Book Review: We Who Will Die (Empire of Blood #1) by Stacia Stark
If slow-burn romantasy in a Roman-inspired vampire empire sounds like your brand of chaos, then buckle up, because Stacia Stark came for our throats with We Who Will Die. And honestly? She succeeded… but not without a few moments where I wanted to shake the characters like a snow globe.
This book drops you straight into the Thorn district, where life is brutal and survival is a gritty art form. Arvelle is fierce, stubborn, and fueled by that big-sister energy that makes her both admirable and a tiny bit reckless. When a vampire gives her an impossible choice, she makes a magically binding vow that basically signs her up for:
assassination,
arena combat survival,
accidental self-discovery,
and an emotional rollercoaster with teeth.
Yes, teeth. It’s vampires.
What the book gets right
The worldbuilding is cinematic — think gladiator arenas drenched in magic, Roman hierarchy mixed with dark-fantasy politics, and gods who meddle just enough to ruin your week. The Sundering arena? Absolutely feral in the best way. Stark’s combat writing is crisp and thrilling, and the stakes feel high from page one.
And the romantasy tension?
Whew.
Arvelle ends up entangled with not one but two vampires:
the Primus, the brooding warrior who broke her heart,
and Rorrik, the emperor’s sadistic, beautifully twisted son whose motives drip with danger.
Both men orbit her with that intoxicating morally-gray energy, and Stark does not rush a single spark. It’s slow burn with a capital SLOW — but the payoff hints are deliciously satisfying.
Where it stumbled for me
There were moments where the pacing lagged, especially in the first third. Arvelle’s motivations sometimes felt repetitive, and while I love a slow burn, there were points where I needed the emotional beats to hit a little harder.
Some of the political twists were predictable, not in a way that ruined anything, but enough that I was hoping for a slightly sharper edge.
The magic system & gods?
Intriguing, messy, and clearly setting up for deeper chaos. Rorrik, especially, steals scenes simply by existing — the kind of character whose presence makes you want to lock the doors and then… unlock them again.
Final Verdict
We Who Will Die is an atmospheric, blood-soaked, slow-burn romantasy with claws. It’s perfect if you love:
• morally gray vampires
• arena survival
• vengeance plots
• ancient gods meddling
• simmering tension that refuses to rush
• and heroines who grit their teeth and choose violence
It’s not flawless, but it’s gripping, ambitious, and absolutely sets the stage for a series that could become a new obsession.
I’ll be picking up book two the second it drops — because the way this one ends?
Yeah. I need answers, and probably a drink.