Rhys is a retired environmental journalist who retreated to the woods seven years ago following professional failure and a political dispute with his son-in-law. He lives without modern plumbing or electricity, attempting to erase all traces of human influence from the land. He spends his days studying philosophy and working on an impossibly ambitious book project. The sudden arrival of his grandchildren forces him to confront the consequences of his self-imposed isolation.

Bethany is a part-time teacher and mother of two who struggles with frequent panic attacks. She has grown deeply uncomfortable with her husband's radicalization into Christian nationalism, prompting her impulsive decision to flee. She carries unresolved childhood wounds regarding her father's past infidelities, often mirroring his tendency to run away from difficult situations.

Dean is an armed militant associated with the Army of the Lord. He has a criminal history as a poacher of golden eagles, a past that derailed his political ambitions to run for county commissioner. He uses the militia's ideology as a cover to act with impunity.

Shane is Bethany's husband and a truck deliveryman who has become deeply involved with a militant Christian nationalist organization. He embraces right-wing conspiracy theories to make sense of the world, using his religious zeal to mask his underlying cowardice and insecurity. His aggressive rhetoric alienates his wife and fractures his extended family.

Chuck is a retired homicide detective now working as a private investigator for law firms. He holds department records for solving cases but suffers from depression and gambling issues in his retirement. He misses the adrenaline of police work and eagerly arms himself to help Rhys confront the local militia.

Leah is Bethany's 13-year-old daughter from her first marriage. She aspires to write a post-apocalyptic Christian adventure novel and possesses an extensive vocabulary. She observes the adults around her with a critical eye, communicating covertly with her betrothed while managing her anxiety about her mother's disappearance.

Asher is the young son of Bethany and Shane. He is an energetic, highly inquisitive boy with an intense obsession with chess. He struggles to understand the tensions between the adults in his life and frequently defends his father's controversial religious practices out of loyalty.

Lucy is the stressed, foul-mouthed city editor at the local newspaper. She manages an underpaid, shrinking staff while constantly worrying about her teenage son. Her life becomes complicated when her ex-boyfriend Rhys reappears seeking help, prompting her to connect him with another ex-boyfriend, Chuck.

Brian is an electrician of Interior Salish Indigenous heritage and an old friend of Rhys. He originally met Rhys through local environmental activism. He is initially reluctant to assist Rhys due to an incident a year prior where Rhys drunkenly crossed social boundaries, but he steps up when the children are in danger.

Joanie is Brian's common-law wife. She acts as a peacemaker between the men, easily brushing off Rhys's past drunken declaration of affection for her. She provides a safe haven for Leah and Asher while the adults figure out their next moves.

Doug is Bethany's first husband and Leah's biological father. He plays bass in an acid electronica band called The Buffs (formerly The Boofs). He represents a chapter of Bethany's youth that she seeks out when feeling overwhelmed by her current responsibilities.

Celia is Rhys's ex-wife and Bethany's mother. She passed away a month prior to the events of the novel. Her death serves as the catalyst that unmoors Bethany and forces Rhys to reckon with his prolonged absence from the family.

Pastor Gallen leads the Church of the Blessed Fire, which hosts the militant Army of the Lord at a fortress stronghold in Idaho. He presents a polite, diplomatic facade to outsiders while overseeing a community with rigid, authoritarian rules.

David Jr. is the 19-year-old son of the local pastor. He attends a Christian college and is formally betrothed to Leah through their church's apostolic council. He evades his parents after they demand he return home, seeking distance from their strict oversight.