When a vampire arrives at Arvelle's doorstep with an impossible demand, she strikes a dangerous bargain to save her brothers—and finds herself thrust into a deadly arena where only the strongest survive selection for the emperor's elite guard. To complete her mission of killing an ancient vampire ruler, she must navigate treacherous court politics and a conspiracy that runs deeper than she ever imagined, all while contending with two vampires whose intentions are maddeningly unclear: the man who once broke her heart and the emperor's unpredictable son who holds secrets about her own emerging powers. Packed with breathtaking combat, high stakes, and a slow-burn romance that'll have you second-guessing everyone's motives, this is an epic romantasy that captures the addictive tension and world-building you crave. If you loved The Serpent and the Wings of Night or Radiance, this is absolutely your next obsession!

Reading soundtrack

Listen while you read

Spotify

yearningdarkseductivetreacherousintoxicating

Dark romance with gothic undertones and dangerous tension. Blend moody indie, orchestral strings, and sensual R&B—think Phoebe Bridgers meets Massive Attack. Forbidden desire, bloodlust, and slow-burn passion wrapped in shadowy intrigue.

Open in Spotify

Alternate vibes

📹 Seen on BookTok

@elitereadingtiktok· loved it

“This is a fantasy romance with like gladiator style trials and a love triangle. Perfection in written form. And I need book two more than I need air.”

See all picks →

@thtgrlreadstiktok· loved it

“Booktalk was not lying when they said that We Who Will Die by Stacia Stark was the next big book of booktalk”

See all picks →

@twinreadsandredstiktok· positive

See all picks →

@nessw.bookstiktok· loved it

“Our FMC is just one of my favorite FMCs that I've read about for a while. She's just such a badass, unapologetically her, but also like her self-discovery is really well done.”

See all picks →