Oscar is a passionate fan of science fiction novels, comic books, tabletop role-playing games, and fantasy cinema. His formal vocabulary and lack of dating success isolate him from his peers, causing him distress over his cultural identity. He possesses a deeply romantic nature, falling in love frequently despite constant rejection. He dedicates much of his time to writing genre fiction at a furious pace.

Yunior is a muscular college student who lifts weights and actively pursues numerous women. He writes stories concerning drug dealers and robberies, contrasting sharply with Oscar's space operas. Beneath his hyper-masculine exterior and frequent infidelities, he harbors deep insecurities. He serves as the primary chronicler of the de León and Cabral family histories.

Belicia is a hardworking mother who survived a traumatic childhood in the Dominican Republic. Orphaned shortly after birth, she endured severe hardships before being rescued by her relative La Inca. Her dark skin made her a target of prejudice in her youth, though her striking physical appearance later attracted significant attention from powerful men. She maintains an unyielding exterior that masks deep emotional scars.

Lola is a resilient young woman who frequently argues with her mother. She goes through a rebellious phase in her teens, running away to the Jersey Shore before being sent to live in Santo Domingo. She is highly practical and protective of her brother, though she grows frustrated by his refusal to change his habits.

Abelard is a respected surgeon and wealthy landowner trained in Mexico. He hosts debates in his parlor but carefully avoids discussing contemporary politics to survive under an oppressive government. He takes great risks to protect his beautiful eldest daughter from the attention of the country's dictator, placing his family's safety in jeopardy.

Trujillo is the historical ruler who controlled the country with absolute cruelty. The narrator describes him as a mythic figure of evil responsible for devastating violence. His predatory behavior and political paranoia shape the tragic trajectory of the Cabral family.

La Inca is a widow who operates a successful bakery in Baní. She discovers the orphaned Belicia living in horrific conditions and raises her, attempting to instill pride in the Cabral family name. She provides a rare source of stability for multiple generations of her family.

Ybón is a semi-retired sex worker living next door to La Inca. She is an older woman who exudes confidence and enjoys sharing stories of her life over alcohol. She shows genuine affection for Oscar but remains entangled in a dangerous relationship with a local police officer.

Rudolfo is Oscar's uncle, a man struggling with a severe heroin addiction. He lives in the family home and occasionally travels with them to the Dominican Republic. He offers Oscar blunt warnings about sex workers based on his own past mistakes.

Ana is a high school student who befriends Oscar, spending time with him at the mall and local movie theaters. She confides in him about her abusive ex-boyfriend, keeping Oscar in a platonic zone that frustrates his romantic hopes.

Manny is Ana's abusive ex-boyfriend. His return shatters Oscar's hopes of dating Ana and introduces physical violence back into her life.

Jenni is a Puerto Rican goth student living in the same college dormitory as Oscar and Yunior. She initially befriends Oscar, spending hours talking with him in his room, but eventually pursues another student.

The Gangster is a sharp-dressed operative working within the Trujillo regime. He charms a young Belicia with expensive dinners, political introductions, and promises of a lavish future. His wealth and power conceal dangerous personal secrets that threaten those around him.

La Fea is a powerful and feared woman operating within the upper echelons of the Dominican Republic's social hierarchy. She commands henchmen and protects her interests with extreme violence.

Jack is the handsome, arrogant son of a top air force colonel. He completely ignores Belicia until she matures physically, after which he initiates a scandalous affair with her on school grounds.

Aldo is a teenage carnival worker who lives with his elderly father in filthy conditions. He serves as Lola's escape from her mother's strict household, though their living situation quickly deteriorates.

Max is a kind, hardworking boy who dates Lola during her time living with La Inca. He offers her genuine affection during her exile from New Jersey.

Jacquelyn is Abelard's eldest daughter. Her exceptional physical appearance makes her a target for the dictator Trujillo, forcing her father to hide her from the public eye.

Socorro is Abelard's wife and the mother of his daughters. She supports her husband's efforts to shield their daughters from the dictator's predatory attention, fearing the regime's unpredictable cruelty.

Astrid is Abelard and Socorro's younger daughter, whose life is upended when her father falls out of favor with the dictatorship.

Lydia is Abelard's mistress and confidante. She offers him blunt, practical advice regarding the danger his daughter faces from Trujillo, urging him to take immediate action.

Marcus is an old friend of Abelard who witnesses his dangerous interactions with the dictator. The narrator suspects he may have informed on Abelard to the secret police to save himself.

The Capitán is a dangerous police officer in Santo Domingo and Ybón's jealous boyfriend. He embodies the lingering brutality of the Trujillo era, utilizing his official power to terrorize and assault romantic rivals.

Clives is a local taxi driver who helps Oscar travel safely around the city. He exhibits loyalty and bravery by secretly following the police officers who abduct Oscar, ultimately saving his life.

Al is one of Oscar's few high school friends. They spend hours playing role-playing games together until Al eventually finds a girlfriend, leaving Oscar feeling further isolated.

Miggs is another of Oscar's high school companions. Like Al, he eventually secures a romantic relationship, which inadvertently deepens Oscar's loneliness.

Constantina is a waitress who befriends Belicia. She encourages Belicia to attend the dance club where Belicia first encounters the Gangster.

Juan is one of the brothers who operate the restaurant where Belicia finds employment after dropping out of school.

José operates the restaurant with Juan. He demonstrates remarkable bravery by fighting off the henchmen who attempt to abduct Belicia in broad daylight.

The Mongoose is a supernatural entity with golden eyes and a singing voice. It appears to members of the Cabral and de León families during moments of extreme physical peril, serving as a mysterious guide whose ultimate intentions remain ambiguous.

The Man Without a Face is an ominous supernatural figure who appears during traumatic events in the family's history. He represents the inescapable nature of the curse afflicting the characters.