If you mixed some Hunger Games with The Vampire Diaries and sprinkled on some Blood of Hercules you have We Who Will Die.
I loved how Stacia broke the mold by creating a world of gods and monsters, vampires and magic all based in Greek mythology.
This book is filled with tension, action, secrets and of course romance. The love story though between Arvelle and Tiernon isn’t the main part of this book. The love between her and her brothers is way more the focus.
With so many questions left unanswered at the end of this book it leaves you dying for book 2!

Thank you netgalley for this arc!

I LOVED this book and I will be very impatiently awaiting the next!! The angst?!? The characters?!?! Ugh, it’s one of those books that you read and the next dozen books you read will pale in comparison.

We Who Will Die (arc)
Anticipated release January 20, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an early copy of We Who Will Die by Stacia Stark-I devoured this book and I'm already desperate for the next one.
This story is packed with suspense, plot twists, and betrayals I did not see coming. The world is unique and layered, with three types of people. There are vampires, sigilmarked (they have elemental magic with a unique ranking system), and mundane (those without powers) There are also mythological creatures that added to the Romanesque vibe of the book
The trials were intense, the side characters were also quite unique and loveable.
Also-one of the male main characters? Morally grey with serious Blake from The Wolf King vibes. A bad guy you can't help but love. I'm obsessed. There's even a hint of a potential love triangle in future books and I am so here for the chaos.
I went absolutely feral for this book and read it within 48 hours despite getting ready for a trip and being quite busy. It consumed me and it was all I could think about. Romantasy lovers will froth at the mouth for this one. I don't know how I'm going to manage to wait for the next one.

The next big viral romantasy book. I’ve read everything Stacia has written and have loved it! Gladiators, Vampires, Mythical Creatures, and some intense plot twists...this book had it all and it didn’t disappoint. Arvelle has a TON of character growth through this book. There are times when she made me frustrated me, made me proud, and disappointed me. This also had a ton of drama and I was so ready for it. The side characters were a lot of fun and made the story that much more enjoyable. The romance was a slow-burn and it sizzles in the background, with just enough angst, history, and emotional depth to leave you aching for more. The Primus is all intensity and mystery, while Rorrik-the emperor's sadistic son-manages to steal scenes with unpredictable energy and a hint of something more beneath the surface. The push-pull dynamic and unclear loyalties between all three characters will have romantasy lovers hooked. have so many questions after that ending and can't wait to see how everything unravels next. I would recommend this book to all romantic fantasy readers!

Wow!! I absolutely loved this book. Such a cool blend of Roman inspired with vampires, humans with magic, politics, rebels and a compelling romance story.

We Who Will Die follows Arvelle, a former champion of The Sands competition turned contract bodyguard who is looking after her brothers who are twins, one of which who is very sick with a lung disease. Arvelle is approached by a vampire who offers her an opportunity she cannot pass up - to heal her sick brother. All she has to do is enter The Sundering - a deadly gladiator competition and join the Emperor's guard.... and eventually kill the emperor. No biggie, right?

Arvelle has such a complex history and has dealt with so much in her life. The flashbacks are done inside chapters and are short and have immediate application to the current scene - I love this style and appreciate enhanced background and context as the story progresses.

Arvelle and the Primus have immediate tension and it's really interesting who they are when they're eventually revealed. Rorrik was also a super interesting character - seems somewhat morally black at first glance but looks can be deceiving. I really like how Stacia Stark had little reveals here and there and never gave everything away. I didn't pick up on a lot of things and am so looking forward to rereading upon release!

What a great book. I am so excited for this new series!!

Thank you so much Harper Voyager and Avon Books for the advance review copy.

Another amazing book from Stacia Stark. With so many twists and turns the plot is completely unpredictable and hard to see what is coming next. The main female character is fierce brave and loyal to a fault. The unique storyline keeps the reader intrigued page after page and I cannot wait to see where the author takes this series next.

🩸🔥 We Who Will Die is a fierce, blood-soaked romantasy that will grab you by the throat and not let go. If you're into deadly competitions, morally gray vampires, found family stakes, and the kind of slow-burn tension that makes you want to scream into your pillow—this book delivers.

Set in a brutal Roman-inspired world ruled by merciless vampires, Arvelle is a heroine you’ll root for with your whole heart. She enters a deadly arena to assassinate the emperor—but to survive, she’s forced to team up with the vampire who broke her heart and the sadistic prince who may hold the key to her forbidden powers.

What to expect:
⚔️ Gladiator-style trials
💔 Second chance romance
🧛‍♂️ Scheming, powerful vampires
💥 Tension you can feel
🩸 A magically binding vow with impossible stakes

The political intrigue, combat, and supernatural twists are top-tier—but it’s the emotional undercurrent and sizzling dynamics that make this a standout. And that deluxe edition? Absolutely worth it.

Perfect for fans of The Serpent & the Wings of Night, Fourth Wing, and The Shadows Between Us. Preorder it. Devour it. Obsess over it.

The book was really mundane. It really struggled to move on and flow. This writing was not for me. I found the writing and story line pretty similar to bloodgaurd.

This one deserves all the hype! Think Gladiator with a cool magic system, vampires/mundanes and political machinations. Add in some badass characters, a dash of yearning and you have the potential for an excellent series to come!
I didn't see the plot twists coming and I love it when the author can surprise me!
I truly enjoyed reading this and can't wait to continue the series.

Thank you to Net Galley and Harper Collins for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely adored this book, I loved the setting, loved the characters and loved the whole vibe.

I am a huge fan of Stacias books, and this was no different. She has a beautiful writing style that just lulls you in and you can't stop reading.

Arvelle was a fabulous FMC, strong, courageous, self sacrificing and eternally loyal. She has suffered such immense loss and heartbreak and this is so beautifully portrayed, you can't help but want her to survive everything that is thrown at her.

I really liked Tiernon and I even have a little soft spot for Rorrik, the ending left me super excited to see how all their relationships evolve.

This is definitely an excellent fantasy romance book and I think it will most definitely be the next big thing once its released.

Wow I really did not like this. The main character is dumb in a way that eventually gets explained away but not before I can’t stand her. The male romantic lead is bland. There are WAY too many other characters I could barely tell them apart. The only interesting character was the one clearly being set up to be the real romantic lead ala ACOTAR.

The first 60% was an incredible slog before anything interesting happens. Finally but the end I felt like they were introducing a plot I wanted to read and wasn’t just filler.

This world is also just way too incredibly bleak. No one was having any bit of fun.

I loved this book. We Who Will Die is a dark, twisty, slow-burn romantasy that completely hooked me from the first chapter. The world is gritty and intense—vampires, gods, deadly arenas—it has everything, and it’s all woven together in such a fresh, high-stakes way.
Arvelle is such a strong, relatable lead. Her fierce loyalty to her brothers, her determination, and her slow realization of the powers she’s developing made her journey so satisfying. And the romance? So. Much. Tension. I couldn’t get enough of her dynamic with the Primus (ugh, the angst!) and the mysterious, slightly terrifying Rorrik. Both had me fully invested.
The pacing was spot-on, the action scenes were epic, and the emotional moments hit hard. Plus, the twisty court politics and layered characters kept me guessing the whole way through.
If you love slow-burn romance, powerful heroines, and high-stakes fantasy with major heart, this is a must-read. I already need the next book... yesterday.

This novel pulled me in quickly and held me there with its gritty tone, emotional depth, and layered suspense. I went in expecting another dystopian survival story, but what I got was something darker, smarter, and more emotionally charged than I anticipated.

Arvelle - my heart breaks for her with the turn of every page.
Tiernon - I'd give up chocolate cake and wine for a moment with him!

There were moments that genuinely made my heart race, especially scenes where the characters had to make impossible choices just to stay alive. It reminded me of the raw survival aspects in The Hunger Games, but with a heavier emotional weight and a more adult edge. The tension felt more psychological than action-based at times, and that really worked for me.

Through every trial, Arvelle realizes that survival is not just about outsmarting others but about deciding who she was willing to become in the process. That internal struggle of choosing between holding onto humanity or giving in to the system's brutality felt chillingly real. It reminded me of Katniss but with a deeper emotional conflict that felt more grounded in adult fears. It really captured that haunting feeling of being both a pawn and a fighter in a broken system. It made me pause and think about how resilience is often built quietly, in fear and uncertainty.

I did wish we got a bit more development for some of the side characters, just to feel the full impact of their stakes. But the writing is strong and I couldn't put this novel down. I need the sequel!

This is a standout for fans of dystopian fiction who want something a little deeper, a little darker, and a little bit of spice.

Thank you HarperCollins and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is everything! This story has gladiators, mythical creatures, YEARNING!! I could not get enough and once I finished I was left with the need to preorder a special edition copy to add to my shelf! This was one of my favorite reads this year! Instant favorite! Absolutely amazing from start to finish!!!

a dance between battle and lust!! if there's one thing Stacia stark can do- it's a plot twist. I spent 10 minutes in a screaming fit that resulted in a coughing/laughing fit because I was so oblivious. It may feel overwhelming in the beginning, learning the names and structure (there's a lot all at once), but it'll pass quickly! Sometimes I have to re-read combat scenes in order to visualize the movements but for this novel I did not! It felt like a movie I was so immersed. highly recommend if you want a Romantasy with hunger games/gladiator vibes!

Thank you Avon and Garper voyage, Netgally and Stacia.

I love a true enemies to lovers tale. I ate this book up. The characters for real grew on me fast!!! If you love gladiators and vampires ... power struggles and heat.. then this is your book.

Thank you for the opportunity!!!

I had no idea what to expect going into this book but it blew me away! I already loved other books by Stacia Stark and this one was just as good if not better. It feels like an intriguing mix between Gladiator and The Hunger Games but with vampires and a side of Throne of Glass feels.

This book was perfectly paced, and feels like it will actually be a true enemies to lovers story which I don’t see often enough. The characters are so well written and memorable. The story was incredibly engaging and kept me on my toes and I absolutely cannot wait to read more. I think this will be a popular one!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for an eARC copy of this book.

Romantasy at its best. Stacia, I love this story and all the characters.
If you like gladiators and you love vampires, you will LOVE this story.
This had my attention from the very beginning, all through till the end. I can not wait for the next book.
Not necessarily a cliff hanger but so many unanswered questions.
Thank you very much to NetGalley and Stacia Stark for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🌶️🌶️🌶️

This a romantasy between Tiernon, a vampire, and Arvelle, a sigil-marked human whose powers never emerged. Very reminiscent of Stefan and Elena in The Vampire Diaries. If you loved Damon from TVD, then you are going to love Tiernon’s brother Rorrik.

Arvelle is a strong FMC who will stop at nothing to save her brothers. The story has action-packed gladiator-style trials, loss and grief, love and betrayal, and also touches on addiction in the magical world.

I am looking forward to reading the next book and can’t wait to see what happens next with Tiernon, Arvelle, and Rorrik.

Gladiators in an arena, vampires, magic and sigils and love triangles and secrets and family… is any of that catching your interest?

Arvelle is forced into making a vow with a vampire to survive fighting in an arena to get a chance to join the emporer’s guard - in order to get close enough to assassinate him. The safety and future of her brothers is on the line and she’s forced to team up with her ex that broke her heart in order to survive. This barely scratches the surface of what this book is about but I went in relatively blind and it recommend doing the same. It’s worth it.

I’m addicted to the Empire of Blood and hope that this ends up being a huge success upon release. I will definitely be reading everything else Stacia has released, I’m a fan!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon/Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read an early copy.