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Mahisti Dynasty #1.5
Tadek and the Princess
Long before Tadek Hasira ever made it to the Gold Court to serve as one of the royal family’s elite bodyguards and servants, he was nothing more than a grubby street urchin in the poorest district of the capital city—that is, until her Highness, the Crown Princess Mihrişah, held out her hand in kindness, lifted him out of his circumstances, and gave him a future to dream of.
But that was twenty years ago, and tragedy befell the palace only a few years into Tadek’s training. Ever since, Tadek held his unwavering love and loyalty to his princess in silence. No one knows what she was to him, and he is prepared to carry that secret for the rest of his life...
Unless someone—the right person—happens to find him standing vigil at her portrait.
But that was twenty years ago, and tragedy befell the palace only a few years into Tadek’s training. Ever since, Tadek held his unwavering love and loyalty to his princess in silence. No one knows what she was to him, and he is prepared to carry that secret for the rest of his life...
Unless someone—the right person—happens to find him standing vigil at her portrait.
149 pages, Paperback
First published January 12, 2024
23 people are currently reading
1466 people want to read
About the author
Alexandra Rowland
13 books1,632 followersAlexandra Rowland is the author of several fantasy books, including A Conspiracy Of Truths, A Choir Of Lies, and Some by Virtue Fall, as well as a Hugo Award-nominated podcaster (all sternly supervised by their feline quality control manager). They hold a degree in world literature, mythology, and folklore from Truman State University.
They are represented by Britt Siess of Britt Siess Creative Management.
Find them on Twitter, Instagram, Patreon or their website.
They are represented by Britt Siess of Britt Siess Creative Management.
Find them on Twitter, Instagram, Patreon or their website.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 223 reviews
January 12, 2024
The number of stars this book deserves does not exist.
Eta:
I went into this expecting to laugh and be impressed by the writing, but I was still unprepared for what it was. It started out wonderful and somehow, impossibly, kept getting better.
This fills in Tadek’s backstory in such a deeply moving way and adds to other characters we already know and love. It makes the Tadek we know from ATOGAI make so much sense. I feel like I can understand his personality better now, where it comes from, why he is the way he is. It’s a brilliant (and thorough) fleshing-out of one of Alex’s most deserving characters.
The whole thing is so touching but the back and forth between the ‘Then’ chapters and the ‘Now’ chapters was especially affecting. By the start of chapter 3 I was a puddle of emotions. (Why is it so dusty in here? *sniff* 🤧) Also: BABY TADEK. OMG.
This is a masterpiece of a novella and I am so happy this is in print so I get to add it to the shelf right next to my copies of ATOGAI. 🥰🥹
ALEX, YOU ABSOLUTE MAGICIAN. This was so incredibly beautiful. 😭
Eta:
I went into this expecting to laugh and be impressed by the writing, but I was still unprepared for what it was. It started out wonderful and somehow, impossibly, kept getting better.
This fills in Tadek’s backstory in such a deeply moving way and adds to other characters we already know and love. It makes the Tadek we know from ATOGAI make so much sense. I feel like I can understand his personality better now, where it comes from, why he is the way he is. It’s a brilliant (and thorough) fleshing-out of one of Alex’s most deserving characters.
The whole thing is so touching but the back and forth between the ‘Then’ chapters and the ‘Now’ chapters was especially affecting. By the start of chapter 3 I was a puddle of emotions. (Why is it so dusty in here? *sniff* 🤧) Also: BABY TADEK. OMG.
This is a masterpiece of a novella and I am so happy this is in print so I get to add it to the shelf right next to my copies of ATOGAI. 🥰🥹
ALEX, YOU ABSOLUTE MAGICIAN. This was so incredibly beautiful. 😭
June 25, 2025
“I’m alright,” said her Highness, smiling and smiling.
“Tadek protected me.”
This was utterly beautiful. 😭 It tells the very emotional backstory of how the ever-cheeky Tadek rose from being a neglected child to cadet, to core-guard, and finally to His Highness' Arman.
The story jumps between two timelines: the THEN chapters follow Tadek’s childhood and his journey to becoming a cadet, while the NOW chapters focus on events that happen after A Taste of Gold and Iron.
I'm not kidding when I say I cried from start to finish. The love and devotion Tadek had for his Lady and the feeling that she cared for him just as deeply hit me so hard that I couldn’t stop crying until I was done.
And that letter at the end? Completely broke me. 💔
“Tadek protected me.”
This was utterly beautiful. 😭 It tells the very emotional backstory of how the ever-cheeky Tadek rose from being a neglected child to cadet, to core-guard, and finally to His Highness' Arman.
The story jumps between two timelines: the THEN chapters follow Tadek’s childhood and his journey to becoming a cadet, while the NOW chapters focus on events that happen after A Taste of Gold and Iron.
I'm not kidding when I say I cried from start to finish. The love and devotion Tadek had for his Lady and the feeling that she cared for him just as deeply hit me so hard that I couldn’t stop crying until I was done.
And that letter at the end? Completely broke me. 💔
April 18, 2024
I'm a puddle of emotions. This was perfect. I wish it was longer. 😭
March 14, 2024
Fully in love with Tadek and still sobbing after reading this.
This novella is literally everything I could've wished for! It's dual timeline ("then" and "now") so we get to see Tadek both growing up (from childhood to joining the Arasti civil service, to becoming a kahyalar) and him post Gold and Iron, trying to deal with grief he's been carrying secretly for two decades.
Tadek's not had an easy life, he's had to do it all alone, and my heart absolutely broke for him. In the "now" he's joined by Evemer and Kadou, who fortunately are persistent enough in their caring for and about Tadek that he finally lets them in.
This novella had me sobbing so hard! Getting into the heads of characters who're outwardly very upbeat and easy-going but clearly have more going on underneath always hits me really hard. I think because the contrast between carefree and deeply in pain is so stark and thus hurts that much more.
ATOGAI gave me my first OT3 and though it's not canon, this novella made me crave it that much more! I mean, talking about how fealty is more permanent than marriage, and how Tadek belongs to Kadou and Evemer (and the other way around) made it easy for me to froth at the mouth for all my babies to get together lol.
This was an easy 5 stars, I'm obsessed and in love, and ready to reread ATOGAI to get more of my faves!
This novella is literally everything I could've wished for! It's dual timeline ("then" and "now") so we get to see Tadek both growing up (from childhood to joining the Arasti civil service, to becoming a kahyalar) and him post Gold and Iron, trying to deal with grief he's been carrying secretly for two decades.
Tadek's not had an easy life, he's had to do it all alone, and my heart absolutely broke for him. In the "now" he's joined by Evemer and Kadou, who fortunately are persistent enough in their caring for and about Tadek that he finally lets them in.
This novella had me sobbing so hard! Getting into the heads of characters who're outwardly very upbeat and easy-going but clearly have more going on underneath always hits me really hard. I think because the contrast between carefree and deeply in pain is so stark and thus hurts that much more.
ATOGAI gave me my first OT3 and though it's not canon, this novella made me crave it that much more! I mean, talking about how fealty is more permanent than marriage, and how Tadek belongs to Kadou and Evemer (and the other way around) made it easy for me to froth at the mouth for all my babies to get together lol.
This was an easy 5 stars, I'm obsessed and in love, and ready to reread ATOGAI to get more of my faves!
December 30, 2024
there’s no way 130 pages had me in such genuine distress. i love tadek so much, i love kadou so much, i love evermer so much.
oh tadek, sweetheart. to be seen is truly life’s greatest kindness. my heart is so full.
i just wept myself into a headache.
alexandra rowland, you can’t keep getting away with this!
oh tadek, sweetheart. to be seen is truly life’s greatest kindness. my heart is so full.
i just wept myself into a headache.
alexandra rowland, you can’t keep getting away with this!
January 23, 2024
I wanted a story about Tadek but I didn't know I wanted this one!! And yet somehow I'm so teary and grateful to Alexandra Rowland wHat IS this SOrcErY?!
Like many of the others who enjoyed A Taste of Gold and Iron, Tadek was one of my favorite non-main characters, and I straight-up requested that he get his own book (you can check my review). I didn't say so explicitly, but I was hoping for a romance. That is not what Rowland delivered AND YET here I am just in pieces over this emotional, heartfelt story of Tadek's background and the most important relationship in his life!!!
Even though this novella comes after A TASTE OF GOLD AND IRON, if you want a little taste (heh) of what Rowland's writing is like, I think you could totally sample this first. It doesn't require a whole lot of background knowledge (it will spoil A TASTE OF GOLD AND IRON's endgame for you, but honestly it's only the status of Tadek himself at the end of that book that might qualify as a bit of a spoiler) and most importantly, you will get the ~vibes~ of what Rowland's doing in this series. Which is exploring what it means to be deeply and unequivocally devoted to and/or in service to another person.
Yes, that can be romantic, as it is in TASTE, but here Rowland goes in a different direction. This is a story about being given an opportunity, and wanting to be worthy of that opportunity, and a little bit about what happens when you lose your north star.
Such beautiful character backstory for Tadek, and a beautiful moment at the end between him, Evemer and Kadou. I am fully invested in Rowland's continuation of this series. I have Hopes (TM).
Like many of the others who enjoyed A Taste of Gold and Iron, Tadek was one of my favorite non-main characters, and I straight-up requested that he get his own book (you can check my review). I didn't say so explicitly, but I was hoping for a romance. That is not what Rowland delivered AND YET here I am just in pieces over this emotional, heartfelt story of Tadek's background and the most important relationship in his life!!!
Even though this novella comes after A TASTE OF GOLD AND IRON, if you want a little taste (heh) of what Rowland's writing is like, I think you could totally sample this first. It doesn't require a whole lot of background knowledge (it will spoil A TASTE OF GOLD AND IRON's endgame for you, but honestly it's only the status of Tadek himself at the end of that book that might qualify as a bit of a spoiler) and most importantly, you will get the ~vibes~ of what Rowland's doing in this series. Which is exploring what it means to be deeply and unequivocally devoted to and/or in service to another person.
Yes, that can be romantic, as it is in TASTE, but here Rowland goes in a different direction. This is a story about being given an opportunity, and wanting to be worthy of that opportunity, and a little bit about what happens when you lose your north star.
Such beautiful character backstory for Tadek, and a beautiful moment at the end between him, Evemer and Kadou. I am fully invested in Rowland's continuation of this series. I have Hopes (TM).
January 20, 2024
i knew tadek was my favorite but man i did not expect it to make me cry like little bitch and be happy about it what the fuck
January 11, 2024
Such a wonderful little novella! Fans of a taste of gold and iron (see: me) will love a glimpse back into the world. The story really fleshed out Tadek’s character and added depth to his motivations in ATOGAI, and I loved seeing Kadou and Evemer in their little slice of marital bliss 💛 will forever devour anything Alexandra Rowland writes!
January 12, 2024
It was AMAZING, MAGNIFICENT, a MASTERPIECE!
TADEK! I love this idiot to the moon and back!!
First of all, I want to say that Alexandra Rowland's writing is like a delicate tapestry of words, weaving a beautiful story that captivates from beginning to end. I couldn’t stop reading.
Now about the novella. It’s such a touching story, I loved it very much. I went through every emotion, it’s funny, sad, heart warming, beautiful, PERFECT!
Baby Tadek is the sweetest bean! He was already smart and funny, he quickly stole my heart and I adore him even more now. But what truly touched me was the relationship he develops with Princess Mihrişah, Kadou's mother. She becomes his second mother, his lady, and it's heartwarming to see him find someone who truly loves and cares for him. He always wanted to please her and make her proud of him, oh gods the feels!!! Baby Tadek was adorable but adult Tadek still wanted to be the best for the Princess and it broke me.
Also, the Princess’s letter in Tadek’s file? Me? In tears!
I loved that we get an overview of Tadek's life before ATOGAI. We learn how he became a kahya and how he first met Kadou. It's a very touching journey and it made me all emotional. Baby Kadou, OMG! The shy little thing that he was, so cute!!
I was pleasantly surprised to see a lot of Kadou and Evemer (a.k.a. the two idiots) in this novella. I love them both so much, it was a delightful bonus to have them play a significant role in Tadek's story. They’re everything to him now and I would really like something to happen between the three of them but I don’t know if I should…
In my review of ATOGAI, I mentioned that Tadek deserved his own book and I couldn't be happier that he finally got it. He's a legend and now he can proudly share his story with the world. It’s his time to shine and he shines bright!
Oh boy, I loved that book!!!
TADEK! I love this idiot to the moon and back!!
First of all, I want to say that Alexandra Rowland's writing is like a delicate tapestry of words, weaving a beautiful story that captivates from beginning to end. I couldn’t stop reading.
Now about the novella. It’s such a touching story, I loved it very much. I went through every emotion, it’s funny, sad, heart warming, beautiful, PERFECT!
Baby Tadek is the sweetest bean! He was already smart and funny, he quickly stole my heart and I adore him even more now. But what truly touched me was the relationship he develops with Princess Mihrişah, Kadou's mother. She becomes his second mother, his lady, and it's heartwarming to see him find someone who truly loves and cares for him. He always wanted to please her and make her proud of him, oh gods the feels!!! Baby Tadek was adorable but adult Tadek still wanted to be the best for the Princess and it broke me.
Also, the Princess’s letter in Tadek’s file? Me? In tears!
I loved that we get an overview of Tadek's life before ATOGAI. We learn how he became a kahya and how he first met Kadou. It's a very touching journey and it made me all emotional. Baby Kadou, OMG! The shy little thing that he was, so cute!!
I was pleasantly surprised to see a lot of Kadou and Evemer (a.k.a. the two idiots) in this novella. I love them both so much, it was a delightful bonus to have them play a significant role in Tadek's story. They’re everything to him now and I would really like something to happen between the three of them but I don’t know if I should…
In my review of ATOGAI, I mentioned that Tadek deserved his own book and I couldn't be happier that he finally got it. He's a legend and now he can proudly share his story with the world. It’s his time to shine and he shines bright!
Oh boy, I loved that book!!!
December 2, 2024
would’ve finished this novella quicker if it wasn’t for ALL THE FUCKING TEARS I CANT SEE THROUGH!!!
Honestly malicious of Alex to write this and thus rip my heart out and stomp on it !! Baby Tadek !! Baby Tadek making oaths !! Baby Tadek’s trauma informing older Tadek’s personality and actions !! So much makes so much more sense now and it’s hateful that I have to live with all this new information and I can’t do anything about it !! Struck down by yet another queer man who TRIES so hard and yet still feels inadequate !!
Anyway I absolutely love Tadek and the only thing that would make this better is if he finally realizes that Evermer and Kadou want him as their armsman but also their third husband 😌
Honestly malicious of Alex to write this and thus rip my heart out and stomp on it !! Baby Tadek !! Baby Tadek making oaths !! Baby Tadek’s trauma informing older Tadek’s personality and actions !! So much makes so much more sense now and it’s hateful that I have to live with all this new information and I can’t do anything about it !! Struck down by yet another queer man who TRIES so hard and yet still feels inadequate !!
Anyway I absolutely love Tadek and the only thing that would make this better is if he finally realizes that Evermer and Kadou want him as their armsman but also their third husband 😌
January 17, 2024
6 stars 🌟
I'm running on 4 hours of sleep. My face and eyes are swollen from crying. My heart is full.
This was beyond beautiful. Amazing. I... am speechless, and if I keep thinking about this book, I might start crying again, so... wonderful.
A big contender to best book of the year for me.
I'm running on 4 hours of sleep. My face and eyes are swollen from crying. My heart is full.
This was beyond beautiful. Amazing. I... am speechless, and if I keep thinking about this book, I might start crying again, so... wonderful.
A big contender to best book of the year for me.
January 25, 2024
i want to read a billion stories in this universe and more specifically about tadek, kadou & evemer. please and thank you
January 30, 2024
Help, my heart!
November 11, 2024
I already liked Tadek and his obnoxious self in ATOGAI. I always had a soft spot for him for how much he cared for Kadou and for his clear loyalty. I was not prepared for how much love I’d have for him by the end of this novella. For how much I want him to have all his wishes and wants come true. How much I want him to be happy and unburdened. He deserves this and so much more (even if he doesn’t agree).
Tadek and the Princess was a deeply touching story of a little boy finding a purpose in life, and doing his very best to fulfill it. It’s the story of a grieving man carrying so much weight on his shoulders. The story of a fiercely loyal person who dedicated his life to serve someone who was kind to him and was the very first person to see him. It’s a story of love and devotion, and of big and kind hearts. Of caring and being cared for.
This is possibly the best novella I’ve ever read. It wrecked me and made me cry from start to finish. It was painful and beautiful. And it was so worth it all.
Tadek and the Princess was a deeply touching story of a little boy finding a purpose in life, and doing his very best to fulfill it. It’s the story of a grieving man carrying so much weight on his shoulders. The story of a fiercely loyal person who dedicated his life to serve someone who was kind to him and was the very first person to see him. It’s a story of love and devotion, and of big and kind hearts. Of caring and being cared for.
This is possibly the best novella I’ve ever read. It wrecked me and made me cry from start to finish. It was painful and beautiful. And it was so worth it all.
July 7, 2025
"It took a long time, that second day, before he was able to find the right words and speak them. He began softly: 'Doing my best ma'am'. That had been the first promise, and it was the only one that mattered."
What is this sorcery to make me alternate between laughing and crying for a mere 100 pages!
What is this sorcery to make me alternate between laughing and crying for a mere 100 pages!
March 30, 2024
Short, sweet, and tear-jerking.
March 26, 2024
This is a beautiful little gem of a book about love and loyalty and gratitude and kindness.
January 13, 2024
As a huge fan of A Taste of Gold and Iron, I was *thrilled* to learn that Alexandra Rowland was releasing a sequel novella focused on Tadek!! Other fans of the book will love coming back to this world and learning more about Tadek Hasira and how he became the man we know and love in the first Mahisti Dynasty novel.
This novella is short and yet packs a glorious emotional punch! It was incredibly sharp—dealing with a long period of time as well as immediately after another book, it was impressively done.
There was a little bit that felt just a tad too inside baseball—but ultimately no one will likely be reading this without also reading A Taste of Gold and Iron. So it works.
Rowland really knows how to just plunge into your heart and say “these characters live here now.” And I’m grateful for that!!!!
This novella is short and yet packs a glorious emotional punch! It was incredibly sharp—dealing with a long period of time as well as immediately after another book, it was impressively done.
There was a little bit that felt just a tad too inside baseball—but ultimately no one will likely be reading this without also reading A Taste of Gold and Iron. So it works.
Rowland really knows how to just plunge into your heart and say “these characters live here now.” And I’m grateful for that!!!!
December 22, 2025
reread 2025: i cried again. twice.
never before did i cry reading a novella, but here we are
i LOVE tadek and he already was my favorite in “a taste of gold and iron”, so when i heard about this novella, it felt like a little kiss on the forehead from alexandra rowland
it was oh, so sad, but oh, so beautiful!
i would sell my soul for more tadek content
never before did i cry reading a novella, but here we are
i LOVE tadek and he already was my favorite in “a taste of gold and iron”, so when i heard about this novella, it felt like a little kiss on the forehead from alexandra rowland
it was oh, so sad, but oh, so beautiful!
i would sell my soul for more tadek content
January 12, 2024
I cried like a baby.
January 12, 2024
A sweet and heartwarming exploration of grief and what we owe to each other.
January 17, 2024
I wept like a baby. Tadek is precious.
February 4, 2024
THE RETURN OF HONEYBEE
February 23, 2024
"He had read in the epic poems and the stories that when someone was grieving, the sun went dark in their eyes. He had thought it a poetic fiction, but no—it really was as if a great light had gone out of the world. As if the air itself had been sucked away. He could see, but he couldn’t see. He could breathe, but he couldn’t breathe."
Tadek Hasira, you'll always be special to me 💙
I cried so much reading this little novella, and I loved every second of it.
Tadek was my favourite character in A Taste of Gold and Iron and I have secretly wanted more of him since I read that book. Alexandra Rowland heard my (our) prayers and delivered. It was incredibly sweet and sad and beautiful.
May 18, 2025
Literally crying and sobbing.
Thanks, Alexandra - this was an incredibly heartwarming and emotional story. I got to learn more about Tadek and have my heart broken and healed for him, my brother in Usmim.
Thanks, Alexandra - this was an incredibly heartwarming and emotional story. I got to learn more about Tadek and have my heart broken and healed for him, my brother in Usmim.
December 30, 2024
I was not expecting to cry while reading this novella, but i did more than once. it's a wonderful installment to the world of the Mahisti Dynasty.
Read
February 3, 2025This was good but not necessarily what I wanted (a romance, I am who I am), but it was well-written and a sweet insight into Tadek, who I have come to adore. Certainly worth a read.
July 26, 2024
Something so incredibly funny about a novella that is lowkey about grief and has so much sex happening in the background lol — works tho, I love these fools
January 6, 2025
Very cute and it almost made me tear up. Tadek was one of my favourite characters from the novel so I'm happy to get this look at him!
September 2, 2024
But... but I didn't want to be a blubbering mess today! Well. Should have known better, shouldn't I?
Gorgeous, tender, and right in the feels. I do not have the words to express how much I adore Rowland's writing.
Gorgeous, tender, and right in the feels. I do not have the words to express how much I adore Rowland's writing.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 223 reviews