Book Review: We Who Will Die by Stacia Stark

Some books whisper their danger. We Who Will Die bares its teeth and smiles while it does.

Set in a brutal, Roman-inspired empire ruled by merciless vampires, Stacia Stark’s opening novel in the Empire of Blood series is a blood-slicked plunge into power, loyalty, survival, and desire. This is romantasy that understands spectacle and intimacy in equal measure—where politics and passion are equally lethal.

This is not a gentle world. And that’s exactly the point.

A Spoiler-Light Synopsis

Arvelle lives in a world where humans exist at the mercy of immortal rulers—vampires who govern through blood, hierarchy, and fear. The empire is vast, ritualistic, and unforgiving, echoing the grandeur and cruelty of ancient Rome with a supernatural edge.

When Arvelle’s life collides with the empire’s inner power structures, she’s forced into proximity with figures who embody everything she’s been taught to fear—and everything she can’t look away from. Survival is no longer just about staying alive; it’s about choosing who to trust, where loyalty truly lies, and what parts of herself she’s willing to claim.

What unfolds is a story of dangerous attraction, shifting alliances, and slow-burn tension that simmers beneath every interaction. The stakes are political. The consequences are personal. And the romance? Deliciously complicated.

Tropes & Themes Readers Will Love

If you’re a fan of romantasy and new adult romance, this book checks some very satisfying boxes:

• 🩸 Vampire Empire / Dark Fantasy Worldbuilding

• ⚔️ Roman-Inspired Political Intrigue

• 🔥 Slow-Burn Romance

• 🖤 Morally Gray Love Interests

• 👑 Power, Loyalty, and Control

• 🕯️ Found Tension (and found family energy)

• 💔 Desire vs. Duty

This is a story that understands restraint. Stark lets tension build—emotionally, romantically, and narratively—until you’re leaning forward without realizing it.

Character Arcs That Matter

Arvelle

Arvelle is not a passive heroine, but she’s also not invincible. Her arc is rooted in awakening—learning how power operates in this world and deciding how she will move within it. What makes her compelling is her adaptability: she observes, learns, and chooses her moments carefully. Her emotional growth feels earned, especially as her understanding of desire and agency deepens.

Rorrik

Rorrik is the kind of character romantasy readers gravitate toward instinctively—controlled, dangerous, and layered with restraint. His presence brings intensity to every scene, and his romance arc thrives on tension rather than overt declarations. There’s a push-pull dynamic here that makes every interaction feel loaded.

Tiernon

Tiernon offers a different emotional frequency—still dangerous, still powerful, but carrying a distinct energy that complicates both the political and romantic landscape. His arc introduces contrast and choice, forcing Arvelle (and the reader) to question what kind of strength and loyalty truly matter.

Art by @lulybot

The Romance Dynamic

The romantic arcs in We Who Will Die are not rushed—and that’s a gift. Attraction simmers under threat. Trust is conditional. Desire is dangerous. This is NA romance that understands how intimacy can be both a weapon and a refuge, especially in a world built on dominance and blood.

Writing Style: Lush Without Being Heavy

Stacia Stark’s writing strikes a satisfying balance: immersive but readable, atmospheric without drowning the reader in excess detail. Her prose carries weight where it matters—emotion, power shifts, charged dialogue—while keeping the pacing tight.

She excels at:

• Building tension through interaction

• Letting silence and restraint do narrative work

• Creating a world that feels ancient, ritualistic, and alive

This is storytelling that trusts the reader to feel what isn’t spelled out.

Who This Book Is For (and Who It Isn’t)

You’ll Love This If You Enjoy:

• Romantasy with political stakes

• New adult romance that prioritizes tension over insta-love

• Vampire stories with structure, hierarchy, and cruelty

• Slow-burn romance that rewards patience

• Dark worlds where desire and danger coexist

This Might Not Be for You If:

• You prefer light, cozy fantasy

• You want romance resolved quickly

• You’re not into morally gray characters or power imbalances

• You dislike darker themes and high-stakes worlds

Final Thoughts

We Who Will Die is a confident, atmospheric opener that knows exactly what it’s doing. It delivers emotional immersion without melodrama, romance without rushing, and darkness without losing its sense of momentum.

This is the kind of romantasy that hooks you quietly—until suddenly you’re up far too late, promising yourself just one more chapter.

And honestly? Worth it.

And if you closed We Who Will Die wanting more tension, more danger, more slow-burn ache that makes you grip the pages a little tighter…

Let me introduce you to your next obsession.

If you love romantasy steeped in dark political tension…

If you devour new adult romance with slow-burn chemistry that hurts so good…

If you fall for broody, emotionally restrained heroes who love deeply but speak carefully…

If you crave dark worlds where desire and danger don’t just collide — they intertwine…

Then you’ll want to add A Song of Light and Shadow to your Goodreads TBR immediately.

Image sourced from Pinterest

This is dark fantasy romance with tension you can taste.

Power imbalances.

Earned devotion.

High-stakes tension that simmers before it scorches.

It’s for readers who don’t want soft edges.

It’s for readers who want to feel the weight of restraint, the intensity of unspoken longing, and the kind of romance that unfolds with purpose.

If that sounds like your kind of chaos?

Go ahead. Add A Song of Light and Shadow to your TBR on Goodreads — and prepare yourself for a romantasy where the light isn’t gentle, the shadows aren’t empty, and the romance doesn’t ask permission.

Add it here 👉 Goodreads: A Song of Light and Shadow