Firstly thank you to Avon and Harper Publishing as well as NetGalley for this opportunity to read and review this arc. It is available wide Dec 30th 2025!

So I could not put this book down. It has elements of Gladiator, Rome, Spartacus and fantasy creatures mixed in with the sensuality of vampires, politics and some epic bangers of betrayals and twisty turns that had me shouting at my phone. If I could rate this book a 10 I would.

Arvelle is a survivor of a gladiator games and takes care of her twin younger brothers one of which is dying of a disease he got the day her whole world changed in the Sands. She is a bodyguard for those with enough coin to have one but she is struggling to support her kid brothers and get tonic for Evren by doing this. In comes Bran, a vampire, with a deal to save her dying brother and get them out of the Thorn. So what does our girl do? She does dumb ish to save them and goes back to the Sands with a plot to get close to the Emperor and kill him.


The action is non stop. The body of this book is deliciously Ancient Rome inspired that you can tell the author did her research. The ending? A cliffy that throat punched me and now I am in the biggest slump I have had since I read the Auran Chronicles. Did I immediately turn around a pre order this epic saga? Yes yes I did. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK!!!!

3.25 ⭐️

I think this book will be a hit for a lot of people. There is a lot of action, a lot of fun characters, a villain to fall in love with, and a sweet past lover to be reacquainted with. That being said, I had a problem with the pacing of this book. There were parts that gripped my attention and parts where I struggled to keep reading. I was on the verge of feeling connected to the characters but then the pace would slow down. By end, I was ready to be done.

We Who Will Die by Stacia Stark is a brutal, emotional ride through a world of vampires, gladiators, and mythical creatures—and I was hooked once I found my rhythm with it. I’ll be honest: it took me a little while to get into the story, but once I did, I couldn’t stop reading.

The heart of this book is the characters. The FMC is fierce, loyal, and driven by her deep love for her brothers. She would do anything for them, and that devotion pulled me in hard. Then there’s the complicated dynamic between her and the two MMCs. The connection she shares with both of them is different but equally intense, and they clearly care about her deeply, especially when it comes to keeping her alive and safe in a world that wants her dead.

I don’t usually love love triangles (especially when I have a clear favorite and zero idea who she’ll actually end up with 😅). It kind of gives me anxiety! But right now, it feels more like a foundation of friendship and fierce loyalty than romantic chaos—which I actually appreciate. Maybe, just maybe, we’ll get a friendship-centered happily ever after… or something completely unexpected.

I’m so excited to see where book two takes these characters. I need to know how their relationships evolve, who survives, and if that love triangle ever resolves. Stacia Stark has built a unique world full of grit and heart, and I’m fully invested

i really liked this one! we had a strong, independent FMC which i absolutely love. i genuinely liked all of the characters and thought they were vert cohesive together and each stood out on their own. the plot was so interesting and the fantasy elements were done well. i thought the trials had so much suspense in such a good way! the book was fast paced and packed with action and drama. i highly recommend this one to any fantasy lover!!

thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyage for this opportunity!

Rounded up from 4.5 ⭐️

This book kept me up late into the night to finish it! Now I’m dying for book 2 already.
It also stressed me out a few times😂

Gladiator vibes, Gods, vampires, mythical creatures, political intrigue, and an interesting magic system!

I feel like we’re being set up for a love triangle! But it’s probably wishful thinking. The “villain” is just 🥵🤌🏼💋

*I did have a little bit of a difficult time keeping up with all the names and who was who.*

Thank you to NetGalley & Avon for this ARC!

Rounded up from 3.75 ⭐

This honestly turned out better than I was expecting! I was a little worried that it was going to be too much like Hunger Games or even The Serpent and The Wings of Night, and while there are some similarities, it still has its own individuality with Roman and gladiator influences, various magical creatures, and the magic system.

The plot is intriguing and the characters have complex emotions, motivations, and history. I personally can't wait to see how Rorrik's character is fleshed out in the future books and also how relationships grow for various characters.

Overall this was a very entertaining read and I am looking forward to seeing where the story goes from here.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for the eARC!

*Thank you Avon and Harper Voyagers for an eARC in exchange for an honest review*

I ATE this book up! With no exaggeration, I picked this book up at 6pm and finished it at 1:30am. I was swept into the plot, the characters, the magic, and I couldn't put it down. I thought that Arvelle was a well-written character with a lot of depth, even if it might seem like she only had a singular focus, and the rest of the characters fit perfectly into the story. The plot twists had my jaw on the floor and I couldn't believe how everything was unfolding. Highly highly recommend and I can't wait for everyone to read this once it comes out!

As a child I was obsessed with the ancient Romans. This book is the perfect combination of history and fiction. Arvelle is a reluctant heroine who just wants to live her life and raise her brothers, but an ancient vampire has other plans for her. She ends up as a gladian who has to fight to survive and can’t help herself from getting involved when she she’s someone in need. I truly have no idea where this story is going to go, and did not see any of the twists coming. This book kept me engaged and on the edge of my seat.

Warmest and most sincere thanks to Avon Books, Harper Collins, Net Galley, and the author for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I am an OG fan of Ms. Stark’s Kingdom of Lies series (beginning with A Court this Cruel and Lovely), so I was beyond excited to get my hands on an ARC of this. It was definitely one of my most highly anticipated releases of the year. This book’s ingredients are perfect for a can’t miss hit: vampires, magic users, Roman-esque gladiatorial competition, lost love, true morally grey MMCs, and a complex conspiracy that keeps you guessing. This book definitely delivered on all accounts, beginning around the 50% mark. For me, the first half of the book read like an extended set up (e.g., character backstory, world building) for the actual content. But, at some point, Arvelle’s story loses all impact because of the excessive repetitions of it. We have these absolutely incredibly powerful scenes and depictions of trauma and grief that are diminished by the sheer volume of repetitions of less powerful, tell don’t show, “she pushes people away/can’t trust because” type of statements. It began to feel, at best, self-pitying and self-indulgent, and at worst, one dimensional. I really had a hard time connecting with her character in the beginning because of it. Fortunately, once the plot started moving, things began clicking a bit more. In contrast, our grey MMCs are written beautifully, with each successive layer pulled back to reveal more information at a really good pace. There are an abundance of secondary characters, which at some point become a bit unwieldy to mentally manage (at least, for me).

So, taken together, we have an amazing concept, with a strong plot; mixed character development; solid world building; big issues with pacing; and solid writing. So, as much as it pains me to say, the first half of the book was a 2.5⭐️ read for me, while the second half is a 5⭐️ read, landing us somewhere around 3.5⭐️ rounded up to 4⭐️ for the sheer magnificence and kept-me-guessing-ness of the second half. All I can say is that if this is your genre, or if the description appeals to you, stick with the first half, because the pay off in the second half is worth the investment!!

This was a mix of like true blood and hunger games. I’m not a big vampire fantasy person, so it dragged at places, but if you like vampire, you’ll like this!

3.25⭐️

I had a fantastic time and flew through the first half of the book. However, after the 50% mark, it started to drag for me all the way to the end. The plot was intriguing, but didn’t offer anything new. There are two mmc’s, and yes, you do get The Vampire Diaries vibes.

There were a lot of names and details thrown at you, some of which felt excessive or unnecessary. It became hard to keep track of everything, and I often found myself pulled out of the story just trying to remember who certain characters were.

I also wish we had learned more about the creatures earlier on in the book. They’re barely mentioned or integrated into the world until the very end, and the fact that they can speak really threw me off. A glossary would’ve been incredibly helpful for keeping everything straight.

I enjoyed seeing Arvelle’s growth. She started off very closed off towards the people around her but eventually opened up to friendship and support. Overall, I wish there were more than just surface level descriptions. More substance in the political intrigue, a bit more character development between the MC’s.

**Thank you NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager for an early arc copy in exchange for an honest review**

A Gladiator-esque Fantasy Romance? Yes, please! Throw in gods, vampires, trials, magical powers, mysterious happenings, and a pantheon of mythical creatures?? Even better! Add an obsessed pining mmc with a little possessive love triangle going on? Definitely count me in!! Stacia Stark does it again with an outstanding, unique, and immersive story. I could not put this book down, and I absolutely cannot wait to continue Arvelle’s story! People will definitely be talking about this one!!

Thank you to HarperCollins & NetGalley for the opportunity to read an eARC in exchange for my honest review!

I found this a particularly long and painful read at times. At other times, it was suspenseful and full of action. So that split feeling left me with no choice but to place this at about a 3.5 stars. I actually may very well read the finished book, knowing this is an uncompleted ARC version.

Overall, I found the world fascinating. I liked many of the characters, hated a lot of the others, but I’m assuming I was supposed to. The main character, Arvelle, was hard to like in the beginning, but she evolved into someone I could connect with as time went on. She became close to and developed clear feelings for many of the people she knew as time went on, but particularly Maeva. Her desire to protect her and not want her to come to harm reminded me of how she felt about her brothers.

The plot, though, was what I had the hardest time with. There seemed to be so many moving parts, and at times it seemed to become mired in the muck, so to speak. Even at the end … I’m assuming this is the first book in a series … many things still seem confusing.

Now, the other thing for me is that I find fantasy, for me, needs to be read in print. I read this by e-book, which works fine for romances, cozy, etc, because there is not a lot of plot to follow. But when there is a lot, I prefer to have the print book. So again, I think getting the final edited print copy would be better for me. And I liked it enough to do that when it comes out.

Thank you to NetGalley & the publishers for a chance to review this ARC!

This book was everything I didn’t know I needed — gladiator bloodsport meets vampire energy meets dark, layered magic. It stood out so much from other fantasy books I’ve read lately in the best way.

The Sigilmarked powers were fascinating. I’m dying to learn more about how they work and what they mean — especially for the main character, whose identity and magic are still wrapped in mystery. Her grief and growth really hit me emotionally, and watching her slowly let people in again (even while being thrown into horrific situations) gave the story real heart.

The characters are all flawed, complicated, and dynamic! No one feels flat, and even the side characters have depth. Rorrik? Honestly, maybe a little insane… but I think I’m in love. His choices always have weight and logic, even when he’s being totally unhinged. He’s the kind of villain I get, and that’s dangerous!

This book hit the perfect blend of emotional character work, brutal magic, and originality. I’ll be thinking about it for a while and will definitely pick up the next book!!

Roman Empire gladiator vibes, Gods, Vampires, mythical creatures and written by Stacia Stark? A recipe for an amazing book!

As with all Stacias books this has great world building and a new and unique magic system where there are different levels of “Sigilmarked” with all kinds of powers that I can’t wait to learn even more about as the series unfolds.

The relationships are beautiful, the characters dynamic and flawed and I think I’m in love with the villain.. standard. I love the way Stacia writes her characters and banter and this was no different.

I’m really looking forward to the continuation of this series, after the ending I feel like there’s so much to come.

Thank you Avon & Netgalley for the eARC!

4 stars!

AHHH Stacia does it again! She is truly one of my favorite romantasy authors and I feel so lucky to have been able to ARC read her trad debut!

First off, as an eldest daughter I absolutely loved the dedication! I thought the world building was incredible and I really love how Stacia writes her fmc's; so strong & admirable! I really loved & related to how much Arvelle loved her siblings and was willing to do anything to help them.

I think this will be the perfect winter read, especially for lovers of fast paced romantasy that's filled with rich political intrigue.

This **amazing** romance fantasy series starter blew my mind! It was my first book by Stacia Stark and I simply loved her detailed, yet light and easy delivery style. The content though is full of intrigue, mystery, magic, a bit of a Roman gladiator-esque drama, and I am not exaggerating to say that I was at the edge of my seat at the end of every chapter. The world building is immense and so vivid and colorful. The characters come through as so relatable in their pain and hopes, despite their fantastical abilities. The feelings and atmosphere Stacia Stark manages to imbue the story with are astonishingly intense. I have not read a fantasy novel this good in a long while!

And on to the plot particulars - Arvelle is struggling with the weight of responsibility for her brothers, her friends and inability to climb from under the heavy boulder of despair, when she is thrust into a new dangerous world of Sundering, given the hope of saving her family and reunited with her childhood love. But things are not as simple and she needs to fight for her life, as well as keep her old and new friends safe. Arvelle is such a strong noble character. The male lead(s) here are darkly attractive. The entire supporting cast is woven so well with the storyline, not to mention incredibly well developed.

So, in short, I recommend that you run (not walk) to read this novel. Then message me to discuss because I am *still* thinking about it! And, dear Stacia Stark, I cannot wait for the next installment, so please hurry.

Thanks to the publisher Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for an advance copy of this novel. All opinions are my own.

*ARC Read: Thank you Stacia Stark and HarperCollins Publishing for sending me a copy of this book for an honest review!

Stacia Stark, how do you do it?! How do you make vampires, powers, and gladiators so stinking addictive?
Lots have described this book as a combo of Vampire Diaries with gladiators and I do have to say it’s definitely giving those vibes! So if you are into fighting, brotherly rivalry, matches to the death, and a FMC that is in for a ride then this is the best book for the job!

Glows:
1. The characters are strong and pack a punch!
2. The system going on is very unique.
3. The intense yearning and care that went into each characters love is chefs kiss!

Grows:
1. I had to push through the beginning because I felt thrown into the world without much explanation. My most common phrase in the beginning chapters was, “who the heck is this guy?!” and “what in the world is that?” I promise though it doesn’t last long and the further you get the dots start connecting and you figure it out.
2. Some names were too similar so I caught myself getting very confused who the FMC was talking about, but truly it was only with the minor characters so it’s not really that big of a thing!

All in all, loved this book, loved the storyline/plot, and will love for book two to make a fast appearance!

Rating: 4.5⭐️
Spice: 1.5/5🌶️
TW: death, torture, gore, murder, weapons, sexual content, sacrifices

We Who Will Die by Stacia Stark is set in a Roman inspired fantasy world that is led by vampires! If that's not a combination that will drag you I don't know what will.
The story follows, Arvelle who is still struggling to deal with six years of grief and the responsibility of being the primary caretaker of her two younger brothers, one of who is incredibly sick. Early on in the story Arvelle is approached by a vampire who promises to get her brother the healing he needs if she agrees to enter The Sundering, a series of trials that will allow her to become one of the emperor's guards, and then kill the emperor.
What follows is a high stakes story filled with many twists and turns.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I had high expectations going in because of the basic premise, and I will say that it met those expectations. I enjoyed most of the characters, however, Arvelle was incredibly frustrating but I can see how she will undergo a lot of character development in the sequels, so I'm okay with her being frustrating in the first installment. There is somewhat of a romance, but I don't think it takes over too much of the story. I would definitely categorize this as a fantasy romance not a romantasy.
I'm very eager to read the books that are hopefully to come after this one. I'm confident this book will be very well received by readers who love this genre.
I would rate this title 4.5 out of 5 stars.

5/5 stars
I loved every second of this book. As an eldest sister, I really loved the dedication of this book and the representation of an older sister doing what it takes to keep her siblings alive.
Arvelle's deep, undying love for her twin brothers instantly made me love her. It's always a question of "how far will you go" when it comes to those we love, and for me, I would do anything for my younger brother.

Beyond my instantaneous love for the FMC, there was an almost immediate introduction to vampires, which struck my interest.
Magic, vampires, and a corrupt government that enjoys the suffering and death of its people.

Arvelle gets thrown into a life or death match and forced to ally with a few people she could never have imagined, the man who broke her heart, and Rorrik, the emperor's sadistic, murderous son.

There were moments to cry, and others to smile and laugh. But my favorite moments were the twists that had me saying, "wtf?" all the way to the very end.

Thank you to HarperCollins publishing and Avon books for the e-ARC copy of this!!