We Who Will Die

By all accounts, WE WHO WILL DIE by Stacia Stark should be a book that I adore. Vampires, angry heroines, epic battles, romance, magic - there is nothing there I don't like. But therein lies my issue. I liked WE WHO WILL DIE, but I didn't love it.

My issue isn't with Arvelle. I find her to be everything I love in my female characters: angry, capable, loyal, and determined, with a tender heart she protects at all costs, and a love for her family that overrides everything else. Ms. Stark does an excellent job of allowing us into her head and heart, so that we can better understand her motivations. Her confusion at all of the information that comes her way is our confusion. Her anger is our anger. Her grief becomes our grief. Arvelle is show more definitely not my issue with WE WHO WILL DIE.

I think my problems with WE WHO WILL DIE stem from the brothers. I do not believe Ms. Stark intends for there to be a romantic triangle, but exactly what she does intend between Arvelle and the brothers remains cloudy. While I know that is the point for a series opener, the lack of clarity around the relationships of all three doesn't sit well with me. At this point, I don't want Arvelle to end up with either one and would rather she go live her life with her brothers without either brother there to bother her.

At the same time, I struggle to understand what overthrowing the emperor would accomplish. When there are such differences in power and influence among vampires, the magically inclined, and those without magic, overthrowing one bad leader accomplishes very little. Which leads me to question what the point is here. We know Arvelle fights solely for her brothers, but something about the bigger picture and the brothers' involvement doesn't make sense, given the little information we have.

I liked WE WHO WILL DIE enough to want answers and to hope that the second book provides more than the first. I like Arvelle too much and want more of her anger and impressive fighting skills. I want to see her enact her revenge on someone, and I want to know the fate of Leon. Plus, I have hope that Ms. Stark will convince me that one of the brothers is worthy of Arvelle, and the romance is worth the emotional torture. show less

I really enjoyed this story both as a book and as an audiobook. This romantasy pulled me in with its brutal, Roman-inspired world where vampires rule, and survival is never guaranteed. Arvelle is a compelling heroine, fierce, flawed, and driven by her love for her brothers, and I was immediately invested in her impossible mission to kill the vampire emperor. The deadly arena trials, political intrigue, and slow-burn romance kept the tension high throughout. The audiobook elevated the experience even more: Meg Sylvan delivers Arvelle’s strength and vulnerability beautifully, while Troy Duran adds depth and menace to the male characters. Together, their performances made the emotional moments and action scenes even more immersive. This show more was a gripping, addictive listen and read. show less

It’s best described as Hunger Games meets Roman Gladiators meets Fantasy.

🔱 For Fans of:
- fantasy romance
- slow burn romance
- childhood friends
- gladiator warriors
- vampires vs humans
- humans with powers
- political games
- book 1 of series

✏️ Spoiler-Free Review & Vibes
There’s an arena of fights and a political shadow war, so the main character, Arvelle, is fighting on multiple fronts with a mission of her own—or rather, she’s fighting with someone else’s mission and trying to just stay alive long enough to heal her brother and keep both brothers safe.

Now, of course there’s a romance that takes place, a nice slow burn that gets wild by the end, but not in the way I expected. There are twists and turns that had me show more literally gaping with my mouth open (so good). I also found myself highlighting the many good quotes on life, death, and the joys between the two.

Needless to say, I truly enjoyed this one and it had me in a chokehold. I keep saying I’m not a fantasy girlie, but maybe I just have standards?? I need a fantasy that will pull me in and explain things as I go in a way that isn’t disruptive or confusing. I need characters with depth and their own personal motivations amas a plot bigger than just one person. I need a romance that has tension and real emotions and yearning.

We Who Will Die met all of those needs AND left me begging for more.
I have no idea how I’m supposed to wait almost a year?!

The only reason it’s not a 5/5 is that the pacing at the end was very quick and has my head spinning 😅

📕 Book: We Who Will Die by Stacia Stark
📚 Series: Empire of Blood
📅 Release Date: OUT NOW (12.30.2026)
⭐ Rating: 4.5 out of 5
✅ I would recommend! show less

Thank you Netgalley, Author Stacia Stark, and Avon / HarperAudio Adult for the eArc Audiobook of We Who Will Die in exchange for an honest review.

4/5
Creative take on Vampires that I haven't seen in recent years.

I actually did really love this book. The vampires were amazing and really hit on the vampirism is a curse with many draw backs. This fresh addition in a world of OP Vampires is one that had me cheering throughout the story. The world building was base level, but very solid and enjoyable. We run into Arvelle a 24 year-old sigil marked doing what she can to keep the home running while affording medicinal tonic for one of her brothers. Low and behold she is forced by a Vampire to head back to the Gladiatorial arena to compete for show more a spot amongst the ranks of the Emperors most trusted elite guards. The reason? To kill the paranoid Emperor! "Is it really paranoia if people are actually trying to kill you?"

The story is one filled with murder, betrayal, and fantastical creatures. Arvelle is a headstrong FMC that puts her brothers safety and well-being before anything. The story kept me going and interested to the last page and I can not wait for the next one. The FMC doesn't portray herself to be the smartest or the best. She acknowledges that she isn't as good as she once was and that her age and injuries have slowed her down. Honestly, I did enjoy her. Her choices can be irritating at times, but it was done in a way that shows her character and who she is. Some might groan at her dialogue but the follow up after is normal something that had me going "you were saying?" with a little cackle.

This book does have detailed intimate scenes near the 60 or 70 % mark, but I would argue that they aren't the focus or drive of the story. They are a sweet and nice side addition that adds to the humanity and gives us moments between the brutal bloodshed and political plotting. The narrators did a good job making the book feel more immersive than I anticipated. However, I did get a bit annoyed about half way through when all the male characters started to sound the same and all of the female characters outside of Arvelle sounded like Elizabeth Olsen's Scarlett Witch. show less

Powerful vampires, mystical beasties, unknown powers and humans all in one book ! Humans and magical beasties are controlled and used for blood and entertainment. There are Roman Gladiator like battles bloodying horrifying an Emperor most deranged. He’s wicked nasty. It’s a tough world and this author does not hide from the pain.
Arvelle, a human has to do a task, something so dangerous it’s nearly impossible, it is impossible. If she fails everything she loves and has fought for will be gone. Her fate depends on her doing this task. Thankfully she is a admirable character, she is strong, smart, relentless and loves deeply. The fact that she had no choice, it’s heartbreaking to see her struggle. She is an easy character to like show more and cheer for.
Someone unexpected form her past comes back into her life and they bring baggage. Will they help or will they just keep pulling at the memories of better days ?
There is a hint of romance, of friendship. It’s not the center of the story and we don’t get the whole picture is this first book in the series. Perhaps even a triangle ? I know where I want it to go. :P
I have read several books from this author and am never disappointed. I highly recommend this book.
I’m excited to read the next book to see where this goes. I am hooked ! show less

This book is filled with broody heroes, vampires and magic.
The story flowed seamlessly throughout and kept me hooked until the very end.
The Romanesque world is so intoxicating and rich.
I don't know how a dark historical period, can inspire such brilliant fantasy from so much death.
Such a serious stance with the beautifully crafted story, and yet it's also light-hearted and easy to read.
Although it doesn't actually make reference to being in a Roman period, the description and plot twists that come to pass, are having me ponder about my very limited knowledge of Romans.
The story is steeped in gladiators, war to the death, and mythological beings.
I liked it.

It was screaming Vampire Diaries vibes at me, the TV show not the books.
I show more love me some broody vampires so I was sucked in well and truly.
While the story is heavily focussed on death and chaos, it brings so much more to puzzle over, not everything is at it seems.

Trust is easily broken and sometimes not offered at all. The factions among the story are based on Mundanes, Sigil Marked, and Vampires. All with an hatred amongst the races that fuels the fires.

I loved all the characters but especially Rorrik, he's my new favourite shadow daddy, and I really hope that Stark gives us more on his story in the following books.
I am desperately rooting for him to be loved, and cherished as much as the other characters.
I hope you don't do him dirty Stark, because my wrath is also very fear inducing. show less