Ren is a twelve-year-old orphan who arrived at Saint Anthony's as an infant with his initials stitched into his collar. Missing his left hand, he faces constant rejection from prospective parents and copes by stealing small trinkets like buttons and crucifixes. Quiet and observant, he is thrust into an unpredictable life on the road where he must quickly learn the rules of survival and deception.

Benjamin Nab is a silver-tongued confidence man with pale hair and bright blue eyes. He secures Ren's release from the orphanage under false pretenses, actually needing the boy's missing hand to elicit sympathy for his grifts. He views the world as a game to be won through deception, relying on elaborate stories rather than hard labor to survive.

Tom is a former schoolteacher who now works as a "resurrection man" alongside Benjamin. Driven to severe alcoholism by a tragic past involving a lost friend, he is cynical and quick to complain about his lot in life. Despite his rough exterior and constant drinking, he retains his educated vocabulary and occasionally shows genuine concern for the boys in his orbit.

Silas McGinty is the wealthy, heavy-set owner of a large mousetrap factory in North Umbrage. He controls the town through economic dominance and violence, employing a gang of thugs known as "hat boys." He harbors intense obsessions regarding his late sister and uses his power to inflict cruelty on anyone who crosses his path.

Brom is an orphan at Saint Anthony's and the identical twin to Ichy. He and his brother share everything, from their beds to their small collection of stolen goods, and they provide Ren with his only sense of fellowship at the orphanage.

Ichy is an orphan at Saint Anthony's and the identical twin to Brom. Quick to recite his sums when nervous, he relies entirely on his brother and shares a deep childhood bond with Ren before the one-handed boy departs.

Dolly is a massive assassin-for-hire who survives being strangled and buried alive. He bears extensive tattoos, including a chain around his waist with links representing the towns where he has committed murders. Despite his brutal profession and lack of remorse for his victims, he forms a gentle and fiercely protective bond with Ren.

Mrs. Sands runs a boarding house in North Umbrage, a town largely devoid of men due to a mining disaster. Nearly deaf from a gun accident, she communicates primarily in shouts and maintains a strict, imposing demeanor. Beneath her rough exterior, she demonstrates deep care for the vulnerable, particularly through her generous feeding and clothing of Ren.

Dr. Milton is a surgeon at a teaching hospital who relies on resurrection men to supply him with fresh cadavers. He possesses a bulbous forehead and a perpetually hungry expression. His medical practices cross ethical lines, particularly his obsessive fascination with amputation and how scar tissue regenerates.

Jenny is a young worker at Silas McGinty's mousetrap factory who lives in Mrs. Sands's boarding house. She has a harelip and a defiant, sharp-tongued personality that frequently gets her into trouble. She navigates the brutal factory environment with dark humor and resilience.

Father John is the head of Saint Anthony's orphanage. He firmly believes in the physical punishment of sin and regularly uses a switch on the boys, managing the institution to appease the local Protestants rather than out of deep charity.

Brother Joseph is a heavy-set monk at Saint Anthony's who oversees the boys' wine-making duties. He frequently falls asleep while sampling the wine and sets his robes on fire, though he shows occasional moments of mild encouragement toward the orphans.

Sister Agnes is a Sister of Mercy who works at the teaching hospital, assisting Dr. Milton. She is devout and deeply concerned about the souls of the patients, providing a stark contrast to the doctor's clinical detachment.

The Dwarf is a small man who secretly lives in a rag-covered pigeon cage on the roof of Mrs. Sands's boarding house. He sneaks down the chimney at night to eat and avoids the townspeople, creating hand-carved wooden toys in his isolation.

Pilot is a violent enforcer working for Silas McGinty in North Umbrage. He wears a riding coat and a hat with a blood-red band, carrying out his boss's brutal orders without hesitation.

Mr. Bowers is an aging dentist in Granston who wears an ancient white wig. He purchases teeth from questionable sources to make dentures and connects Benjamin with a more lucrative body-selling opportunity.

Jim is a farmer who visits Saint Anthony's to adopt a boy for labor. He later unwittingly provides Benjamin and Ren with a place to sleep, only to have his horse and wagon stolen before dawn.

William is an orphan boy from Saint Anthony's who has a bad habit of chewing his fingers. He is adopted by Jim, a farmer looking for cheap labor, leaving the other boys to divide his abandoned rock collection.