This 2026romantasybook is set to combine the best parts of bothFourth WingandThe Hunger Games,and BookTok is already buzzing about it. Romantasy continues to be on the rise in book spaces, especially as many of BookTok’sromantasy obsessions get adapted into movies and shows.That trend is likely to continue onward, both because several new titles are set to join their ranks and various continuations of popular series likeOnyx Stormcontinually get discussedin preparation for the next book’s release or adaptation.
Naturally, many of those new releases that get the spotlight will likely share a lot of similarities to BookTok’s most popular romantasy titles, albeit with their own character or worldbuilding twists. Several of these2026 romantasy books already have high Goodreads scores, creating excitement around them as they bring more of what makes the genre great alongside new spins on those tropes. One particular 2026 release takes the main elements of both Rebecca Yarros' and Suzanne Collins' recently revived series and blends them in a way that promises to become a BookTok must-read:We Who Will Dieby Stacia Stark.
We Who Will Die Combines The Best Parts Of The Hunger Games & Fourth Wing
We Who Will Die Is Set To Be Published In January 2026
Stark’s upcoming romantasy book is set to combine the best parts ofThe Hunger GamesandFourth Wing,garnering it attention long before its release. According toGoodreads,We Who Will Dietells the story of Arvelle who, to help her brothers, makes a vow to kill the vampire emperor who rules her Rome-style lands.To do so, she must enter the Sundering, the competition to decide the cadets of the emperor’s guard, forcing her to cross paths with his main guardsmen who, as it turns out, is an old flame whose alliance she desperately needs.
Arvelle must navigate her budding feelings, conspiracies, shaky alliances, and her developing powers in order to survive, forcing her to confront truths that will change her and her world. Quite a bit of Arvelle’s journey mirrors aspects of Violet’s inFourth Wing,the romantasy heroine’s battle for truth and understanding of what she is capable of set to make her just as fascinating a protagonist. The enemies-to-lovers storyline, while not exclusive to Yarros' series, is structured similarly to it, the militaristic setting likely forcing Stark’s main couple to constantly question and place trust in each other.
In a similar vein, the focus on political upheaval and the inclusion of a set of games draws strong parallels toThe Hunger Games, albeit with a more supernatural twist.Arvelle’s mission to kill the emperor mirrors Katniss' and, in Collins' recent prequels, others' desire to dismantle the Capital-run system President Snow created, adding more of this particularly compelling trope to BookTok’s romantasy sphere. That being said, Stark’s 2026 romantasy is set to introduce some fun new layers to these tropes, allowing it to stand on its own in book spaces.
Stacia Stark’s Book Does More Than Use Tropes From Collins' & Yarros' Series
The Gladiator Aesthetics & Inclusion Of Vampires Will Let Stark’s Book Shine
We Who Will Die’s use of gladiator-like aesthetics and vampires' various tropes will allow Stark’s romantasy book to grow on BookTok beyond the story beats it shares with Yarros' and Collins' works. Whileromantasy books with deadly trialsare not uncommon on BookTok, the fact that Stark’s story is set to return to the bedrock of this trope is set to make it even more intriguing to read.Mixing magic with this gladiator-type image allows it to both bring in new possibilities for the individual challenges and let it stand out from other trialsthat have a more futuristic focus.
The vampire’s tropes, abilities, and weaknesses largely shift from book to book, so seeing them in this new setting will likely add some great prospects for the creature in this and future stories.
The inclusion of vampires is also set to let Stark’s book stand out as their own abilities and associations have become a subject BookTok loves to explorein the romantasy genre. The vampire’s tropes, abilities, and weaknesses largely shift from book to book, so seeing them in this new setting will likely add some great prospects for the creature in this and future stories. Both of these inclusions and more truly make Stark’s book a must-read forromantasyaudiences, who are more than excited to see this addition to the genre’s growing popularity on BookTok and beyond.
