Hana is a quiet, middle-aged librarian in rural Minnesota who deliberately wears drab sweaters and plain clothing to remain invisible. Born Nura Divjak in a rural farming community in Bosnia, she survives horrific violence during the Yugoslav Wars and trains as a truck driver and combatant in a Bosnian paramilitary unit before immigrating to the United States. She carries profound trauma from her wartime experiences, managing her anger through rigorous running and heavy bag boxing. Highly vigilant and resourceful, she utilizes the survival skills she learned in her youth to protect the few people she loves.

David Claypool is a dedicated law enforcement officer assigned to investigate the suspicious death of Amina Junuzović. Following a tragic prior case involving a father who enacted vigilante justice, Claypool struggles with severe disillusionment regarding the American legal system. A divorced man whose marriage ended due to his intense focus on work, he is solitary but highly observant. He approaches his current case methodically, recognizing that the historical context of the Bosnian conflict is essential to understanding the violence occurring in Minnesota.

Amina is Hana's best friend and a fellow Bosnian immigrant living in Minnesota. A survivor of horrific wartime captivity and systematic abuse, she approaches her trauma differently than Hana by attending therapy and attempting to move forward through forgiveness. She is a gentle, compassionate woman who raises her child and grandchild with profound love. Despite suffering from severe post-traumatic stress disorder, she demonstrates remarkable resilience in her dedication to her family.

Luka is Tanja's brother and a Serbian soldier participating in the ethnic cleansing of eastern Bosnia. Despite having shared meals with Nura's family during peacetime, he fully embraces the brutality of the conflict and turns violently against his former neighbors. He represents the toxic nationalism and ruthlessness that fractures the once-integrated community.

Zaim is a man romantically involved with Amina prior to her death. He has a poor reputation within the local Bosnian community in Minneapolis, known for mistreating his partners and acting dishonorably. Operating with a high degree of secrecy and claiming a background from Srebrenica, his actions draw intense suspicion as Hana attempts to identify who might have targeted Amina.

Danis is Nura's younger brother, born when she is five years old. He is a quiet boy who becomes increasingly fearful as the violence of the Bosnian War encroaches on their rural farming community, wanting nothing to do with the military. He adores his older sister, who gives him a set of blue marbles and a slingshot to help protect him, highlighting his innocence against the backdrop of war.

Jovana is a Serbian Orthodox girl who grows up as one of Nura's closest friends in eastern Bosnia. The two share meals, sleepovers, and a deep bond that seemingly transcends their different ethno-religious backgrounds. However, when the war begins, societal pressures and rising nationalism rapidly alter their dynamic.

Tanja is a childhood friend of Nura from a Serbian Orthodox family. She originally gifts Nura the set of beautiful blue marbles that come to symbolize their friendship. Like Jovana, Tanja is swept up in the ethnic divisions that consume their community at the outbreak of the war, violently rejecting her former friend.

Stanko is Jovana's father and a neighbor to Nura's family. He joins the Serbian military forces and actively participates in the violent raids against Bosniak civilians in his own community. His willingness to attack a family he once lived peacefully alongside demonstrates the sudden and brutal shift in neighborhood allegiances.

Captain Zorić is a military officer in the Serbian forces operating in eastern Bosnia. He is directly involved in the brutal raid on Nura's family farm. Operating with absolute impunity, he utilizes terror and extreme violence against civilians to enforce the army's objectives in the region.

Dylan is Amina's young grandson, a quiet and sensitive boy who is left orphaned following her tragic death. Before she dies, Amina designates Hana as his legal guardian. He struggles with his grief but slowly begins to bond with Hana, helping to ground her in the present and offering her a renewed sense of connection.

Sara is Amina's deceased daughter and Dylan's mother. Born after Amina arrived in Minnesota, she is raised with profound love by her mother despite the traumatic circumstances surrounding her conception during the war. Her tragic death leaves Amina as Dylan's primary caretaker.

Babo is Nura's father, a secular Bosnian Muslim who prefers masonry to farming. He is a peaceful man who values his neighbors and refuses to join the local militia when ethnic tensions rise, believing that humans are capable of both good and evil depending on their circumstances. His philosophical outlook deeply influences his daughter.

Reuf is Nura's uncle and Babo's brother. Unlike Babo, Reuf is politically active and eager for Bosnian independence. When violence threatens their community, he joins a local militia to defend against Serbian attacks and travels to Srebrenica to aid the besieged town.

Adem is a young Bosnian soldier who recruits Nura into Captain Kovać's paramilitary unit. Before the war, he worked in a shoe factory but joined the resistance after his family was targeted. He becomes Nura's closest ally in the unit and her first romantic interest, offering her moments of comfort and normalcy amidst the violence.

Enes is a soldier in the Bosnian paramilitary unit. He is initially wary of Nura's presence, fearing she will compromise their operations, but he eventually fights alongside her. He serves as part of the extraction team during dangerous reconnaissance missions.

Captain Kovać is the commanding officer of the rag-tag Bosnian paramilitary unit Nura joins. He recognizes Nura's potential but cautions her against reckless vigilantism. He provides the leadership necessary to organize the scavenged fighters into a functional military force.

Natasja is a lieutenant in the Bosnian unit who helps facilitate Nura's physical and psychological transition into a combatant. She becomes a trusted friend and mentor, going on highly dangerous reconnaissance missions with Nura to gather intelligence on Serbian troop movements.

Berina is a member of the Bosnian community in Minnesota and a survivor of the notorious Vilina Vlas camp. She carries deep survivor's guilt regarding her traumatic experiences during the war. She previously dated Zaim and provides Hana with crucial information about his secluded property.

Nura's mother lives a quiet life tending to her family and her tomato garden before the war erupts. She is fiercely protective of her children, running out to save Danis when the soldiers attack, which ultimately exposes her to the invading forces.

Deb is a friend and coworker of Hana in Minnesota. She provides practical support, agreeing to watch Dylan when Hana needs to manage a dangerous situation at her farmhouse.