Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

We Who Will Die is an action-packed romantasy following a former champion who is forced back into the arena to save her brothers. It's set in an Ancient Rome-inspired world where vicious vampires rule over sigil-magic users and mythological creatures from Roman mythology.

I knew I liked Stacia's writing from her Kingdom of Lies series, but this really solidified her as an auto-buy author for me. The world she created was so fantastical while harking back to the mythologies and legends we all know and love. Add that to the intricate characters she introduced, each with their own strengths, flaws, and motivations, and you have a story that's bound to haunt you after you finish it.

Obviously, this was a five-star read for me, and it kills me that I'm dying for book two when this hasn't even released yet! But I will say this is a world you will want to spend more time in so I'm glad this will be a series. Highly recommend!

Stasia Stark makes a powerful entrance into traditional publishing with We Who Will Die, and we were thrilled to get an ARC. As fans of her Kingdom of Lies series, our expectations were high—and this one delivered.

Set in a world inspired by Ancient Rome, the story follows Arvelle, a determined heroine doing everything she can to protect her two younger brothers. A dangerous bargain with a vampire sends her into a deadly competition, and from there, the story weaves through trials, shifting alliances, and layered secrets.

What to Expect:

Vampires & sigil-based magic
High-stakes trials
Political intrigue
Mythical creatures (griffons, centaurs, kelpies, pixies, wyverns)
A unique magic system
Ancient gods and vengeance

Spice Level: 2/5
Romance plays a subtle role, but we loved the glimpses into the past. Minimal spice appears toward the end.

Emotional Impact: 3/5
Plenty of heartbreak—especially for the main characters. It’s not a massive cliffhanger and the end, but the lingering questions are many.

World-Building: 4/5
The mix of Roman influences, fantasy creatures, and new magic systems was rich—though at times, a little overwhelming as I worked to get my head around everything.

Standouts:

Favorite Character: Rorrik (just wait 👀)

Favorite Side Character: Maeva—everything you want in a loyal friend

Favorite Quote: “I miss you more than I missed the sun.”

If this book doesn't go viral at the beginning of next year, I'm gonna crash out. 😅 I want the next book, so freaking badly.

This was right up my alley. Vampires, sigil marked individuals with powers, and, of course, the mundanes. Without being spoilery, there are government rebellions going on, gladiator style games, a murderer on the loose, Gods attempting to come back to life, a lost lover found. Possibly a new lover found? Because lets face it, she wants both of them. 😏 One man wants her without restraint; the other keeps telling himself he doesn't, but it's glaringly obvious to everyone except him.

There were also some really great plot twists. People that I thought were good turned out to be bad and vise versa!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
Just WOW. This book was incredibly fast paced, action packed and an amazing plot line that never stalled. YAS STACIA (and please give me book two. I’ll read the draft for you. No? Ugh)

Stacia Stark's 'We Who Will Die' is a testament to her storytelling prowess. As an ARC reviewer, I can confidently say that the conceptual brilliance of this book is undeniable. I was completely drawn into the world and Arvelle's journey; her strength and resilience facing immense hardship are truly inspiring. The dynamic between the two incredibly appealing MMCs is a particular highlight. Especially Rorrick, the enigmatic vampire whose complex nature truly intrigues me. (I’m rooting for him!) The slow-burn romance takes its time, (to the point you don’t realize it’s happening) laying the groundwork for what I anticipate will be powerful developments in the next installment. Given that this is an early copy, I'm incredibly excited to see the full potential of this magnificent story when it officially launches on January 20, 2026!

+++I received a copy of this eARC in exchange for my honest review+++

My sincere thanks to #staciastarkauthor #Netgalley and #avonbooks and #harpervoyagerus the opportunity to read this Advanced eReader Copy.

This was so good! the world was so interesting, I couldn't get enough of the characters and the magic and the lore. it did absolutely give Throne of Glass vibes. Arvelle was a bodyguard forced into winning trials for a position she didn't want to get her brother help he needs. there are suspicious deaths around the trials and weird (wink wink) symbols surrounding them. but we get the addition of vampires and a very interesting magic system. I can't wait to see more of the gods and the world that this is placed in and I will holler about this every chance I get!

I just finished the ARC I received and I have to say I loved it. Arvelle’s training while struggling with her past. The brutal completions they put the applicants through. Her interactions with both of the emperors sons. The humans and vampires she meets in the completion. And the ending - makes me ready for the next one.

This is the vampire book I've been craving. The gladiator-style plot was so bloody, gory, and brutal in the best way. Almost every chapter was action packed. I struggled to put it down. There were so many twists and betrayals. And then the love triangle is basically Vampire Diaries all over again. We’ve got Rorrik, completely unhinged, radiating red flags I somehow started to root for. Normally I'm not into second chances, but Tiernon really grew on me too. The book is rich in lore, mythical creatures, and world-building. I can’t believe I have to wait for book two. I need it now.

I don't even know who I'm rooting for at this point. Is this a why choose?

2025 Book #76
Rating: 5/5
Tropes: Forced Proximity, Arena Battles, Second Chance, Hate to Lovers, Vampires
Spice: 1 (Ch 25 27)
Romance: Somewhat
Plot: Yes
Pages: 432

Ok I’m hooked and so deeply intrigued on what deeper is going on here!
This book is so ‘edge of your seat’ the entire time! I love the relationship building, twists and tragedies.

Cannot wait for the next book in the series! I’m all in!!

This was so damn enjoyable! Truthfully, it was an almost certainty that I'd like it. This book has all the things I almost always enjoy in a book:

- fantasy (obviously)
- set within ancient Rome
- slow burn (love to hate it, hate to love it!)

Arvelle was very, very well written. She experienced real growth and was very memorable. I want to be her friend. I found myself truly engaged with her progression and the world she lives in. I never found her annoying, as a lot of strong FMCs are written; I found her relatable, complex, passionate, and so badass.

I loved the magic, the politics, the world, the romance... it was so good.

I know this is only the start to what will undoubtedly be another amazing series. Stacia, once again, she solidifies herself as one of my top must read authors. I absolutely love the way she puts a story together and creates a world that feels lifelike, a world that I totally feel engrossed with, and one that makes me wish I was a part of.
#WeWhoWillDieDeluxeLimitedEdition #NetGalley

“She said that when you can’t battle evil on a grand scale, you have to chip away at it piece by piece, to protect others. And that duty belongs to everyone. You don’t get to hide from it when the stakes are this high.”

Be prepared for me to not shut up about this book for the next seven months because this book was PERFECTION. The worldbuilding was wholly unique and instantly addictive. Because tbh, who doesn’t want to read a gladiator theme book with Vampire Diaries vibes?

I can honestly say this book had it all—everything I want in a romantasy and then some. I felt so much for the FMC, Arvelle, throughout the entire book. She grew so much, despite the amount of tragedy that has happened in her life. She picked herself up, not only for herself but for her brothers and the ones she has lost.

“The rabbit thought she was saving the wolf.”

The MMCs. Yes MMCs PLURAL. Tiernan and Rorrick. So, while Tiernan is probably most people’s favorite, he wasn’t mine. He has caused a lot of pain to our FMC. And while he may have had a good excuse, it’s still unforgivable to me (at least at this point).

But Rorrick. This man gives Damon Salvatore vibes and I have so many theories when it comes to him. Is he unhinged? YES…but there’s something about him and the hidden moments shown throughout the book that makes me believe there’s so much more to him than what was just revealed in book one.

Leon was also an absolute favorite of mine, along with Maeve. Arvelle really pulls herself out of the shadows and loneliness six years after a tragic loss, and these two are part of the reason why.

Honestly, I could give this book a million stars. I can’t wait to see where this series goes.

Big thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and Netgalley for this ARC!

#WeWhoWillDieDeluxeLimitedEdition #NetGalley

I would give this book a million stars if I could. I knew it was going to be a five star read very early on and I was obsessed with it. I love several other books by Stacia Stark and was so excited to receive this as an ARC to read!

Thank you to Netgalley and Stacia for an advanced copy of this book.

We who will die is brutal, compelling and full of vengeful betrayals. The arena is no place for soft hearts or soft bodies. The emperor has no qualms using the people for amusement which leads to vicious, bloody fights to the death. God forbid you make a friend or an ally, any softness will be exposed and exploited in this book. It's a game with no mercy, no breaks and heart break galore. No one is safe. I can't wait to see how Arvelle manages to mess something else up in the following books. The ending was absolutely wild and the betrayals that played out made me feral because you never saw them coming. I expect nothing but bangers from Stacia and she hasn't let me down yet.

This is probably going to be the next big booktok book. The setting was really unique and interesting and pulled me in from the very beginning. I've been wanting to read a book by her for so long and I finally got a chance!

Yooooooo, this was so good?!?!?

Thanks to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for the ARC. This is the first book of Stacia Stark's that I've read. And as an eldest daughter, from the dedication page I knew I was going to be in for a ride. At about 60% I slowly had a realization and stopped and had to check if this was a standalone or the first book of a series: and of course it's the latter, and at some point I simply have to stop subjecting myself to this torture, but here we are.

By now in the fantasy world, a combat trial/contest/etc situation is not the most original framing. Neither is the general setup of, Arvelle is a former champion and she's out of shape, jaded by the past, had a trash mother, and has younger siblings who need her to take care of. However! It was done so compellingly in We Who Will Die.

I will also say that some of the minor major revelations were pretty strongly hinted at/obviously telegraphed but that didn't take away from my enjoyment. The side characters were interesting, the book was well paced throughout (although the last 15% truly had all the wheels falling off the wagon), the world building was well done through a mix of exposition and unfolding as we go along, and I enjoyed the weaving in of a few themes about grief and addiction and general life trauma. Also, the tension between Arvelle and the Primus and between Arvelle and Rorrik, and how the Primus and Rorrik loathe each other... chef's kiss. Almost makes me not hate love triangles. There's so much hinted at and underlying the interactions, some of which gets revealed and some of which I'm praying that we get more of in the future.

The most minor quibble ... This is the second book in the past month that I've read where we get to see loud explosions onomatopoeia'd with multiple BOOM!s in capslock italics exclamation point, and I honestly can't justify why I loathe it but I do??

Anyway. The easiest five stars in a while, can't wait for more.

I would give this book a million stars if I could. I knew it was going to be a five star read very early on and I was obsessed with it. This is the first book I've read by Stacia and I was really impressed and will be looking into her other books as well!

I really enjoyed We Who Will Die. The world building was simple enough to follow, but complex enough to keep you interested. I can't wait to see how these relationships continue to develop.

This is a fantasy book with vampires—need I say more?
It kicks off strong and never lets up. At the heart of the story is the Primus, a mysterious figure connected to the fmc hidden past, and heart. Then there’s Rorrik, the emperor’s son—morally grey and compelling—who always seems to orbit the FMC, whether she wants him to or not.

As the plot unfolds, secrets are revealed about both characters, deepening the intrigue. The setting is rich with conspiracies, shifting alliances, and blurred lines between good and evil. At its core is a fierce, complex female lead who must protect her loved ones while holding on to her humanity.

The arena scenes evoke the brutal grandeur of a Roman coliseum—gritty, intense, and unforgettable.

By the end, you're left with burning questions and an insatiable need for more. A love triangle that makes you really want to say why choose. One that is as epic as The Vampire Diaries.

Overall, I really liked this book - a departure from other books I've read by this author, but still enjoyed. Fun fact - I had recently started re-watching Spartacus tv series, so I really felt immersed in "the sands of the arena." With this being a trilogy, I know I have to be patient, but I have so many questions. I feel like some of the twists had lots of clues, so they didn't feel very "twisty" but I'm okay with that because I don't like having to annotate when I read - it's entertainment for me. I like how the MFC Arvelle developed. She had a lot of going on (grief, responsibilities as a "parent" to her brothers, young love betrayal, injury, different type of betrayal, etc) that she was on autopilot/couldn't afford feelings and friendships beyond her brothers. However, she seems to have a good group of side characters to help her going forward. I won't talk much about the MMC at this time... spoilers :) Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for the opportunity. Can't wait to read more!