Surviving the emperor’s sundering was just the beginning. In this hotly anticipated sequel to the New York Times bestselling hit, We Who Will Die, Arvelle is forced into an alliance with two vampire brothers: one her lover, one her enemy. This thrilling follow-up delivers nonstop twists and a sizzling slow-burn romance.
Arvelle never expected to survive the emperor’s arena. She never expected to make a dangerous deal with his vampire sons Tiernon and Rorrik. And she certainly never expected to become a point of contention in the brothers’ already hostile relationship.
With Mortuus stirring in his prison, Arvelle is forced to work with Rorrik to translate a long-lost journal that may hold the key to containing the god of ruin.
As Mortuus’s power grows, her only hope is to confront the truth about her own power, and ally with the gods who caged him so long ago.
But the gods are fractured, and their grudges are older than the empire.
When old wounds begin to reopen, Arvelle reaches a tentative alliance with the last person she could have expected. But this connection demands she cross an unthinkable boundary to reveal a new version of herself—someone powerful enough to save an empire.
Pursuing that power could cost her everything.
And survival will hinge on who—if anyone—she can trust.
The series
In a world where blood dictates power and every choice carries a deadly consequence, Empire of Blood immerses readers in a civilization ruled by ruthless vampires and bound by ancient, unforgiving laws. The Sundering, a gladiatorial arena where the strong survive and the weak are forgotten, sets the stage for a story where ambition, loyalty, and desire intertwine with lethal precision.
Read full series description
At the center of the story is Arvelle, a young woman driven by love for her brothers and a vow that propels her into the emperor’s inner circle. To honor her pledge, she must navigate political intrigue, treacherous alliances, and battles that test both her body and spirit. As she learns the cost of power in a society shaped by vampires and divine influence, every interaction, every whispered secret, and every fleeting connection becomes a thread in the larger web of survival.
The series blends dark fantasy with slow-burn romance, creating a world that is as visceral as it is emotionally charged. Magic is dangerous, alliances are fragile, and trust is a luxury few can afford. From blood-stained arenas to shadowed palaces, the story balances high-stakes action with deep character exploration, giving readers a sense of tension and intimacy in equal measure.
Created by Stacia Stark, Empire of Blood speaks to fans of dark, atmospheric fantasy romance who crave morally complex characters, immersive world-building, and narratives where desire and danger are inseparable. It is a saga of sacrifice, strategy, and survival, where the lines between love and power are never clear, and the price of either can be fatal.
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