Maria is a bloodline witch who possesses inherent magical traits, such as a star-shaped birthmark and the ability to tarnish silver with a touch. Raised in a secluded cottage, she learns the healing practices of green magic, which she uses to survive in a society deeply hostile to independent women. Her education involves reconciling the compassionate, nature-based spells of her adoptive mother with the darker, innate power of her biological lineage.

Faith is the fiercely observant daughter of Maria Owens. Raised in the shadows of Boston and Salem, she quickly learns to conceal her emerging abilities from a society that aggressively hunts magical practitioners. Following a traumatic separation from her mother, she begins studying herbal medicine and forbidden spells in secret. Her experiences with isolation and abuse harden her worldview, making her fiercely independent and deeply wary of affection.

Samuel is a worldly navigator and the son of a Sephardic Jewish merchant captain. Having survived the violent persecution of the Inquisition during his youth, he carries a deep understanding of systemic prejudice and loss. He travels the seas with his father, using loquacious storytelling as a defense mechanism to mask his trauma. Despite his guarded nature, he demonstrates an enduring capacity for genuine, reciprocal care when he connects with those who share a history of marginalization.

John is a stern magistrate and merchant hailing from Salem, Massachusetts. In the relaxed environment of Curaçao, he presents himself as a charming and romantic figure, but his true nature is defined by the rigid, Puritanical society of his home. He is fiercely ambitious and deeply concerned with his public reputation, leading him to prioritize his social standing over personal morality and responsibility.

Hannah is an unmarried herbalist and practitioner of the Nameless Art who lives a secluded life in the woods of Essex County. As a survivor of early witch hunts, she is cautious but deeply compassionate, dedicating her life to healing and green magic. She defies the patriarchal norms of her era by teaching her adopted daughter how to read, write, and safely practice magic. Her foundational philosophy emphasizes the importance of reciprocal affection.

Rebecca is a passionate bloodline witch who relies on amulets and charms for protection. Her past use of dangerous love magic bound her to an abusive man, a mistake she spends years trying to undo. She possesses a wilder, innate form of magic that contrasts with disciplined, nature-based practices. Her chaotic life choices force her to leave her infant daughter in safer hands.

Martha is a devout Puritan widow who harbors a desperate, obsessive desire for a child. Her envy of the bond between mothers and daughters festers into a dangerous resentment within the oppressive society she inhabits. She uses the strict religious and legal structures of the town to enact her own cruel desires under the guise of piety, justifying her actions as a cure for wicked bloodlines.

Jack is a lonely Cornish peddler who makes his living traveling between isolated towns and settlements. Grieving the loss of his own family, he remains kindhearted and pragmatic, offering assistance without imposing the rigid moral judgments typical of the Puritan communities he visits. He operates as a figure of commerce and practical help, connecting marginalized people across the region.

Catherine is an enigmatic practitioner of the Nameless Art operating in New York. She understands the delicate balance between helpful and harmful magic, maintaining a quiet but influential presence in the city. She acts as a practical mentor figure, demonstrating that a wider, supportive community of magical women exists outside of isolated rural areas.

Ruth is the quiet, obedient wife of magistrate John Hathorne. Having been left behind in Salem after her Quaker parents were exiled, she survives by conforming to the rigid expectations of her community. Despite her constrained life, she harbors a silent capacity for compassion and empathy toward those cast out by the society she inhabits.

Abraham is a Sephardic Jewish merchant captain whose family fled the violent persecution of the Inquisition. He commands the Queen Esther and cares deeply for his son, carrying the traumatic history of his people while navigating the dangerous waters of the 17th-century maritime trade.

Thomas is a violent and deeply abusive man from Essex County. His obsessive behavior is tied to a powerful, unbreakable love potion cast upon him years prior, which twisted into a possessive and destructive fury.

Robbie is a charismatic former actor and current thief. Despite his illicit profession, he possesses a protective instinct toward those he loves, using his criminal connections to secure safe passage for his family members when they are forced to flee.

Cadin is a highly intelligent and fiercely loyal crow. Serving as a magical familiar, the bird acts as a lifelong guardian, remaining deeply protective of his chosen companion against any perceived threats.

Keeper is a small black wolf pup who grows into a devoted magical familiar. Hidden in plain sight under the guise of a domestic dog, he provides unconditional companionship and protection to his young owner during her most isolated years.

Anne is a shopkeeper's wife who suffers under an abusive husband. After receiving a magical remedy that grants her freedom without resorting to murder, she becomes a steadfast and fiercely loyal friend, inheriting the local store and forming an underground network of support for other women.

Nathaniel is a cruel and abusive man whose violent behavior forces his wife to take desperate measures to ensure her own survival in the strict society of Salem.

Juni is a servant in Curaçao and the unacknowledged daughter of her employer. She forms a close bond with a fellow indentured worker, sharing her culture's local healing practices, known as brua, and introducing her friend to new forms of magic.

Adrie is a local healer in Curaçao who possesses deep knowledge of the island's indigenous magic, offering her wisdom discreetly to those willing to learn.

Lydia is a grateful grandmother in Salem who remembers the healing arts that saved her granddaughter from a scarlet rash. She bravely risks her own safety to offer small comforts and necessary supplies to those accused by the town's magistrates.