Gladiator meets vampires and magic wielders with a bit of a love triangle to keep things extra tense. 😏

There’s political scheming, magical battles, and a fierce, determined FMC who’s thrown into an arena where only the strongest survive. Not only does she have to survive for her own sake, she’s in a magically binding contract to save her brothers. I was hooked from the start. But the chapters are loooong, so be ready to settle in.

If you’re into deadly games, slow burn tension, and high-stakes magic, this one’s for you!

✨ tropes & things: trials, enemies to lovers vibes, found family, love triangle, hidden powers, betrayals, murder mystery, enemies to reluctant allies, grief and vengeance

I loved the Kingdom of Lies series so much I knew I had to read anything this woman wrote. The writing was great, per usual. I actually went into this pretty blind. Aside from knowing there were vampires.

There was a lot of world building and a lot to learn. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, I just found it a little hard to follow at times in the beginning. There’s multiple trials mentioned, different sigils, mundanes, gladians, vampires, healers, and all kinds of other creatures. I honestly am still confused on the different types of sigils and powers even after finishing the book. It was a unique twist on the different types of worlds and combining things I’ve never seen done in a book before. This was truly unique.

However, like I mentioned, I went into this pretty blind. It was marketed as enemies to lovers (which is my favorite!) but I did not realize this would end up being a love triangle. And I DESPISE love triangles, why choose, etc. When I saw some reviews when I was at the 10% mark, I almost DNF’d. But with it being an ARC and an author I love, I did decide to keep reading. The love triangle doesn’t really happen much in this book, but I fear it will in the future installments.

This does end on a cliffhanger and is book one in a trilogy. So there will be a pretty painful wait for the next books in the series.

Thank you to netgalley, the publishers, and the author for a chance to read this eARC!

** thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book as an arc**

2.75⭐️ listen, I completely see where this book would be high on someone’s list. Totally get it - it has all the vibes that make romarnasty what it is today. I could absolutely see where this book would get a good rating? Yes. Did I have a good time? Sure. However (!), I need some more substance. I felt like the characters were incredibly rushed. The front setup was written like an afterthought with about a million characters and subplots introduced in the first couple pages. And as much as I thought Arvelle would be a confident, mature, badass, I rolled my eyes A LOT. And then the book DRAGGED. Ugh!

I’m all for inspo - this one is clearly a mashup between Hunger Games and Crowns of Nyaxia #1. Clearly. But here’s the thing - the execution was sloppy compared to the two with plot holes and no real grab.

Vampires, banter, and magical trials? Yes, please!

This book drew me in with its fresh take on vampires and a fascinating sigil-based magic system that felt both unique and well-developed. I especially appreciated how it stepped away from the usual vampire tropes to create something new and compelling.

Arvelle is a strong yet compassionate female main character, and her dynamic with Rorrik was one of my favorite parts—full of sharp banter, tension, and chemistry. There’s also the hint of a love triangle brewing, which adds another layer of intrigue I’m excited to see explored in book two.

What really stood out to me, though, was the subtle but powerful nod to the emotional weight of living with—or caring for—someone struggling with addiction. It added unexpected depth and heart to the story.

Plenty of questions remain unanswered, so I’ll definitely be picking up the sequel. Hopefully, we won’t have to wait too long!

STACIA, you have done it again. Arvelle is a strong and independent FMC that I absolutely fell in love with. I am sensing a Vampire Diaries type love triangle that I can't help but eat up as well. Low on spice but high on angst that I KNOW will be delivered on in later books... eagerly awaiting the rest of the series, I'm sat!! 🪑 Thank you to Avon, Netgalley, and Stacia for the opportunity to read an eARC!

If you love hunger games and gladiator like vampires this book is for you. We have a female character who is grieving but showing growth and new powers. We have vampire brothers who are morally grey bad boys. We have a love triangle that is done really well. We have tension and plot twists. The world building is done well but not drawn out to the point you get bored. This book is one you don’t want to put down. I kept reading because I needed more scenes with Arvelle and Rorrik. Talk about enemies to…. Friends… maybe lovers by book two?! One can dream. Can’t wait to read the rest of this series!

Get ready for your new fantasy obsession!!

You have a Roman Empire inspired world, where the emperor makes voidborn, magic wielders and vampires fight in the Sundering challenges and anyone who makes it out alive will formally join his Praesidium as novices. Arvelle joins the Sundering competition to protect her brothers, one who is chronically ill. A vampire strikes a deal with her stating he will make sure her brother is healed if she wins and the only thing she has to do is kill the emperor—easy enough right?! Wrong! He is highly guarded at all times.

During the competition she struggles to come to terms with what happened in the Sands six years prior, she needs to be strong, and focused to stay alive when there are enemies that are trying to kill her. The Primus takes an interesting liking to her, as well as the emperor’s son.

People are showing up dead and no one knows why, looks like a sacrifice to a god. apparently everyone wants the emperor dead

⭐️Don’t show him your fear, he’ll enjoy it and toy with you further
⭐️”I missed you more than I miss the sun”
⭐️”obsessing over the thing you can’t have will gradually eat away at everything are and could be”


It reminded me of the Roman era where prisoners were tossed in a ring expected to fight to the death and The Hunger games.


📕Slowburn
📕Magic
📕Fantasy
📕Vampires
📕Mystical creatures
📕Gladiators
📕Betrayal/manipulation

#enemiestolovers
#vampires
#staciastark
#deadlytournament
#romantasy

the competition she struggles to come to terms with what happened in the Sands six years prior, she needs to be strong, and focused to stay alive when there are enemies that are trying to kill her. The Primus takes an interesting liking to her, as well as the emperor’s son.

This is going to be a HUGE romantasy this year!!! A gladiator inspired romantasy filled with vampires, magical creatures, and so much more! Read this if you love a beautiful found family, LOTS OF TENSION, trials, suspense, and a high stakes ROMANTASY!!

I loved how this story was done. I’m looking forward to the next.Twist’s always keeps me interested and this book had some. I’m wondering who Arvelles father is?? Don’t want to give any spoilers away. Yes read it. 5 stars!!

We Who Will Die is a gritty, high-stakes blend of gladiator drama, vampire intrigue, and slow-burn romantasy that hooked me from the first chapter. Following Arvelle, a fierce, loyal ex-gladiator forced into deadly trials to save her brother, the story immerses you in a Roman-inspired world teeming with gods, magic, and political scheming. The action is sharp, the stakes are brutal, and the emotional beats land with weight, especially in Arvelle’s moments of sacrifice and resilience. While the world-building can feel dense at times and the pacing dips in the middle, the vivid setting, tense battles, and layered characters more than make up for it. Perfect for fans of dark fantasy who crave both blood-soaked arenas and heart-tugging connections, this book is as captivating as it is brutal—I closed it already eager for the next installment.

4.75 🌟

The only semi-negative thing for me was some slight pacing issues that took me out of the story to figure out if I had accidentally missed something.

Otherwise? Fantastic story!
Gladiator x Hunger Games x Vampire Diaries

The world and magic systems created in this book are incredibly interesting and fairly complex. There are several subplots within this book, but I did not find it difficult to follow along with what was happening in that aspect. My pacing issue was more for abrupt ending of scenes and seeming to fast forward straight into the middle of another.

There are vampires, magically gifted people, magical creatures, mundanes, Gods, and, of course, one greedy, evil emperor. There are characters fighting for good, characters fighting for bad, and twists on just who those people might be....

I do believe this book would have benefitted from multiple POVs from some of the characters, but that may have been spoilery at times, so I'm not too disappointed in the lack thereof. That did not impact my rating.

I definitely think this book deserves all the hype it will (hopefully) be getting soon! I am super excited to see what happens in the next book!

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon, Stacia, and her team for allowing me the opportunity to read an e-arc of this book prior to its release! All opinions above are my own and freely given.

If you’re a fan of the Hunger Games, this is the perfect book for you!!

Ahhh - I can’t say enough about We Who Will Die!! I wish I didn’t start reading this at the beginning of my vacation because I could not put it down, and every time I had to, it’s all I could think about!

The world building!!!! 🤩🤩 the character development!!!! Ugh I HIGH key hope that book two is a Why Choose and Arvelle gets both Rorrik and Teiron because wheeeeew.
The tension Velle and Rorrik has is so hot, it feels like it’ll explode at any second. 🥵

Plot 5/5 ⭐️
Spice 3/5 🌶️
World building 5/5 ⭐️
Emotions 5/5 ⭐️

We Who Will Die Arc Review

*~My Summary~*
Arvelle, a woman from the slums of the Thorn and the sole provider for her twin brothers, has the mark of someone powerful. The only problem is, that power hasn't manifested. She's haunted by a dark past which should have left her rich but, instead, a life of betrayal has left her financially and emotionally poor. When she is blackmailed into competing in the Sundering--a gladiator-esque competition *but with magic* she is forced to confront the darkest parts of her history while battling for her life. Throughout the series of deadly trials she becomes the center of a rivalry between two vampires and endures the horrors committed by an emperor who is devoid of compassion. Will she live long enough for her heart to grow stronger, or will it shatter from the pressure?
~*~

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
First off I want to express my gratitude to Stacia Stark and Avon books for the opportunity. In the last two years Stacia has become a favorite author of mine and I consider myself to be super lucky to have had the chance to read this so far in advance.

We Who Will Die was marketed as Gladiator meets The Vampire Diaries and honestly, who could resist that?!

The main character was well written. Strong, but with real depth and solid motivations for her actions throughout the book, and that is something that is a necessity for me.

I'll admit the world building in this one was a lot to process. There are different types of magic, different beings who possess that magic, and creatures on top of it.

All in a world that is unfamiliar.

While I did find myself having to reread certain parts to make sure I was keeping things straight it was because the magic system was totally unique, different than any other books I have read, but I believe that my effort and focus as a reader was WELL worth it.

I have to say I am most intrigued by the romance situation (situation-ship??) that Stacia has set us up for. And although it hasn't fully come to fruition in book one I absolutely see why there was the comparison to the Vampire diaries ( 🫣 iykyk). I REALLY want to give spoilers and gush about this, in particular, but I am going to refrain.

Outside of romance I am really excited to see the evolution of the relationships that Arvelle has built in book one, not only with the other main characters but also with the acquaintances she has made. I just know that something big is going to happen with the creatures in the future and I am so curious to see where that particular arc takes us.

I am 100% looking forward to book two, and am in that weird position where I am super happy to have read the advanced copy while simultaneously kicking myself in the butt because it means I will have to wait that much longer to get my hands on book two.

I also think this is one of those series that is going to get even better as it continues.

I have listed a few small critiques further explaining my star rating, but beware.

*POSSIBLE SPOILERS BELOW*

My only reason for a four star review versus five is because there were a handful of scenes where there were transitions that didnt make total sense to me.

One specific incidence was the emperors apparent leniency after what happened with Arvelle, Ti, and Rorrick in the arena (Did he get confirmation from the healer? It didn't say it in the moment)
In this particular scene I also didn't fully follow why Rorrick got to his knees, which seems to be against his character, or why the crowd would have went wild for it.
I also didn't understand, with the way Ti intervened im this scene, how he didnt seem to be punished although he is less favored and Rorrick is the heir. It also fully gave away the feelings he was trying to hide. Maybe we just havent seen it yet, but I was expecting more immediate consequences.

Vampires and Gladiators

If you love Ancient Rome, vampires, and love triangles then We Who Will Die by Stacia Stark is probably right up your alley!

I loved the world building in this book. It’s got a fun blend of Ancient Rome, Vampires, magic users, magical creatures and drama. Think Vampire Diaries meets Spartacus.

This was a busy book. There is so much going on at all times— political intrigues, romance, friendships and enemies within the gladiators, magical creatures, murder mysteries, gods and cults, family issues etc. The poor FMC, Arvelle, is going through it! But she just kept trucking on, doing her best (which was not always enough!)

This book has a slow burn start. It focuses on world building and letting us get to know Arvelle. We don’t even meet the love interests until around 1/3 of the way through. I didn’t mind this, but if you’re used to an immediate focus on the romance, it might throw you off.

Speaking of the romance— this book has a love triangle, which is not always my favourite trope. I tend to cheer for the team that doesn’t win. I do like both MMCs, however I will always lean towards the morally (dark)grey bad boy. I can’t wait for the next book to see if my ship sinks or sails.

Arvelle is easy to root for. She is an underdog character who has had an objectively terrible life up to this point. She has a ton of responsibility on her shoulders and everything is on the line. Even so, she is a good person at her core.

I really enjoyed this book— thanks Stacia Stark and Avon and Harper Collins for the ARC! I am excited to read the next book whenever it comes! This book will be released on Jan 20, 2026!

Absolutely loved this book, received as an Arc through Net Galley and devoured it. As with most fantasy books it starts slow with incredible world building then follows the FMC through a Hunger Games / Roman Empire world where she must battle in the arena to save her brothers lives. Perfect mix of plot and spice.

Thank you HarperCollins Publishing and NetGalley for the early review copy. I was so excited for this!
The story has vibes of several recent fantasy romance series with a Roman Gladiator twist. The magic system is quite interesting, a person's level of power is evident in the sigil marking their forehead.
This world is unique, and brutal, and I feel like we still don't know everything about it. The POV is all Arvelle. I would've loved additional POVs.
I really enjoyed the flashbacks of Velle and Ti when they were children, forming an innocent friendship that turned into more.
I highly recommend reading We Who Will Die! Fantasy romance fans are going to devour it!

4.5/5⭐️ maybe even a whole 5⭐️?! I devoured this book and loved every second!

I have loved Stacia Stark since “A Court This Cruel & Lovely”. So to get my hands on an ARC of “We Who Will Die” had me over the moon!

This book did take me a second to get into, and I found myself confused over the names, but once I was in it, I was IN IT!

This book is basically like living the life of a victor of the hunger games. Arvelle was a victor of “The Sands”. A deadly competition where she lost her best friend. She also lost her winnings and her life has been crumbling ever since her win.

While living in poverty and caring for her brothers, a vampire shows up on her doorstep with an offer she can’t refuse. She is to enter an even deadly competition and assassinate someone high up 👀 in exchange for healing her brother.

While she is training for the deadly competition the head guard of the emperor just HAPPENS to be her LONG LOST CHILDHOOD LOVE??!?! Best plot twist ever.

BUT somehow she can mindpath with Rorrick??? I have so many questions and so much yearning! 🙈

This book was all kinds of wonderful. DYING for book 2!

Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for an ARC in exchange for my review!

First and foremost I LOVE Stacia Stark. She writes a strong FMC, morally gray men, and GOOD spice. The gladiator trials and the love triangle had me hooked and I can’t wait to see what happens next.

We Who Will Die is the dark fantasy debut of your dreams—if your dreams involve vampires, deadly tournaments, and slow-burn tension that hurts so good.

Think Vampire Diaries meets Gladiator with a side of Six of Crows. Arvelle is a fierce heroine fighting to save her brothers, even if it means entering a blood-soaked competition and making a bond with a vampire who may just be her undoing. The stakes? Life, death, and a plot to assassinate the emperor himself.

This book has everything:
🩸 Vampires
⚔️ Trials and Blood Magic
🔥 Slow Burn Spice
👑 Power Imbalances & Pet Names
🫀 Found Family
❤️‍🔥 Love Triangle + Enemies to Lovers
🗡️ Feminine Rage

The world-building is immersive, the pacing never lets up, and the trio dynamic between Arvelle, Tiernon, and Rorrik will own your soul. If you love morally gray romance, deadly politics, and edge-of-your-seat tension, this one is a must!

In a world filled with powers and magical creatures, there are the have and have nots. In We Who Will Die by Stacia Stark, the vampires reign over all. This story intrigued me and kept me on my toes the whole time. I liked that it was a Roman-inspired world. It’s the first book in a new series, and it definitely left me wanting more, I can’t wait for the next book!

This book has a strong FMC, Arvelle, who is willing to do anything to protect and provide for her younger brothers including agreeing to kill the emperor, a powerful and ancient vampire. I liked that she was a character I wanted to root for and I felt invested in her story.

This story has so many ingredients that make it a recipe for a top notch romantasy read. It has plot twists, mystery, hidden identities, tension filled scenes, a second chance romance, and it also has potential for a love triangle, I’m excited to see how that one turns out.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon for the ARC. All opinions are my own.