Fat Charlie is an unassuming man living in London who works an unfulfilling job at the Grahame Coats Agency. His nickname, given by his father, stuck with him despite him not actually being overweight. Desiring an easy, unchallenging life, he is socially awkward and suffers from severe stage fright. His carefully structured reality shatters upon his father's sudden death and the subsequent arrival of an unexpectedly suave brother.

Spider is Fat Charlie's suave, effortlessly charming brother who has inherited their father's magical abilities. Used to getting everything he wants without consequence, he steps into Fat Charlie's life with hedonistic disregard for personal boundaries. His superficial perfection masks an internal lack of authentic human connection.

Rosie is Fat Charlie's fiancée, a kind but restrained woman whose relationship with Charlie lacks deep passion. Heavily influenced by her overbearing mother, Rosie seeks stability but secretly craves a more exciting and fulfilling romantic connection.

Grahame Coats is the sycophantic, overbearing head of a theatrical agency who masks his deep lack of morality with forced geniality and clichés. He secretly embezzles money from his clients and views himself as the hero of his own narrative, slowly revealing a predatory nature when cornered by inquiries.

Anansi, also known to humans as Mr. Nancy, is the West African trickster spider god of stories. Despite his divine status, he lived among humans in Florida, playing embarrassing pranks on his family while maintaining a deep love for them. His legacy of trickery and storytelling sets the entire narrative in motion.

Tiger is an ancient, predatory animal god who used to own all the world's stories before Anansi tricked him out of them. He desires to plunge the world back into a dark, violent state, viewing humans and weaker gods merely as prey to be hunted.

Daisy, formally known as Detective Constable Day, is a cheerful and perceptive police officer investigating financial irregularities. Growing disenchanted with police work, she finds herself drawn into Fat Charlie's chaotic orbit, bringing a grounded, observant perspective to his unusual troubles.

Mrs. Noah is Rosie's wealthy, overbearing mother who makes no secret of her intense dislike for Fat Charlie. She believes he is only marrying her daughter for financial gain and constantly seeks to undermine their relationship while dictating Rosie's choices.

Maeve is the widow of a famous comedian, determined to untangle her late husband's confusing finances. Initially a passive and grieving woman, she becomes a tenacious force seeking truth and justice when she discovers serious irregularities in Grahame Coats's bookkeeping.

Mrs. Higgler is an old family friend from Florida who knows the supernatural truth about Anansi's heritage. Acting as a bridge between Fat Charlie's mundane life and his magical legacy, she guides him through his initial encounters with the divine world.

Mrs. Dunwiddy is a cantankerous and magically powerful older woman living in Florida. Fat Charlie has feared her since childhood, believing her to be a witch, and she holds deep knowledge regarding the mysteries surrounding his past.

Bird Woman is a fierce, avian goddess who harbors a deep-seated hatred for Anansi and spiders due to an ancient trick. She strikes a dangerous bargain with Fat Charlie, demanding his bloodline in exchange for removing his brother from the world.

Mrs. Bustamonte is one of the four older women in Anansi's Florida social circle. Alongside her peers, she participates in the traditional magical rituals that help Fat Charlie contact the animal gods.

Mrs. Noles is a friend of Mrs. Higgler and part of the quartet of magical older women in Florida. She assists in rituals, though sometimes bringing mildly incorrect ingredients, such as penguin-shaped candles instead of traditional black ones.

Morris is Maeve Livingstone's deceased husband, a formerly famous comedian. Though he has passed on, his memory serves as a guiding force for Maeve as she pursues his missing funds through the Grahame Coats Agency.