Welcome to the first episode of The Honest Pause Book Club. 📚

Our first pick is We Who Will Die by Stacia Stark — a Roman-inspired romantasy filled with vampires, magic, political power, and gladiator-style combat.

The story follows Arvelle, a woman forced into a deadly tournament to join the emperor’s elite guard. But she isn’t just competing to survive — she’s secretly been tasked with assassinating the emperor himself.

In this episode, we’re diving into Chapters 1–10. We won’t be able to cover everything, but we’re going to cover a lot — from the political structure of this vampire empire to the characters who immediately caught our attention.

We talk about:

• The powerful dedication to eldest daughters and how it reframes Arvelle’s motivations
• Survival through strategy and why Arvelle refuses to be seen as prey
• The magic system and the mysterious sigil-marked
• The political control woven throughout the empire
• Early character introductions including Carrick, Rorrick, and the emperor’s dangerous guard known as the Primus
• Flashbacks to Arvelle’s past with a noble vampire named Tiernon
• And the Chapter 10 reveal that changes everything

By the end of these first ten chapters, what starts as political intrigue suddenly becomes deeply personal.

And we have questions.

Stay Connected:

📸 Follow on Instagram: @TheHonestPause

Connect with Teryl Rothery

🌐 Website: https://www.terylrothery.com
📸 Instagram: @terylrothery
🧠 Book a Discovery Call at https://www.terylrothery.com/contact

Connect with Maryam Taheri

💼 Everground Advisory: Coaching & Business Strategy

https://www.evergroundadvisory.com

Book a Coaching Discovery Call: https://www.evergroundadvisory.com/book