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Cover of We Who Will Die

We Who Will Die

by Stacia Stark

🌶️🌶️🌶️moderate·spoiler·Empire of Blood #1

Why Read This?

You'll get a heart-pounding, addictive slow-burn with morally gray characters and tournament stakes that leave you obsessed and craving the next book.

Synopsis

From the bestselling author of the Kingdom of Lies series comes 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. Life in the perilous Thorn district is a constant battle for Arvelle and her younger brothers. And the vampire standing on her doorstep is about to turn their world upside down. Faced with an unthinkable choice, Arvelle makes a magically binding vow to do the impossible: kill the emperor, an ancient vampire created by the god Umbros. But first, she must enter the Sundering—an arena where only the fastest, strongest, and deadliest survive long enough to be selected for the emperor’s elite guard. She quickly draws the ire of the Primus, the powerful figure charged with protecting the emperor. But the vampire under the armor is the last person Arvelle expects to encounter in the emperor’s court. With her brothers’ lives in the balance, Arvelle has no choice but to ally with the man who once shattered her heart… and with the emperor’s sadistic son, Rorrik—two vampires whose motives are impossible to pin down. Rorrik holds the key to understanding the powers Arvelle is developing—abilities that would put a price on her head if discovered by the emperor. To survive the arena and complete her mission, Arvelle must get to the bottom of a conspiracy that will change everything she thought she knew about herself—and the two vampires who are deeply entwined with her destiny…

At a Glance

4.17 ★ Goodreads
Spice Level🌶️🌶️🌶️moderate
Endingspoiler
PairingM/F
Romance Pacingslow burn

Top Tropes

captive romanceforced proximityadventure romance

Mood

darkintenseromanticadventurousthrilling

Book Details

Goodreads Rating

4.17 ★

Page Count

423 pages

Published

2025

Primary Genre

Romantasy

Pairing

M/F

POV

First Person

Romance Pacing

Slow Burn

Cliffhanger

spoiler

Audiobook

Available

Yes

Format

Standard

Narrator

Unknown Narrator

Narrator Count

Single

Tropes

RomanceMagicActionAngstWorld
Theme Constellation

sign in to see all 6 tropes

Mood & Vibe

Mood

sign in to see writing style, pacing & more

Characters

FMC: athletic / warrior sign in to unlock

Spice Details 🌶️

intense / passionate sign in to unlock

deathgoregraphic violencemurdertortureviolencebloodcaptivitystalkingwar

World & Setting

grimdark / dark fantasy sign in to unlock

Reading Context

the angst delivered sign in to unlock

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