We Who Will Die by Stacia Stark
Series: Empire Of Blood book #1
on January 20, 2026
Published by HarperCollins Publishers Genres: Fiction / Fantasy / Dark Fantasy, Fiction / Fantasy / Romance, Fiction / Romance / Action & Adventure, Fiction / Romance / Fantasy, Fiction / Romance / Paranormal / Vampires, Fiction / Women
Format: ARC
Pages: 432 
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Source: NetGalley and the PublisherTHE PREMISE
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In a world where gods hold grudges, vampires rule empires, and mythical beasts roam the edges of shadow and stone, We Who Will Die drops you into a blood soaked, emotionally charged survival game where every choice comes with a cost. From the very first page, Stark delivers the kind of romantasy that makes you forget what sleep is, and start mentally rearranging your 2026 top ten list.
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MY REVIEW
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This is the book that is going to set the romantasy world on fire. Mark my words... We Who Will Die is about to break wide open across BookTok, Bookstagram, and every single romantasy/mythology reader's soul.
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Stark builds her worlds like an architect of pain and beauty. The empire in this story throbs with ancient power, monstrous politics, and mythological creatures that are both awe inspiring and deadly. From kelpies to minotaur to griffins... the mythology creature lovers among us are about to feast.
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The FMC? She is deeply flawed, and forged by grief and guilt that still haunts her from a past she can’t escape. She's already survived more than most, and she’s still here. Still fighting. Still trying to protect the people she loves, even if it breaks her in the process. Watching her navigate the brutal competition, unravel her powers, and go head to head with rivals and kings? I was hooked. She is the kind of heroine you root for, not because she's perfect, but because she's real.
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Now, let’s talk romance. Yes, there’s a love triangle. Yes, it is good. This one isn’t fluff or filler, it's deep, complicated, and it's delicious. One is pure devotion, unwavering and heartfelt. The other is dangerous, seductive, and carries enough emotional baggage to sink a kingdom. And the tension between them? Wheww... it practically hums off the page.
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This isn’t just a fantasy tale. It’s a story about loss, legacy, vengeance, and loyalty. About the damage we carry and the choices we make in the name of love, revenge, and survival.
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The magic system deserves its own spotlight. Sigil marked magic feels fresh, grounded, and completely tied to identity. The way it unfolds through the story, bit by bit, as the main character begins to understand herself, makes the reader feel like they’re unlocking the secrets right along with her.
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FINAL THOUGHTS
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We Who Will Die is emotionally gripping, brutally sharp, and wildly original. If you love high stakes fantasy with deep emotional core, mythological richness, and characters that crawl under your skin and take root, do not miss this one.
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This will be the book of 2026. I’m calling it now!
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🫶🏻 - Ali
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**This review was based on an advance copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. All thoughts are my own.**
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