An empire ruled by vampires. A deadly arena. A mission that could change the world.

From Instant New York Times bestselling author Stacia Stark, We Who Will Die is the breathtaking first book in an epic new romantasy series set in a Roman-inspired world where ruthless vampires reign, ancient gods manipulate fate, and only the strongest survive.

Life has never been easy for Arvelle. Living in the dangerous Thorn district, she'll do anything to protect her younger brothers—even if it means making a magically binding vow to assassinate the immortal vampire emperor himself.

To get close enough to complete her impossible mission, Arvelle must survive the Sundering, a brutal gladiator-style arena where only the fiercest warriors earn a place among the emperor's elite guard.

But the arena isn't her only challenge.

Caught between the emperor's fearsome protector—the vampire who once shattered her heart—and the emperor's dangerously charming son, Arvelle uncovers powerful magic awakening inside her. As ancient conspiracies emerge and forbidden alliances form, she realizes the greatest threat may not be the emperor at all—but the truth about who she really is.

Packed with pulse-pounding action, slow-burn romance, political intrigue, deadly trials, and unforgettable characters, We Who Will Die is a must-read for fans of epic romantasy.

Why You'll Love We Who Will Die

• Book 1 in an exciting new romantasy series
• Instant New York Times Bestseller
• Roman-inspired fantasy world
• Vampires and ancient gods
• Slow-burn romance
• Deadly competition
• Epic world-building
• BookTok-worthy fantasy

Tropes & Themes

• Slow-burn romance
• Vampire romance
• Deadly trials
• Gladiator arena
• Touch her and die
• Forbidden love
• Magic awakening
• Found family
• Political intrigue
• Morally gray characters

Perfect For Fans Of

• Rebecca Yarros
• Carissa Broadbent
• Sarah J. Maas
• Jennifer L. Armentrout
• Jasmine Mas
• Callie Hart
• Raven Kennedy
• Danielle L. Jensen

Book Details

Title: We Who Will Die

Series: Book 1

Author: Stacia Stark

Format: Hardcover

Genre:

• Romantasy
• Fantasy Romance
• Epic Fantasy
• New Adult Fantasy

Pages:
432

Publication Date:
December 30, 2025

Dimensions:
9.2 × 6.36 × 1.24 inches

Awards & Recognition:

• Instant New York Times Bestseller

About the Author

Stacia Stark is the Instant New York Times bestselling author of the wildly popular Kingdom of Lies series. Known for creating immersive fantasy worlds, unforgettable heroines, slow-burn romance, and morally gray characters, Stark has become a favorite among romantasy readers and the BookTok community.