Kiela is an introverted librarian who has spent her life sheltered among the spellbooks of the empire. Disliking crowds and preferring the company of plants and texts, she retreats to her abandoned childhood cottage on the island of Caltrey when revolutionaries attack her city. To support herself in this rural environment, she secretly opens a jam shop as a front for selling magical remedies derived from her stolen library books.

Caz is a sentient, animate spider plant who serves as Kiela’s assistant and closest confidant. Despite lacking human senses, he observes and understands the world around him with sharp clarity. He frequently busies himself with mechanical tasks, like composing poetry in iambic pentameter, to manage his anxiety about his surroundings and his best friend's safety.

Larran is a local farmer who raises merhorses on the shores of Caltrey. Growing up in a small community, he possesses strong caretaker instincts and frequently offers unsolicited help to those around him. His open, communal nature often clashes with Kiela's strict city boundaries, though his compassion stems from a difficult childhood and a genuine desire to fix problems.

Radane is a shipwreck survivor who washes ashore on Caltrey during a fierce weather event. She introduces herself as an imperial investigator tasked with rooting out illegal sorcery. Her intimidating presence, demanding behavior, and threats of property searches put Kiela's secret magical activities at severe risk and cause significant tension among the islanders.

Bryn is the proprietor of the local bakery on Caltrey and serves as an unofficial community leader. Having relocated to the island to escape past family feuds, she understands the difficulty of starting over. She provides Kiela with crucial food supplies and sound business advice for opening the new jam shop.

Captain Varrik is a respected imperial official commanding a royal fleet. He arrives on Caltrey tracking a fugitive from the capital city. He operates as a pragmatic commander caught between enforcing the empire's strict laws and recognizing the practical needs of the rural people he encounters during his search.

Tobin is a young boy living on Caltrey with his aunt. He possesses a wealth of knowledge about the town's history and its physical decline following the loss of imperial magical aid. He eagerly shares local stories, providing Kiela with valuable context about her new neighbors.

Eadie is a local centaur living on Caltrey. She quickly becomes a steady customer for Kiela's secret tree-healing remedies and forms part of the group of women who support the jam shop's growth and operations.

Fenerer is a miserly and complaining local man on Caltrey. He actively resists change and frequently accuses Kiela of bringing trouble and illegal activity to the island. He serves as a continuous source of interpersonal tension within the supportive community.

Meep is a sentient, walking cactus brought to life through a magical accident. Small and spiky, the plant quickly adapts to life inside the cottage and provides companionship to the other magical inhabitants.

Ulina is a many-armed harpist who resides on Caltrey. She attended school with Kiela's mother years ago and eagerly supports the new shop, reminiscing about the past while helping to build the island's future.

Ivor is the town healer on Caltrey, bearing the distinct air of a magical creature. He attends to the medical needs of the islanders and assists with complex tasks when local animals require specialized magical care.

Sian is a merhorse belonging to Larran's herd on the shores of Caltrey. Like the other merhorses, Sian is deeply affected by the ecological imbalance on the island and requires intervention to survive harsh weather and illness.

Halio is a cautious local woman living on Caltrey. She approaches Kiela hoping for a cure to a severe environmental problem on her property, prompting Kiela to expand her magical research beyond plant growth.