Stacia Stark really said suffer.

I read this six months early and now I have to wait even longer for book two. Pain. If you liked Bloodguard, you’ll love this.

There’s so much happening all the time, but I was locked in from start to finish. The trials? So good. The battles? Even better.

Arvelle is everything. Fierce, sharp, and complicated in the best way. Her gladiator arc delivered. And the first-person POV? Perfect. It made the twists hit harder and kept the guys just mysterious enough.

Speaking of… not sure if this is a love triangle or why choose, but I’m hoping for why choose because I absolutely couldn’t pick.

The banter, the flashbacks, the tension, the found family—it all just worked.

Thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager, NetGalley, and Stacia Stark for the ARC. Definitely counting the days until the next one.

I was super excited to receive a digital ARC copy of this book. I was not disappointed! I found the beginning a little slow but then I was hooked. I enjoyed the tension between Arvelle and the MMC (no spoilers) and other characters. I cannot wait to see where this goes next!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC, all opinions are my own.

This book centers around Arvelle and her quest to keep her brothers alive. It is a world with vampires, gladiator like battles and magic. Arvelle enters into an oath with a vampire because he holds the medicine and key to help saving her brother. From there she enters into a competition that is gladiator like and people from her past show up again.

Overall I really enjoyed the book and especially loved Arvelle. She is an awesome FMC that has flaws and feels real. Anytime she did something dumb you weren't mad at her like because the author really fleshed out her character and you understood where she was coming from. However, I will say I'm still not completely on board with some of the main MMC characters in this series and am very suspicious of how their story will play out.

Also, I really loved this world that Stacia Stark created and I especially loved the competition aspect of it. A lot of times reading books with trials and competitions can feel stale but she made it very fresh and fun.

I'm also a big fan of whenever an author introduces a past time period/moment to the book. She did that to help weave in Arvelle's past with her deceased best friend and her past lover. It really worked and just helped the story a lot. I'm very excited to see where this trilogy goes but also very bummed I'll be waiting for a bit!

We Who Will Die follows Arvelle, our fmc that makes a magically binding vow requiring her to kill an ancient vampire emperor. To do this, she has to enter the Sundering-- "an arena where only the fastest, strongest, and deadliest survive."

While entertaining, I think that this book followed too many plots at once. It lost me at around the 45% mark and I struggled to stay invested with everything going on. I feel like the book may have been more enjoyable for me if it focused entirely on the Sundering for the action of it rather than other things also happening in the background.

I can definitely see this becoming a popular romantasy after its release date in January 2026. I'd say this is for fans of Serpent and the Wings of Night!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the eARC of this book!

“I miss you more than I miss the sun.” …and I miss this book already.

There’s so much to love… gods, vampires, mythical creatures, political intrigue, dangerous trials, betrayals… and characters with motives that kept me constantly guessing. I still don’t know who I trust, and I love that.

Arvelle is such a strong FMC, and I loved watching her grow not just as a fighter but emotionally too. Loved the glimpses into her past they added so much depth.

There’s some seriously electric tension and sharp banter between the MC’s. Their dynamic adds so much depth and really amps up the stakes, without stealing the spotlight from the action.

I love when a book surprises me, and this one delivered. I genuinely woke up in the middle of the night thinking about it. It’s that good. If you love fantasy with incredible world building, morally gray vampires, and a plot that keeps you guessing, add this to your TBR immediately. I’m already dying for the next book.

So many thanks to Avon, Harper Voyager, NetGalley and Stacia Stark for the advance copy!

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager, Netgalley, and Stacia Stark for my eARC of the Deluxe Limited Edition of We Who Will Die!! These opinions are my own!

Wow. This was SUPERB!!! I COULD NOT put this down. I gotta be honest I’m kind of in love with two book bfs from this right now…

There’s gods and politics and trials and vampires and magic and a badass FMC with lots of growth!!!

There was a little bit of spice but nothing too crazy!

I can’t wait for the next one!! It’s supposed to be a trilogy with the first book being published January of 2026!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#vampires #sigals #trials #secrets #trauma #politics #gods #friendstoloverstoenemiestolovers #darkromantasy #adventure

this is not my first book by Stacia Stark, her ability of crafting original, compelling characters and storylines is truly unparalleled. This book was absolutely phenomenal. The fast-paced plot had me completely hooked—I couldn't stop reading. With constant twists, intense challenges, political tension, and the rise of magical abilities, it delivers nonstop excitement. Plus, it features a forbidden romance with a second-chance twist, who doesnt love that!

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-arc of this book.
After reading, I think this book as everything to be the next viral Romantasy. Roman Empire inspired setting and vampires ?? I’m sold.
To save her sick brother, Arvelle Dacien enters a bargain with Bran, a mysterious vampire. She must kill the emperor or her brothers are in danger.
This book had a fast pace, lots of action and tension. The writing was very nice and you could see that the author put a lot of research into the world building. There is a bit of spice but not a lot, it’s more focused on the plot which I really enjoyed. The ending opens the door to so much more and I can’t wait to explore more of this world ! I will definitely pick up the next book.

I am OBSESSED!!! Please give me the next book now. I loved all the twists and turns of the plot! I loved the FMC and the love interests and side characters that are beginning to be fleshed out. There’s angst and betrayal and the story is pretty fresh while still having the tropes that I love. I can’t explain how much I loved this book, I’ve been in a reading slump for a while now and this just awakened my love for fantasy Romance. I will be recommending this to absolutely everybody! Thank you to NetGalley and harpercollins for an ARC, PLEASE keep me in mind for an ARC for the next one, I will beg haha! Amazing book and incredible author.

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.