Jeanette is a young girl adopted into a Pentecostal Evangelist household in Northern England. She receives a strict religious education from her mother and initially accepts the church's teachings as absolute truth. As she grows and attends local schools, she finds herself increasingly drawn to women, putting her natural feelings at direct odds with her community's doctrines.

Jeanette's mother is a devout Pentecostal Evangelist who views the world strictly in terms of friends and enemies. She adopted Jeanette specifically to dedicate a child to the Lord and signs her up for missionary school immediately. Her absolute commitment to the church dictates every aspect of her household, prioritizing religious campaigns over emotional warmth.

Elsie is an older member of the church congregation who provides Jeanette with the emotional support she lacks at home. She owns three mice named after biblical figures and offers practical advice about balancing the physical and spiritual worlds. She steps in to care for Jeanette during her hospital stay and recovery.

Melanie is a young woman who works at the local fish stall on Saturdays and later takes a job at the town library. She converts to the Pentecostal church after Jeanette invites her to attend a service. The two develop a close bond that introduces new, conflicting feelings into their lives.

Ms. Jewsbury is a member of the church who plays an observant role in the community. She notices Jeanette's hearing loss when others mistake it for spiritual rapture and physically fights with Jeanette's mother to get the child medical attention. She possesses a deeper understanding of the hidden lives within their religious circle.

Pastor Finch is a visiting religious leader who drives a van painted with scenes of heaven and eternal damnation. He frequently preaches fiery sermons about demons and temptation, actively seeking out signs of sin in the congregation. He strictly enforces traditional doctrine and views innocent acts with deep suspicion.

Jeanette's adoptive father is a quiet, hardworking man who loves watching wrestling on television. He avoids conflict at home, leaving the household and religious rule entirely to his wife. He acts as a messenger for his wife, sometimes delivering oranges to Jeanette in the hospital.

Katy is a new convert to the church who meets Jeanette during a summer mission trip. She invites Jeanette to stay with her in her caravan, offering a straightforward connection away from the watchful eyes of the congregation.

Winnet Stonejar is a young girl in the novel's interspersed fairy tales. She is tricked into revealing her name by a powerful sorcerer, which binds her to him. She learns magic under his instruction while slowly forgetting her past life and origins.

The sorcerer is a powerful magic user who claims a village as his own. He demands absolute devotion from his subjects and tricks Winnet into becoming his apprentice by guessing her name in a game. He treats her as his daughter but maintains strict, manipulative control over her life.

Mrs. White is a close friend of Jeanette's mother and a fellow member of the church. She frequently assists Jeanette's mother with household tasks and church events, and she firmly supports the church's harsh judgments against those who stray from its teachings.

Mrs. Arkwright owns a pest control shop called Arkwright's For Vermin in the poorer section of town. She is a practical woman who treats Jeanette kindly, letting the young girl pass out religious tracts under her market tent during the rain.

Abednego is a raven in the fairy tale world who serves the sorcerer. He advises Winnet on her predicament and shares a physical manifestation of his own sorrow over staying in the sorcerer's kingdom for too long.

Pastor Spratt is a traveling evangelist whose Glory Crusade meetings originally led to the conversion of Jeanette's mother. He travels the world seeking new converts and maintains written correspondence with his dedicated followers back in England.