You may be surprised to learn that Netflix’s new sci-fi LGBTQ+ teen romance, First Kill, is an adaptation of a short story. There are so many twists and turns in the eight-episode season that it is difficult to imagine them fitting into a 34-page narrative. The author V.E. Schwab, who also writes under the name Victoria Schwab, published the short story in September 2020, and the announcement of the adaptation, with actor Emma Roberts serving as executive producer, came a month later. Here is information about the short story First Kill, including where to find it and details about Schwab’s other works.
Despite their differences, Juliette and Calliope fall in love despite meeting in First Kill. Juliette is descended from a long line of vampires, whereas Calliope comes from a family of monster hunters whose sole objective is to eliminate every last vampire on Earth. True to its title, the show features numerous firsts, some of which are more gruesome than others. Juliette and Cal, as everyone refers to her, each experience their first kill, first kiss, and first love. It is a classic teen melodrama with a grisly twist.
Two years ago, Schwab published this story as part of a collection of monster-themed short stories titled Vampires Never Get Old: Tales with Fresh Bite, edited by YA fantasy authors Zoraida Cordova and Natalie C. Parker. The majority of reviewers on GoodReads (essentially the Rotten Tomatoes of books) praised the story but wished it were a full-length book. To determine whether they are correct, you will need to purchase or borrow the complete story collection, which is available from most bookstores.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61121663-first-kill
First Kill may be Schwab’s first foray into adapting her work for the big screen, but she has numerous other projects in the works. Her most popular book is The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, whose constellation-inspired book cover you may recognize even if you haven’t read it. In its first year of release, more than a million copies were sold. Now, Augustine Frizzell, who also directed the pilot episode of Euphoria, is adapting the novel into a feature film for eOne.
And if you’re a fan of the First Kill adaptation, you’re in luck: more Schwab stories are soon to be adapted for the big screen. Her novels Shades of Magic and City of Ghosts are also receiving the Hollywood treatment; the former is being adapted into a television series by Sony, while the latter is being adapted into a feature film by Searchlight Pictures. After reading and watching First Kill, if you’re craving more vampires, monsters, and romantic drama, you should devour Schwab’s other soon-to-be-adapted stories.
