“I missed you more than I miss the sun.”― Stacia Stark, We Who Will Die

We Who Will Die by Stacie Stark is a fast-paced, immersive fantasy story. Although it is the first installment in a trilogy, it feels like it would have made an excellent second book. The reader is immediately thrown into an ancient Roman-inspired fantasy world, beginning in a tavern where we meet Arvelle, who is working as a bodyguard. From the start, we learn about her strong sense of family and her keen eye for detail, traits that carry throughout the book.

In the tavern, the reader is also introduced to Stark’s unique magic system, which includes vampires, sigilmarked, and mundanes, each vying for power within a layered magical class system. The story progresses when Arvelle is tricked into forming a bond with Bran, a vampire. This forces her to return to a coliseum-style training center, where her ultimate goal is to kill the emperor under the guise of earning a position as his guard.

Along the way, she is reunited with her first love, who is also a vampire and, as it turns out, the emperor’s son. Throughout the novel, Arvelle grieves the death of her best friend, revealed through a series of flashbacks, discovers her powers, rekindles her first love, and ultimately breaks her bond with Bran. It is a lot to take in for a first book.

I was drawn to this novel for two main reasons. First, I was intrigued by the ancient Roman-inspired magical system. There are many fantasy books right now that feel like variations of the same ideas. While those have their place, Stark’s integration of the Roman Empire offers a refreshing and unique perspective. She focuses heavily on the coliseum and gladiator-style battles, even incorporating naval combat, which I found particularly impressive. The role of the emperor as both ruler and entertainer was also well executed. It is clear the setting was well researched, and Stark balances historical inspiration with fantasy without losing authenticity.

The second reason was the inclusion of vampires. While vampires are not typically my favorite fantasy element, I was hoping this book would offer a new perspective, and it did. Instead of fearing the sun, Stark’s vampires long for it, making it a powerful motivator for their actions. This simple shift in lore adds depth and originality, and I found it to be one of the stronger aspects of the story.

Stark’s storytelling is compelling, and the foundation she lays makes me interested in continuing the series. However, I do think the narrative would have been stronger if this had been the second book rather than the first. While we learn about Arvelle’s past through flashbacks, I found myself wanting more depth. I wanted to better understand her relationship with her best friend, the evolution of her first love, and her earlier experiences preparing for the Sands, the mandatory gladiator-style trials. Starting with a more foundational first book could have made the world-building clearer and strengthened the emotional stakes and character motivations.

Overall, this book is definitely worth reading, especially for fans of vampire-centered fantasy. While it was not a top favorite for me, I am still looking forward to the next installment in the series.