Thomas is a tall, strong ex-knight who bears a distinctive scar on his cheek from the Battle of Crécy. Stripped of his lands, titles, and wife by a rival noble who sided with the English, he wanders France as a cynical and violent brigand during the Black Death. Despite his rough exterior and loss of faith, he retains a core of honor that compels him to protect a young girl from his fellow thieves, altering the course of his wandering.

Delphine is a fourteen-year-old mystic with long blond hair who experiences vivid visions of angels. Orphaned by the plague, she firmly trusts her divine instructions, which urge her to travel to Paris and Avignon for reasons she does not fully understand. She possesses a disarming innocence and an ability to perceive the spiritual state of those around her, consistently advocating for mercy in a brutal world.

Matthieu is a village priest who struggles with alcohol addiction to cope with deep-seated guilt. He keeps his orientation a secret, fearing the judgment of his society and the Church, and carries the heavy burden of believing his personal failings compromised his congregation during the plague. Despite his personal demons and feelings of unworthiness, he is fundamentally kind and fiercely protective of Delphine.

Robert is Matthieu's handsome younger brother in his thirties, currently living in the papal court at Avignon. He serves as a companion and lover to a powerful cardinal, a position that provides him with status but leaves him feeling trapped and exploited. He is ambitious and enjoys the proximity to Church power, though he frequently struggles with his moral compromises.

The Comte d'Évreux, also referred to as Chrétien d'Évreux, is a nobleman who sided with the English during the ongoing conflicts. He capitalized on the chaos of war to confiscate Thomas's lands and marry his wife, serving as the primary source of Thomas's bitterness and desire for revenge.

Marguerite is Thomas's former wife. Following the military loss at Crécy and Thomas's excommunication, she made the pragmatic and difficult choice to accept the Comte d'Évreux's advances to secure her safety and protect her son in a volatile society.

Jehan is a woodcarver in Paris who crafts figurines of Jesus and Mary. He and his wife offer shelter to Thomas and Delphine, warning them of the severe nighttime dangers in the city and strictly barring their doors after dark to survive the plague-ridden streets.

Annette is Jehan's wife. Having lost her own daughter to the plague, she quickly forms a maternal attachment to Delphine when the young girl stays in their home, eager to provide care in a desolate time.

Godefroy is the ruthless leader of the small band of thieves Thomas travels with early in the story. His predatory nature surfaces when he attempts to assault Delphine, forcing a violent confrontation within his own group.

Jacquot is one of the thieves in Godefroy's band. He physically restrains Delphine during the confrontation in the barn but survives the resulting violence because Delphine begs Thomas to spare his life.

Michel is a young man from Matthieu's village. His secret affair with the priest becomes public knowledge right before the plague hits, ending tragically when Michel dies of the disease, leaving Matthieu consumed by grief.

A Jewish merchant operating in the Paris market who claims to sell the spearhead that pierced Christ's side. He faces intense, violent antisemitic persecution from a mob until Delphine unexpectedly intervenes on his behalf.

The Pope resides in the heavily fortified papal palace in Avignon, obsessively trying to ward off the plague using medical advice and isolation. He commands vast authority, decreeing crusades and harsh societal measures from his protected position.

A powerful cardinal residing in Avignon who uses his high position of authority within the Church to exploit Robert Hanicotte.

Rutger is a leader among the Penitents, a group of self-flagellating religious zealots wandering through plague-stricken France. He demands violent sacrifices from desperate villages to perform supposed miracles.

Parsnip is Delphine's beloved donkey, whose death and consumption by brigands precipitates her initial meeting with Thomas.