Atticus is a young African American veteran trying to establish a steady life upon returning home to Chicago. He holds a deep love for pulp fiction, horror, and science fiction, actively reading works by authors who hold prejudiced views. When he receives a confusing letter from his estranged father about a secret family legacy, Atticus organizes a dangerous road trip into a notoriously unwelcoming area of Massachusetts to find him.

Letitia is Atticus's childhood friend who insists on joining the road trip to Massachusetts. After a series of financial and personal mishaps, she finds herself looking for a fresh start. She is a determined, confident woman who refuses to adhere to the restrictive expectations placed on African American women, actively seeking to carve out her own space in hostile environments.

Montrose is Atticus's estranged father who goes missing while investigating a secret family legacy. He holds militant, forceful views against white supremacy, shaped entirely by the trauma of watching his father die at the hands of a racist mob in 1921. He actively uncovers racist histories and strongly disapproves of Atticus reading fiction written by bigoted authors.

Caleb is a wealthy young white man whose family holds enormous influence over the village of Ardham. He drives a fast, magically protected car and operates with absolute confidence. He projects an enlightened attitude regarding race while fully utilizing the institutional power and privilege his status affords him.

George is Atticus's uncle and Montrose's half-brother. He writes and publishes *The Safe Negro Travel Guide*, a practical handbook designed to help African Americans find secure lodging and food on the road. He approaches the world with caution and reason, volunteering to drive Atticus to Massachusetts in his reliable station wagon.

Samuel is the wealthy owner of the Ardham lodge and a leader within a secret occult society. Viewing himself as an ambitious scientist and alchemist, he seeks to utilize dangerous magic to complete the work his ancestors started. He takes a keen and terrifying interest in Atticus's arrival at the manor.

Lancaster is a high-ranking police chief in Chicago and an influential member of the Adamite Order of the Ancient Dawn. He uses his institutional authority and police resources to violently oppress African Americans without fear of legal consequences, enforcing his will through brute force and intimidation.

Ruby is Letitia's pragmatic, hardworking sister. She prides herself on her independence and deeply resents being treated unfairly by her employers due to her race. Unlike Letitia, she strives for steady employment and security, refusing to accept handouts or rely on unpredictable luck.

Hippolyta is George's wife and Atticus's aunt. Since childhood, she has harbored a deep passion for astronomy, dreaming of discovering new planets. While society places barriers in front of her ambitions, she channels her scientific curiosity into conducting extensive, cross-country research for her husband's publishing business.

Horace is the young son of George and Hippolyta. He is a creative boy and an aspiring comic book artist who draws science fiction stories featuring African American heroes. Growing up in a heavily segregated society, his vivid imagination processes the racist caricatures and threats he sees in his everyday life.

Marvin is the brother of Letitia and Ruby. He lives near Devon County and spends time researching the dark, hidden history of the area, including its long-standing associations with witchcraft and virulent racism. He provides George and Atticus with critical directions for entering Ardham safely.

William is the pale butler who tends to the Braithwhite estate in Ardham. He mysteriously anticipates the arrival of the travelers and provides them with perfectly tailored clothes and unnervingly personalized accommodations upon their arrival.

Eustace is the local sheriff in Devon County. He has a notorious reputation as a vicious, uncompromising enforcer of the area's unwritten racist rules, aggressively patrolling the dark woods to keep outsiders away from Ardham.

Dell serves as the village warden in Ardham. Accompanied by a pack of aggressive dogs, she controls access to certain areas of the estate and physically enforces the will of the Braithwhite family.

Hiram is the deceased former owner of a large, rundown house in a white Chicago neighborhood. In life, he was a powerful occultist and bitter rival to Samuel Braithwhite; in death, his angry spirit attempts to terrorize anyone who tries to move into his home.

Henry is the son of Hiram Winthrop who changed his surname to Narrow. He ran away from his father's magical ambitions to marry an enslaved woman named Pearl. His tragic history makes him a person of interest to multiple magical factions.

Pearl was an enslaved woman who fell in love with Henry Winthrop. Together, they escaped Hiram's estate to build a new life in Aken, Illinois, before meeting a tragic end at the hands of a racist mob.

Abdullah is the secretary of a Masonic lodge in Chicago that admits African American members. He utilizes his family connections at a local museum to assist George and Montrose with a dangerous heist involving a magical book.

Mortimer is an overenthusiastic dentist and a member of the Freemasons. As the smallest member of the group, he bravely participates in a dangerous, gravity-defying museum heist to help George and Montrose secure Winthrop's book.

Ida is a formerly enslaved woman who was deliberately stranded on a distant planet by Hiram Winthrop as punishment. She survives alone for years, teaching herself how to use the observatory equipment while keeping hidden from Earth.

Ulysses is the deceased father of Montrose and stepfather of George. His death at the hands of a white mob during the 1921 Tulsa race massacre deeply traumatized his family, driving Montrose's fiercely protective and militant nature decades later.

Titus is a historical figure and the rich founder of Ardham. He studied magic and philosophy, establishing the estate to pursue his occult interests in peace before dying in a fire more than a century ago.