The last silversaint vampire hunter, Gabriel is currently a prisoner in the vampire fortress of Sul Adair. He recounts his violent history under duress, driven by his lingering devotion to protecting the young Dior Lachance. Haunted by his family's murder, he battles a rising, monstrous thirst for blood, relying on his cynical exterior and his shattered, sentient sword, Ashdrinker, to survive.

A street-smart young woman from Lashaame, Dior carries the prophesied holy blood capable of harming vampires. Initially treated as a passive prize by both her protectors and her enemies, she resents her lack of agency. She uses her wit and survival instincts to assert herself, looking for ways to actively resist the vampire factions hunting her down.

An Esani vampire, also known as Liathe, Celene wears a porcelain mask to conceal severe facial mutilations. She harbors a fanatical devotion to her bloodline's religious crusade, rationalizing violent acts as sacred sacraments. She carries deep resentment toward her brother while maintaining her own hidden agenda regarding Dior's holy blood.

A duskdancer from the Highlands, Phoebe is capable of shapeshifting into a large feline predator. She suffers physically from the "Time of Blighted Blood," a magical affliction making her transformations painful and volatile. Driven by grief over her murdered husband and child, she offers fierce loyalty to those she deems worthy.

A manipulative, urbane vampire historian serving Empress Margot. He employs psychological warfare, starvation, and calculated cruelty to extract Gabriel's history under the guise of an interview. He treats his human thralls and mortal captives as disposable resources for his own pleasure and political advancement.

The brutal Priori of the Blood Dyvok, known as the Blackheart. He rules the conquered city of Dún Maergenn through brute strength, fear, and a philosophy that views emotional attachment as a weakness to be exploited. He seeks to assert dominance over rival vampire factions and views humanity solely as livestock to be consumed or commanded.

The Contessa of the Blood Dyvok and Nikita's elder sister, known as the Heartless. She prefers psychological torment and political manipulation over her brother's overt violence. She commands absolute obedience from her thralls and maintains a highly competitive rivalry for control of their conquered territory.

A dedicated member of the holy order of silversaints who maintains an unwavering faith in his institution's dogma. He struggles to reconcile his deep loyalty to his former mentor with his righteous fury over Gabriel's massacre at San Michon monastery. He wields silver weaponry and hunts the enemies of the One Faith relentlessly.

The bastard daughter of the legendary sovereign Niamh Nineswords, living in exile. She possesses sharp survival instincts and a deep sense of responsibility toward the mortal captives held by the Dyvok vampires. She forms a secretive rebellion to undermine the vampire regime from within.

A former silversaint warrior and close friend to Gabriel, captured during the fall of Aveléne. He endures horrific torment due to his holy silver tattoos reacting violently to his captors. His deep devotion to his partner provides him with immense emotional strength during his brutal imprisonment.

A skilled smith and loyal companion who survives the destruction of Aveléne. He is transported as a prisoner to Dún Maergenn, where he is forced to labor in the forges. His actions are entirely driven by a desperate desire to protect his partner, Aaron, from their vampiric captors.

A highblood Dyvok vampire known as the Wolfmother. She wields a massive warmaul and aggressively hunts Dior across the frozen wilderness to win her sire's approval. She oversees brutal "slaughterfarms" and views the procurement of human captives as a pragmatic necessity for her bloodline.

The ancient Empress of Wolves and Men who commands the vampire historian Jean-François. She has lived so long she no longer recognizes her own face, relying on painted portraits to maintain her vanity. She orchestrates the extraction of Gabriel's story to gain political dominance over rival bloodlines.

An ancient vampire and daughter of the Forever King, known collectively with her sister as the Terrors. She commands forces of the Blood Voss and insists on absolute submission from lesser bloodlines, participating in the hunt for the prophesied Holy Grail.

One half of the Terrors of Blood Voss. She travels with her sister to enforce their father's will and secure high-value captives. She relies on the inherited authority of her royal bloodline to demand obedience from other vampire factions.

The Forever King who caused "daysdeath," plunging the world into perpetual twilight. He communicates remotely through foulblood proxies, issuing commands and threats to rival vampire lords while orchestrating massive military movements to secure his own supremacy.

A mortal thrall in the service of the Dyvok vampires. He is fanatically loyal to his captors and his beloved Isla until miraculous circumstances alter his allegiances. He uses his position within the vampire forces to assist in clandestine resistance efforts.

A mortal survivor from a fallen city who ends up a prisoner alongside Dior. She outwardly suffers from despair while serving as a maidservant, harboring a possessive and twisted devotion to the vampire regime that dictates her survival.

A stout, scar-faced former swordsister who fought alongside Gabriel during the Ossian campaigns. She now operates The White Rabbit tavern in the besieged city of Redwatch, providing shelter and supplies to her old comrade.

A powerful seer and healer among the duskdancer clans in the Highlands. She guards the secret valley and carefully manages the political truce between her people and the vampire factions.

Phoebe's deceased husband who died before the events of the story. His memory drives Phoebe's protective instincts and her determination to fight back against the vampire forces that ruined her life.