This is a new release as of late 2025 that I heard phenomenal reviews for non stop so I was beyond excited to start the book. I even purchased myself a special edition copy which was also signed. I had no doubts that I would enjoy this book but man oh man do I have regrets.
“One of my worst realizations was how many people will—without a second thought—trade other people’s freedoms for their own minor comforts.”
Stacia Stark, We Who Will Die
About The Book
Author: Stacia Stark
Publisher: Avon Books
Published Date: December 30th, 2025
Page Count: 423 Pages
Main Genre: Romantasy
GoodReads Rating: 4.08
Format: E-Book
“It takes strength to mourn. It’s . . . it’s easier to wrap yourself in numb apathy and refuse to think of the people you’ve lost”
Stacia Stark, We Who Will Die
Synopsis
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 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…
Synopsis From Goodreads
Rating
“Loving an addict is like being an addict yourself. Only you’re addicted to hope. You constantly tell yourself that this time will be different. Things will get better. And always”
Stacia Stark, We Who Will Die
Review
I had very high hopes for this book. I had only heard great things regarding it but in all honesty I am so disappointed now that I have finished reading it.
The book started off strong, so strong that I went and bought a special edition copy which was signed. I should have waited to drop all that money till I had finished the book. Regrets were made.
As the book went on the plot lines got blurred. At times the main plot line got lost by the sub plots. Even the ending didn’t really satisfy any of the plot lines we were given.
The main character was annoying.. I’m honestly tired of reading books where our main FMC is supposed to be some big baddie just to find out she’s weak and can’t do anything unless it’s out of pure luck or someone swooping in to save them.
The main MMC was boring which I understand why as I see where book twos plot lines for the romance is headed but honestly we didn’t need the second chance romance plot lines as it didn’t feel important to the plot. Just let them be best friends. It would have been a much more enjoyable book this way.
I wish that we had gotten a whole book before this one where we got to see her grow up with her best friend so we could actually care for all these past history plot lines and even to help us not only understand the world a bit better but also the magic system and her relationships. I really do hope a prequel is in the works as I feel like it is really needed.
I honestly struggled keeping up with all the characters. At times someone would get mentioned in detail and I am like “How the heck did she even know this person?” I feel like important details got missed or glance over. The world was also really hard to picture in my head. Again the details just weren’t vivid. The magic system was lacking. I get that we have three types of people but I didn’t understand their powers as well as I feel like we should have.
This book felt extremely repetitive to the point where paragraphs would get repeated as a memory shortly after we just read them. It made me feel like the author just assumed we would not be smart enough to put things together without things being repeated. But to be honest the things that I wouldn’t have minded being addressed again felt like they were just skimmed over. The writing just left me extremely frustrated.
Ok so what did I like? I love Rorrik and their “relationship”. I liked her brothers plot line a lot. I also enjoyed the few friendships she created along the way. But so many things got in the way that it was hard to remember why I was enjoying the book. I just wanted to scream at our main FMC to get a grip.
The ending did make me interested in reading the second book but IDK if I can get myself to go through this again unless the author really changes the writing style. I need paragraphs to feel cohesive and things to not repeat nearly as often.
“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.”
Stacia Stark, We Who Will Die
QOTD: If you read this book please let me know what your thoughts were. I need to discuss this.
World of Bai 