After Stacia Stark’s This Vicious Dream absolutely enchanted me, I couldn’t wait to see what marvels she came up with next. Because I’ve been blessed by the book gods, I didn’t have to wait long. I received an advanced reader copy of We Who Will Die and threw myself completely into this new world.
We Who Will Die by Stacia Stark combines gladiators and vampires in a thrilling Roman Empire-inspired fantasy romance.
Since Arvelle Dacien competed and won the Sands, a brutal arena fight that the emperor requires his subjects to battle in, she’s been working as a bodyguard, just trying to make sure she and her brothers survive. Arvelle lost her best friend in the competition, and when she returned home, her lover was gone.
She has nothing left but her younger brothers, and she would do anything to keep them safe. To complicate matters, one of her brothers is dying, and Arvelle can’t afford the treatment she needs, but she’s determined to find a way.
Then one day a vampire shows up at her door. He wants her to compete in the Sundering, a series of trials performed before the emperor for the prize of earning a place in the Praesidium Guard that protects the emperor and his family. Once she’s in, this vampire wants her to assassinate the emperor. If she succeeds, this vampire will get her brother the treatment he needs. If she doesn’t, their lives are forfeit.
Arvelle finds herself at the center of a tangled web of dangerous schemes, with so many lives on the line.
The Roman Empire-inspired aspects in this story are something I’ve never encountered before in a fantasy, and my little history nerd brain loved it so much. This story provided such a unique combination of plot elements, all tied together in this imperial setting.
We Who Will Die has so many exciting twists and turns, ferocious battles, and stunning, heart-wrenching plot twists. All the artfully layered plot elements ensure readers are never quite sure what will happen next. There is so much suspense built into this story, and it keeps readers on their toes and on the edge of their seats.
This book is incredibly timely. It gives a strong message about megalomaniac rulers and the oppressive societies they rule from their gold-gilded palaces. Despite the fact that it is entirely set in a fantasy world, it feels incredibly applicable to our modern society.
“That’s the thing about rights—you don’t realize you’ve taken them for granted until one day, you wake up, and they’re no longer a right. They’re a privilege reserved for other people.”
There is spice in We Who Will Die, but it’s truly not the focal point. The romantic piece of the plot is a slow burn, and the spice involved is brief and efficient. It’s not the focus of this book, just a tool to demonstrate the connection between the characters.
I won’t say much about the characters, because even revealing the important players in this story is a bit of a spoiler. The less you know about who Arvelle is involved with going in, the better.
That said, We Who Will Die features an impressive cast of characters that fit into an elaborate story and expansive world. These characters beautifully demonstrate grief, anger, and love. Despite the fact none of them are human in the way we are, they perfectly demonstrate the highs and lows of humanity.
There are gladiators. And vampires. Did I even have to say more? We Who Will Die is a truly excellent fantasy, with an incredible idea that was executed beautifully, and I loved every page. Pre-order this book. Request it at your library. Read it by any means possible when it hits shelves on December 30th, 2025.
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