The first five novels in the series chronicle the story of Victoria Gardella Grantworth, a young woman living in 1820s Regency era England as she struggles to maintain a normal life among London’s haute ton Society and her nightly duties of hunting and killing vampires.
Additionally, Gleason gives a nod to the Gardella Vampire Chronicles in her steampunk series for young adults, Stoker and Holmes.
Those selected for this responsibility are warned through a series of five horrible dreams within a short time–dreams that demonstrate and portend their future of hunting vampires and battling evil.
Once the dreams have occurred, and if the dreamer agrees to accept the Legacy, the chosen person must pass a test: to hunt and kill a vampire.
Believing that he would never be forgiven, Judas hanged himself, and Lucifer used him to create a new race of creatures: half-man and half-demon, who would survive by drinking the blood of mortal man.
The Venators wear a holy amulet in the shape of a silver cross known as a vis bulla, which gives them strength, speed, and fast-healing capabilities.
Like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Victoria struggles with balancing her “normal” life among London’s haute ton with that of her secret duty of being a Venator.