Hooked From the First Insult: Why We Who Will Die Is Fantasy Romance at Its Most Addictive
You walk into a bookshop, casually browsing for your next read, when a title catches your eye, We Who Will Die by Stacia Stark. The blurb earns an approving nod, so you do what any reasonable reader would do, you open to the first page. One line in, the decision is made, and you leave the bookstore with your next favourite story.
“Magnus brays like a donkey when he laughs.”
Any book bold enough to insult an unknown character from the jump deserves to be read, no questions asked. Don’t argue with me. That single sentence had me sacrificing sleep and reading until 3 am with absolutely no regrets.
Insults aside, though deeply appreciated, We Who Will Die truly shines through its fiercely self-reliant heroine. The story follows Arvelle as she navigates life in the fantasy empire of Senthara, driven by one goal above all else, giving her twin brothers the best possible life. Stark doesn’t shy away from the brutal realities of poverty, nor the emotional weight placed on an older sibling forced into the role of sole provider and carer. Arvelle’s tenacity and her refusal to surrender hope even when the odds are stacked mercilessly against her are developed with such care that you can’t help but root for her happiness.
Whilst I can’t personally relate to being in a world surrounded by vampires or sigilmarked individuals, I can empathise with the responsibility that comes with caring for a sibling with a chronic condition. That emotional truth grounds the fantasy, offering a new lens through which to view my own experiences, just with significantly more bloodshed and tears. It’s immersive escapism at its finest, the kind that makes you forget what time it is until your alarm reminds you that sleep was, in fact, an optional choice that wasn’t needed that night.
The plot twists arrive fast and unforgiving, making it nearly impossible to put the book down. Add in a gut-wrenching blend of love and revenge, and you’ve got a story that keeps you teetering on the edge of emotional collapse in the best way. Told through a first-person perspective, you are given unfiltered access to Arvelle’s inner world, her fears, her strength, and her evolving sense of self. Stark cleverly weaves themes of self-belief and self-esteem throughout, adding depth not only to Arvelle but to every character orbiting her story. Making it difficult for you to truly pick one of the two romantic interests.
More than just fantasy romance, We Who Will Die explores how trauma shapes perception, relationships, and self-worth. It examines the negative thought biases we carry and quietly challenges you to reconsider how you see yourself and others. It emphasises how something so small as your own self-perspective can bulldoze relationships you didn’t think you had or needed.
My only wish for this book was that Stark were a bit more descriptive. I don’t want to just feel what the characters are feeling, I want to be fully immersed in the dark world they call home.
If you’re a fantasy romance lover searching for your next obsession, We Who Will Die will hook you from the very first line. You’ll finish it clutching your pearls and desperately craving more. Luckily, this is just the beginning, it’s the first instalment in The Empire of Blood series. The only downside? The inevitable wait, spent refreshing social media and manifesting a release date for the next book.
Written By Jacinta Orgill