Coral is a determined and devoted mother and wife living in Cape Cod. When her husband and sons go on a dangerous fishing expedition, she holds out hope for their return, pouring her energy into cultivating the farm her husband envisioned. She plants sweet peas and root vegetables, establishing a legacy of hard work that defines the property for generations.

Ruth is an independent young woman who lives a solitary life with her beloved cows. After a devastating fire destroys her home, she relocates to the beach, demonstrating remarkable resourcefulness and a stubborn will to survive.

Violet is an ambitious and stubborn woman who grows up motherless in Blackbird House. She possesses a voracious appetite for reading and fiercely pursues what she wants, often taking dramatic measures to secure the affections of those she loves.

George is a quiet, unassuming man who possesses a deep, unselfish capacity to care for others. He demonstrates remarkable perception when it comes to his family's needs, often choosing quiet support over loud declarations.

Emma is a kindhearted survivor of childhood leukemia who views the world with wonder, saving spiders and marveling at fireflies. As an adult, she inherits Blackbird House and must confront the lingering emotional effects of her illness and recent divorce.

John is a weary fisherman who longs to start anew as a turnip farmer with his beloved wife. He builds a house for his family over three years, hoping to leave the dangerous sea behind.

At fifteen, Vincent is already six feet tall and considers himself a man, having gone to sea twice before. He works hard alongside his father to build their new home and prepare for fishing trips.

Isaac is the ten-year-old youngest son of the Hadley family. He is deeply attached to his pet blackbird, Ink, and openly expresses his fears about the sea and losing his family.

Ink is a blackbird that becomes a constant companion to young Isaac. The bird is an unusual pet, deeply attached to the boy and viewed with a mix of amusement and wariness by the rest of the family.

Hannah is a supportive friend living in the Cape community. She steps in to help Coral Hadley during a time of immense physical and emotional hardship.

Lysander is a former sailor who swore off the sea after losing his leg in a fishing accident. He lives a lonely, quiet existence until he takes Ruth in, finding comfort and companionship in her presence.

Garnet is the observant, eleven-year-old daughter of Ruth and Lysander. She takes on significant responsibility for her younger sister and makes bold decisions to secure her family's future when her mother becomes paralyzed by grief.

Ruby is the one-year-old daughter of Ruth and Lysander, largely dependent on her sister following their father's death.

Susan is a kind townswoman who patiently gains the trust of a grieving girl, helping guide her toward a safer living situation.

Easter is a helpful local woman who, alongside a friend, ensures a grieving girl finds a place to stay at the old Hadley farm.

Larkin is a shy, twenty-year-old cranberry harvester who feels isolated after losing his parents in a fire. He often avoids harsh realities but finds a renewed sense of purpose when he encounters a desperate young mother on the beach.

Lucinda is a thirty-year-old woman who has endured years of abuse while working for the Reedy family. Desperate and exhausted, she considers leaving her newborn child behind until a stranger offers her an alternative path.

William is a cruel employer who repeatedly takes advantage of the young woman boarding above his barn.

Huley is Violet's younger sister, a young woman who attracts attention effortlessly. She is terrified of the sea and cannot swim, relying on her family for safety.

Arthur is the widowed father of Violet and Huley. He provides for his daughters by fishing and relies on the help of his young colleague, George West.

Ewan is a zoologist drawn to the area by tales of a strange creature. He is easily excited by scientific discovery but proves oblivious to the intense emotional currents of the local women vying for his attention.

Lion is a brilliant young man with extraordinary mathematical talents. Despite his academic gifts and widespread popularity, he feels a persistent sense of loneliness and a deep connection to the natural world of the Cape.

Helen is an American woman who captures the heart of an expatriate professor, reminding him of the sweet peas from his childhood home.

Lion Jr. is the grandson of Violet West, a young man who finds his carefully planned future upended when he meets a resilient guide during his military service. He cares deeply for his grandmother's approval.

Dorey is a survivor of the Holocaust who possesses incredible physical and mental toughness. Having learned to adapt to horrific circumstances, she proves more than capable of handling the eccentric challenges of her new husband's family.

Grace is a compassionate mother living in Blackbird House during a severe winter storm. She worries about the safety of those around her, balancing her desire to help vulnerable neighbors with her husband's preference to avoid trouble.

Jim is a practical man who handles the town's snow removal. He is protective of his family and generally prefers not to get involved in the personal disputes of the people living nearby.

Initially a happy, humming fourteen-year-old, Jamie finds his innocence abruptly challenged when he accidentally walks into a violent and traumatic situation next door.

Hank is the teenage son of Grace and Jim Farrell, kept indoors during a heavy snowstorm to focus on his studies while his brother handles the shoveling.

Rosalyn is a neighbor of the Farrell family who endures severe domestic abuse from her husband. Despite her traumatic circumstances, she summons a remarkable capacity to protect herself and the young boy who accidentally finds her.

Hal is a cruel man known throughout the neighborhood for his violent behavior toward his family.

Josephine is the young daughter of the Brooks family, shielded from an immediate crisis by her mother.

Maya is an intelligent but deeply bitter young woman who resents the poverty and lack of structure imposed by her countercultural parents. She attempts to distance herself entirely from her family and their home on the Cape.

Born John, Risha is a Vietnam veteran dealing with trauma who adopts a new name and a spiritual lifestyle. He struggles to hold traditional employment, preferring to grow marijuana and dream of traveling to India.

Naomi is an optimistic weaver who attempts to support her family financially. She operates with very few rules, believing she is offering her children freedom, though she remains oblivious to their growing resentment.

Kalkin is Maya's older brother, an incredibly driven teenager who works multiple jobs and refuses to wear a winter coat. He focuses all his energy on saving enough money to escape to California.

Billy is a local carpenter who is initially resentful toward the wealthy summer residents but eventually takes pride in renovating their property. He is highly observant and senses the lingering unease that surrounds the old farm.

Meg is a wealthy Bostonian who spends her summers on the Cape. Unlike her husband, she shows consideration toward the locals and quietly handles the financial disputes her husband creates.

Louis is the disliked patriarch of a family that summers at Blackbird House. He frequently shortchanges the people he hires and rarely visits the property in later years.

Dean is an isolated teenager who spends his summers at the Cape. He frequently wanders the woods alone and exhibits behavior that makes the local community keep their distance.

Katherine is an exhausted mother dealing with the aftermath of her daughter's severe illness. She struggles to balance her intense focus on her recovering daughter with the growing resentment of her son.

Walker is Emma's older brother, a boy who feels sidelined by his sister's medical crises. He claims the old summer kitchen as his fort and begins blaming a series of mischievous incidents on a mysterious blackbird.

Sam is a father under immense stress who buys a property on a whim. He quickly regrets the purchase when faced with the realities of rattling pipes and poison ivy, often retreating back to the city for work.

Callie is a supportive friend who accompanies Emma to the Cape. She partakes in catching fireflies and reading old books, helping Emma rediscover the magic of the old farm.

Siggy is an older local woman who remembers the history of the families residing at the old Hadley farm. She passes down stories and updates regarding the property.