Tadek and the Princess is such a beautiful novella about a different kind of love. I honestly didn’t expect it to move me this much. Because of the title, I thought it would be mostly about Tadek and Zehlia, especially since it follows A Taste of Gold and Iron, which I loved. But wow, this story really surprised me. Alexandra Rowland’s writing is just… amazing. The yearning in this book is so, so good. I don’t even know how to explain it, but it really hits you. It’s quiet, subtle, and yet it sits heavy in your chest. The story goes between two timelines. We see Tadek as a kid and how he grew up, and then in the present, where he’s a safeguard for Kadou and Evemer. We get little glimpses of their relationship and how it grew, but honestly, it’s not really a romance-focused story. This isn’t about romantic love. It’s about love in its purest form -loyalty, devotion, quiet sacrifice. It’s heartfelt and beautiful, and it really pulled on my heartstrings.