An unnamed young woman living as an "unworthy" in a sadistic religious convent following a global ecological collapse. Robbed of her memories of the outside world, she relies on illicit writing to hold onto fragments of her past identity. She is outwardly obedient to the Sisterhood's severe dogma and occasionally participates in its cruelties, but she privately harbors doubts and a burgeoning desire for connection.

A beautiful wanderer from the outside world who begs for entry into the Sisterhood. Renamed Lucía upon her acceptance, she stands out from the other women due to her independence, self-assuredness, and strange connection to the natural world. Her unique demeanor and inexplicable abilities, such as walking on hot coals, quickly make her a target for jealousy among the deeply indoctrinated members.

The colossal, tyrannical leader of the House of the Sacred Sisterhood. Rumored to be a former soldier who fought in the "water wars," she wears military boots and rules the convent with absolute physical authority. She implements sadistic punishments, including beatings and burnings, teaching the women to fear the outside world and embrace suffering as purification.

The mysterious, invisible male leader of the House of the Sacred Sisterhood. He communicates to the "unworthy" only from concealed locations, preaching a strict doctrine regarding the fundamental impurity and unworthiness of women. He dictates the rules of spiritual ascension and maintains total theological control over the isolated community.

One of the "unworthy" who acts as the Superior Sister’s favored pet. She is outwardly pristine but leverages her privileged status to bully and penalize the weaker women in the convent. Desperate to ascend to the rank of Chosen or Enlightened, she readily spreads vicious rumors and enacts cruelty to eliminate any perceived competition.

A cat that became the narrator’s trusted companion during her desperate years wandering the ruined world before finding the Sisterhood. Named after a mythical sorceress, Circe embodies affection, instinct, and a deep connection to the natural world. She forms a tight, protective bond with the narrator through shared hardship.

A fragile member of the "unworthy" who initially wanted to keep the name "Rain" upon joining the Sisterhood. She is frequently targeted by the Superior Sister for her perceived physical and disciplinary weaknesses, leading to severe infections and a loss of her ability to speak. Her failing health makes her a frequent target for abuse within the convent.

The narrator's former cellmate who was severely punished for harboring a gold cross and worshiping an "erroneous God." Before her punishment, she demonstrated rare compassion, risking contamination to help the narrator when she arrived as a weary wanderer.

A young woman in the convent tasked with caring for the Minor Saints during religious ceremonies. Initially arriving beautiful and healthy, she is subjected to the Sisterhood's grotesque demands for physical sacrifice, leading to severe disfigurement in the pursuit of spiritual purity.

One of the "unworthy" women who struggles to properly learn the sacred language of the convent. Her difficulty adjusting to the cult's strict communication demands makes her an easy target for abuse from both the leadership and her fellow initiates.

The narrator's deceased mother, who raised her during the early stages of global ecological collapse. She managed to find joy despite their immense hardship, passing down a deep love of literature and storytelling to her daughter before succumbing to hunger and exhaustion.