The main antagonist embodying entitlement and the dangerous conflation of love with possession, often seen reframing harm as misunderstanding. His actions serve as a contrast to the novel's themes of love and community.

A mentor and wise guide characterized by her informal and humorous nature, offering practical advice and modeling healthy boundaries. An older, transgender woman, she challenges traditional assumptions about authority and power.

A dog with personified status, anchoring Selena in the present and serving as a focus for her care and decisions throughout the narrative. Copper's presence highlights themes of unconditional love and responsibility.

A Catholic priest whose humility and restraint offer an alternative view of religious authority. He provides a stabilizing presence and aids in rejecting hierarchical power structures through collaboration and respect.

These characters appear in Selena's backstory and represent emotional abuse and control. Their impact is seen in Selena’s internalized scripts and struggles with self-confidence, highlighting themes of ideological control and manipulation.

A group of spirits tied to the natural world, each with distinct personalities and roles, embodying power as local and ethically contingent. They engage with Selena based on her actions, representing reciprocity and dialogue.

The residents exemplify a protective and cooperative social environment with mutual aid as a core principle. They play a crucial role in Selena’s development, offering an alternative model of power through shared responsibility.