Flor is a Dominican American woman who possesses the magical gift of foresight, predicting deaths through recurring dreams of her teeth shattering. She was raised with the expectation of becoming a nun before altering her path to protect her younger sister. Known for her tight, structured approach to life, she prioritizes safety over spontaneity and manages the family finances to protect her household from ruin.

Matilde is the eldest Marte sister, a resilient woman who channels her energy into dancing to cope with a fractured marriage and multiple miscarriages. Unlike her sisters, she lacks a supernatural ability but views her immense talent on the dance floor as her own cultivated magic. She serves as a reliable maternal figure to her nieces, frequently assisting at Yadira's neighborhood shop.

Pastora is a blunt retail worker who possesses the magical ability to hear the truth and detect lies. Her childhood was defined by feelings of rejection, peaking when she was sent away to live with an abusive aunt following a false accusation. She constantly meddles in her sisters' lives out of a deep-seated desire to protect them from harm.

Anacaona is an anthropology academic whose magical gift controls how others perceive her intimately through taste, smell, and feel. She wrestles with infertility following a uterine surgery, leading to a mechanical approach to conception that strains her marriage. Seeking academic and personal direction, she embarks on a research project documenting the history and magic of the women in her family.

Yadira is a quiet, observant vegan chef who runs a popular neighborhood shop. She processes emotions carefully after years of therapy and utilizes her magical gift of limes, which allows her to add acidity or sweetness to conversations. She battles lingering grief and anxiety regarding her former boyfriend's lengthy incarceration.

Mamá Silvia is the matriarch of the Marte family who remained in the Dominican Republic after her children emigrated to America. Her early marriage to an unapproved man caused a severe rift with her own relatives, leading her to harden her demeanor to protect her family's reputation. She views duty and silent endurance as forms of love, an attitude that often alienates her daughters.

Camila is the youngest of the Marte sisters, living a comparatively lavish lifestyle in New York. She possesses the magical gift of brewing healing potions and tonics, though she considers her abilities lesser than her sisters' powers. Married off at a young age for protection, she maintains a quiet resilience and deeply values her connection to the natural world.

Abuela Eugenia is the grandmother of the Marte sisters and Mamá Silvia's estranged mother. She upholds strict social expectations and swiftly punishes those who bring perceived shame to the family lineage.

Nun Aunt is Abuela Eugenia's sister and a formidable religious authority figure within the extended family. She enforces strict discipline and acts as a gatekeeper to the church's resources.

La Vieja is Mamá Silvia's older, wealthier sister who lives in the Dominican Republic. She possesses a violent magical gift that allows vicious spirits to possess her body, making her household a dangerous environment for those placed in her care.

Pedro is Flor's late husband who moved with her to America from the Dominican Republic. His severe struggle with alcohol addiction drained the family's finances and forced Flor to secretly manage their money to protect their future.

Jeremiah is Anacaona's husband, who works from his studio in their suburban New Jersey home. He desires genuine emotional closeness in his marriage but feels alienated by Anacaona's increasingly mechanical approach to conception.

Rafa is Matilde's husband, a former singer she met years ago at a discoteca. He repeatedly engages in extramarital affairs while relying on Matilde to maintain their household, taking advantage of her commitment to traditional marriage vows.

Anthony is Yadira's childhood love who recently returned home after serving an eighteen-year prison sentence. Drawn into gang violence as a youth due to a lack of societal protection, he attempts to reintegrate into society and reestablish a connection with Yadira.

Manuelito is Pastora's husband, whom she initially met in the Dominican Republic as a neighbor. He is one of the few people Pastora completely trusts, as her gift allowed her to hear the genuine truth of his love when he first courted her.

Kelvyn is a young baseball player and dance instructor. He shares an immediate chemistry and mutual appreciation for music with Matilde, recognizing her exceptional talent and offering her an opportunity to teach.

Papá Susano is the father of the Marte siblings. A field worker whose marriage to Silvia caused family estrangement, he prioritizes the family's outward reputation over defending his daughters from internal abuse.

Samuel is the older brother of the Marte sisters. He emigrated to New York before the rest of the siblings and maintains a presence at family gatherings, representing the earlier wave of the family's relocation.

Washington is a kind, comparatively wealthy man who marries Camila to protect her from local threats in the Dominican Republic. Although their marriage remains unconsummated, he accepts Camila's child from another man as his own and moves with her to America.

Nazario is Flor's first love, a distant relative whose visit made her feel human despite her frightening magical gifts. Their brief connection is severed by a misunderstanding, cementing Flor's preference for rigid boundaries.

Doña Yokasta is an influential woman in the Dominican Republic who falsely accuses Pastora of theft to protect her own son's predatory behavior. Her lies alter the course of Pastora's childhood permanently.