Content levels
Trigger warnings
Positive tags
Hero archetypes
Heroine archetypes
Protagonist archetypes
Tropes
Synopsis
Instant New York Times Bestseller! From the bestselling author of the Kingdom of Lies series comes a slow-burn romantasy set in a Roman-inspired world ruled by merciless vampires. Filled with breathtaking combat, vengeful gods, and magical creatures, We Who Will Die is the epic first installment in an enthralling new series perfect for fans of Carissa Broadbent, Jasmine Mas, and Rebecca Yarros. Life in the perilous Thorn district is a constant battle for Arvelle and her younger brothers. And the vampire standing on her doorstep is about to turn their world upside down. Faced with an unthinkable choice, Arvelle makes a magically binding vow to do the impossible: kill the emperor, an ancient vampire created by the god Umbros. But first, she must enter the Sundering—an arena where only the fastest, strongest, and deadliest survive long enough to be selected for the emperor’s elite guard. She quickly draws the ire of the Primus, the powerful figure charged with protecting the emperor. But the vampire under the armor is the last person Arvelle expects to encounter in the emperor’s court. With her brothers’ lives in the balance, Arvelle has no choice but to ally with the man who once shattered her heart… and with the emperor’s sadistic son, Rorrik—two vampires whose motives are impossible to pin down. Rorrik holds the key to understanding the powers Arvelle is developing—abilities that would put a price on her head if discovered by the emperor. To survive the arena and complete her mission, Arvelle must get to the bottom of a conspiracy that will change everything she thought she knew about herself—and the two vampires who are deeply entwined with her destiny…
We Who Will Die: An Epic Romantasy of Forbidden Love, Deadly Secrets, and Vampires in a High-Stakes Arena, Discover a Vividly Reimagined Ancient Rome: content & age rating
Intended for adult readers (18+).
This adult romantasy features intense arena combat with blood and death, a slow-burn romance with steamy scenes, vampire violence, and themes of coercion and power imbalance. Best for mature readers 18+.
What to know going in
This book has strong violence, steamy sexual content, and moderate language. Content notes include captivity, death, and violence (see the full list above).
Who'll love this
Adult readers will be drawn to the arena survival stakes, forbidden romance with vampires, and the high-stakes mission to kill an ancient emperor.