Antonio is an anxious and observant young boy struggling with the cultural and religious expectations of his family. He feels pressure from his mother to become a priest and from his father to embrace the wandering life of a vaquero. He experiences vivid, symbolic dreams that reflect his waking dilemmas regarding morality and faith.

Ultima is an elderly curandera, a traditional healer who uses herbal remedies and practices folk magic. She served as the midwife at Antonio's birth and acts as a conduit between various cultural traditions and community viewpoints. She travels with a protective spiritual familiar in the form of an owl and teaches Antonio about his connection to the natural world.

Gabriel is Antonio's father and a former vaquero who now repairs highways for a living. He misses the freedom of the open plains and dreams of moving his family westward to California. He holds a deep spiritual connection to the land and struggles with the fading of his traditional cowboy lifestyle as modernization takes hold.

María is Antonio's devoutly Catholic mother, hailing from a traditional family of farmers. She values education and stability, hoping her youngest son will become a priest to save his soul from the sins of the world. She maintains a strong connection to her family's agricultural roots in El Puerto and views growing up as a loss of innocence.

Tenorio is a local saloon keeper with a malicious reputation in the community. He fiercely defends his daughters, who are locally rumored to practice dark witchcraft. He holds deep grudges and uses fear and intimidation to threaten those who cross his family.

Eugene is one of Antonio's three older brothers. Having been exposed to the broader world through his military service, he returns home exhibiting signs of combat trauma. He desires to live independently rather than fulfilling his parents' strict dreams for his future.

Andrew is another of Antonio's older brothers who returns from the war fundamentally changed. He initially stays behind in Guadalupe to appease his mother while his brothers leave, but he struggles with the expectations placed upon him and frequents local establishments that conflict with his family's religious values.

León is Antonio's third older brother, deeply affected by his experiences in World War II. He rejects the traditional lifestyle of his parents, preferring to spend his time pursuing entertainment and traveling rather than settling down on the farm or the open plains.

Florence is a young orphan in Guadalupe who openly rejects Catholicism. Due to the tragedy in his life, he questions the fairness of God and refuses to fear eternal punishment. His outspoken atheism makes him a target for bullying from the other boys but provides a thought-provoking perspective for Antonio.

Narciso is a local man known for his heavy drinking but possessing a deep sense of justice and empathy. He respects Ultima and tries to protect vulnerable members of the community. He maintains a surprisingly lush, flourishing garden and often puts himself in harm's way to prevent violence.

Lupito is a local war veteran suffering from severe trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder. His actions by the river and the subsequent response from the townspeople deeply impact Antonio's understanding of mortality, sin, and forgiveness.

Cico is a boy from the area who introduces Antonio to local Indigenous mythology. He holds knowledge of the natural world and shares the secret of the golden carp, presenting Antonio with an alternative spiritual perspective outside the Catholic church.

Samuel is a schoolmate of Antonio's who first introduces him to the ancient legends of the land. He shares stories about the history of the local valley and the origins of the golden carp, sparking Antonio's curiosity about different faiths.

Pedro is Antonio's uncle and a farmer in El Puerto. He feels a deep sense of debt and gratitude toward those who help his family, taking action to protect his loved ones when they are threatened by local curses.

Lucas is one of Antonio's maternal uncles. He falls gravely ill after a confrontation in a cottonwood forest, prompting his family to seek alternative healing methods when traditional medicine and religion fail.

Prudencio is Antonio's maternal grandfather. He is the patriarch of the Luna farming family, embodying their quiet, agrarian lifestyle and deep Catholic faith.

Juan is one of Antonio's maternal uncles from El Puerto. He works the agricultural land alongside his brothers and invites Antonio to spend a summer learning the farming traditions of the Luna family.

Deborah is one of Antonio's older sisters. She and her sister speak English at home and represent the assimilation of the younger generation into mainstream American culture, stepping away from the older traditions of the llano.

Theresa is another of Antonio's older sisters. She spends most of her time with Deborah, adapting to the modernizing world around their traditional home and focusing on her schooling.

Father Byrnes is the Catholic priest in Guadalupe responsible for preparing the children for their First Communion. He uses stern methods and frightening stories of eternal punishment to discipline his students.

Téllez is an old friend of Gabriel's whose family ranch is plagued by strange disturbances. He reaches out for help when a local priest cannot resolve the issues tied to his family's history on the land.

Rosie runs a local brothel in town. Her establishment represents temptation to Antonio, serving as a focal point for his anxieties about morality and the loss of innocence in adulthood.