Alice Law
A Cambridge doctoral student in analytic magick. Brilliant, ambitious, and unable to forget, Alice descends into Hell from a mixture of guilt, career desperation, and a hidden desire for revenge against Grimes.
Peter Murdoch
Alice's academic rival and former friend. His effortless-genius persona conceals Crohn's disease, fear of pity, and guilt about his part in Grimes's death.
Professor Jacob Octavian Grimes
A celebrated magician and abusive dissertation adviser. Grimes manipulates students through praise, competition, theft, humiliation, and sexual coercion while presenting himself as a servant of pure knowledge.
Elspeth Bayes
A former student of Grimes who died by suicide and became a resourceful traveler in Hell. She pilots the Neurath, understands blood-powered magick, and possesses the Dialetheia.
Nicomachus "Nick" Kripke
A dead magician who hunts other travelers through Hell. He uses their blood and research to continue his work.
Magnolia Kripke
Nick's wife and intellectual partner. Once a celebrated magician, she helps construct the bone creatures and traps that pursue Alice and Peter.
Theophrastus Kripke
The Kripkes' son, poisoned by them before their own lethal stage stunt, who travels with them through Hell as their dead child.
John Gradus
A long-dead Shade in the final court who guides Alice to Dis in exchange for stories about earthly life.
Gertrude
The leader of the Rebel Citadel. She rejects reincarnation and offers Alice safety in a community devoted to waiting for the eventual collapse of Hell.
The Weaver Girl
A supernatural being who tests Alice and Peter with a version of the prisoner's dilemma, exposing the mistrust between them.
Lord Yama
The ruler and judge of the underworld. He controls reincarnation and has the authority to grant exceptions when Alice brings him the Dialetheia.
Archimedes
The Cambridge department cat. Able to cross boundaries between worlds, he repeatedly appears at decisive moments and ultimately helps Alice survive.