Wow! If this doesn't go viral the moment it becomes available I would be absolutely shocked!!!! This book has it all... Vampires, magic, gladiator-esque type trials, family, found family, slow to burning love, action packed, hate, hate that could turn to something else, loss that will make you cry, mystery and intrigue, friendship... you name it, it's in here! I quite literally couldn't put this book down and was completely on the edge of my seat the whole time! This is easily in my top three books of the year, quite possibly the best. My one and only complaint is why can't the second book in the series be out yet because I cannot wait to find out what happens next!!!

Thank you to net galley and author Stacia Stark for this arc for may honest review above.

“We Who Will Die” — or wait… are we supposed to wait that long?

Strange title, and an even stranger pace.

This book could be a powerful fantasy—there’s some genuinely compelling potential buried in here. The world has the bones of something rich, and the hints of lore kept me hopeful… but man, getting there was rough.

The first half (yes, half) moves at a glacial crawl. We spend so much time circling the FMC’s trauma that the actual plot feels like an afterthought. I understand the importance of backstory and emotional depth, but when it starts grinding the story to a halt, it becomes exhausting instead of enriching.

By the time the pace finally picked up—past the 50% mark—I was more frustrated than invested. I wanted to care about the characters, I wanted to be swept up in the stakes, but the momentum just wasn’t there when it needed to be.

With tighter editing and a more balanced narrative structure, this could be a standout. But in its current state, it felt like a long, slow wait for a story that arrived too lat

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!

It's described as Vampire Diaries meets gladiators and that's definitely accurate. Two of my favorite things spun into a new tale to love!
The gladiator style of the book is definitely a theme I'd like to find more of, because I loved it. I dread waiting for the next one it was just so good.

I also must say I loved Rorrik I don't know if he is endgame but I hope he is I've swooned over that man from the very first scene he appeared, and every scene after I just turn into some swooning fangirl lol. I love the characters in this book, the bad and the good. The magics and magical creatures just love love love!!!

I was lucky enough to receive this as an ARC from NetGalley and I'm so honored I was lucky enough to read this early. I already loved Stacia's works from previous books and I'm excited to follow this series from the start.

Stacia Stark, why! And I have to wait how long for book 2? I’m a big fan of everything I’ve read of hers and this was no different. I really enjoyed the roman and gladiator setting and I felt like Arvelle was a strong fmc. Thank you NetGalley for this arc.

Give me all the gladiator and Roman Empire inspired books. Double points of there is some fantasy involved. This felt unique and exciting and the characters were great. Just sad I have to wait twice as long. For book 2 now that I read book 1 pre-release

Spice level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ (what's there is probably FOUR peppers, but I needed more of it :) It will DEF ramp up next book.)

Stacia has been one of my favorite authors since I read her Kingdom of LIes series. And dear Lord, We Who Will Die absolutely solidified this fandom.

The FMC is everything I love—strong, willing to do whatever it takes to protect what she loves, loyal, strategic, and fiery. Of course, it took a lot of trauma to make her into the person she is, but she perseveres.

Now, our MMCs—their personalities are ev.ry.thing, and I love them both for so many different reasons. Now, I just need more description about their amazing looks.

There were hints and little nuggets of info that foreshadowed some things I saw coming in the plot. On the flip side, there were some that didn't pan out, and now I wonder if they're plot holes or still to come in the rest of the series (which I'm sure is the case).

A lot is going on in this book, and the character-building is great. Admittedly, I could have used a little more detail about the cultures (types of people, different branches of the armed forces, etc.). But honestly, that could just be me not totally following the deets because I was so enthralled with the other stuff!

My only complaint? That I got to read this book a full six months before its release, which means I have to wait THAT much longer to get my sequel. And I'm thirsting for it NOW!

We Who Will Die by Stacia Stark totally sucked me in with its wild mix of vampires and gladiators. Like, who thinks of that? It’s such a cool concept and it works so well. The love triangle is absolutely out of control in the best way and I have whiplash from switching sides every other chapter (though I definitely have a favorite!!!). I need the next book like yesterday because I am fully invested and slightly feral over how it ended.

Wow! This was an absolute five star read. I can’t wait to purchase the physical edition when it comes out next year. The trouble is that this is NOT a standalone and I needed the next book in my hands, like, yesterday!

I have always loved vampires in fiction but in execution many books leave something to be desired. This one kept my interest the entire time. You’d think that putting gladiators, vampires, mages (“sigilmarked”), Gods, and mythical creatures all in an Ancient Greek themed setting would be biting off more than one could chew but Stacia Stark totally pulled it off. The story flowed well and where one plot point tied up, another quickly formed in its place which helped the story keep pace and propelled my interest throughout the book.

I am all about character driven stories where the relational aspect is the primary focus but especially in terms of romance. We Who Will Die’s greatest strength is the relationship between Arvelle, Tiernon, and Rorrik which forms the basis of our tale’s love triangle. I can tell you right now, Stacia has not only watched the Vampire Diaries, but is a total Damon Salvatore fan. I have never read a character crafted to be more like Damon than this one and although he’s not a carbon copy, there is so much that echoes within Rorrik that I’m sure found its inspiration in Damon. I do hope he is endgame!

Here’s the thing. Damon truly was demented at the beginning of the Vampire Diaries. His choices and actions were hard to stomach because he’d gone off the rails. Due to past trauma, he was selfish and destructive not caring about how his actions hurt others. Only as he changed for the (somewhat) better, did we see someone that Elena, the protagonist, could come to love.

This is where I can see a great divergence between Damon and Rorrik. While still so much of his character that remain an enigma, I believe Rorrik’s primary motivations are pure at heart. I don’t see Rorrik’s actions as self centered, although he’d like everyone to believe that they are. He’ll get his hands dirty and do whatever is necessary to ensure the safety of his loved ones. He seems to be fine with being perceived as a monster as long as it satisfies his endgame.

Rorrik is decisive and absolutely lethal which is an always a winning combo for a leading man in my book. He comes off as cold, calculating, often scoffing and condescending. He enjoys being a jerk to throw off the scent of his interest in Arvelle. The scenes in which he and Arvelle are together had me fist pumping the air as the tension was absolutely crackling between the two of them.

I really enjoyed getting to know Arvelle, the protagonist. She’s gutsy and flawed, even needing to overcome a physical ailment which forced her to be crafty when she fought rather than rely on the perfection that so many heroines these days have in spades. She makes mistakes but owns them and does whatever she can to protect her family and those important to her at all costs, often sacrificing herself in their stead. She’s relatable in the fact that she is often fearful but consistently prevails over it, making the hard decisions when backed into a corner.

Even though Tiernon is not MY personal choice for Arvelle, I won’t deny he is a compelling character. His and Arvelle’s history adds some complexity and interesting layers to story. I’m excited to see how everything progresses in the second book.

I also loved the heartwarming female friendship that formed whereas women are often pitted against each other in some form or fashion in fiction. A definite score in this story’s favor.

The gladiatorial aspect was well executed and Arvelle’s involvement often had me biting my nails as to how she would fair in the tournament. There were plenty of exciting matches and spectacles for the reader to indulge. On that note, as a warning to those who are squeamish, there is quite a bit of bloodshed in this book and often violence is as common as breathing for some of these characters.

While not left in cliffhanger, there is so much more to be developed and explored in especially in terms of romance and I’m salivating for the next book! Get your hands on this one. You won’t regret it!

Thank you NetGalley and Avon for allowing me to read an advanced reader copy. But also how dare you because I have to wait forever for the next one *sobs dramatically*

I think the issue with the romantasy genre is that there is just so much of them with the same repetitive tropes. I really wanted to like this based on previous reviews and the description, but this fell short. I ended up stopping about 30% in. I didn't find it to be well-written, the world-building was non-existent, and the chemistry between any of the characters was not there.

I can already see this being a breakout hit when it drops in 2026. Think The Vampire Diaries meets The Hunger Games—add in political intrigue, a unique magic system, and yes, a love triangle that actually works. ✨ I was hooked!

I was instantly hooked. This book was so good. I loved all the twists. Arvelle and Maevas friendship growth was one of my favorite parts. Thank you so much for the arc I cannot wait for the next book.

This was a unique romantasy read, which is a rare find these days. I really enjoyed the Roman-inspired setting and the gladiator-style action. Adding vampires and other magical elements kept things exciting and fresh.

The main character could be frustrating at times, making some questionable decisions, but her journey felt intentional. I appreciated how the story explored themes of power and morality, and how her own struggles with being a "good person" were highlighted.

The world-building was a lot to keep up with, blending different magical elements like vampires and sigils, along with gods. While most of my questions were answered by the end, a few things about the world are still a bit cloudy.

Overall, this was an intriguing and fun addition to the genre, and that major cliffhanger has me eagerly waiting for the next book!

This was SO GOOD!!! I can't wait for the next book!!! Gladiators with vampires and a touch of the vibes I enjoyed in the Crave series. 😍

This book gives Gladiators meet Vampires feelings for the entire thing! I was on the edge of my seat for every page and cannot wait for book 2! The slow burn romance was sweet, but also kept me guessing. Arvelle is a strong-willed FMC. She shows character growth throughout the whole story and even though I am neither a gladiator nor a vampire, I felt she was very relatable. I cared about every single side character and the plot twists and turns all kept me guessing. I had no idea what was going to happen next, but I could not wait to keep reading to find out more. Thank you so much to Stacia Stark and Harper Collin’s Publishers for letting me read this ARC.

3.25 stars, minimal spice. This book has the potential to turn into a good series, however I feel like there are a lot of plot holes and info dumps that may not necessarily be needed in the story. A LOT happens but is it all really necessary to the story? (Being book 1 in a series we will have to wait and see!) The world building shouldn’t have been as hard to understand as it was (I was constantly searching my kindle book to see if I missed an explanation for a word/thing… I still don’t understand how one is “sired”). I’m also confused with the romance storyline (maybe that’s on purpose?). It kind of felt like we really didn’t get anywhere in the plot/nothing vital was really revealed, even though a lot happened. And for being a bodyguard, shouldn’t Arvelle be in better shape??

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Combine a brutal competition that is a blend of Hunger Games and Serpent and the Wings of Night with Vampire Diaries and you've got yourself another 5 Star Romantasy by Stacia Stark. I loved the pace of the world building and the multiple mysteries you slowly unravel throughout the book. The slow burn and sexual tension is amazing and FRUSTRATING, but in THE BEST WAY. While there are a few things I could have predicted there were a LOT of unexpected twists and I LOVE when an author throws a curve ball I wasn't expecting. The end actually has me wanting to immediately RE-READ the book to now that I know one of the big reveals! Because half of the story line will be seen in a whole new way!!!! EEEEEEE!!!!!!!

I'm so appreciative of the opportunity to get to read an ARC release but knowing the book won't go public for a while is BRUTAL because I am screaming to get my hands on the next book in the Empire of Blood series! :-P I don't want to wait!!!

A Couple of My Favorite Quotes:
"All this time I thought leaving you smashed my heart into pieces, and I'd be picking shards out of my chest until the day I died. But my heart wasn't smashed. I left it with you, and you've held it hostage ever since."

"Murder and life-ruining aren't the only things I find fun." His gaze drops suggestively to my neck before lingering on my lips. "Maybe you'll learn all about the other things that amuse me, little rabbit."

Spice: 2 chili peppers... it's more about the slow burn and angst, which are delicious

Hate to love, forced proximity, slow burn, Vampire Diaries x gladiator, arena fighting/gladiator competition, world inspired by Ancient Rome, family held hostage, vengeful gods, magical creatures, betrayal, high stakes, political intrigue and plots

Arvelle has been doing everything she can to keep her and her brothers fed and housed, while also trying to make enough money for the life saving medication her brother needs. But one day a vampire arrives to threaten her brothers and coerce her into being his champion in an arena competition and then kill the emperor. Once there, she struggles with who to trust and tries to avoid the wrath of a high ranking warrior who has decided she doesn't belong and the unwanted attention of the emperor's cruel son.

What a fun world this was with gladiators and vampires and other magical creatures! The way the magic is set up was also unique. I loved the flashback scenes as we got more and more details of Arvelle and a certain someone's past. I don't want to say too much because while I guessed some of the twists/reveals, I don't want to spoil them! The twists definitely had me feeling all the feels! I definitely am so intrigued by where things are going at the end and I CANNOT WAIT for the next book!!

Ok you had me at ‘Roman-inspired world ruled by merciless vampires’. SOLD! This was Gladiator meets The Serpent and the Wings of Night. It had gladiatorial battles as trials, magical creatures, a cool magical system in the way of sigils, political intrigue, found family, some slow burn and possible love triangle? Oh, and vampires. I didn’t realize how easily vampires fit into the upper echelon of Ancient Rome, but now I can’t unsee it!

Cannot wait for this to catch fire when it is released so I can get to the next installment quicker.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC!

Thank you HarperCollins Publishing and NetGalley for the eArc of We Who Will Die!

This was Vampire Diaries meets Hunger Games and Gladiators....and it was perfection.

Tropes:
- Ennemies-to-lovers
- Second-chance romance
- Gladiators / fight to the death
- Forced proximity

Every time I read one of Stacia's books, I get completely swept it the characters and their story. And this was no exception. It was a rollercoaster of emotions I just couldn't get enough of. The pacing was perfect, and although I usually think trials are kinda overdone in romantasy, they didn't bother me at all in this. I actually quite enjoyed seeing Arvelle's progress and growth between each trial.

Stacia has a way to capture your attention like no other. The fighting scenes were as captivating as the chill dialogues between the characters. I'm not usually a fan of first-person POVs, but I loved this. Arvelle is such a bad ass FMC already, I truly love her so much and can't wait for what's to come for her.

AND THE MEN. Ok...to be honest, I wasn't sure about the Vampire Diaries part of this story. But then..."Hello, Brother."
I was hooked, to say the least. Honestly, if you love the Damon and Stefan rivalry/relationship, you'll LOVE this (ps. team Damon here). The banter was top tier!

I am SO excited for book 2 it's a CRIME I'll have to wait until next year.
Mark my words, this will EXPLODE on booktok (in a good way).

Dark, intense, and utterly addictive. We Who Will Die sinks its teeth into you from the first page and doesn’t let go. Set in a brutal vampire-ruled empire, this book delivers a high-stakes mix of gladiator arenas, dangerous politics, hidden magic, and a heroine you can’t help but root for.

Arvelle is fierce, loyal, and determined to protect her brothers at any cost—even if that means binding herself to a vow to kill the emperor himself. Thrown into the deadly Sundering trials, she must navigate alliances, old wounds, and the haunting presence of the Primus—her once-lover, now a powerful vampire protector. And then there’s Rorrik, the emperor’s wicked son with secrets of his own, who might be just as dangerous to her heart as to her mission.

Stacia masterfully blends grit and emotion, carving out a world that feels ancient, bloody, and real. The banter is amazing, the pacing tight, and the emotional payoff worth every bruise.