So grateful to have received this ARC as it seemed to have everything I love in a story!

Readers are eating up this book and I expected to love it, unfortunately it’s just not for me and I' m not able to finish (DNF at 25%).

This has a LOT going on. Set in a Roman inspired world with vampires you’ll get dystopian society, a deadly tournament (for the girlies chasing the Hunger Games high), magic, mystery. Unfortunately the writing style, overwhelming world building, and FMC just are not for me. The romance looks promising but unfortunately I can’t make it through all of the other elements to find out if it hits.

This book has soooo many great reviews that this is likely a me problem and I would still encourage readers to give it a shot for themselves!

All I can say is WOW! This book was amazing, I am still reeling from the ending. Arvelle has so much growth as a FMC and gets fiercer each chapter. I was constantly wanting to ready more chapters because the storyline was so captivating. The two MMC were extra broody and protective, what more could you want? Every little detail in this book was well thought out from the characters, to the interactions, to the magical creatures. I cannot wait until the next book comes out! Throughly impressed, I know this book will be very popular once released.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Excellent story, compelling characters. I already can't wait for the next one to come out! Love a strong female character with heart and sass. Rorrick was a fabulous character and the story leaves plenty of room for further development.

This book is a solid 5 star, amazing! Fourth wing, hunger games, nyaxia vibes, with a Roman Empire twist, pure perfection. This is going up there with one of my favorite series.

This is a fast paced suspenseful thriller of a romantasy with swoony powerful vampires and a heroine who will fight for what is right and those she loves. I love the dynamic of the sigilmarked vs vampires, the maginari, mundane, and the many different gods. It all works together so well and is both unique and intriguing.

Arvelle is a mostly powerless sigilmarked human who is beat down by life and tragedy and finds herself in a vampire bargain to do the impossible and kill the emperor. She is thrust back into the games and her past comes back to both haunt and challenge her. Her journey from the start to finish is beautifully done. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next installment and man do I want to uncover more of the intriguing mystery that is Rorrick.

There is nothing I didn’t like about this book and nothing I would change. I couldn’t put it down and kept thinking about it whenever my head wasn’t buried in my kindle.

Thank you NetGalley, Stacia Stark and Avon, Harper Voyager for the ARC of We Who Will Die in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my very own!

Let me tell you, this book plunges readers into a brutal yet captivating world! This is a fierce and unyielding story of survival, power, and the will to fight against overwhelming odds.

The action is visceral, the characters are complex and unyielding, and the world-building is gritty and immersive. A powerful and intense read that leaves a lasting impression.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Avon for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed Stacia Stark’s Kingdom of Lies series, so when I saw We Who Will Die on NetGalley, I requested it immediately! What a fun read! This book hooked me from the very beginning. Action-packed. Unique plot and magic system. I loved the FMC, Arvelle - she was complex, resilient, and so real. The romance and tension was perfect. There is spice, I’d rate it about a 2 (hoping for more in book 2, ha!). I’m very curious what happens next between Arvelle and the MMCs. This has been my 68th read this year and most of those reads have ended with major cliffhangers which typically resulted with the last 10-15% of the book being the most action-packed. Not this book, and I was thankful for that. This story features continuous action and plot development, and while it will be a trilogy, it doesn’t end on a major cliffhanger that leaves you completely bewildered and staring at a wall. Thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to following Arvelle’s journey. I’m only disappointed that it’s August and it doesn’t release until December!

Thank you to Stacia Stark, NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for a copy of this ARC, in exchange for my honest review!

We Who Will Die by Stacia Stark
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Release Date: 12/30/25

I can’t stop thinking about this book. Arvelle is an amazing FMC. She is a powerless “sigil-marked” and a trained fighter. She is working as a bodyguard for hire, trying to earn money to protect and provide for her younger brothers. She has been abandoned by everyone in her life, forced to be strong and resilient. But she has completely shut down emotionally and trying to survive impossible circumstances. I loved her character arc, it felt so raw and genuine.

Listen, I see the term “morally gray” being way over used when describing book characters. Let me tell you…there is a character in this book that is the true embodiment of morally gray and I’m obsessed. All the characters have depth and are so well written and captivating. There is an amazing female friendship subplot that had me 😭 This is a book that had me guessing on who to trust…it was unpredictable which for me is very hard to do.

The ending is satisfying while also setting up the next book so perfectly…I cannot WAIT to see this story develop even more! I have a few theories that I really need to talk someone about so if you’ve read this book MESSAGE ME so we can yap 🤣
- vampires
- Rome inspired
- Found family
- Deadly trials
- Elemental magical abilities
- Magical creatures
- Morally gray characters
Spice: 🌶️🌶️

“I missed you more than I missed the sun.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️/5
This book combines A LOT of fantasy novel components (gladiator matches, vampires, sigilmarked characters, powers, royal family dynamic) into a SLOWWWWWW burn. But let me tell you, once it started burning… so did the plot.

Arvelle is a winner of “the sands”, a gladiator battle to the death. However, she’s been struggling in the time after her win. To buy more supplies to heal her brother, she makes a deal she can’t refuse and ends up being sent back to the arena to compete for a spot in the royal guard. What happens in the pages in between is too fun to spoil.

The end of this book is a total whirlwind. I spent a majority of the time trying to figure out who (or what) was the reason behind the major plot points. This book will have you staying up past your bedtime to see if the enemies become lovers AND if your favorite characters live.

Thank you to Avon and Harper
Voyager, NetGalley, and Stacia Stark for a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review. I was so excited to get my hands on this one and it did not disappoint.

Thank you to Stacia Stark and Netgalley for the opportunity to ARC read this book!

We Who Will Die features a Roman-style run empire where the poor, criminals, and those hoping to serve the emperor fight for entertainment. Our FMC Arvelle is forced into battle once again after making a vampire bond with Bram (the Dracula vibes were real here), to spare her brothers and heal one of them from a lung injury.

We Who Will Die is really focused on Velle's burden as the oldest sister, caregiver, and fighter. Her story is sad one, with loss, betrayal, and forced killing. Velle is fast, cunning and good with a sword. But when she has to confront her past and the man who broke her heart, can she still win?

We Who Will Die is the first in this series and the ending will definitely leave you wanting more! For all Stacia Stark fans, this is a must read!

Wow! This one lured me in slowly and then entrapped me to the point I could not put it down. Seriously, I lost sleep needing to finish this! And it was so worth it.

✍🏻Synopsis:
Arvelle has been doing whatever it takes to keep her brothers alive and ends up being forced into a binding vow with a vampire that she knows will likely be a death sentence. Arriving in the city to compete for a place within the emperor’s guard, she gains both the punishing attention of the Primus, the Emperor’s head guard, and the sinister son of the emperor, Rorrik. With her brothers’ lives at stake, she must figure out who to trust and unravel a conspiracy in the realm that threatens to not only destroy the world but tear apart what’s left of her heart.


💭My Thoughts:
This plot kept me on edge and with no one’s motives to be trusted, the suspense was palpable throughout the story. Arvelle is a deeply wounded FMC, but her character is strong and determined, and her growth throughout the book makes her a flawed but heroic FMC in the end— aren’t we all this FMC in our own lives?

Rorrik and Tiernan as the MMCs are complex, often infuriating, and super hot, but they are also dealing with their own pasts and traumas. I loved the way the author weaved the themes of the grief, guilt and fear that pushes one into isolation with the characters’ development, and their ultimate realizations that this only makes life harder—and lonelier.

If you love an epic fantasy with intricate world building based on ancient Rome, well developed characters, a plot full of twists and enough sexual tension and spice to have you hunting for a fan, I cannot recommend this enough. I want more and cannot wait to see where she takes us next!!! Thank you Stacia Stark and NetGalley for the advanced copy.


🌶️🌶️🌶️

I am obsessed with this book.

It's going to be the next big romantasy. I feel it in my bones!

This is Vampire Diaries' meets Gladiator, and i loved every second of it.

The Gladiator style competitions paired with vampires and mythical creatures made for an amazing plot that honestly had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I loved how it incorporated so many different elements into one book so cohesiviely. We go from vampires to gods to centaurs....and yet everything meshed so well.

I loved how the flashbacks weren't super long, and they only added to the current momentum of the plot. Arvelle is such a raw imperfect character that i was rooting for so much. I can't wait to see her finally start living again and see all the potential she has come to life. Ti and Rorrick.....I won't say much since the book isn't out yet. However, let it be known I am a Rorrick girl through and through.

This book had plot, spice, action, betrayal, trauma, and so much more!

Thank you so much to Stacia Stark, NetGalley and publishers for the gifted e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I have mixed feelings. There was so much going on in this book - which is rare for a Romantasy. Don't get me wrong, I like a complex plot and fully believe well written secondary characters can make a book great, but there were too many things happening all at once.

The magic system felt jumbled. There's elemental magic, sigil gifts, and gods that can bestow gifts. This is on top of vampires/normal people/sigils.

The plot involves a tournament, grief/loss, a quest to save her brothers, two love interests, a murder mystery, and a revolution. It was way too much for one book.

In addition to all of that, there were at least 3-4 secondary characters that weren't developed/served almost no purpose, but there presence made the plot that much more challenging to follow.

The writing was decent, but this wasn't my favorite.

4⭐️

I deeply enjoyed the devotion our FMC Arvelle had to her brothers and appreciated the overall family dynamic and struggles portrayed in this book! I felt for a fantasy we also got some very realistic familial relationships and problems that we don’t always see in this genre! I felt the action was fast paced and enticing and also liked the training aspect and flashbacks in the story. I wasn’t necessarily reaching for this book every second and it took me a while to get through which is why I am rating four stars. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed and feel this fits in well in the fantasy/romantasy genre while being a bit different from the cookie cutter books we’ve been seeing released recently!

A Roman Empire inspired world with vampires, deadly politics, and a brutal arena, yes, yes, yes. Stacia Stark delivers a richly imagined setting full of magic, monsters, and morally gray decisions and I genuinely loved every second of it.

The magic system is refreshingly original. The sociopolitical tension between the vampire council and the sigilmarked wardens adds a constant edge of danger, making every choice feel like it matters. You really have to pay attention, this isn’t a book to skim. Blink and you’ll miss something important.

The Roman-inspired worldbuilding is incredibly immersive, and the stakes just keep climbing. Plus… a little love triangle? Yes, please. I cannot wait to see how that develops in book two. Especially after those jaw-dropping twists at the end, I did not see them coming.

If you like your fantasy dark, layered, and brimming with intrigue, this is one to keep on your radar.

Book: We Who Will Die
Author: Stacia Stark
Series: Empire of Blood, Book One
Publisher: Avon and Harper Voyager
Length: 432 Pages
Overall Rating: 5 Stars

Stacia Stark is a favorite writer of mine and again she writes another epic story I am obsessed with! She is so talented and always creates a stunning story that always sticks with you,

Now by the name of the series “Empire of Blood” I was expecting Vampires. Usually any title with blood in title or series name means vampires with be one of the main characters, however this book has so many other magical creatures and it is also topped with phenomenal magic too,

The FMC Arvelle is filled with grief but will do anything to save her little brothers. She made a really difficult and dangerous decision to kill the emperor which is really insane. After-all, he is a very old creature that was made by a god. However she must first enter the arena where only the strongest and quickest live long enough to be chosen by the emperor’s elite guard, but will she even survive?

Being a sister with only brothers minus the vampires I can relate. This book does end in a cliff hanger situation so that didn't really surprise me. I absolutely loved everything about this book! Now I want more… this became become my Empire

*Vampires
*Gods
*Magic System
*Brothers
*Trials
*Grey FMC
*Romance
*World Building
*Slow Burn

Thank you so much Avon and Harper Voyager and Netgalley for the eARC. I voluntarily agreed to do an honest, fair, review and blog. All words, thoughts, ideas are my own.

We Who Will Die

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins for letting me read this book early!! I am a huge fan of Stacia Starks other books and this one if one of my most anticipated reads this year!!

I do not want to give anything away but I will share some things I absolutely LOVED about this story:

1. Overprotective big sister. Gets me EVERY time!!
2. Bad ass FMC. Ok, she’s a little older and kind of out of shape but she is still gonna get in that arena and GIVE IT HER ALL!!
3. Flashbacks. I absolutely loved how the flashbacks were incorporated into the story.
4. Vampires!!!! Sigil marked magic wielders! Unbreakable bonds!
5. Her dead best friends dad is the Philoctetes to her Hercules!!
6. Begging on his knees (as he should)
7. Evil Emperor and plots to overthrow him
8. Trust no one. So many twists and turns!!
9. Playing cards and betting favors!

I could not put down this book once I started reading it. I am so ready for the next book (keeping my fingers crossed for multiple POVs!!!!)

Five stars. Definitely in the top 3 books I have read this year!

I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this… and boy Stacia Stark did not disappoint! This Roman inspired romantasy had me drawn into Arvelle’s story from the start. Don’t wait, try this one today! It’s unlike anything you have read before.

Thank you NetGalley, Stacia Stark, as well as Avon & Harper Voyager for the opportunity to review an ARC E-Book of "We Who Will Die" in exchange for an honest review.

This book will be the next hit Romantasy on the market. As my first experience reading Stacia, I am FULLY impressed. It's clear there was intentional and meaningful research conducted regarding the Ancient Romans and it shows clearly throughout the story. I'll admit, the first few chapters were a bit slow, but once Arvelle started competing the plot ramped up quick and I didn't want to put it down. Going in with zero expectations, this book was an excellent surprise and I don't just mean the plot twists! My single complaint is that now I have to wait for the next book because that cliffhanger had me craving for more.

Without any spoilers, "We Who Will Die" not only has vampires, it has all sorts of magical creatures and a solid magic system. Even if you aren't familiar with mythological lore, you will be able to understand the story. When you feel incredibly confused, don't worry, you'll get answers! From a realism perspective, the story sheds light on real issues within our real society with a caring and thoughtful touch. Just be sure to check trigger warnings as there are a few sensitive topics that are addressed.

Overall, this was an excellent read and I will be purchasing a physical copy for my bookshelf. It has all the elements to become a bestselling romantasy and I'm excited to hear other reader's theories about where they think the direction of the plot is going. Arvelle's character arc is realistic and not drenched in plot armor and the parallels to the Ancient Romans is a refreshing take.

Stacia Stark is one of my must read authors, and this is just one more that shows why! Vampires, magic, Gods and a strong FMC = another amazing book!

Magic and gladiators. What more does a book need? Well, this book also has an angsty, tragic backstory where Arvelle lost not only her best friend in an arena fight, but her childhood love, a vampire, and a whole lot more.

Arvelle is given an offer she can't refuse, and she's back to colleseum fighting. Lots of intrigue, interesting magic, great chemistry (with both brothers, actually. I think I might be Team Rorrik.). She's making some friends, mending some fences, and all the other fun, heartwarming stuff all under the violent backdrop of a corrupt emperor.

This book has all the action, terror, longing, and redemption that a reader could want!