Devon is a book eater who fled her isolated, patriarchal upbringing in the Yorkshire moors to protect her son. Raised on a diet of curated fairy tales, she struggles to survive in the human world while handling her son's dangerous hunger. She approaches her precarious life with fierce maternal devotion and a slowly awakening sense of independence.

Cai is Devon's five-year-old son and a mind eater, a rare variation of their species that hungers for human minds rather than books. His unusual diet causes him to absorb the memories, voices, and mannerisms of the humans he consumes. He experiences deep loneliness and wishes for a normal life despite his dangerous nature.

Ramsey is Devon's brother who was forced into the brutal, militant order known as the knights at a young age. He resents weakness and uses intimidation to control those around him. As a knight, he strictly enforces the rules of the book-eater families while harboring his own ambitions for authority.

Hester is a member of the elusive Ravenscar family, known for producing a drug called Redemption that manages mind-eater hunger. She presents herself as an elegant, feminine contrast to Devon's rugged survivalism. She carries the heavy burden of her family's dark legacy and searches for an escape from their toxic dynamics.

Amarinder is a human journalist who stumbles into the hidden world of the book eaters while investigating a story in Yorkshire. He serves as an outsider trying to comprehend the bizarre and predatory nature of Devon's family. His early encounter with a young Devon introduces her to the concept of human writing.

Jarrow is the younger brother of Devon's second husband, offering her a rare source of genuine friendship within their oppressive society. Because he is asexual and deemed unsuited for knightly duties, he exists on the margins of his family's politics. He introduces Devon to video games, maps, and concepts of freedom beyond their borders.

Luton is a book eater from an allied family who becomes Devon's first husband. He approaches his marriage purely as a social duty and treats Devon with a polite but absolute indifference. He strictly adheres to the traditional rules that govern the reproduction and control of women in their society.

Matley is a harsh and domineering member of the Easterbrook family, a clan known for trafficking humans for manual labor. He views his marriage to Devon purely in terms of power and ownership. He expects total obedience and resorts to extreme measures to control his household.

Salem is Devon's first child and a rare female book eater, making her highly valuable to their declining society. Her existence awakens Devon's maternal instincts and fundamentally changes how Devon views her own life and duties. She serves as the primary emotional anchor for Devon's actions.

Killock is the head of the Ravenscar family, holding absolute authority over his siblings and their operations. He views himself as a religious figure, using biblical rhetoric to justify his actions and control those around him. He isolates his family to maintain his absolute dominance.

Victoria, known as Vic, is Jarrow's sister who managed to escape the direct control of her family. She possesses a soft-spoken, traditionally feminine demeanor that masks a quiet resilience. She understands the harsh realities of their patriarchal society and offers solidarity to other women.

Aike is Devon's uncle and a senior figure in the Fairweather family. He presents a jovial exterior that quickly vanishes when the family's secrets or traditions are threatened. He enforces the strict rules regarding the treatment of women and the containment of outsiders.

Kingsey is the leader of the knights, the militant enforcers of the book-eater families. He is a harsh disciplinarian who believes in facing fears through total domination. He shapes the young men forced into his ranks into hardened, obedient soldiers.