I recently had the incredible privilege of reading an advanced reader copy of We Who Will Die by Stacia Stark, and I find myself utterly captivated by this mesmerizing tale. From the very first page, I was drawn into a richly woven world where magic pulses through the air, vampires lurk with an alluring danger, and classical inspiration lends a timeless elegance to every scene. Each chapter concluded with such intensity that it left me breathless, compelling me to turn the page despite the late hours, unable to put the book down until I reached the end.
The romance at the heart of this story is a masterpiece of slow-burn tension, unfolding with a delicate balance of longing and restraint that kept me emotionally invested throughout. The chemistry between the characters built gradually, making every stolen glance and tender moment feel earned and deeply satisfying. Beyond the central love story, the side characters shone with vividness and depth, each bringing their own unique personalities and backstories that enriched the narrative and made the world feel alive. I found myself equally intrigued by their arcs as I was by the main plot.
What truly set this book apart, however, were the shocks and plot twists that seemed to hide around every corner. Just when I thought I had anticipated the next turn, Stacia Stark delivered a revelation that left me reeling, adding layers of complexity and excitement to the story. The blend of magical intrigue, vampire lore, and classical motifs created a stunning backdrop that elevated the entire experience, making it feel both epic and intimate.
I cannot recommend We Who Will Die highly enough. It’s a five-star read that deserves every accolade. This book is perfect for fans of fantasy romance who crave a narrative with depth, heart, and unpredictable twists. This is a must-read that will linger in your mind long after the final page.
Tropes: Slow-burn romance, intricate magical systems, vampire mythology, classical inspiration, found family dynamics, and shocking plot twists.

Addicting, addicting, addicting. GAHHHHH this book is INCREDIBLE!!!! I read it in basically one sitting.

Vampire Diaries meets Hunger Games meets Gladiator.

I saw some of the twists coming from a mile away, and others were a complete shock. The world building, magic system, politics and incorporation of Greek Mythology WITH vampires is so so top tier.

The characters all have a lot of healing to do, and the found family elements paired with a murder mystery and sort of love triangle had me hooked.

I truly cannot wait for the next book!

Thank you to Stacia Stark, HarperCollins and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

5 ⭐️

Holy Smokes! Thank you to Avon and HarperVoyager for the eARC!

I binge read this book in one sitting the way I binge watched all seasons of The Vampire Diaries in one maternity leave. Greedily.

The fast paced plot engages you from the first page and doesn't let go until the last sentence. The stakes are high and honestly they don't let up once. The love triangle - something I usually hate- is delicious and a slow burn seeing as the FMC isn't quite aware that she's in one yet. I do wish there was a bit more angst and bickering between two of the characters- it's my only change I would have made.

The magic system is really fresh. The side characters are a slow burn as well and I can't wait to see the chaos they are going to create as the story unfolds! There's still a lot of questions I have that I am going to trust the process and wait anxiously for book 2 for!

Honestly, this book has it all and I can't wait to buy the trophy for my shelf when it releases in January!

This book has all the things that make fantasy great. Vampires, magic, gods, gladiators, snd mythical creatures!
While love triangles aren't generally my favorite, this one is well executed :) I actually found myself rooting for both men along the way!

this was a strong fantasy romance and worked well as a concept and from the storyline. Stacia Stark has a strong writing style and am excited for more from her based on this book. I enjoyed the way the characters were written and how it was used in this plot, it uses the Roman element that I was wanting in this universe. I thought it was a fantastic job in creating unique characters.

I absolutely loved this book. I was not sure what to expect with the theme being similar to gladiators, but I was definitely blown away by how captivating it was literally from the first chapter….. The characters are so well thought out & I am fully invested in Arvelle & definitely ready to eat Rorrik (IYKYK). Loved this book. I’m thinking it’s about to be my next most anticipated trilogy.

Holy infinity stars. This is a five star book, no questions asked! We Who Will Die by Stacia Stark is an electric, emotionally charged fantasy that grabs hold of your heart and doesn’t let go. The story is told from our main character Arvelle’s perspective navigating extreme poverty and trying to find the healing so desperately needed for her brothers.

With fierce characters, simmering tension, and a unique romantasy plot like NONE other, Stark crafts a story that’s as brutal as it is beautiful. If you’re craving a read that will haunt you, thrill you, and keep you up way past midnight, this is the one. Don’t walk—run to this book.

I don’t even know how I could possibly fit everything wonderful about this book into a review. This is going to be one of the biggest books of next year, without a doubt. We Who Will Die includes a strong FMC, arena/gladiator style fights, powers, vampires, gods, magical vows and love drama.
Arvelle comes in as a capable, strong woman right off the bat. She’s faced with a devastating choice and is forced to enter the arena to compete to be in the emperor’s guard, leaving her brothers behind and potentially in danger. She must work to fulfill her vow to one dangerous vampire while balancing interactions with a vampire from her past and the emperor’s dangerous vampire son.
“You don’t see each other in the present. He’s still trying to save you, and you’re still trying to be his escape.” 😩
She must avoid detection by those around her and the emperor himself. Oh, not to mention she has to STAY ALIVE both in the arena and out. We see Arvelle struggle with past loss, grief, and love throughout all while uncovering things about herself and everything she thought she knew.

This book will keep you twisting and up reading all night because you can’t put it down! This author has a way of creating such depth in characters and the plot is more than I could have asked for.
If you enjoy conspiracy, brutal fights, and heart wrenching love interest then We Who Will Die is absolutely for you.
I can’t wait to see what comes next @staciastark.

Special thanks to Avon/HarperCollins for the read!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I feel genuinely sorry for anyone who has to wait until January 2026 to get their hands on We Who Will Die. This book is everything: Vampires, magic, mythical creatures, ruthless gladiator-style battles, and a fierce, cold, yet empathetic FMC who commands the page. Add in two morally grey, possessive brothers who are as dangerous as they are devoted, and I was hooked.

Stacia Stark delivers a fast-paced, action-packed fantasy that never lets up. The world-building is rich, the stakes are high, and the tension (both romantic and otherwise) is constant. And the cliffhanger? Absolutely brutal—in the best way. I’m officially nursing a full-blown book hangover and will be diving into her other series while I wait for the next installment.

Highly recommend for fans of gritty romantasy with bite.

‘…a slow-burn romantasy set in a Roman-inspired world ruled by merciless vampires. Filled with breathtaking combat, vengeful gods, and magical creatures, We Who Will Die is the epic first installment in an enthralling new series perfect for fans of Carissa Broadbent, Jasmine Mas, and Rebecca Yarros.’

Did someone say vampires? Hell yes! I couldn’t dig into this one fast enough.

Exciting, sexy, wicked, clever and vengeful, Stark hit the mark with We Who Will Die. Try not to chew off all your nails reading this one!

And the windup! Ooof! That ending easily guaranteed to keep me hungry with crushing anticipation until the next book!

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this arc in exchange for review! I am always grateful.

Pub: 1.20.2026

🌕Mystery/suspense
🌖Plot twists
🌗Vampire Diaries vibes brothers
🌘Character growth
🌑Gladiator trials
🌒Vengeful gods
🌓Second chance romance
🌔Love triangle or why choose?

What a great blend of vampires meets Roman Empire. The atmosphere really puts you in the arena alongside the fmc and the story handles grief and loss so heartbreakingly well.

FMC: Arvelle grew up impoverished and with an addict mother so she became the sole caretaker to her younger brothers. She’s also trying to run from the grief of seeing her best friend killed in front of her and the simultaneous abandonment of her lover 6 years ago. She’s forced into a bargain to train and fight in the gladian arena all to get close enough to assassinate the Emperor.

Her growth through the story is absolutely phenomenal and the romance that gets rekindled was 💋chefs kiss💋 I loved getting their backstory from her memory flashbacks of childhood, from friends to crushes and eventually into lovers.

MMC’s: We have two brothers here, definitely Vampire Diaries coded cause Tiernon is our broody boi and Rorrik is ummmm the toxic boi lol 🤭 he’s so secretive and I manically want to know everything, now!!! Not sure if this is going to turn out to be a love triangle or why choose but I’m hoping for the latter!!!

I could not put We Who Will Die down and several days after finishing this story, I'm still thinking about certain scenes, interactions, and plot twists. This is a fun, absorbing, wild ride of a book. We Who Will Die is a vampiric romantasy of epic drama and a crazy love triangle and at its heart, protagonist Arvelle is a character who I can't help but root for. Arvelle's determination, strength, and resolve make her a dynamic fmc; her experiences and struggles as the oldest daughter of her family as well as its sole provider make me think about the ways in which she learns, in this book, how to care for her loved ones as well as herself, and how to begin healing after devastating loss and trauma. I love Stacia Stark's books and We Who Will Die is no different!

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and publishers Avon and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

I read this book in two days, over the course of my vacation and trip to the Harper Collins Canada Frenzy event, and honestly, it was entertaining as hell. I am an archaeologist, so I really enjoy reading Roman or Greek inspired novels, and this one made great use of roman terms and political schemes, staying true (generally) to how the Roman Empire works. With all fantasy books, creative liberties are taken, but the inaccuracies did not take away from the story, and did not bother me as much as other books did (think blood of Hercules).

This book was action packed, had things happening all the time, and kept me on the edge of my seat with it's fast paced mystery and, well, coliseum violence. I can only describe this as a sexy action packed version of Gladiator, with a healthy sprinkle of sharp tongued vampires.

That being said, it was challenging to determine which brother was the love interest (which I'm sure was the point), and with the reveal at the end in regards to the two brother's history with Velle, it was reminiscent of Vampire Diaries in so many ways (which I did not HATE per-se, but idk, undecided at this time). The main character was likeable, and honestly took very rational courses of action, and was not very cringe.

BUT. The plot was not very strong. The driving force, or rather main issue in the story that had to be resolved was, what felt like drawn out, and could have been solved much faster if Ti was on the ball, which irritated me. I definitely liked the bad boy brother better, as I am sure most readers did by the end.

But, given the weak-ish plot, and the climax of the story, I give this three stars. Would read the second, but feel the execution could have been done better.

This was everything I hoped it would be! There was gladiator type fights, there was tension, there was romance, there was vampires and there are theories I'm thinking of that I hope will be confirmed in book 2! The world created is exciting, the characters came to life for me, and the story kept me interested throughout!

One of next years viral obsessions, I'm sure! When I saw Stacia Stark, it was an automatic add to my TBR list!😍

We Who Will Die is the start to a new romantasy trilogy, taking inspiration from Ancient Rome! It has a magical twist however; vampires 🧛 and sigil-marked humans. It's bold, creative, and very engaging. Stark's world building is rich and vivid, so immersive that I was roped in immediately!🖤

It was right up my alley, mixing romantasy with a bit of the paranormal mixed with influences of Roman Gods. That said, it was a little overwhelming at times because there was so much happening!

The core of it got some of the regular heavy hitter tropes, but between the writing, the great plot twists, and the uniqueness to what's been on the market, I was fully engaged and hooked on Rorrik. I need to know where it goes!!🫶

A huge thanks to NetGalley and Avon/Harper Voyager for the awesome read!

Review posted June 17, 2025 on Instagram, Goodreads, and fable!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
@staciastarkauthor how do you do it? Write these magnificent pieces? I don’t know but I do know I will always devour these stories. 😩✨

Releasing Jan 2026
You do NOT want to miss this one!
It’s giving vampire diaries mixed with gladiator ⚔️
I was HOOKED.
The depth in each of the characters had me feeling their emotions as if they were my own.
The world was put together so smooth and perfectly.

Arielle is a force to be reckoned with, and we LOVE a strong FMC.🔥
The PLOT twists.
The emotional tension.
Dark and broody MMCs 😩🖤
Genuinely, everything I want in a story and more!

As always MISS STACIA STARK 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼!!!!!! I keep reading your books and think that nothing can top it and then I read your next book

Stacia, you are a QUEEN! This is one of those gripping reads that keeps you awake at 3 AM, ignoring the clock while you can't put the book down. I absolutely DEVOURED this book!

This book truly has everything for romantasy lovers: Vampires, high-stakes rebellion, sigil powers, romantic tension, incredible world-building, gladiator-style trials, and vengeful Gods. The characters are filled with emotional depth, and I fell in love with them. Arvelle is such a fierce and strong FMC, she ticked all my boxes for features that I love in female leads. This story features not one, but two dark & broody MMCs who are ready to bring the world to its knees for the FMC. Arvelle is drawn to both men and I am 1000% here for a why choose situation.

This story is filled with complex characters, unexpected twists, & thrilling action. Between the angsty romance & constant tension, the sharp & witty banter, and the moments of heartbreak & betrayal – I was utterly hooked. If you love all of these elements, this book will rock your world.

𝓣𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓥𝓲𝓫𝓮𝓼:
🩸 Roman Inspired Romantasy
🩸 Vampires
🩸 Enemies to Lovers
🩸 Forced Proximity
🩸 Slow Burn
🩸 Vengeful Gods
🩸 Fierce FMC
🩸 Broody MMCs
🩸 Found Family
🩸 High Stakes Trials
🩸 Hilarious Banter
🩸 Political Intrigue
🩸 Magical Creatures

“The Rabbit thought she was saving the wolf,”

Wholly crap I loved this book, now it was a little slow to start but the heat picked up gawd damn. Stacia Stark builds this gritty, dangerous world with layers of rebellion, gods, sigils, and a heroine fighting for everything she loves.

Tiernon is a literal dream Vampire. Protective, devoted, absolute swoon. Like, who gave him permission?! And Rorrik? Hot. Villain. Vampire. The tension between him and Arvelle had me feral. And yes, I am begging the universe for a why choose situation because I’d be ruined if she had to choose.

But in all honesty I loved the world building, and I had an amazing time with this book, every time Stacia knocks it out of the park. I need book two like I need water.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★/5
Spice: ♥︎ ♥︎ ♥︎/5

@staciastarkauthor does it again! Stacia's word building is fantastic and fast paced. A magical book with gladian fighters, vampires and other creatures. Arvelle makes a magical vow with a vampire since she needs to heal one of her twin brothers. She would do anything for them. She has to enter the Sundering to compete in 3 trials. The trials go by really quickly as they are written really well. There is intrigue with twists and turns you don't see coming and it keeps you wanting more.

Arvelle is a sigilmarked, strong FMC, but unable to access her power. She relies on her training and wits. Each MMC brings their own challenges for Arvelle. The banter is great throughout the book. Arvelle tries throughout the book to complete the vow she made and there are definitely interesting things in her way. The book is very exciting and fast paced! You don't want to miss it!

Thank you Stacia Stark, Netgalley, and Avon books for the opportunity to read this eArc preview.