Genevieve, who writes under the pen name Eva Mercy, is a successful erotica novelist. She authored the fantasy series *Cursed*, which affords her financial stability and a comfortable life in Brooklyn. Despite her professional success and confident public persona, she secretly manages debilitating, invisible migraines with injectable medicine and cannabis gummies. She is a fiercely protective single mother who attempts to shield her daughter from her own physical vulnerabilities and their family's traumatic history.

Shane is an elusive, award-winning author known for his critically acclaimed literary fiction, particularly his novel *Eight*. He spent much of his youth and early career struggling with substance abuse to cope with the trauma of losing his foster mother. Now nearly two years sober, he finds writing difficult without alcohol and dedicates his time to helping students in low-income neighborhoods. He shares an intense, unresolved history with Eva from a week they spent together as teenagers.

Audre is Eva's twelve-year-old daughter, an ambitious and highly intelligent student at the elite Cheshire Prep. Named after three Black literary icons, she is deeply in touch with pop culture and highly observant of adult dynamics. She acts as an amateur therapist for her classmates, a habit that frequently gets her into trouble with school administration. She idolizes her mother but feels stifled by Eva's intense expectations.

Lizette is Eva's eccentric and unreliable mother. A former pageant queen, she now runs a consulting business for pageant contestants. During Eva's childhood, Lizette frequently relocated them between apartments, relying on a series of wealthy but volatile men for financial support. She subscribes to superstitious Creole traditions and often uses them to excuse her chaotic lifestyle choices.

Cece is Eva's longtime editor and the unofficial "Social Queen of Black Literati." She is highly connected in the publishing world and knows exactly how to motivate her authors. Having worked with Eva for over a decade, she is one of the very few people aware of the severity of Eva's migraines. She frequently hosts extravagant parties and thrives on industry gossip.

Ty is an at-risk youth attending a struggling school in Rhode Island. He reminds Shane of his younger self, prompting Shane to take a special interest in his well-being. Ty secures an internship at a planetarium but remains tempted by riskier paths to success, particularly an opportunity to fund a rap career.

Troy is Eva's ex-husband, whom she married after a six-month whirlwind romance. He is described as relentlessly cheerful, a trait Eva initially loved but eventually found exhausting. He struggled to handle Eva's chronic illness, admitting he wanted a wife rather than a patient, which led to their divorce when Audre was a toddler.

Belinda is a talented poet and a close friend to both Eva and Cece. She is deeply embedded in the New York literary scene and acts as a sounding board when Eva needs advice about her complicated history with Shane.

Bridget is the headmaster at the elite private school Audre attends. She is tasked with managing the fallout when Audre's unauthorized peer-counseling sessions cause a scandal among the student body. She offers Eva a compromise to keep Audre enrolled.

Clementine is a student at Cheshire Prep and the daughter of the dean of students. She confides in Audre about her mother's affair with an English teacher, a secret that accidentally circulates around the school.

Dani is a potential director for the film adaptation of Eva's book series. While she possesses the A-list credentials Eva needs for financial success, she causes tension by suggesting the Black characters be cast with white actors to improve marketability.

Annabelle is the wealthy daughter of a Korean ambassador. During high school, she allowed Shane to use her family's frequently vacant mansion. She is occasionally romantically involved with Shane but shows compassion when she finds him and Genevieve recovering from injuries.

Grandma Clotilde (also known as Grandma Clo) is Eva's grandmother. According to family history, she was run out of her bayou town after allegedly killing her husband during a month-long migraine. She reinvented herself as an entrepreneur selling aggressively spicy seasonings.

Delphine is Eva's great-grandmother, a secretly Black woman who moved to New Orleans and passed as Sicilian to marry a white man. She lived in the wealthy Garden District but ultimately succumbed to the immense pressure of her hidden identity.

O-Mike is a music producer who offers to help Ty start a rap career. He demands a large sum of cash upfront and refuses to let Ty see the studio beforehand, creating a tense and potentially dangerous situation.

Jenna is a fashion editor who attends Cece's gathering. She takes a keen interest in Eva's vintage cameo ring and expresses strong disgust when she learns about the studio's plan to whitewash the *Cursed* movie.

Eric is an award-winning filmmaker and Jenna's husband. Appalled by Dani Acosta's plan to change the race of Eva's characters, he immediately steps in and offers to direct the adaptation himself to preserve its authenticity.