still torn up over it. Don’t know how I’ll recover. On that note; it’s amazing how we can grieve the loss of fictional characters when they are so expertly written.
All sorrow aside, this book was fantastic! It has just enough spook without it being *too* horrific (I’m very much a wimp, okay?) and the friendships and world-building always blows me away. Every. Single. Time.
When I think the stakes can’t get higher, they always do. I’m forever amazed at Hannah’s brain 😂
This 4th installment in The Agapéd Bearer series definitely feels like the transitional point in Lisa’s life, and Hannah executed it brilliantly! It’s filled with so much tragedy, but hope lies on the horizon, even if we can’t see it yet.
Of course, it’s an immediate 5 stars, but my broken heart screams otherwise (IYKYK😭) this is still my favorite series, but I am not okay 🙃
I am eager to read book 5 now, if not for some redemption, but for my heart to mend. (Please & thank you 🫶🏼).
Content:
Epic battles
Wholesome romance
Horrors & hauntings
Death 😭
Sacrifice
True love
Amazing world-building
February 16, 2025
THE AGAPED BEARER: DREYMA’S CURSE REVIEW🩶🪰
Every time I read an Agaped Bearer novel, I don’t think Lisa and her story can become more crazy, amazing, traumatizing, and wholesome than it already is. Time and time again I’m proven WRONG.
Book four of the Agaped Bearer Saga is everything I could’ve hoped for in a story. Incredible character development, INTENSE scenes that will make you want to claw your eyes out, a terrifying villain, gut punching emotions, more unique uses of the magic systems, and wholesome character interactions that will have you crying in your bed for hours.
My girl Hannah just never ceases to absolutely BRING the house DOWN with these books. It’s been such a pleasure to read all her novels and see how she’s developed with each one.
Dreyma’s Curse is beautiful, creative, shocking, adventurous, and heartbreaking. Hannah manages to slay in every category, you name it. You can tell with every word she writes that her work is fueled with a passion and love for her story. And that above all is why her books are just so incredible.
At this point Lisa, Gaius and Cal feel like family to me. This series has brought light and love to my life when times were really hard for me, and book four is no different.
In a world full of entertainment created for the sole purpose of money, The Agaped Bearer Saga will always be a series that stands apart from the crowd. Teaching its readers about what it means to love, the importance of family, sacrifice, honesty, hard work, determination and doing what’s right.
I will be raising my future kiddos on this series.
ENJOY THIS BOOK AND BRING THE TISSUES ITS GONNA BE A BUMPY RIDE😭🩶
Every time I read an Agaped Bearer novel, I don’t think Lisa and her story can become more crazy, amazing, traumatizing, and wholesome than it already is. Time and time again I’m proven WRONG.
Book four of the Agaped Bearer Saga is everything I could’ve hoped for in a story. Incredible character development, INTENSE scenes that will make you want to claw your eyes out, a terrifying villain, gut punching emotions, more unique uses of the magic systems, and wholesome character interactions that will have you crying in your bed for hours.
My girl Hannah just never ceases to absolutely BRING the house DOWN with these books. It’s been such a pleasure to read all her novels and see how she’s developed with each one.
Dreyma’s Curse is beautiful, creative, shocking, adventurous, and heartbreaking. Hannah manages to slay in every category, you name it. You can tell with every word she writes that her work is fueled with a passion and love for her story. And that above all is why her books are just so incredible.
At this point Lisa, Gaius and Cal feel like family to me. This series has brought light and love to my life when times were really hard for me, and book four is no different.
In a world full of entertainment created for the sole purpose of money, The Agaped Bearer Saga will always be a series that stands apart from the crowd. Teaching its readers about what it means to love, the importance of family, sacrifice, honesty, hard work, determination and doing what’s right.
I will be raising my future kiddos on this series.
ENJOY THIS BOOK AND BRING THE TISSUES ITS GONNA BE A BUMPY RIDE😭🩶
June 10, 2025
That was the best and worst ending for a book ever😭
As a reader I loved the creativity and emotions that Mrs. Hannah made me feel, but as someone who loves all the characters in these books…that ending was heartbreaking. I’m not one to cry when reading, but chapter 59 had me sobbing (and while listening to the suggested song *tears* 🥺) I’m looking forward to seeing what happens in book 5…I’m actually really glad it’s not out yet, I need time to accept what happened and it makes the anticipation for book 5 more exciting. ⭐️💜
As a reader I loved the creativity and emotions that Mrs. Hannah made me feel, but as someone who loves all the characters in these books…that ending was heartbreaking. I’m not one to cry when reading, but chapter 59 had me sobbing (and while listening to the suggested song *tears* 🥺) I’m looking forward to seeing what happens in book 5…I’m actually really glad it’s not out yet, I need time to accept what happened and it makes the anticipation for book 5 more exciting. ⭐️💜
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 10, 2025
Brb, I'm processing the ending before I can write my review 😭
September 26, 2025
I have never cried so hard reading a book 😭
September 2, 2025
ᯓ★"𝓦𝓮 𝔀𝓮𝓻𝓮 𝓴𝓲𝓭𝓼, 𝓻𝓾𝓷𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓱𝓻𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓻𝓻𝔂 𝓯𝓲𝓮𝓵𝓭, 𝓵𝓪𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓼𝓹𝓲𝓷𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓪𝓻𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓭 𝔀𝓱𝓲𝓵𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓦𝓲𝓼𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓢𝓽𝓪𝓻𝓼 𝓱𝓾𝓶𝓶𝓮𝓭."
WHAT JUST HAPPENED??! I feel shellshocked this book was thrilling, so so sweet and completely shattered me. It's a complete rollercoaster of emotions and y'all better have your tissues ready. Thanks so much to the author for this arc 💛
TLDR: this changed my brain chemistry and haunted me like Lisa was, so naturally you should go right ahead and read this‼️ This is the last book of Lisa's adolescence years so she's a senior now!! It's a heartwarming coming of age (still can't believe how grown they are now) book that's ALSO FANTASY with a very unique world and magic system AND does not shy away from the raw painful scars, the grief and consequences. One minute the most wholesome sweet moment is happening and the next the most shellshocking devestation occurs so this definetely kept me on the edge of my seat.
ok afer processing everything this turned out longer than I was aiming but there's just so much to unpack:
4.75 ⭐
Lisa still has the purest heart, sheer determination and kindness and I wanna give her a hug because the stuff that happens to her-
Just saying, she has some epic outbursts/monologues that I 100% support because girlie's going through it. She's kicking badass with her powers and there's epic fight scenes. Her and Cal are really feeling the pressure from their responsibilities and everyone's expectations (I got really worked up at specific horrid characters) I was just happy they had each other because they're the most sweet couple but also it goes so much deeper than that because of their history. The little romantic moments and gestures were everything AND THE STAR DATE??? Literally squealing alongside Lisa 🤭
Gaius 🥺 His bond with Lisa just keeps growing stronger especially because he basically watched her grow up now. This man will go to the ends of the earth to protect her and the father-daughter bonding trip was gold I'm so glad we got to see more on Odette, this book we get really deep into her life and struggles and finally find out more about her past and oh my god I want to give her a hug too 💔 There's some adorable moments with Tuff (yes the glainie gets character development its amazing) He has an attitude now and its the most hilarious thing ever. Also was not prepared for Celine's to be all grown up too and she's so mature now.
The villain is awe-inspiringly creepy and I love and hate her at the same time. It genuinely gets very intense and one *particular scene* had my jaw dropping because I honestly thought it was all over because she is VISCIOUS. As always the politics and worldbuilding was. I really like lore so I ate up all the tiny details on hexes and curses. Also we meet more guardians‼️
Now let's not talk about the ending because I'm still numb 💔 Hannah Taylor Lindsey is a sneaky mastermind in writing because THERE'S PLOT TWISTS WITHIN THE PLOT TWIST SO JUST WHEN YOU THINK YOU KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING SHE HITS YOU WITH SOMETHING ELSE AND THEN THAT HURTS EVEN HARDER BECAUSE I DID NOT SEE THAT COMING. Yes there was foreshadowing but I did not even fathom it as a possibility 😭 And then the author's note was like another punch to my gut.
.༶•⛧┈♛"𝓐𝓷𝓭 𝓘 𝓹𝓻𝓸𝓶𝓲𝓼𝓮 𝓘 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝓪𝓵𝔀𝓪𝔂𝓼 𝓹𝓻𝓸𝓽𝓮𝓬𝓽 𝔂𝓸𝓾. 𝓐𝓵𝔀𝓪𝔂𝓼. 𝓔𝓿𝓮𝓷 𝓲𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼..𝓔𝓿𝓮𝓷 𝓲𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓱𝓾𝓻𝓽𝓼 𝓾𝓼 𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓮𝓷𝓭"•⛧
Horizons, Pt.1 - Live at
the Old Fruitmarket (Rura)
5:31: ──♡───── 6:04
February 13, 2025
I truly was not prepared for this book. Hannah has gone beyond what I could’ve possibly imagined for Lisa’s journey. I’ve seen our main character grow from a child to a young adult, and with each year, the challenges she faced became more mature and utterly chilling.
This book? Unfathomable. It left me in shambles. By the end of the book, I had a raging headache from how badly I ugly cried. It took me 3 business days to get my bearings again and to rehydrate myself. And to be honest? I’m still not whole. Will I ever be again? Yes, once I get the next installment in my hands.
Lisa’s journey is emotional and addicting. This character is full of love and possibilities, along with so many other characters that you meet along the way. Hannah has a talent in creating deep and compelling characters to the point that they feel real. Their interactions are organic, and you can’t stop yourself from attaching yourself to them in even the smallest of ways.
I wish I had more words to express the things this book did to me. But I think you’d understand best just by picking it up and throwing yourself into the Agapéd world. I assure you, you won’t regret it.
This book? Unfathomable. It left me in shambles. By the end of the book, I had a raging headache from how badly I ugly cried. It took me 3 business days to get my bearings again and to rehydrate myself. And to be honest? I’m still not whole. Will I ever be again? Yes, once I get the next installment in my hands.
Lisa’s journey is emotional and addicting. This character is full of love and possibilities, along with so many other characters that you meet along the way. Hannah has a talent in creating deep and compelling characters to the point that they feel real. Their interactions are organic, and you can’t stop yourself from attaching yourself to them in even the smallest of ways.
I wish I had more words to express the things this book did to me. But I think you’d understand best just by picking it up and throwing yourself into the Agapéd world. I assure you, you won’t regret it.
February 14, 2025
Ummmm, holy feels! If you're looking for a crazy roller coaster of emotions, here you go. I'm so in love with this series. The characters are near and dear to my heart, and I love the introduction to new characters as well.
Not to mention the multi points of view gives the reader full insight and adds just that much more connection to the characters.
The plot of this book is intense, and I was so here for it! Then add in the magic, adventure, and mystery. This really is the whole package. Hannah is fantastic at taking you on this journey for this coming of age hero, fulfilling you with such wholesome relationships, while at the same time, you want MORE OF IT as a reader. It's spectacular and a must-read!
Not to mention the multi points of view gives the reader full insight and adds just that much more connection to the characters.
The plot of this book is intense, and I was so here for it! Then add in the magic, adventure, and mystery. This really is the whole package. Hannah is fantastic at taking you on this journey for this coming of age hero, fulfilling you with such wholesome relationships, while at the same time, you want MORE OF IT as a reader. It's spectacular and a must-read!
July 18, 2025
It is very rare for a book to make me cry this much, but it was very good.🥲 Looking forward to the next one when it eventually is published!💛
January 4, 2026
1/3/2025 Alright guys… I got the illustrated edition, it’s beautiful. But I’m getting closer to the dreaded Chapter 59 that everyone is flipping out about and I’m scared… I saw the illustrations I read the comments so I know who dies… books normally never make me cry, but let’s see how this one goes. I’m currently on page 524 and Lisa is just beginning her final battle with the villain. I’m trying to suppress all my emotions right now so I don’t end up sobbing over Chapter 59… if it ends up actually making me cry I’ll be genuinely impressed because Sunrise on the Reaping and The Sword of Kaigen didn’t even make me cry. I try to remain emotionally numb to books but… I DON’T KNOW IF I’LL BE ABLE TO HOLD UP AGAINST THIS ONE!😭
‼️⚠️MAJOR SPOILER WARNING ⚠️‼️
1/4/2025 I just finished the book about five minutes ago. This was definitely the most emotional novel in the series so far. I didn’t end up crying (but I was close. My eyes were watering). I was really moved by this story.
I’m going to discuss the plot and character development beginning with my favorite character, then my second favorite character, then my third favorite character, etc.
Lisa: Lisa continued to be the kind, immeasurably brave protagonist she’s been through the past few books. She became much more mature and had an impressive amount of character growth. She had to experience some of the harshest realities of being human in this book, the main one being the loss of someone she loved so dearly. She endured torment from a horrid, malevolent Draumer named Dreyma who cursed both her and Caelum’s intertwined hearts to die at the same moment she was supposed to. Lisa was also faced with a situation where she truly believed her only option was to pay the ultimate price and sacrifice her own life to save the universe from the wicked magic of the Fallen that was using Dreyma as its wielder. These are just a tiny taste of the trials Lisa had to experience in this book. As you can imagine, she is devastated by the end and has immense healing that needs to take place in the upcoming novel. I don’t know how that’s going to unfold, but I can say this: I really just want her to be ok. I want her to find her haven and be able to succeed and find happiness.
Gaius: Gaius stepped into the adoptive father role even further in this book. He is my second favorite character, right under Lisa. Even though the novel is not told from his POV (there are a couple chapters that are), he is an incredibly well rounded and developed character. That is very difficult to pull off in a novel with only one main first-person POV. The chapters that were written from his perspective were intriguing and delightful to read. He has his own clear voice that I hope to see much more of. Something I really enjoyed about Gaius in this book was his ever-growing love for Lisa. I can’t wait for the moment where he calls her his “daughter” for this first time (I desperately hope that happens). It was insinuated that a romance between him and Odette (Lisa’s mother) might become a future plot line in later novels if Odette ever truly learns about Lisa’s magical life. It would be so precious if she and Gaius fell in love.
Odette: Odette’s backstory near the end of the book broke my heart. I love her so much. She’s such a wonderful mother figure. She’s truly one of the best I’ve ever come across in fiction, and I’m not just saying that because I’m obsessed with this book series. She proved again and again what he means to sacrifice for your family. She embodied such selfless love towards Lisa and never failed to support her and be there for her. So often in fiction, parents are portrayed in a negative light or they aren’t even present. I think it’s so valuable and important that this series does the opposite of that. It supports the idea of family and how much of a vital impact it has.
Caelum: I knew he was going to die going into this book because I read the author’s Instagram comment section and found spoilers.😭
I’m going to share a small opinion that I have on this character. It’s not valid, it’s just how he originally came across to me personally. I wasn’t able to connect with Caelum on the same level that I connected to Gaius. I don’t know if it was the fact that I had spoilers he was going to die so my brain forced my emotions to distance from him, or if I just haven’t read enough romance novels to fully appreciate the love story he and Lisa shared. I felt like he was a little rude in The Agapéd Bearer: Hunter Wars when he asked Lisa to accompany him during the Hunter Ball to keep the other girls from talking to him. He didn’t ask her to the Hunter Ball in the first place because he thought Lisa didn’t like fancy things and I also thought that wasn’t a very nice assumption. I felt like the Hunter Ball officially began their relationship and that that wasn’t a very humble way for him to show interest in her, so my view of their romance didn’t start very positive. He obviously showed that he loved Lisa as the series went on (I mean he literally died for her as I’ll go on to explain), but there were a few moments where I felt he was acting a little cocky towards Lisa in the beginning. In this novel, The Agapéd Bearer Dreyma’s Curse, I didn’t understand why he accepted (even if reluctantly) his little sister Celine’s offer to take the burden of the throne from him. I understand that being king was extremely difficult for him especially since he had to deal with the aftermath of loosing his father and the curse on his and and Lisa’s heart, but if he couldn’t handle the throne, then his 11-year old sister would certainly have a lot of suffering ahead of her as well if she took over. As a big brother, I just felt like he shouldn’t have accepted her offer of wanting the throne because it made him seem like he was ok with giving such a massive burden to her just so he could be with Lisa and be a Hunter. It just seemed a little irresponsible. Things like that made it difficult for me to relate to him fully.
Alright, now here’s what I loved about Caelum.
Caelum truly loved Lisa. So much so that he thought she was more valuable than his own life. Like Odette, he embodied selfless love during his decision to give himself up for her in order that she would live. “Agapé” is a Greek word that means “selfless love” or the most powerful form of love in the Greek language. I can see the beautiful theme of unrestrained love that Hannah Lindsey is weaving into her books. It’s truly beautiful and so, so powerful. Caelum laid his life down by taking on the full curse that was originally split between both his and Lisa’s heart. This curse could only be broken if both the curse placer (Dreyma) and the curse receiver died at the same time. This originally prohibited Lisa from being able to kill Dreyma and save the universe from Armatia’s dark magic. Caelum took the full curse upon his own heart so that when Dreyma was killed, he would die, and Lisa would live. Lisa had no idea that he planned to do this. As she was fighting Dreyma, she believed that if anyone was going to die, it was going to be her heart, not Caelum’s. That was utterly soul-crushing to read.
I genuinely hope that Caelum comes back somehow if it would serve the story well. If not, then I completely understand the author’s decision and will trust that she’ll still write the story masterfully and beautifully. I’m heartbroken that he died…🥺 I can’t see Lisa finding anyone else like him. I wondered what would happen if she started liking Ayker, but he doesn’t seem as cool as Caelum did. I have a theory that Caelum will come back to life because I saw the author made a drawing of Lisa in a wedding dress.👀 It was a very fancy wedding dress, like one I would expect royalty to wear.
Tuff: Tuff is adorable. He is the cutest little guy and he deserves the world. What more is there to say?
Tuff had his own little character arc where he learned how to be braver. He even learned how to read and write!
I genuinely love this book series and hope that more people find it. I hope it has at least hundred thousand reviews on Goodreads one day. In all honesty it deserves a million. I’m trying to spread the word. I got one of my friends at youth group to read the first three books and she loved them! I also was reading one of the illustrated editions at school and all the little kids were looking through it and my friends and one of my teachers were even asking about the book because they loved the front cover.
‼️⚠️MAJOR SPOILER WARNING ⚠️‼️
1/4/2025 I just finished the book about five minutes ago. This was definitely the most emotional novel in the series so far. I didn’t end up crying (but I was close. My eyes were watering). I was really moved by this story.
I’m going to discuss the plot and character development beginning with my favorite character, then my second favorite character, then my third favorite character, etc.
Lisa: Lisa continued to be the kind, immeasurably brave protagonist she’s been through the past few books. She became much more mature and had an impressive amount of character growth. She had to experience some of the harshest realities of being human in this book, the main one being the loss of someone she loved so dearly. She endured torment from a horrid, malevolent Draumer named Dreyma who cursed both her and Caelum’s intertwined hearts to die at the same moment she was supposed to. Lisa was also faced with a situation where she truly believed her only option was to pay the ultimate price and sacrifice her own life to save the universe from the wicked magic of the Fallen that was using Dreyma as its wielder. These are just a tiny taste of the trials Lisa had to experience in this book. As you can imagine, she is devastated by the end and has immense healing that needs to take place in the upcoming novel. I don’t know how that’s going to unfold, but I can say this: I really just want her to be ok. I want her to find her haven and be able to succeed and find happiness.
Gaius: Gaius stepped into the adoptive father role even further in this book. He is my second favorite character, right under Lisa. Even though the novel is not told from his POV (there are a couple chapters that are), he is an incredibly well rounded and developed character. That is very difficult to pull off in a novel with only one main first-person POV. The chapters that were written from his perspective were intriguing and delightful to read. He has his own clear voice that I hope to see much more of. Something I really enjoyed about Gaius in this book was his ever-growing love for Lisa. I can’t wait for the moment where he calls her his “daughter” for this first time (I desperately hope that happens). It was insinuated that a romance between him and Odette (Lisa’s mother) might become a future plot line in later novels if Odette ever truly learns about Lisa’s magical life. It would be so precious if she and Gaius fell in love.
Odette: Odette’s backstory near the end of the book broke my heart. I love her so much. She’s such a wonderful mother figure. She’s truly one of the best I’ve ever come across in fiction, and I’m not just saying that because I’m obsessed with this book series. She proved again and again what he means to sacrifice for your family. She embodied such selfless love towards Lisa and never failed to support her and be there for her. So often in fiction, parents are portrayed in a negative light or they aren’t even present. I think it’s so valuable and important that this series does the opposite of that. It supports the idea of family and how much of a vital impact it has.
Caelum: I knew he was going to die going into this book because I read the author’s Instagram comment section and found spoilers.😭
I’m going to share a small opinion that I have on this character. It’s not valid, it’s just how he originally came across to me personally. I wasn’t able to connect with Caelum on the same level that I connected to Gaius. I don’t know if it was the fact that I had spoilers he was going to die so my brain forced my emotions to distance from him, or if I just haven’t read enough romance novels to fully appreciate the love story he and Lisa shared. I felt like he was a little rude in The Agapéd Bearer: Hunter Wars when he asked Lisa to accompany him during the Hunter Ball to keep the other girls from talking to him. He didn’t ask her to the Hunter Ball in the first place because he thought Lisa didn’t like fancy things and I also thought that wasn’t a very nice assumption. I felt like the Hunter Ball officially began their relationship and that that wasn’t a very humble way for him to show interest in her, so my view of their romance didn’t start very positive. He obviously showed that he loved Lisa as the series went on (I mean he literally died for her as I’ll go on to explain), but there were a few moments where I felt he was acting a little cocky towards Lisa in the beginning. In this novel, The Agapéd Bearer Dreyma’s Curse, I didn’t understand why he accepted (even if reluctantly) his little sister Celine’s offer to take the burden of the throne from him. I understand that being king was extremely difficult for him especially since he had to deal with the aftermath of loosing his father and the curse on his and and Lisa’s heart, but if he couldn’t handle the throne, then his 11-year old sister would certainly have a lot of suffering ahead of her as well if she took over. As a big brother, I just felt like he shouldn’t have accepted her offer of wanting the throne because it made him seem like he was ok with giving such a massive burden to her just so he could be with Lisa and be a Hunter. It just seemed a little irresponsible. Things like that made it difficult for me to relate to him fully.
Alright, now here’s what I loved about Caelum.
Caelum truly loved Lisa. So much so that he thought she was more valuable than his own life. Like Odette, he embodied selfless love during his decision to give himself up for her in order that she would live. “Agapé” is a Greek word that means “selfless love” or the most powerful form of love in the Greek language. I can see the beautiful theme of unrestrained love that Hannah Lindsey is weaving into her books. It’s truly beautiful and so, so powerful. Caelum laid his life down by taking on the full curse that was originally split between both his and Lisa’s heart. This curse could only be broken if both the curse placer (Dreyma) and the curse receiver died at the same time. This originally prohibited Lisa from being able to kill Dreyma and save the universe from Armatia’s dark magic. Caelum took the full curse upon his own heart so that when Dreyma was killed, he would die, and Lisa would live. Lisa had no idea that he planned to do this. As she was fighting Dreyma, she believed that if anyone was going to die, it was going to be her heart, not Caelum’s. That was utterly soul-crushing to read.
I genuinely hope that Caelum comes back somehow if it would serve the story well. If not, then I completely understand the author’s decision and will trust that she’ll still write the story masterfully and beautifully. I’m heartbroken that he died…🥺 I can’t see Lisa finding anyone else like him. I wondered what would happen if she started liking Ayker, but he doesn’t seem as cool as Caelum did. I have a theory that Caelum will come back to life because I saw the author made a drawing of Lisa in a wedding dress.👀 It was a very fancy wedding dress, like one I would expect royalty to wear.
Tuff: Tuff is adorable. He is the cutest little guy and he deserves the world. What more is there to say?
Tuff had his own little character arc where he learned how to be braver. He even learned how to read and write!
I genuinely love this book series and hope that more people find it. I hope it has at least hundred thousand reviews on Goodreads one day. In all honesty it deserves a million. I’m trying to spread the word. I got one of my friends at youth group to read the first three books and she loved them! I also was reading one of the illustrated editions at school and all the little kids were looking through it and my friends and one of my teachers were even asking about the book because they loved the front cover.
March 18, 2025
I took my time with this because the acknowledgement at the beginning had me an anxious mess (iykyk). And oh my gosh was my anxiety anxiety-ing the last 20% of this book.
These characters are some of my favorites. Even though it’s a fantasy setting, they feel more realistic than other series’ MCs tend to. Lisa, Cal, and Gaius are some of my favorite fictional people ever. ❤️
Also the way I think I know what’s going to happen because I’m so clever and then whoopsie daisy I’m DEVASTATINGLY WRONG????? I will be seeking compensation for my mental state at the end of this installment. Y’all. I’m not kidding. The way I was emotionally eviscerated by Hannah Lindsey should be a felony. A FELONY.
So completely and totally wrecked by this story but still chomping at the bit for book 5.
Pick 👏🏼 this 👏🏼 series 👏🏼 up! 👏🏼
These characters are some of my favorites. Even though it’s a fantasy setting, they feel more realistic than other series’ MCs tend to. Lisa, Cal, and Gaius are some of my favorite fictional people ever. ❤️
Also the way I think I know what’s going to happen because I’m so clever and then whoopsie daisy I’m DEVASTATINGLY WRONG????? I will be seeking compensation for my mental state at the end of this installment. Y’all. I’m not kidding. The way I was emotionally eviscerated by Hannah Lindsey should be a felony. A FELONY.
So completely and totally wrecked by this story but still chomping at the bit for book 5.
Pick 👏🏼 this 👏🏼 series 👏🏼 up! 👏🏼
July 11, 2025
I don’t think I have sobbed as hard reading a book before. Normally my eyes get damp and I consider it crying (for me it is). But this one I sobbed, shoulders shaking, heaving breaths. I’ve never had to get the Kleenex box before for tears with a book. And then I proceeded to use 10 Kleenexes.
This description is making it into my review to show how utterly incredible this book is. Each story in this series has grown amazingly - the character arcs, the world building, the writing. My heart has been utterly captured by these characters and this story.
Book 4 switches from middle grade style to young adult and it is heavy. It hurts so much but I can’t imagine not going on this journey. And even if each future book in this series makes me sob as much I’ll keep on reading.
This description is making it into my review to show how utterly incredible this book is. Each story in this series has grown amazingly - the character arcs, the world building, the writing. My heart has been utterly captured by these characters and this story.
Book 4 switches from middle grade style to young adult and it is heavy. It hurts so much but I can’t imagine not going on this journey. And even if each future book in this series makes me sob as much I’ll keep on reading.
December 19, 2025
Five stars. All the stars. None of them. I don’t know. Nothing will erase the trauma I have experienced reading this book. 💀
**this review has major spoilers**
I have been shattered into a thousand pieces. My heart and soul and mind have been broken in ways I didn’t think possible.
So um.
This book is good. Until it’s not. I stayed up an hour past midnight with headphones on and fighting tears and the heavy weight pressing down on my soul.
I don’t even know what to say in this review guys 😭😭 my heart is so unwell.
First of all, I adore seeing Lisa grow up throughout this series. Getting to see her mature and change — experiencing all these different emotions and growing in her relationship with her mom, Gaius, and Cal — is so heartwarming. The characters literally fly off the page and I never knew how attached I could be to literary characters until this series. Like, I have never read something that has wrecked me so hard and made me question whether I need therapy after reading a frickin book.
The hauntings Lisa experiences in this book were crazy creepy but so good at the same time. I loved our new characters too — except for Dreyma obviously. I hate this villain with my whole heart. She was so well written… so maniacal and just disgustingly sinister.
And then we have Cal. As Lisa would say, my gosh — My whole HEART IS JUST --
Okay. The sweet moments between Cal and Lisa are so so wholesome. I loved getting to see them grow together and play with the idea of a future together.
I love you Hannah, but I feel so betrayed 😭😭😭😭
Anyway, this review was insanely chaotic, but that’s what happens when you read The Agapéd Bearer. Love is worth the price of sorrow. IYKYK.
In all sincerity, I did love this book and it was written so well. It’s so bittersweet, but I won’t be rereading it for a very long time. I don’t think I can handle the trauma again. 😃
⚠️TW: This is probably one of the heaviest books I’ve read… definitely a YA, ages 15+ in my opinion. Lots of torture, mental trauma, explicit injuries/violence/physical abuse, intense grief, and horrific elements (like walking corpses). There’s mentions of drinking/drugs, cheating (and a couple “half-naked” people), r*pe, and a reference to p*rnography.
No spice or language.
The darkness isn’t there for the sake of darkness, however. Through it all, the characters learn that the Light always overcomes the Darkness, even when it’s hard and you can’t seem to see the end. So despite the sadness and heaviness, it’s so good and deep, and shows that while life is tough and we have struggles to overcome, it’s so worth it. ❤️🩹
**this review has major spoilers**
I have been shattered into a thousand pieces. My heart and soul and mind have been broken in ways I didn’t think possible.
So um.
This book is good. Until it’s not. I stayed up an hour past midnight with headphones on and fighting tears and the heavy weight pressing down on my soul.
I don’t even know what to say in this review guys 😭😭 my heart is so unwell.
First of all, I adore seeing Lisa grow up throughout this series. Getting to see her mature and change — experiencing all these different emotions and growing in her relationship with her mom, Gaius, and Cal — is so heartwarming. The characters literally fly off the page and I never knew how attached I could be to literary characters until this series. Like, I have never read something that has wrecked me so hard and made me question whether I need therapy after reading a frickin book.
The hauntings Lisa experiences in this book were crazy creepy but so good at the same time. I loved our new characters too — except for Dreyma obviously. I hate this villain with my whole heart. She was so well written… so maniacal and just disgustingly sinister.
And then we have Cal. As Lisa would say, my gosh — My whole HEART IS JUST --
Okay. The sweet moments between Cal and Lisa are so so wholesome. I loved getting to see them grow together and play with the idea of a future together.
I love you Hannah, but I feel so betrayed 😭😭😭😭
Anyway, this review was insanely chaotic, but that’s what happens when you read The Agapéd Bearer. Love is worth the price of sorrow. IYKYK.
In all sincerity, I did love this book and it was written so well. It’s so bittersweet, but I won’t be rereading it for a very long time. I don’t think I can handle the trauma again. 😃
⚠️TW: This is probably one of the heaviest books I’ve read… definitely a YA, ages 15+ in my opinion. Lots of torture, mental trauma, explicit injuries/violence/physical abuse, intense grief, and horrific elements (like walking corpses). There’s mentions of drinking/drugs, cheating (and a couple “half-naked” people), r*pe, and a reference to p*rnography.
No spice or language.
The darkness isn’t there for the sake of darkness, however. Through it all, the characters learn that the Light always overcomes the Darkness, even when it’s hard and you can’t seem to see the end. So despite the sadness and heaviness, it’s so good and deep, and shows that while life is tough and we have struggles to overcome, it’s so worth it. ❤️🩹
May 30, 2025
The Agapéd Bearer: Dreyma's Curse is a book that I have greatly anticipated reading since I finished the third book in the series and 1st heard of its development!
I can 100% say this book blew my expectations away. It's an amazing turning point in Lisa's story where we begin to see that she is no longer that young girl who entered a wonderful world of magic. While it still has that amazing sense of adventure and wonder, this book specifically takes a bit of a spookier turn than the previous three books, in the sense that we see Lisa dealing with specters and ghosts of those she's lost. Not to mention moments where she has to relive some of her worst nightmares. And while I don't want to say too much, we also get to see her having to deal with some more grown-up situations and decisions. Seeing Lisa become a young adult had me tearing up. I have loved reading these books and being able to relate in some way to Lisa's internal struggles throughout the series. These books truly have become a comfort to me.
I absolutely love Hannah's way of writing Lisa's story and its characters. Many of my favorite moments from the book are the moments between all the lovable characters. Her writing makes them feel so real, as if I'm right in the room with them. I absolutely loved that we got to see more of Lisa's relationship with her mother. I love Odettes' character and her love for Lisa. And oh my goodness, don't even get me started on Gaius and Lisa's father-daughter relationship, it literally makes me tear up just thinking about it. literally so sweet. I love them so, so much. And Cal and Lisa, they as well. Some of those sweet scenes between the two literally had me giggling and kicking my feet. Their story in this book was definitely more of a bittersweet one than the previous books, but the themes we see throughout the story and relationships between these characters make these books, probably, one of my most favorite series I have ever read.
I am still reeling from the rollercoaster of emotions this book has brought me. I cried, guys. But I am so excited for others to read it and for the story's continuation in the future fifth book. I 100% will be reading these books to my kids in the very far future.
I can 100% say this book blew my expectations away. It's an amazing turning point in Lisa's story where we begin to see that she is no longer that young girl who entered a wonderful world of magic. While it still has that amazing sense of adventure and wonder, this book specifically takes a bit of a spookier turn than the previous three books, in the sense that we see Lisa dealing with specters and ghosts of those she's lost. Not to mention moments where she has to relive some of her worst nightmares. And while I don't want to say too much, we also get to see her having to deal with some more grown-up situations and decisions. Seeing Lisa become a young adult had me tearing up. I have loved reading these books and being able to relate in some way to Lisa's internal struggles throughout the series. These books truly have become a comfort to me.
I absolutely love Hannah's way of writing Lisa's story and its characters. Many of my favorite moments from the book are the moments between all the lovable characters. Her writing makes them feel so real, as if I'm right in the room with them. I absolutely loved that we got to see more of Lisa's relationship with her mother. I love Odettes' character and her love for Lisa. And oh my goodness, don't even get me started on Gaius and Lisa's father-daughter relationship, it literally makes me tear up just thinking about it. literally so sweet. I love them so, so much. And Cal and Lisa, they as well. Some of those sweet scenes between the two literally had me giggling and kicking my feet. Their story in this book was definitely more of a bittersweet one than the previous books, but the themes we see throughout the story and relationships between these characters make these books, probably, one of my most favorite series I have ever read.
I am still reeling from the rollercoaster of emotions this book has brought me. I cried, guys. But I am so excited for others to read it and for the story's continuation in the future fifth book. I 100% will be reading these books to my kids in the very far future.
October 19, 2025
This is the end of an era 🥲 Can't wait for the next books! 🥹❤️
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🌶️ Clean, emphasis on the emotions, kisses only
💬 Mild, "crap" and invented cuss words
❗Death, blood, violence, severe injuries, grief, loss, depression, horror and hauntings, talk of being drunk and rape (in the past, only briefly)
.
My thoughts:
Hannah is a genius! 😭👏 When I tell you IT'S ALL CONNECTED! Everything in this series, doesn't matter if it's awesome or heartbreaking, MAKES SENSE! That makes it all the better and all the worse at the same time 😭 Dreyma's Curse is truly a wild ride, with even higher stakes and more serious topics we only lightly touched in the previous books. Lisa slowly enters adulthood, faces darker things than ever and I LOVED every second of it! I'll keep talking about those characters 'till the day I die!!! ❤️ They really make me feel seen and understood and their relationships are GOALS. Hannah created a masterpiece I will forever recommend! And after this heartbreaking, soul-crushing, beautiful ending I will impatiently await next volumes, distracting myself with other books in the meantime 🥲Please, please, PLEASE, everybody, go read The Agapéd Bearer Saga!!! ❤️
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Btw, THIS COVER?! 🤯😍 Stunning! 👏💛
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Stay safe and know that you are worth living for. ~ The Agapéd Bearer Saga
.
🌶️ Clean, emphasis on the emotions, kisses only
💬 Mild, "crap" and invented cuss words
❗Death, blood, violence, severe injuries, grief, loss, depression, horror and hauntings, talk of being drunk and rape (in the past, only briefly)
.
My thoughts:
Hannah is a genius! 😭👏 When I tell you IT'S ALL CONNECTED! Everything in this series, doesn't matter if it's awesome or heartbreaking, MAKES SENSE! That makes it all the better and all the worse at the same time 😭 Dreyma's Curse is truly a wild ride, with even higher stakes and more serious topics we only lightly touched in the previous books. Lisa slowly enters adulthood, faces darker things than ever and I LOVED every second of it! I'll keep talking about those characters 'till the day I die!!! ❤️ They really make me feel seen and understood and their relationships are GOALS. Hannah created a masterpiece I will forever recommend! And after this heartbreaking, soul-crushing, beautiful ending I will impatiently await next volumes, distracting myself with other books in the meantime 🥲Please, please, PLEASE, everybody, go read The Agapéd Bearer Saga!!! ❤️
.
Btw, THIS COVER?! 🤯😍 Stunning! 👏💛
.
Stay safe and know that you are worth living for. ~ The Agapéd Bearer Saga
June 11, 2025
4.5 ⭐ !
What an absolute rollercoaster this book was. The vibes were different from the other books and eeriness/haunting vibes the author wanted were definitely there. I literally was anxious in some chapters!
That said: WHAT WAS THAT ENDING HUH?! I don't know at this point if I'm intrigued or if I hate it. I'm grieving is what I know for sure😭
What an absolute rollercoaster this book was. The vibes were different from the other books and eeriness/haunting vibes the author wanted were definitely there. I literally was anxious in some chapters!
That said: WHAT WAS THAT ENDING HUH?! I don't know at this point if I'm intrigued or if I hate it. I'm grieving is what I know for sure😭
May 25, 2025
Reading this book felt like living through a hurricane of emotions and I loved every second of it.
My expressions were so wild that I think my siblings will forever see me as that weird book person and honestly? Worth it.
Hannah has done it again. She didn’t just write a book, she wrecked me in the best possible way. From the moment I met Lisa in Book One, I was enchanted by her world. But now, after following her journey across the series, I’m even more deeply invested.
Lisa's journey in this book? Earth-shattering. We’ve seen her slay monsters before, but in Dreyma’s Curse, she battles internal struggles. The tension is relentless, the stakes are sky-high, and the emotional devastation is… unbearable.
Dreyma’s Curse isn’t just a story it’s a full-on emotional event. It’s raw, gorgeous, devastating, healing, and full of moments that will leave you absolutely destroyed (and begging for more).
Y’all are not ready. Bring the tissues. Stare at the wall. Cry. Hug the book. Just get ready, because this ride is BRUTAL. 😭
My expressions were so wild that I think my siblings will forever see me as that weird book person and honestly? Worth it.
Hannah has done it again. She didn’t just write a book, she wrecked me in the best possible way. From the moment I met Lisa in Book One, I was enchanted by her world. But now, after following her journey across the series, I’m even more deeply invested.
Lisa's journey in this book? Earth-shattering. We’ve seen her slay monsters before, but in Dreyma’s Curse, she battles internal struggles. The tension is relentless, the stakes are sky-high, and the emotional devastation is… unbearable.
Dreyma’s Curse isn’t just a story it’s a full-on emotional event. It’s raw, gorgeous, devastating, healing, and full of moments that will leave you absolutely destroyed (and begging for more).
Y’all are not ready. Bring the tissues. Stare at the wall. Cry. Hug the book. Just get ready, because this ride is BRUTAL. 😭
March 21, 2025
Heartbreaking
. I think I cried at least three times while reading this book. I knew that at some point Lisa's glorious youth would culminate, but I never thought it would be in such a shocking way. Magic, adventure, tears, sacrifice, found family, true love, and action are what awaits every reader. I'd like to share my experience as an early reader of the arc (thanks, Hannah Lindsey!).
This is currently one of my favorite fantasy series. Starting with worldbuilding, the system is one of the most original I've seen in a while. I was taken aback by how the magic that was so cozy in the first books showed one of its most dangerous sides in this fourth installment. The monsters that seemed so distant in Gaius's illustrations came to life through curses. The villain, Dreyma, was genuinely one of my favorite parts, despite everything she did. Filled with both strangeness and cruelty, you never knew what her next move would be (only what she revealed).
Another plus was seeing the past of beloved characters who seemed untouchable: Gaius and Odette. My heart goes out to them because they managed to move forward after horrific experiences. In a world that can be cruel, not even magic can save you from facing certain battles. Everything has its limit. The scars that appeared in this book through vulnerability, trauma, and grief were painful to read. Lisa was never truly alone, but even she couldn't stop herself from breaking. How much pain can a person endure? Chapters 59 and 60 will always bring tears to my eyes.
Regarding the main conflict, it was well handled. Tip: PAY ATTENTION to the small details. They will be very useful. I also liked learning more about the political context of the kingdom and the royal family (Celine, I adore you). Plus, FINALLY there was more backstory about Lisa's human family (I'm so grateful because I've been waiting for this since the first volume). On the other hand, about romance… TRUE LOVE EXISTS… Caelum is the best boy. I'll just say: you don't know what it's like to feel joy or pain without having experienced both.
Meanwhile, in my opinion, there are certain details that could have been better. There will be mini-spoilers below (nothing that relevant):
SPOILER WARNING:
In short, it was a great read. Lisa learned from life, won, and lost. I feel like I grew up with her in part. Dear readers, stay tuned for the release date.
This is currently one of my favorite fantasy series. Starting with worldbuilding, the system is one of the most original I've seen in a while. I was taken aback by how the magic that was so cozy in the first books showed one of its most dangerous sides in this fourth installment. The monsters that seemed so distant in Gaius's illustrations came to life through curses. The villain, Dreyma, was genuinely one of my favorite parts, despite everything she did. Filled with both strangeness and cruelty, you never knew what her next move would be (only what she revealed).
Another plus was seeing the past of beloved characters who seemed untouchable: Gaius and Odette. My heart goes out to them because they managed to move forward after horrific experiences. In a world that can be cruel, not even magic can save you from facing certain battles. Everything has its limit. The scars that appeared in this book through vulnerability, trauma, and grief were painful to read. Lisa was never truly alone, but even she couldn't stop herself from breaking. How much pain can a person endure? Chapters 59 and 60 will always bring tears to my eyes.
Regarding the main conflict, it was well handled. Tip: PAY ATTENTION to the small details. They will be very useful. I also liked learning more about the political context of the kingdom and the royal family (Celine, I adore you). Plus, FINALLY there was more backstory about Lisa's human family (I'm so grateful because I've been waiting for this since the first volume). On the other hand, about romance… TRUE LOVE EXISTS… Caelum is the best boy. I'll just say: you don't know what it's like to feel joy or pain without having experienced both.
Meanwhile, in my opinion, there are certain details that could have been better. There will be mini-spoilers below (nothing that relevant):
SPOILER WARNING:
In short, it was a great read. Lisa learned from life, won, and lost. I feel like I grew up with her in part. Dear readers, stay tuned for the release date.
March 16, 2025
So, I don't know how to even start this review, I'll just say this is a work of art, Hannah Taylor Lindsey. Congratulations!!
There are a lot of authors that can write a great story, but very few authors get to show and connect the emotions and character growth of their characters with the readers. Lisa is one of the characters that through every part of her story, the narrative allowed me to experience her joy, anger, and grief, so thank you for letting me experience firsthand the start of Lisa's adult life.
Next, I'm amazed by the way Lisa's universe keeps growing with each book, with the other characters stories and the development of book 3 to book 4, and the Gaius chapters were placed in great moments within the story, so we (the readers) can understand the narrative from different perspectives. It's awesome to learn different aspects of Gaius and his connection with the new characters.
Another amazing aspect is the fighting sequences; they're beautifully written and not too complicated or in a quick way, allowing our imagination (as readers) to flow by the way each action is connected with the character's thought, and since the fighting style with each character is unique, it's easier to imagine it.
My favorite genre is fantasy, so I love the world-building, so with each book from the Agapéd Bearer Series, it grows with our FMC. And with book number 4, it adds a new genre to the mix: thriller, a tad of mystery or crime.
A little warning: this is a much more mature chapter in Lisa's life, her thoughts and determination grew with her, which brought many (so many) new difficult challenges to her life, so prepare as you read: comfort beverages (to avoid dehydration), a safe place (so you can cry your heart out), and a lot of calming breaths (helps with part III).
Amazing work, Hannah Taylor Lindsey, I'm left on the edge of my seat and waiting for the return of Lisa's story with the next book, (please show us readers mercy and add a lot of comfort for Lisa and Gaius).
So after my essay, if you're a reader looking for a new reading universe to explore, my recommendation is The Agapéd Bearer Series; it's filled with comfort, found family, character growth, magic, and more. By their hand, you will begin to learn to enjoy who you are, and if our extraordinary Lisa has done amazing things while at the start of her story, we readers can too.
There are a lot of authors that can write a great story, but very few authors get to show and connect the emotions and character growth of their characters with the readers. Lisa is one of the characters that through every part of her story, the narrative allowed me to experience her joy, anger, and grief, so thank you for letting me experience firsthand the start of Lisa's adult life.
Next, I'm amazed by the way Lisa's universe keeps growing with each book, with the other characters stories and the development of book 3 to book 4, and the Gaius chapters were placed in great moments within the story, so we (the readers) can understand the narrative from different perspectives. It's awesome to learn different aspects of Gaius and his connection with the new characters.
Another amazing aspect is the fighting sequences; they're beautifully written and not too complicated or in a quick way, allowing our imagination (as readers) to flow by the way each action is connected with the character's thought, and since the fighting style with each character is unique, it's easier to imagine it.
My favorite genre is fantasy, so I love the world-building, so with each book from the Agapéd Bearer Series, it grows with our FMC. And with book number 4, it adds a new genre to the mix: thriller, a tad of mystery or crime.
A little warning: this is a much more mature chapter in Lisa's life, her thoughts and determination grew with her, which brought many (so many) new difficult challenges to her life, so prepare as you read: comfort beverages (to avoid dehydration), a safe place (so you can cry your heart out), and a lot of calming breaths (helps with part III).
Amazing work, Hannah Taylor Lindsey, I'm left on the edge of my seat and waiting for the return of Lisa's story with the next book, (please show us readers mercy and add a lot of comfort for Lisa and Gaius).
So after my essay, if you're a reader looking for a new reading universe to explore, my recommendation is The Agapéd Bearer Series; it's filled with comfort, found family, character growth, magic, and more. By their hand, you will begin to learn to enjoy who you are, and if our extraordinary Lisa has done amazing things while at the start of her story, we readers can too.
December 11, 2025
4.5 stars only because…my heart is broken💔
Edit: okay, I’ve had time to process the ending and all the things before. Hannah has outdone herself with the emotional turmoil in this book. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so much grief from a story before. Seriously, I’m not okay. I finished the book yesterday and am still sad. Even struggled to sleep T-T.
Hannah’s writing effortlessly flows in a way that has you seeing everything vividly, as if it were real. The connection to the characters is one so pure and full of love, bound to bring tears when they face trials. Dreyma’s Curse is no doubt darker than the first three, tackling mind manipulation, anxiety, depression, and extreme levels of stress, as well as death and violence. It unsettled me in a way I didn’t expect, especially the heartbreak. Yet, there’s a promise and glimmer of Light even then.
I’ll be honest, I’m not happy with how things ended and I hope the author makes up for it T-T. I’ve never been this shocked and upset by a conclusion of a book. But Hannah never fails to utterly capture my attention with her stories to the very last page, even when my eyes are too blurred to read the words.
I am currently going through the stages of grief and I pray I recover soon. These characters and stories may not be real, but they’re written in a way that make them seem as though they are. I’m a little bit afraid to read her next book, but she promised it’d be happier. So, Hannah, I will hold you to that promise!
Despite how you shattered my heart, thank you for taking me on another fantastical journey.
Recommended Age Group: because this book tackles heavier topics, I would advise no one under the age of 14-15 to read. But either way read at your own discretion. It’s an amazing book but heart-wrenchingly so.
Trigger Warnings:
Anxiety, implications of depression, violence, death, torture, mention of rape, possession
Edit: okay, I’ve had time to process the ending and all the things before. Hannah has outdone herself with the emotional turmoil in this book. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so much grief from a story before. Seriously, I’m not okay. I finished the book yesterday and am still sad. Even struggled to sleep T-T.
Hannah’s writing effortlessly flows in a way that has you seeing everything vividly, as if it were real. The connection to the characters is one so pure and full of love, bound to bring tears when they face trials. Dreyma’s Curse is no doubt darker than the first three, tackling mind manipulation, anxiety, depression, and extreme levels of stress, as well as death and violence. It unsettled me in a way I didn’t expect, especially the heartbreak. Yet, there’s a promise and glimmer of Light even then.
I’ll be honest, I’m not happy with how things ended and I hope the author makes up for it T-T. I’ve never been this shocked and upset by a conclusion of a book. But Hannah never fails to utterly capture my attention with her stories to the very last page, even when my eyes are too blurred to read the words.
I am currently going through the stages of grief and I pray I recover soon. These characters and stories may not be real, but they’re written in a way that make them seem as though they are. I’m a little bit afraid to read her next book, but she promised it’d be happier. So, Hannah, I will hold you to that promise!
Despite how you shattered my heart, thank you for taking me on another fantastical journey.
Recommended Age Group: because this book tackles heavier topics, I would advise no one under the age of 14-15 to read. But either way read at your own discretion. It’s an amazing book but heart-wrenchingly so.
Trigger Warnings:
Anxiety, implications of depression, violence, death, torture, mention of rape, possession
March 7, 2025
𝑬����'𝑺 𝑻𝑯𝑶𝑼𝑮𝑯𝑻𝑺 ✧ ・₊°࿐
𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖: I had the absolute honor and privilege to be an ARC reader for this book, however I'm still in recovery. I finished this book, what, ten? Twenty? Thirty minutes ago?? Time has been lost to me since I read Chapter 59 (if you know you know ) and finished the book. What a way to wrap up Lisa's adolescence.
On a brighter note, I made a bingo card for this book, and I can proudly say I got BINGO four times throughout the span of this book.
While the ending is what shook me the most, the rest of the book is just as thrilling as I knew it would be. Every few chapters felt like the next episode of a TV series; pacing was fantastic. I was so pleased by the abundance of Gaius chapters in this one - readers have only ever known one chapter of non-Lisa POV every book, so seeing more from Gaius' eyes was such a treat.
Hannah Lindsey has such a way of making me emotionally invested in her characters and she never fails to make me bawl my eyes out (I do not cry to books. This series is the singular exception). And the way she seamlessly weaves one point to the next - point A to point B to point C and all the way to Z - never fails to make me forget how much time is passing in the book, covering Lisa's entire senior year of high school.
I'll confess: I was uncertain about this series being in first person when I picked up Wishing Stars, but I'm so glad it was here for Dreyma's Curse. I loved being able to see the inner workings of Lisa's mind in this book, especially as this is the most psychologically-conflicting (is that a phrase? like psychological horror-esque wordage?) book in the saga thus far. Lisa was just as relatable in this book as she was in all the rest perhaps even moreso for I too am delusional and I am beyond eager to see where her journey takes her next.
(i already have a bingo square ready for book 5: orange book cover lol)
𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐒: I genuinely don't think I can write notes for this. I think one thing I would have liked was a clear recap on what the Embassy, but I don't know if that's just because I haven't touched the Agapéd Bearer since September or not lol. I was able to get the gist as the story went on, however, so maybe this note is unnecessary? I may come back and edit this review once I've recovered from all the emotional damage inflicted and provide proper constructive criticism if I see fit. But regardless, beautiful work as always, Hannah.
𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖: I had the absolute honor and privilege to be an ARC reader for this book, however I'm still in recovery. I finished this book, what, ten? Twenty? Thirty minutes ago?? Time has been lost to me since I read Chapter 59 (if you know you know ) and finished the book. What a way to wrap up Lisa's adolescence.
On a brighter note, I made a bingo card for this book, and I can proudly say I got BINGO four times throughout the span of this book.
While the ending is what shook me the most, the rest of the book is just as thrilling as I knew it would be. Every few chapters felt like the next episode of a TV series; pacing was fantastic. I was so pleased by the abundance of Gaius chapters in this one - readers have only ever known one chapter of non-Lisa POV every book, so seeing more from Gaius' eyes was such a treat.
Hannah Lindsey has such a way of making me emotionally invested in her characters and she never fails to make me bawl my eyes out (I do not cry to books. This series is the singular exception). And the way she seamlessly weaves one point to the next - point A to point B to point C and all the way to Z - never fails to make me forget how much time is passing in the book, covering Lisa's entire senior year of high school.
I'll confess: I was uncertain about this series being in first person when I picked up Wishing Stars, but I'm so glad it was here for Dreyma's Curse. I loved being able to see the inner workings of Lisa's mind in this book, especially as this is the most psychologically-conflicting (is that a phrase? like psychological horror-esque wordage?) book in the saga thus far. Lisa was just as relatable in this book as she was in all the rest
(i already have a bingo square ready for book 5: orange book cover lol)
𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐒: I genuinely don't think I can write notes for this. I think one thing I would have liked was a clear recap on what the Embassy, but I don't know if that's just because I haven't touched the Agapéd Bearer since September or not lol. I was able to get the gist as the story went on, however, so maybe this note is unnecessary? I may come back and edit this review once I've recovered from all the emotional damage inflicted and provide proper constructive criticism if I see fit. But regardless, beautiful work as always, Hannah.
June 29, 2025
I am no professional review writer so just my thoughts in here. Let me tell you its 0:50 at night and I finished the book about 20 minutes ago. The book has shattered my heart into milion pieces and got my delusional ass working. As of now Caelum is going to magically appear in the fifth book and everyone will get their happy ending. Anyway the book was overall amazing, so well written and I think the ending was quite important to the story despite me hating it lol. I saw the fanarts before finishing and saw Celine and Leonora in black dresses looking all sad and depressing. So it got me thinking someone is gonna die for sure. I had my selfish hopes of the person not being Caelum or Gaius but as you can see my manisfesting didnt work. As it didnt with Liam or Sam, welp a whole another story. As I was reading the authors note, I truly didnt expect for those books to just be a prequel and Cal to just be a part of it left in the past. It sure as hell didnt make me happy but I do understand I really do. I would just absolutely love to have a small talk with the author not involving me screaming crying at all. Not at all. Also as Cal was talking to Lisa in his final moment about her finding her haven and being happy and stuff, it got me thinking. There better bot be another dude!! I know how books like these work and I better see Cal waking up from the dead like Jesus himself (no disrespect ment to Jesus here I am Christian myself)! So in conclusion I am pissed, ugly crying, but also excited for the next book and honestly think this one was a work of art.
Final note. If anyone cared to read this not so review I just need to confirm I am not crazy and this sentence was in the book: chraňte nás prosím. For a little context Gaius said this when he and Lisa went into the forest where the Draumer was residing at the time. Lisa explained it was a charm so they would be protected. Except this sentence is literally in Slovak or Czech language (in this case you say it the same in both languages) . I myself am Slovak and I thought I was hallucinating when reading because what the helly. Anyway bye hope you liked my review, I think the book was absolutely efing amazing.
Final note. If anyone cared to read this not so review I just need to confirm I am not crazy and this sentence was in the book: chraňte nás prosím. For a little context Gaius said this when he and Lisa went into the forest where the Draumer was residing at the time. Lisa explained it was a charm so they would be protected. Except this sentence is literally in Slovak or Czech language (in this case you say it the same in both languages) . I myself am Slovak and I thought I was hallucinating when reading because what the helly. Anyway bye hope you liked my review, I think the book was absolutely efing amazing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 13, 2025
Title: The Agapéd Bearer – Dreyma's Curse
Book: 4
Author: Hannah Lindsey 💜💜💜
Language: English
Started: May 31th, 2025
Finished: June 3th, 2025
My rating: 🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
My favorite Quotes ( and sooo many good ones😭🤌🏻!!!):
"True friendships were rarer to find than magic."
~
He wa a Shooting star in my deep blue sky, and i never wanted to blink for the fear of missing even the slightest moment of him.
~
and i truly saw him as my Hero, the father i always wished I had.
~
...No matter what, i'll be your haven, alright? If things are tough, just let me know , and we can work out the tough together."
~
"Lisa....i love you [....] "And I promise, i will always protect you. Always. Even if this..."He paused and swallowed. "Even if this all hurts us in the end."
~
"Grief is the price we pay for love."
~
"Magic was beautiful. Magic was joyous-full of wonder. This life was better then the one on earth, and for so long I'd believed that. But now... this life was worse than anything death could've given me."
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Blurb:
A year has already passed since the Glory Spar, and King Cal is still rebuilding the kingdom of Boolavogue. He is supported by Lisa Rae Robbie (now 17 years old), who, as a fully-fledged hunter, now hunts monsters on behalf of the kingdom.
Everything could be normal, but Lisa's high school graduation is imminent, and with it comes the question of what her future holds: Will she go to college or finally reveal her secret relationship with Cal and thus become the next Queen of Boolavogue?
She doesn't have much time to think about it, because for some time now, more monsters have been appearing in neighboring villages, and the people there are disappearing without a trace.
As Lisa investigates, she begins to see and hear things that aren't there.
Nightmares, that become reality.
Voices and whispers, that no one hears.
Shadows, that move.
And the dead that rise.
Is she losing her mind?
With Gaius's help, Lisa sets out to find answers.
But what they discover is far worse than anything they could have ever imagined...
A curse weighs on Lisa, and not only is the world and her magic are at stake, but also her heart....
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
(Warning⚠️Contains possible spoilers!!!)
Review:
My heart is simply shattered into a thousand pieces😭💔. (And I'm still looking for a few pieces.)
You'd better have a box of tissues handy while reading this book, because believe me, you'll need them🤧.
The first part/arc in The Agapéd Bearer is over.
Lisa's "Adolescent years" is now coming to an end.
The first four Books are only telling the story of Lisa's "Prequel life" and the "Main story" actually begins in Book 5!!!!!
I'm absolutely speechless. Shocked. Shaken!
All I feel right now is grief, despair, and hopelessness!!!!!
Never before has a book captivated me so completely!!!!
It was absolutely brilliant!!!!
I experienced a true rollercoaster of emotions; one moment I was laughing, smiling, and rooting for the characters —and suddenly I was practically peeing my pants with fear, and the next I was crying my eyes out.
So much is at stake in this book—the future of Lisa and Cal, the rebuilding of Boolavogue, Lisa's decisions, the fate of the entire world, and of course, Lisa's heart!!!!
Although it's a coming-of-age, heartwarming fantasy story, the author doesn't shy away from depicting raw, violent scars, scenes, grief, loss, and their consequences.
Lisa, Cal, Gaius and Tuff are pushed to their limits here...but they still don't give up hope!
More worldbuilding and character development.
More Magic, Lore and love.
More of EVERYTHING!!!!!
I LOVE AND HATE BOOK 4 SO MUCH!!!! AND BY THE LIGHT... I'VE NEVER HATED A VILLAIN SO MUCH AS DREYMA!!!!
Lisa had to go through so much in this Book; from nightmares and hallucinations to her worst fears....BUT despite all of that, she remains true to her character: brave, strong, incredible willpower/strength, and a heart practically overflowing with empathy, helpfulness, and kindness!!!!!⚔️💜🌠🌸
And of course, she's an absolute badass with her magic and fighting skills💅🏻 (the fight scenes are simply awesome!!!)
Cal, who is now king, has grown up so much. He had to go through a lot, and of course, he also has to go through a lot. He pushes himself to his limits and wishes for a different life with Lisa...💞💙.
Lisa and Cal are confronted with the expectations others have of them. They have to make decisions about their future, which for many seems to be set in stone. Luckily, though, they have each other!!!😍🥰💜💙
They're always there for each other, talk about their problems (other authors could really learn a thing or two from that), and always have each other's backs!!!!!
Their relationship is by far the best thing about this entire book.
You can literally feel their love as you turn the pages, and yet it doesn't seem exaggerated or even unbelievable.
I smiled and squealed like a little girl during every scene with them! (All I can say is, STAR DATE!!!!)
Gaius's relationship with Lisa grows stronger from book to book—no wonder he saw Lisa grow up and would go to the ends of the earth to protect her... Dad-Material at its finest💚🌿🍃!!!
We finally learn more about Odette—we see her life, her everyday life, and her difficulties and inner struggles. We also learned more about her past, and it absolutely broke my heart❤️🩹!!!!
Best (fictional) mother of all time🤌🏻!!!!!!
Tuff,the little sprite, actually undergoes character development—who would have thought?! (Gaius definitely never).
He's soooo sweet, brave, and protective (he made me laugh so many times with his demeanor. (I still want my own Tuff🧡!!!)
And Celine has grown up so much too—my heart bled for her and I actually cried like a proud mother in Chapter 44... I think she surprised us ALL!
The villain was one of the worst! She's ice-cold, unpredictable, ruthless, and so profoundly VICIOUS!!!!!
Now let's get to the end—WHAT KIND OF ENDING WAS THAT?!?! I MEAN—WHAT JUST HAPPENED!???!
THIS CLIFFHANGER SHOULD BE BANNED!!!!!
It just absolutely broke me.
My heart shattered into a thousand pieces💔 and I feel like it'll never heal properly again😭.
I didn't see it coming (and yes, in retrospect, there was foreshadowing, but I didn't think it would actually happen) BECAUSE THERE'S A PLOT TWIST WITHIN A PLOT TWIST.
SO, JUST WHEN YOU THINK EVERYTHING'S BACK TO NORMAL, SOMETHING EVEN WORSE HAPPENS, AND TRUST ME, IT HURTS LIKE HEL!!!!
And the author's note at the end?!... made my guts churn!!!😱😭.
Highly recommended reading✨️📚!!!!!
~
Tropes:
Magic and magical creatures
Epic battles
Slaying Monsters ⚔️
Horrors, hauntings & Hallucinations
Found Family
Mentor- Mentee / Father- Daughter vibes
friends to true love 🩷
Amazing world-building and Character development
Death 😭 (Grief & Loss)
Sacrifice💔❤️🩹
Light vs Darkness
Book: 4
Author: Hannah Lindsey 💜💜💜
Language: English
Started: May 31th, 2025
Finished: June 3th, 2025
My rating: 🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
My favorite Quotes ( and sooo many good ones😭🤌🏻!!!):
"True friendships were rarer to find than magic."
~
He wa a Shooting star in my deep blue sky, and i never wanted to blink for the fear of missing even the slightest moment of him.
~
and i truly saw him as my Hero, the father i always wished I had.
~
...No matter what, i'll be your haven, alright? If things are tough, just let me know , and we can work out the tough together."
~
"Lisa....i love you [....] "And I promise, i will always protect you. Always. Even if this..."He paused and swallowed. "Even if this all hurts us in the end."
~
"Grief is the price we pay for love."
~
"Magic was beautiful. Magic was joyous-full of wonder. This life was better then the one on earth, and for so long I'd believed that. But now... this life was worse than anything death could've given me."
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Blurb:
A year has already passed since the Glory Spar, and King Cal is still rebuilding the kingdom of Boolavogue. He is supported by Lisa Rae Robbie (now 17 years old), who, as a fully-fledged hunter, now hunts monsters on behalf of the kingdom.
Everything could be normal, but Lisa's high school graduation is imminent, and with it comes the question of what her future holds: Will she go to college or finally reveal her secret relationship with Cal and thus become the next Queen of Boolavogue?
She doesn't have much time to think about it, because for some time now, more monsters have been appearing in neighboring villages, and the people there are disappearing without a trace.
As Lisa investigates, she begins to see and hear things that aren't there.
Nightmares, that become reality.
Voices and whispers, that no one hears.
Shadows, that move.
And the dead that rise.
Is she losing her mind?
With Gaius's help, Lisa sets out to find answers.
But what they discover is far worse than anything they could have ever imagined...
A curse weighs on Lisa, and not only is the world and her magic are at stake, but also her heart....
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
(Warning⚠️Contains possible spoilers!!!)
Review:
My heart is simply shattered into a thousand pieces😭💔. (And I'm still looking for a few pieces.)
You'd better have a box of tissues handy while reading this book, because believe me, you'll need them🤧.
The first part/arc in The Agapéd Bearer is over.
Lisa's "Adolescent years" is now coming to an end.
The first four Books are only telling the story of Lisa's "Prequel life" and the "Main story" actually begins in Book 5!!!!!
I'm absolutely speechless. Shocked. Shaken!
All I feel right now is grief, despair, and hopelessness!!!!!
Never before has a book captivated me so completely!!!!
It was absolutely brilliant!!!!
I experienced a true rollercoaster of emotions; one moment I was laughing, smiling, and rooting for the characters —and suddenly I was practically peeing my pants with fear, and the next I was crying my eyes out.
So much is at stake in this book—the future of Lisa and Cal, the rebuilding of Boolavogue, Lisa's decisions, the fate of the entire world, and of course, Lisa's heart!!!!
Although it's a coming-of-age, heartwarming fantasy story, the author doesn't shy away from depicting raw, violent scars, scenes, grief, loss, and their consequences.
Lisa, Cal, Gaius and Tuff are pushed to their limits here...but they still don't give up hope!
More worldbuilding and character development.
More Magic, Lore and love.
More of EVERYTHING!!!!!
I LOVE AND HATE BOOK 4 SO MUCH!!!! AND BY THE LIGHT... I'VE NEVER HATED A VILLAIN SO MUCH AS DREYMA!!!!
Lisa had to go through so much in this Book; from nightmares and hallucinations to her worst fears....BUT despite all of that, she remains true to her character: brave, strong, incredible willpower/strength, and a heart practically overflowing with empathy, helpfulness, and kindness!!!!!⚔️💜🌠🌸
And of course, she's an absolute badass with her magic and fighting skills💅🏻 (the fight scenes are simply awesome!!!)
Cal, who is now king, has grown up so much. He had to go through a lot, and of course, he also has to go through a lot. He pushes himself to his limits and wishes for a different life with Lisa...💞💙.
Lisa and Cal are confronted with the expectations others have of them. They have to make decisions about their future, which for many seems to be set in stone. Luckily, though, they have each other!!!😍🥰💜💙
They're always there for each other, talk about their problems (other authors could really learn a thing or two from that), and always have each other's backs!!!!!
Their relationship is by far the best thing about this entire book.
You can literally feel their love as you turn the pages, and yet it doesn't seem exaggerated or even unbelievable.
I smiled and squealed like a little girl during every scene with them! (All I can say is, STAR DATE!!!!)
Gaius's relationship with Lisa grows stronger from book to book—no wonder he saw Lisa grow up and would go to the ends of the earth to protect her... Dad-Material at its finest💚🌿🍃!!!
We finally learn more about Odette—we see her life, her everyday life, and her difficulties and inner struggles. We also learned more about her past, and it absolutely broke my heart❤️🩹!!!!
Best (fictional) mother of all time🤌🏻!!!!!!
Tuff,the little sprite, actually undergoes character development—who would have thought?! (Gaius definitely never).
He's soooo sweet, brave, and protective (he made me laugh so many times with his demeanor. (I still want my own Tuff🧡!!!)
And Celine has grown up so much too—my heart bled for her and I actually cried like a proud mother in Chapter 44... I think she surprised us ALL!
The villain was one of the worst! She's ice-cold, unpredictable, ruthless, and so profoundly VICIOUS!!!!!
Now let's get to the end—WHAT KIND OF ENDING WAS THAT?!?! I MEAN—WHAT JUST HAPPENED!???!
THIS CLIFFHANGER SHOULD BE BANNED!!!!!
It just absolutely broke me.
My heart shattered into a thousand pieces💔 and I feel like it'll never heal properly again😭.
I didn't see it coming (and yes, in retrospect, there was foreshadowing, but I didn't think it would actually happen) BECAUSE THERE'S A PLOT TWIST WITHIN A PLOT TWIST.
SO, JUST WHEN YOU THINK EVERYTHING'S BACK TO NORMAL, SOMETHING EVEN WORSE HAPPENS, AND TRUST ME, IT HURTS LIKE HEL!!!!
And the author's note at the end?!... made my guts churn!!!😱😭.
Highly recommended reading✨️📚!!!!!
~
Tropes:
Magic and magical creatures
Epic battles
Slaying Monsters ⚔️
Horrors, hauntings & Hallucinations
Found Family
Mentor- Mentee / Father- Daughter vibes
friends to true love 🩷
Amazing world-building and Character development
Death 😭 (Grief & Loss)
Sacrifice💔❤️🩹
Light vs Darkness
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 28, 2025
I´m speechless, Dreyma's Curse was ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT.
I mean where do I even start? This book marks a turning point in the Agapéd Bearer series as we follow Lisa dealing with more serious, high - stakes challenges. If you have read the first three books in the series then our selfless and brave main character, Lisa, has certainly secured a place in your heart already. If you haven't, I encourage you to give them a try because I guarantee that you will love them.
We get to follow our precious Lisa on adventures with the beloved Star gardener and watch as her relationship with Cal blossoms. Alongside navigating the expectations and responsibilities that come with being the Agapéd, Lisa battles the most spine chilling villain yet, who will have you hugging your tuff plushie in fear. The stakes are higher than ever and I warn you, get your tissues ready before opening the book because you will be SOBBING by the end. We are also blessed with a few surprise cameos by some fan favorites from previous books (hint : does the word "glass" ring a bell? ;D ). As always, Hannah Lindsey's writing is absolutely brilliant, it will pull you in from the moment you open the book and keep you hooked to the very last word.
Our precious father - daughter duo grow closer alongside one another as they continue to push the boundaries of what one would do to protect the people they love most in their lives. Lindsey delivers a multitude of heartfelt moments in the novel displaying the beauty of the familial and romantic love and i'm serious, get. those. tissues. READY.
Dreyma's Curse has it all, higher stakes, a horrifying villain, characters (both new and old) that you will adore, phenomenal writing, adorable romance, fierce battles and most importantly : Gauis (need i say more?) This book is hands down a 5/5 and I implore you to read it, you will not regret it!
I mean where do I even start? This book marks a turning point in the Agapéd Bearer series as we follow Lisa dealing with more serious, high - stakes challenges. If you have read the first three books in the series then our selfless and brave main character, Lisa, has certainly secured a place in your heart already. If you haven't, I encourage you to give them a try because I guarantee that you will love them.
We get to follow our precious Lisa on adventures with the beloved Star gardener and watch as her relationship with Cal blossoms. Alongside navigating the expectations and responsibilities that come with being the Agapéd, Lisa battles the most spine chilling villain yet, who will have you hugging your tuff plushie in fear. The stakes are higher than ever and I warn you, get your tissues ready before opening the book because you will be SOBBING by the end. We are also blessed with a few surprise cameos by some fan favorites from previous books (hint : does the word "glass" ring a bell? ;D ). As always, Hannah Lindsey's writing is absolutely brilliant, it will pull you in from the moment you open the book and keep you hooked to the very last word.
Our precious father - daughter duo grow closer alongside one another as they continue to push the boundaries of what one would do to protect the people they love most in their lives. Lindsey delivers a multitude of heartfelt moments in the novel displaying the beauty of the familial and romantic love and i'm serious, get. those. tissues. READY.
Dreyma's Curse has it all, higher stakes, a horrifying villain, characters (both new and old) that you will adore, phenomenal writing, adorable romance, fierce battles and most importantly : Gauis (need i say more?) This book is hands down a 5/5 and I implore you to read it, you will not regret it!
March 13, 2025
This book is definitely one of my favorites that Mrs. Hannah has written! The details that she put into this book (and her other books) are truly amazing. There was almost too many details.
Emotionally:
Reading this book really put me on an emotional roller coaster (tears will be shed); one minute I am laughing and smiling, and the next I am bawling my eyes out. That is one of the things I really liked about the book is how the emotions really drew you in, making you feel like you really knew that character and what she was going through. This is definitely the most emotional book that she has written so far. OH, and the ending…😭😭😭😭 It was so unexpected. I am STILL recovering from it.
Action:
Every fight was bigger and better than the last. There was never a dull moment in this book. Lisa ate and left no crumbs! Yeah, she had her challenges along the way, but she still did not let that affect her fighting in the battle, and I loved that. She gave it her all! Usually in books I can guess what the outcome will be mid-fight, but in this book it was hard to tell what the outcome would be.
Romance:
10/10 romance!! ❤️❤️ I LOVE Lisa and Cal; they are SO cute together! There is nothing explicit in the book, just some hugging and kissing. I really like how Mrs. Hannah had romance sprinkled in the book. I don’t like where some books have all romance and, like, no action, but for this book, the action and the romance even out.
If you are a fantasy/action/clean romance fan, then this is the book for you! (I hope this review helped)! ❤️
Emotionally:
Reading this book really put me on an emotional roller coaster (tears will be shed); one minute I am laughing and smiling, and the next I am bawling my eyes out. That is one of the things I really liked about the book is how the emotions really drew you in, making you feel like you really knew that character and what she was going through. This is definitely the most emotional book that she has written so far. OH, and the ending…😭😭😭😭 It was so unexpected. I am STILL recovering from it.
Action:
Every fight was bigger and better than the last. There was never a dull moment in this book. Lisa ate and left no crumbs! Yeah, she had her challenges along the way, but she still did not let that affect her fighting in the battle, and I loved that. She gave it her all! Usually in books I can guess what the outcome will be mid-fight, but in this book it was hard to tell what the outcome would be.
Romance:
10/10 romance!! ❤️❤️ I LOVE Lisa and Cal; they are SO cute together! There is nothing explicit in the book, just some hugging and kissing. I really like how Mrs. Hannah had romance sprinkled in the book. I don’t like where some books have all romance and, like, no action, but for this book, the action and the romance even out.
If you are a fantasy/action/clean romance fan, then this is the book for you! (I hope this review helped)! ❤️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 14, 2025
If you haven't read Hunter Wars yet, this might contain spoilers !
"True friendships were rarer to find than magic."
"I truly saw him as my Hero, the father I always wished I had."
Each book in this series has the great habit of being better than the last. Dreyma's Curse is no exception to that.
After Hunter War, Cal and Lisa are finally together, trying to figure everything out: their relationship, Cal being king, Lisa telling the truth to Odette and filling college applications. All this while slaying monsters nonetheless. But something's not right. Lisa hears and sees things no one else can: whispers in the dark, frightful nightmares, returning spirit of lost friends haunting her heart.
Is the Agapèd losing her mind ?
The truth, Lisa learns, is worse than she could have imagined.
In Dreyma's Curse, the stakes are higher, the monsters stronger and the story darker. Lisa's journey is more mature and emotional than the previous books. The series shift as the bridge from middle grade to young adult is crossed.
The character development is wonderfully done. You'll be waiting for any Lisa/Cal/Gaius interaction.
This book will wound your heart. The other pov chapter, as well as the end, will leave you in tears.
I'll never stop waiting for more of Lisa's adventure fighting Darkness, and I'm more than eager to discover the rest of her story. I can't wait for book 5 already !
If you're still hesitating, don't. You won't be disappointed.
March 22, 2025
Hauntingly captivating. Celestially soul-crushing. Galactically adventurous. Magically heartbreaking. Eerily infectious.
With quiveringly-terrifying scenes and a horrifying villain, The Agapéd Bearer: Dreyma’s Curse’s storytelling is a mix of gothic literature and dark manga with the tone of ESV: Skyrim’s eerie quests and creatures. You'll find yourself on a pirate ship, in a cave, and running through Boolavogue's castle hallways craving sweets and pastries.
Gaius & Lisa’s relationship is brought to the forefront and deepened through adventure, desserts, and heartfelt father-daughter conversations. They navigate not only their duties as Keeper and Hunter but the burden of a curse that weighs on our protagonist – as well as the pressure of senior year in high school. Lisa and Cal’s relationship continues to develop, with all the giddy, “falling-in-love” emotions spilling over, and we get to see our favorite couple explore their world together. We see them work through the nature of their relationship – through the weight of being the Agapéd Bearer and the King – and what their future together might look like. We walk alongside Lisa’s thoughts, feelings, and emotions and tangibly experience the depth of her sorrow, exhaustion, and joy. The way Lindsey writes makes palpable the weight of the Agapéd, the curse, and the decisions Lisa must make. She masterfully creates a sense of urgency that permeates the novel's entirety as Lisa traverses Earth and her life in Boolavogue while dealing with the curse infecting her mind. Alongside our protagonist, we have to grapple with the realities of the curse’s consequences on her, her found family, and the Kingdom that’s become her home.
Lindsey magically accomplished what she aimed to do: show her readers multiple types of love and their consequences. We’re given a beautiful portrait of love between friends, family, and Lisa’s found family – with the presence of the curse lingering close behind every twist and turn. In the midst of the curse, Lindsey brings together Lisa’s celestial families – the Keepers, the Guardians, the Royal Court & Hunters, the Sonon’s, Odette – as they are all working toward a common goal: defeating the Darkness and protecting Lisa and the Agapéd. There are moments of relational redemption and heartbreak that readers will have to reckon with as the saga moves forward.
She takes her readers on a rollercoaster of emotions; she’ll have you laughing, gasping in shock, weeping, smiling wide, and giggling like a teen girl. The fourth installment of The Agapéd Bearer saga will leave you breathless and grasping at your aching heart, desperate to follow our beloved hero into a bleak future with just a tiny sliver of hope.
If you've made it here: as I'm editing and writing this, I'm once again brought back to tears and carrying the heavy weight this novel gives its reader to carry.
With quiveringly-terrifying scenes and a horrifying villain, The Agapéd Bearer: Dreyma’s Curse’s storytelling is a mix of gothic literature and dark manga with the tone of ESV: Skyrim’s eerie quests and creatures. You'll find yourself on a pirate ship, in a cave, and running through Boolavogue's castle hallways craving sweets and pastries.
Gaius & Lisa’s relationship is brought to the forefront and deepened through adventure, desserts, and heartfelt father-daughter conversations. They navigate not only their duties as Keeper and Hunter but the burden of a curse that weighs on our protagonist – as well as the pressure of senior year in high school. Lisa and Cal’s relationship continues to develop, with all the giddy, “falling-in-love” emotions spilling over, and we get to see our favorite couple explore their world together. We see them work through the nature of their relationship – through the weight of being the Agapéd Bearer and the King – and what their future together might look like. We walk alongside Lisa’s thoughts, feelings, and emotions and tangibly experience the depth of her sorrow, exhaustion, and joy. The way Lindsey writes makes palpable the weight of the Agapéd, the curse, and the decisions Lisa must make. She masterfully creates a sense of urgency that permeates the novel's entirety as Lisa traverses Earth and her life in Boolavogue while dealing with the curse infecting her mind. Alongside our protagonist, we have to grapple with the realities of the curse’s consequences on her, her found family, and the Kingdom that’s become her home.
Lindsey magically accomplished what she aimed to do: show her readers multiple types of love and their consequences. We’re given a beautiful portrait of love between friends, family, and Lisa’s found family – with the presence of the curse lingering close behind every twist and turn. In the midst of the curse, Lindsey brings together Lisa’s celestial families – the Keepers, the Guardians, the Royal Court & Hunters, the Sonon’s, Odette – as they are all working toward a common goal: defeating the Darkness and protecting Lisa and the Agapéd. There are moments of relational redemption and heartbreak that readers will have to reckon with as the saga moves forward.
She takes her readers on a rollercoaster of emotions; she’ll have you laughing, gasping in shock, weeping, smiling wide, and giggling like a teen girl. The fourth installment of The Agapéd Bearer saga will leave you breathless and grasping at your aching heart, desperate to follow our beloved hero into a bleak future with just a tiny sliver of hope.
If you've made it here: as I'm editing and writing this, I'm once again brought back to tears and carrying the heavy weight this novel gives its reader to carry.
May 31, 2025
I had the wonderful opportunity to read an ARC of this and I don’t think I have EVER sobbed like I did reading this book.
The amazing world Hannah created is so lush and beautiful. Her characters grow to feel like your own best friends, fathers, mothers, and loves. Never have characters felt so real to me.
I originally found the series through Hannah’s character art and fell in love before I even read book one. Now I’m four books in trusting her to give our girl the best story, ending, and character arc ever.
Lisa has been through so much and book 4 just upped it. The roller coaster of events will leave you turning the pages faster than you ever thought possible. I highly recommend taking a box of tissues with you every where you go during and after reading this book (and really all the books in the series). I find myself randomly tearing up thinking about the story because it’s just that good.
Hannah has done an amazing thing for the book world, fantasy lovers, kids who need a coming of age story, and us adults that want to remember what those firsts in your teen years felt like (with a touch of the coolest magic I have ever read about…. I mean the guy GROWS stars!)
While I can’t wait for book 5… my heart needs time to recover… until then I’ll be screaming from the rooftops for everyone to meet Lisa, Gaius, Cal, and all the rest of the characters in this world.
The amazing world Hannah created is so lush and beautiful. Her characters grow to feel like your own best friends, fathers, mothers, and loves. Never have characters felt so real to me.
I originally found the series through Hannah’s character art and fell in love before I even read book one. Now I’m four books in trusting her to give our girl the best story, ending, and character arc ever.
Lisa has been through so much and book 4 just upped it. The roller coaster of events will leave you turning the pages faster than you ever thought possible. I highly recommend taking a box of tissues with you every where you go during and after reading this book (and really all the books in the series). I find myself randomly tearing up thinking about the story because it’s just that good.
Hannah has done an amazing thing for the book world, fantasy lovers, kids who need a coming of age story, and us adults that want to remember what those firsts in your teen years felt like (with a touch of the coolest magic I have ever read about…. I mean the guy GROWS stars!)
While I can’t wait for book 5… my heart needs time to recover… until then I’ll be screaming from the rooftops for everyone to meet Lisa, Gaius, Cal, and all the rest of the characters in this world.
November 17, 2025
I cried for five chapters straight, my sleeves are covered in snot, and I'm not okay, and so excited this story is continuing.
6⭐️ ... I just need a moment ya'll... fr
thank You Lord I got to read this because it was worth it.
So... I don't cry often but when I do, it's just snot. So don't borrow my book because... ya. My sleeves though, now those, those are worse. I could use these bad boys on a slip and slide contest. Okay thats weird moving on. Hey, has anyone seen my heart? Where'd you go? Tears? Lasted five chapters. like shoulder heaving, snot dripping, ugly crying. 🫠
I don't even know how to write a reveiw for this....
If you like:
🎢Emotional roller coaster
💔Sacrifice
🖤Grief
🪣A boatload of emotion dumped on you like those water bucket things at a Waterpark you went to when you were a kid
🗡Pretty much non stop action
🦋Snarky evil lady
👍Good vs Evil
💧Tears
💧💧more tears
☔️extra tears
😪and if your like me... snots(hey my sinuses feel great though)
Congratulations! Have I the book for you :D
Buckle up like your little sis got her driver's permit. :D
Fr. This book was so good though.
Bye! Jesus loves you!
6⭐️ ... I just need a moment ya'll... fr
thank You Lord I got to read this because it was worth it.
So... I don't cry often but when I do, it's just snot. So don't borrow my book because... ya. My sleeves though, now those, those are worse. I could use these bad boys on a slip and slide contest. Okay thats weird moving on. Hey, has anyone seen my heart? Where'd you go? Tears? Lasted five chapters. like shoulder heaving, snot dripping, ugly crying. 🫠
I don't even know how to write a reveiw for this....
If you like:
🎢Emotional roller coaster
💔Sacrifice
🖤Grief
🪣A boatload of emotion dumped on you like those water bucket things at a Waterpark you went to when you were a kid
🗡Pretty much non stop action
🦋Snarky evil lady
👍Good vs Evil
💧Tears
💧💧more tears
☔️extra tears
😪and if your like me... snots(hey my sinuses feel great though)
Congratulations! Have I the book for you :D
Buckle up like your little sis got her driver's permit. :D
Fr. This book was so good though.
Bye! Jesus loves you!
March 16, 2025
This book is an adventure!
I've been reading all of them and flipping back to find all the art for the scenes. Some things make more sense and you have to sort out the fun pictures from the story ones. After reading all books back to back for the first time, I forgot that Lisa's grown up and in High School in this book. She isn't learning small magic, she's a hunter and a young adult!
The Earth moments are great, we get to see what's happening and hang out with her mom. I never got sad or tried to rush through a chapter when it changed locations because Lisa's life has been split and we want to learn about both.
"Ah, of course, his bookmarks would be real plants and not just folded corners of the page."
He leafed a few things for Lisa to read.
Meeting new characters in this book was fast and has me beyond excited for the next one.
I've been reading all of them and flipping back to find all the art for the scenes. Some things make more sense and you have to sort out the fun pictures from the story ones. After reading all books back to back for the first time, I forgot that Lisa's grown up and in High School in this book. She isn't learning small magic, she's a hunter and a young adult!
The Earth moments are great, we get to see what's happening and hang out with her mom. I never got sad or tried to rush through a chapter when it changed locations because Lisa's life has been split and we want to learn about both.
"Ah, of course, his bookmarks would be real plants and not just folded corners of the page."
He leafed a few things for Lisa to read.
Meeting new characters in this book was fast and has me beyond excited for the next one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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