Abdallah is the son of a wealthy date merchant and former slave trader. He frequently reflects on his past, struggling with the trauma of his father's severe punishments, particularly an incident involving a well. This deeply impacts his own approach to parenting. He loves his wife Mayya deeply, though he recognizes her emotional distance.

Mayya is the quiet, determined wife of Abdallah. She reluctantly accepts his marriage proposal while harboring feelings for another man who left for London. To manage her anxiety and circumstances, she focuses intensely on sewing and mothering. She asserts her independence early on by giving her firstborn daughter the unconventional name London, refusing to change it despite her family's confusion.

Zarifa is the head of Merchant Sulayman's household and a former slave. She serves as Sulayman's lover and the primary caretaker for his son, Abdallah. Despite slavery being legally outlawed, Zarifa remains deeply tied to her former master and struggles to understand her son's desire for true independence. She is an authoritative, physically imposing presence in the home.

London is the firstborn child of Mayya and Abdallah, carrying a unique name that symbolizes her mother's hidden past. She grows into a modern, independent woman who studies to become a doctor. Her contemporary lifestyle and choices contrast sharply with the traditional upbringing of her parents' generation.

Merchant Sulayman is a wealthy man whose fortune comes from the date trade and the slave trade. He is an imposing, deeply intimidating figure who rules his household and his son with fear and physical punishment. His legacy of wealth and violence casts a long shadow over his family.

Salima is the stern mother of Mayya, Asma, and Khawla. She was forced into her marriage with Azzan as a young teenager and carries the emotional weight of losing two young sons. She relies on traditional customs to manage her household and attempts to strictly direct the lives of her daughters.

Azzan is the father of the three sisters and husband to Salima. Grieving the deaths of his two sons, he grows distant from his wife and seeks comfort in reciting poetry and spending evenings with local Bedouins. This search for solace eventually leads him into a secret relationship.

Asma is Mayya's sister, distinguished by her intense love for reading, religious texts, and poetry. She relies on literature to understand the world and bond with her father. She views marriage through a romantic, poetic lens and eagerly accepts a proposal from an educated artist, hoping the union will allow her to continue her studies in Muscat.

Khawla is the most conventionally beautiful of the three sisters. She refuses multiple marriage proposals out of intense loyalty to her childhood sweetheart, Nasir, who has moved to Canada. She spends much of her time focused on her appearance and reading romance novels.

Habib is an enslaved man forced to marry Zarifa as a punishment dictated by Merchant Sulayman. Aggressive and resistant to his captivity, he regularly challenges the system that binds him.

Sanjar is the son of Zarifa and Habib. He longs to break free from the legacy of slavery in al-Awafi, often clashing with his mother over her continued deference to Merchant Sulayman.

Shanna is Sanjar's wife. She hates al-Awafi and views her marriage as a ticket out of poverty and away from the burden of caring for her psychologically unwell mother.

Masouda is Shanna's mother, who suffers from a psychological disorder and is kept isolated in a small, dirty room. She holds fragmented memories of old village secrets.

Ahmad is an aspiring poet and London's fiancé. He views himself as an intellectual and frequently complains about backwardness, though his actions betray deep insecurities and aggressive tendencies.

Khalid is an educated artist who grew up in Egypt. He marries Asma and views her partially as an ornament to enhance his own social standing, though he supports her educational aspirations.

Nasir is Khawla's cousin and childhood sweetheart. He moves to Canada to study and requires a marriage to Khawla to secure his inheritance, living a double life while stringing her along.

Fatima is Abdallah's mother and Merchant Sulayman's wife. She died mysteriously shortly after giving birth to Abdallah, leaving a legacy of rumors regarding her sudden demise.

Ankabuta is Zarifa's mother, originally captured by slavers and known as "Spider-Girl." She serves as a midwife and a spiritual medium who conducts zar exorcisms outside the village.

Muhammad is the autistic son of Abdallah and Mayya. His condition brings challenges to the family, as Mayya refuses to send him to a special needs school and Abdallah sometimes struggles to manage his behavior.

Salim is Abdallah and Mayya's other son. He faces pressure from his father, who frequently worries about repeating the abusive mistakes of Merchant Sulayman.

Najiya is a fiercely independent Bedouin woman also known as "Qamar" (the Moon) for her striking beauty. She manages her household after rejecting numerous suitors and confidently pursues a relationship with Azzan.

Ali Bin Khallaf is a young man who returns to Oman after studying abroad in London. His international travels and education make him an object of intense affection for Mayya, though he remains oblivious to her feelings.