Ruth Law is a half-Caucasian, half-Cantonese private investigator working in near-future Boston. Traumatized by a past event involving her daughter, she relies heavily on a cybernetic emotional Regulator to suppress her grief and maintain a rational state of mind. Her dependence on the machine affects her intuition as she works on gritty underworld cases.

Jack is a biracial boy growing up in Connecticut, the son of a white American father and a Chinese immigrant mother. As a child, he is enchanted by his mother's magical ability to animate origami animals. However, as he grows older and faces prejudice, he struggles with his identity and begins to push away his Chinese heritage to assimilate into American culture.

Hiroto is one of the last surviving humans aboard the generational ship Hopeful after Earth is destroyed by an asteroid. Raised with a strong sense of mono no aware (the transience of things), he is deeply connected to his Japanese heritage. He works to maintain the ship's systems while trying to teach aspects of his culture to the remaining American population.

Tian Haoli is a Litigation Master in Qing Dynasty China, known for his cunning intellect and questionable legal tactics. Operating as a clever trickster who uses legal loopholes to help common people like widows and orphans, he is frequently at odds with local magistrates. His sharp mind is constantly accompanied by the voice of the Monkey King in his head.

Dr. Evan Wei is a brilliant, ethically driven scientist who develops the Kirino Process alongside his wife. Haunted by the historical atrocities of Unit 731 during World War II, he is determined to use his technology to force the world to acknowledge the forgotten victims. He struggles to balance his identity as an American scientist with his Chinese heritage.

Sai is a young professional living in a near-future society completely dependent on Centillion, an omniscient corporate AI system. He happily relies on his personal assistant, Tilly, for everything from dating to breakfast recommendations. His unquestioning faith in the system meets a challenge when he encounters a neighbor who lives entirely off the grid.

Rina is a quiet, isolated office worker in an alternate reality where human souls manifest as physical objects at birth. Burdened with a soul made of ice, her life is strictly regimented to avoid melting, keeping her physically and emotionally frozen. She longs for connection but is terrified of the fatal consequences of taking risks.

Liang begins as a young demon hunter in 19th-century China, trained in the traditional ways of tracking magical creatures. As Western industrialization and the railway arrive, draining the land of its ancient magic, Liang is forced to adapt. He eventually transitions from a practitioner of magic to a steam engine technician in Hong Kong.

Lilly is a young American girl whose family moves from Texas to Taiwan in 1961 during the Cold War. Isolated and mocked by her peers for trying to embrace local customs, she seeks adventure outside her expatriate bubble. Her innocence and curiosity lead her to forge an unlikely friendship with a local elderly man and his grandson.

Logan is a Chinese immigrant and former trafficked worker who mines for gold in 19th-century Idaho. Despite facing racial hostility from local Americans, he maintains a calm, resilient demeanor. He acts as a cultural bridge, sharing his food, the game of Wei Qi, and epic stories of the Chinese God of War with a curious local girl.

Maggie is an original crew member of the generational starship Sea Foam, traveling toward a distant planetary system. As humanity back on Earth discovers biological immortality, the mission's parameters fundamentally change. She serves as the cultural memory of humanity, anchoring her rapidly evolving descendants to their ancient, mythic roots.

Paul Larimore is an inventor and developer of simulacrum technology, which creates perfect, frozen-in-time replicas of people. Struggling with the complexities of his real, aging family and his own infidelities, he prefers the uncomplicated adoration of his daughter's childhood replica. His reliance on technology serves as a barrier to facing his actual, deteriorating relationships.

Charlie is a former tunnel worker who labored on the massive, fictional Trans-Pacific Tunnel connecting Asia and North America. Living in the subterranean Midpoint City, he carries heavy psychological scars and repressed memories from the brutal, dangerous working conditions. He struggles with his complicity in the darker secrets of the tunnel's construction.