This one might be a big hit when it’s released! I love Stacia Stark's Kingdom of Lies series so when I got a Net Galley approval for this I was running around screaming with excitement!

This is a vampire roman romantasy. The thing is, I don’t know how to explain the romance part of it. Typically I’d say maybe it’s like a slow burn but it’s not- not really.

Things I liked: The overarching plot line. The story of the gods and Roman emperor and the vampire resistance- all of this was super interesting and I can’t wait to read more.
The history between the Primus and the FMC. It was like a slow burn but happened in flashbacks.
The side characters- Stacia does a great job making me like and want to be friends with her found family type characters. While this book doesn’t yet really envelope the found family to its fullest- it is definitely setting the FMC up for that.

Things I’m not sure I loved: The world building was HEAVY at times. There was a lot of tell not show. I can understand why but I would have liked a little more showing.
The brothers both sort of being obsessed with the FMC. Is this going to end up being a why choose or love triangle? I wanted more information up front about the brothers and how they both knew the FMC. But I get that this will be a a multi book series so I just need to be patient.

Overall loved it- didn’t want to put it down and can’t wait to read more!

Stacia Stark’s We Who Will Die is a gripping romantasy that masterfully blends the high-stakes tension of The Hunger Games with the emotional depth of Fourth Wing, delivering a heroine whose courage and heart will linger long after the final page.

Arvelle’s journey is a testament to resilience. Forced to risk her life in the deadly Sundering to save her brothers, Arvelle faces impossible odds—elite gladiators, a ruthless vampire ex-lover, and a lethal arena where betrayal lurks at every turn. Stark crafts Arvelle as a protagonist who doesn’t just fight for herself, but for those she loves, making every sacrifice and act of bravery pulse with authenticity and urgency.

Insight into grief is woven throughout the narrative. Stark doesn’t shy away from showing how loss shapes her characters. Arvelle’s pain and determination offer a nuanced look at how people cope with grief—not through grand gestures, but through the quiet, everyday acts of courage that keep them moving forward. This subtle exploration gives the story a raw emotional core, making the stakes feel deeply personal.

Love endures, even in darkness.The rekindled relationship between Arvelle and her former lover is fraught with history and trust issues, yet Stark shows how love can persist and even grow stronger under pressure. Their bond becomes a lifeline, proving that love can survive betrayal, danger, and the shadow of death.

Final Thoughts: We Who Will Die is a standout in the romantasy genre—a fierce, heartfelt tale about risking everything for family, the slow healing of grief, and the power of love to endure against all odds. Stark’s storytelling is immersive and emotionally resonant, earning a well-deserved 4.75 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley for sending me an advance review copy! When I started reading this book I absolutely did not expect to be giving it a 5 star review, but here we are. Now let me explain. It just took a few chapters for this book to really crawl under my skin. I should have known though, having ADORED Stacia’s other series that she’s sneaky like that. The ancient Roman-derived world she’s created here is unique and interesting, the main character Arvelle is a breath of fresh air compared to many heroines in this genre, and while I do like the main love interest, I’m actually more intrigued by the possibility of a different male character becoming increasingly important in the upcoming books. I won’t be mentioning him by name to avoid spoilers, but he’s certainly caught my interest. This book has reminded me why I HATE reading the first book in a series when the others haven’t been released yet, because I’m dying to find out what happens next!!!

A mix of Gladiator, Rome, and Vampire Diaries! Arvelle is a strong well rounded FMC, who makes isnt willing to make herself small to fit someone else's ideals. There's slow-burn vibes, high-stakes survival, and gorgeous world building. This story has it all! Stacia has done it again! I was able to receive an arc from Netgalley and will definitely be checking out the next book in the series

Just gobbled up this book. Think of a cross between hunger games and gladiator. Arvelle makes a pact with a vampire - to enter the Sundering and win so that she can become part of the elite guard that protects the emperor so that she can kill the emperor in exchange for her brother to be healed of his terrible illness. Arvelle must battle the demons of her past to survive the training and challenges in order to make her goal. This book has a slow burn romance in it. There are also some violent scenes but expected due to the story line. Some unexpected secrets unfolded that were out of left field. Great story writing!

This book pulled me in and didn’t let go.

Arielle is a fierce heroine. She doesn’t know the meaning of the phrase “give up”. To protect her brothers, she is forced into a competition where it is “kill or be killed”. It is a game of power and betrayal.

The romance is a slow burn, my favorite, as the storyline can hold up without the romance/sex, but still builds up to it. Will there be a love truly? Time (or book 2) will tell.

There are a lot of power plays and political intrigue, betrayals and twists, and so many secrets. You don’t want to miss this. I’m already ready for book 2.

I had the privilege of being an ARC reader for We Who Will Die. This book was a take on gods and gladiators and I was HERE for it! Our FMC Arvelle is as badass as they come and she is on a HUGE journey of healing and self-discovery. She is definitely impulsive and feels the best thing for her is to push people away but lucky for her the peeps who are in her corner aren’t going for it. The supporting characters are amazing and I don’t even want to get started on our MMC(s). The first one does things for me lol…. Our other MMC is one I don’t know about yet. I feel like we don’t know enough about him to formulate a real opinion. My gut says don’t trust him but he’s done things that I can’t explain. They are out of character. I guess book two will reveal the truth of him. This book has games and trials, betrayals, murder mystery, slow burn, second chance, found family, prophecies, politics, plot twists and redemption. This book is heavy on world building and legends to understand the plot but I was here for it. The plot line is complex and there are lots of twists and you DO NOT see coming! There were some that actually had my jaw DROP. There were also some tears shed on this one. It was action packed and full of emotional rollercoasters. I am definitely looking forward to what Stacia has next in the second installment of the series. I know it will be amazing!

⭐️ ARC Read ⭐️

Author: Stacia Stark
Book: We Who Will Die
Release Date: January 26th, 2026
ARC read thanks to: @netgalley @staciastarkauthor and @harpercollins

First off, the only negative to this book is that I finished it as an ARC and now have to patiently wait for it to come out in January and wait to find out what happen in the final two books of the trilogy. Because THAT. ENDING. @staciastarkauthor you did me dirty with that 👀.

If you love a book that involves trials, a FMC who has to battle her inner demon while trying to do what best to keep her family alive, navigating old flames while trying to stay alive, and making alliances where she least expected or wanted, go out this book on your TBR because I’m just scratching the surface.

Arvelle is the type of FMC you are rooting for, hurting for, and all around just wanting to be there for as she navigates so many life challenges. She has a world on her shoulders that is hard to bare and you just feel like life keeps giving her the short end of the stick. Then she is suddenly in a trial just so she can save her brothers life and oh yeah, by the way, she had to kill the emperor who happens to be an extremely strong vampire and she has never had her powers come to her so she just human trying to do the impossible. Until suddenly they begin to awaken and the emperor’s sinister son notices and wants to use her for his motives as well plus, he knows her secret that could have her facing 💀 and leaving her brother behind who need her.

This book will have you on the edge of your seat wanting more and needing to know what happens. I’m so grateful to have picked this book up and highly recommend it to anyone. I cannot wait to see what happens next. I wish I could say more but I don’t want to spoil the fun in reading this and seeing the outcome of it all!

#arc #arcreview #staciastark #wewhowilldie #netgalley #harpercollinspublishers #januaryrelease #2026reads #addtotbr #newread

Now this is how you write a fantasy! Perfect for fans of Red Queen, Crowns of Nyaxia, and The Hunger Games, this book delivers everything I love in a high-stakes fantasy.

Velle, the FMC, is thrust into a deadly competition to protect her brothers. If she fails, the price could be all their lives.

We Who Will Die is packed with political intrigue, powerful magic, and life-or-death challenges. It’s a gripping fantasy with a slow-burn romance subplot that left me desperate for the next book. 😭 BookTok is absolutely going to explode when this releases.

Huge thanks to Stacia Stark, Avon, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest and timely review!

loved this world with vamps and gladiator . loved the romance of ti and arvelle. loved that she wanted to save her brothers. loved the twist at the end and I can't wait to read more of this world. loved the dynamic with rorrick.

I was lucky enough to get my hot little hands on a NetGalley copy of We Who Will Die. Let me tell you, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it!
I went into it now knowing anything about it other than Stacia Stark wrote it (which is enough). I L-L-LOVED it! I never knew what to expect and the story just sucked me in. I’m only sad that I have to wait for it to be officially published to add it to my bookshelf and that the next book will be so far away to read.
If you love Ancient Rome, vampires, tangled love/second chances (maybe?), and found family, this is the read for you.

I was lucky to get an ARC of this, as I’m a big fan of Stacia Starks other series. This book takes us to a realm where vampires and magic folk (sigilmarked) are not exactly friends. Arvelle is forced into a deal with someone who holds her family against her. She must do the unthinkable to gain freedom and create a better life for her brothers.

In the process she must participate in a set of trials that prove to test her beyond belief. These are run by the Emperor who’s also a vampire. And a not so nice guy. Not just physically but emotionally too. She’s working through loss while finding something she held dear in the process and coming to terms with new found strength.
It is low spice but the plot is good and keeps you glued to the pages.

This book takes you on a ride where you think you have something/someone figured out and then BOOM hard left then and you’re left saying “who wait a second!!”
This was a good read and I’m excited to see where this series takes us next because that ending has me reeling.

This is the third series I have started by Stacia Stark. Her ability to create unique and captivating characters and storylines is unmatched. I wasn’t initially excited to read another hunger games/royalty’s champion type book, but this one had some unique qualities, characters, concepts, and plot twists. The star cross lovers story sucked me in from the very beginning and was well written and played out I couldn’t put this book down for two days straight and cannot wait to read more.

Oh. My. Freaking. GOD. This book was nothing short of spectacular. Thank you HarperCollins and Stacia Stark for approving me on Net Galley for this ARC. This review is my own thoughts.


We Who Will Die follows Arvelle, a human, who makes a bargain with a vampire to enter a gladiator type contest in order to heal one of her brothers.


If Gladiator and True Blood had a love child, this book would be it. I am utterly blown away by all the developments that occur throughout the book. Each plot development and reveal was so artfully crafted. I literally could not put this book down. WoW, just WOW!

I am pretty speechless to be honest and I don't know what to really say (without giving away any spoilers because the surprises are SO WORTH IT) - just please pick up this book!

Read this book if you like:

-vampires and magical creatures
-high stakes gladiator contests
-grief and trauma rep
-survival at all costs
-medium spice

Just finished and I thought it was really good! Very romantasy vibes. Two main magic groups: Vampires and Sigil Marked. As well as mundanes (non magic). The FMC was strong and likable. Very serious. I really enjoyed all the twists of this book. Besides trials, there is a mystery to solve and love interest. Low key I was rooting for the male character I probably wasn’t supposed to. The author has built a whole world and with that there is a lot of created words that you have to learn. After a few chapters you get used to it!

I love everything Stacia writes and that continues to be the case with We Who Will Die. Vampire Diaries meets Gladiator is incredibly accurate. This book was so much fun!

There are so many twists and turns (some I saw coming and some that shocked me, all in the best way) as Arvelle navigates the Sundering, her mission to save her brother, and who she can trust along the way. There are an incredible amount of side characters, all of whom are well fleshed out and memorable.

The world building is complex and immersive and I cannot wait to learn more in the next book.

Thank you so much to Stacia Stark, Avon and Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for the ARC!

I absolutely loved this book! Omg !!! I am obsessed. I couldn't stop.
The FMC is a strong character. I couldn't stop reading. I love reading about the different creatures, especially the vampires in this book.

The high stakes had me gripped and gosh, how I binged this book.
I love our MMCs and oh boy oh boy,
Anything Stacia writes, I will read! Obsessed.

Thank you for the early copy for an honest review.

Anyone who likes Romantasy add this to your tbr and preorder it right now. This book is going to BLOW UP when it’s published. I hit 30% and I immediately went and preordered a physical shelf trophy of this book.

The plot was action packed I couldn’t put this book down, literally every moment I had outside of work and sleep I was trapped in this book.

This story mixes vampires and Roman-like gladiators. It has forbidden romance, magic, magical creatures and the series has the opportunity for THE BEST enemies to lovers I have read in a loooong time. This is going to result in picking a side and I’m on team Rorrik 🥵but I also would be ECSTATIC with a who choose cause damn the longing and heartbreak and pain with Tiernon left my heart on the ground.

There’s plot twists around every corner, deadly trials, political unrest, emerging magical powers. You get a second chance forbidden romance with Arvelle and Tiernon. There’s angst with heart wrenching yearning & longing. But then theres also this volatile, scorching hot banter and chemistry with Arvelle and the morally dark and delicious Rorrik (did I mention they’re brothers 😉). I CANT WAIT TILL BOOK 2 and this first one doesn’t come out for another 6 months 😭😭😭

Thank you to HarperColins for the opportunity to read this ARC!

I don’t think there will be a single book written by Stacia Stark that I won’t love. Time and time again Stacia has delivered more than I expected.

The plot was solid, the world building perfectly explained, the magic was complex and the character development was consistent.

This is perfect for Fantasy readers, especially those who love Romantasy. There’s a great combination of action, magic, high stakes tension, political intrigue, and romance!

Everything tied together seamlessly. This is the book of the year!

Definitely recommend, I couldn't put it down! It was a lot of information with the world building, but it wasn't overwhelming. I do feel like Velle made some questionable choices, but I think she's going to grow a lot in the next book. Really gave Elena S1 vibes.
Also.
Team Rorrik all the way <3