Sierra is a fifteen-year-old Afro-Boricua artist living in the Bed Stuy neighborhood of Brooklyn. When her grandfather suddenly urges her to finish her mural and warns her of danger, she discovers her family's hidden history of shadowshaping, a magic that infuses art with ancestral spirits. Resourceful and fiercely proud of her heritage, she faces this dangerous new world while trying to get answers from the evasive adults in her life.

Robbie is a quiet, artistic boy of Haitian descent who attends Sierra's school. Known to Sierra as the Walking Mural due to his illustrated clothes and backpack, he carries deep ancestral magic tied to his personal tattoos. He serves as Sierra's guide to the shadowshaper world, teaching her how to harness her abilities.

Grandpa Lázaro is the patriarchal figure of Sierra's family who brought his shadowshaping abilities with him from Puerto Rico. Recently debilitated by a stroke, he manages to break his silence just long enough to warn Sierra about a threat to their kind. He holds traditional, male-centric views that complicate how he shares his knowledge.

Dr. Wick is an anthropologist from Columbia University who specializes in urban spirituality systems. He initially immersed himself in the community to study the shadowshapers alongside Grandpa Lázaro. As Sierra investigates the fading magic in her neighborhood, Wick's academic interest takes on a deeply troubling form.

María is Sierra's mother and a local schoolteacher. She consistently evades Sierra's questions about the family's mystical heritage, dismissing her own father's spiritual practices as crazy superstitions. She desires to blend in with mainstream society and encourages her daughter to do the same.

Juan is Sierra's older brother and a musician in the band Culebra. Unlike visual artists, Juan channels his ancestral magic through his music, using his talent to give spirits a second life. He acts as a bridge between the old family secrets and Sierra's current journey.

Mama Carmen is Sierra's deceased grandmother, remembered as a warm and profoundly loving presence in her life. Unlike the distant relationship Sierra shares with some other relatives, her bond with Mama Carmen was built on unconditional acceptance. Her spiritual legacy heavily influences Sierra's path.

Manny is a well-known neighborhood fixture who runs a local newspaper and a junkyard. Known for his domino-playing skills and his distinctive mustache, he acts as a supportive mentor to Sierra. He is deeply connected to the older generation of shadowshapers.

Bennie is Sierra's best friend since childhood. A fashionable, intelligent teenager with a deep love for science, Bennie approaches the supernatural occurrences in Brooklyn with a skeptical, analytical mindset. Despite her reliance on logic, she stands firmly by Sierra's side.

Nydia is the head of the anthropology collection at Columbia University's library. As a young woman of color in a predominantly white academic space, she bonds with Sierra over their shared backgrounds and critiques of institutional elitism. She provides crucial information regarding past anthropological research.

Tee is one of Sierra's close friends, a bold teenager of Martinique, French, and Igbo descent. She is quick to defend her friends and unapologetic about calling out cultural appropriation or disrespect in their gentrifying neighborhood.

Izzy is a member of Sierra's core friend group. While she enjoys spending time with her friends at local coffee shops and parties, she is more easily spooked by the supernatural elements creeping into their lives and strongly prefers rational explanations.

Big Jerome is part of Sierra's extended social circle. He frequently spends time with Bennie, Tee, and Izzy, tagging along on their excursions through Brooklyn but remaining wary of the dangerous magic Sierra uncovers.

Tía Rosa is Sierra's aunt, a woman who frequently visits to gossip and voice her unsolicited opinions. She harbors internalized prejudice, constantly criticizing Sierra's natural hair and dark skin, and expressing disapproval of her interest in darker-skinned boys.

Uncle Neville is Sierra's godfather, known for his slick suits and towering frame. He operates with an unspoken protocol regarding his mysterious errands but proves to be a reliable and clever ally when Sierra needs a driver to sneak into Columbia University.

Vincent is Bennie's older brother who was killed by the police three years prior. Though absent from the present action, his memory lives on through a neighborhood mural, serving as a constant reminder of the systemic injustices the community faces.

Papa Acevado is a deceased elder from the community and a former shadowshaper. Before his death, he passed down his artistic and spiritual knowledge to the younger generation, ensuring the magic would survive in Brooklyn.

Gael is Sierra and Juan's older brother. When offered the chance to learn about their grandfather's ancestral magic, he rejected the teachings, distancing himself from the spiritual responsibilities of the family.

Dominic is Sierra's father. He lives in the multigenerational Brooklyn household and starts his mornings reading the local news alongside Uncle Neville.