Altha is a 21-year-old folk healer living in the village of Crows Beck, Cumbria. Taught by her mother to understand herbalism and the natural world, she possesses a deep, instinctive connection to animals and insects. She values her independence and uses her skills to assist local villagers with their ailments. Currently, her unconventional life has drawn the suspicion of male authorities, resulting in her imprisonment after a local farmer is trampled to death by his own cattle.

Kate is a 29-year-old Londoner who recently inherited Weyward Cottage. Carrying the trauma of witnessing her father's accidental death as a child, she walls herself off socially, making her vulnerable to a controlling partner. Pregnant and desperate for safety, she flees to the countryside in secret. At the cottage, she seeks refuge and attempts to rebuild her life away from her abuser while uncovering clues about her family history.

Violet is a teenager trapped on her father's estate in Cumbria. Denied a formal education and forbidden from leaving the grounds, she yearns to travel the world to study insects. She possesses an innate sensitivity to the natural world and a desperate curiosity about her late mother. Her restrictive upbringing under a harsh father contrasts sharply with her desire for independence.

Frederick is Violet's cousin, a young soldier in 1942 recently returned from military service in the Libyan desert. He presents a charming and worldly exterior upon arriving at the estate for a visit. As a male relative with military experience, he quickly earns the favor of Lord Rupert, shifting the power dynamics of the household to his advantage.

Simon is Kate's handsome, charismatic boyfriend who systematically isolates her from her support network in London. He utilizes modern technology, such as phone tracking, alongside financial restrictions to monitor her daily movements. His escalating demands for control, including reproductive coercion, prompt Kate's sudden flight to the countryside.

Lord Rupert is the Ninth Viscount Kendall and the master of Orton Hall. He values his hunting trophies and social standing, exerting tight control over his estate. He holds a particular animosity toward his daughter, Violet, frequently threatening to send her away to curb her wild temperament.

Graham is Violet's younger brother in the 1942 timeline. Unlike his sister, he is permitted to leave the estate and receives a formal education at a prestigious school. Despite their differing privileges under their father's strict rules, he maintains a supportive and observant relationship with Violet.

Grace is a 21-year-old woman in Crows Beck and Altha's former childhood friend. Following the death of her mother years prior, Grace's father forbade her from associating with the Weywards. Now married to a local farmer, she appears in the courtroom as a key figure in the events leading to Altha's imprisonment.

Jennet is Altha's late mother, a skilled folk healer who recognized the dangers of practicing their craft in a deeply patriarchal society. As witchcraft trials swept the region, she attempted to hide her family's abilities and connection to nature, prioritizing survival while passing her herbal knowledge to her daughter.

John is a prosperous farmer in 1619 Cumbria and Grace's husband. His sudden, violent death caused by his own stampeding cattle triggers the witchcraft accusations against Altha. Behind closed doors, he is an abusive husband who demands a male heir from his wife.

William is Grace's father and a prominent voice against the Weyward women in 1619. Blaming Jennet and Altha for his wife's death from illness years ago, he acts as a catalyst for the persecution Altha faces, pressing local authorities to take legal action against her.

Elizabeth, known as Lizzie, is Violet's late mother. Her history is heavily suppressed by Lord Rupert, leaving Violet to search for clues about her identity. Rumors among the servants suggest she possessed eccentric habits and a strong bond with a pet crow before her mysterious death.

Emily is the owner of Kirkby's Books & Gifts in the village of Crows Beck. A local resident who knew Violet Ayres, she provides Kate with an initial, welcoming connection to the rural community when Kate begins investigating her great-aunt's past.

Dr. Smythson is a physician in 1619 who relies on conventional treatments like bloodletting. He views the folk medicine practiced by the Weywards as an obstruction to his authority and provides damaging testimony regarding supposed witch marks on Altha's body.

Adam is a neighbor of Altha's in Crows Beck. He maintains a friendly connection with her, delivering small goods and acting as an intermediary for messages from other villagers who might be afraid to visit openly.