James Juniper Eastwood is the seventeen-year-old youngest sister of the Eastwood family, characterized by her feral energy and a permanent limp caused by a childhood injury. She is fierce and deeply committed to both women's suffrage and the restoration of magic in New Salem. Bearing the Maiden aspect of witch lore, Juniper is determined to fight back against the patriarchal society that oppresses women, often rushing headlong into dangerous situations.

Agnes Amaranth Eastwood is the pragmatic and resilient middle sister of the Eastwood family. Described as the strongest of the three, she values hard work and survival above all else. Representing the Mother aspect in witch lore, she initially resists getting involved in magic or rebellion, preferring to keep her head down and endure her difficult circumstances at the local factory. She is fiercely protective of her independence and faces the realities of an unplanned pregnancy.

Beatrice Belladonna Eastwood is the quiet, studious eldest sister of the family, embodying the Crone aspect of witch lore. She works as a librarian and seeks hidden magical knowledge within the pages of nursery rhymes and fairy tales. Bella carries deep emotional scars from her father's past punishments, making her cautious but intensely devoted to uncovering the lost ways of magic and repairing her fractured family.

Gideon Hill is a conservative politician and city councilman campaigning to become the mayor of New Salem. He presents himself as a champion of traditional values, vigorously opposing the women's suffrage movement and any hint of witchcraft. He uses his political influence to crush dissent and maintain total control over the city.

Cleopatra Quinn is a charismatic, intelligent journalist working for the only Black newspaper in New Salem. Confident in her identity and abilities, she takes a keen interest in the mysterious appearance of a black tower in the city square. She offers to help Bella research the hidden codes of witchcraft, providing crucial connections to her own community's secret magical organizations.

August S. Lee is a dedicated union organizer in his late twenties who fights for the rights of workers in New Salem. Characterized by his unkempt blond hair and take-charge attitude, he is sympathetic to the women's rights movement but initially doubts the strength of female magic. He respects fierce independence and becomes a crucial ally to the growing resistance.

Grace Wiggin is the attractive, poised head of the Women's Christian Union in New Salem. She is deeply conservative and opposes both the women's suffrage movement and the resurgence of magic. Believing strongly in traditional societal structures, she acts as a staunch defender of the status quo and a loyal supporter of her guardian's political ambitions.

Mama Mags is the deceased grandmother of the Eastwood sisters. Before her passing, she secretly taught the girls the old ways of magic in rural Crow County, instructing them that proper witching requires the will, the words, and the way. Her teachings form the foundation of the sisters' magical knowledge and survival instincts.

Mr. Eastwood is the cruel, deeply insecure father of the Eastwood sisters. Terrified of his daughters' potential and independence, he systematically abused them to break their spirits. His violent actions ultimately fractured the family, leaving all three sisters with lasting physical and emotional trauma.

Miss Stone is the determined but cautious president of the women's suffrage organization in New Salem. While dedicated to securing the vote for women, she is appalled by the idea of associating the movement with witchcraft, fearing it will ruin their political credibility.

Araminta is Cleopatra Quinn's mother and the proprietor of a local spice shop in the New Cairo neighborhood. She serves as a vital connection to the Black community in New Salem and provides a safe haven for those practicing magic away from the prying eyes of the city's oppressive authorities.

Henry Blackwell is the head of Special Collections at the Salem College library. Unlike many men in positions of authority in New Salem, he is sympathetic to the witches' cause and provides quiet support to Bella's research into the lost history of magic.

Floyd Matthews is a man from Agnes's past and the father of her unborn child. Despite the societal expectation that they should wed due to her pregnancy, Agnes refuses his marriage proposal, desiring a different life for herself.

Malton is the exploitative owner of the cotton mill in New Salem. He represents the unchecked abuses of the capitalist system, suspending his female workers without pay when they show interest in the suffrage movement and frequently using his position of power to harass them.