Lyra Belaqua
Lyra is the daughter of Mrs. Coulter and Lord Asriel. She starts the trilogy off as an eleven year old, though she is older at the start of The Subtle Knife. Lyra is unruly, tomboyish, and highly intelligent. She is an excellent liar and has a Daemon named Pantalaimon.
Will Parry
Will Parry is the secondary protagonist of The Subtle Knife. He is twelve and has a missing father and a mentally ill mother. Will is quiet, serious, courteous, and moral. He becomes the bearer of the subtle knife.
Pantalaimon
Pantalaimon is Lyra's Daemon, a shape-shifting creature that can change into whatever animal form it wants until its owner grows up. He is much more cautious than Lyra.
Mrs. Coulter
Lyra's mother. She is beautiful with sleek black hair, but she is also cold, manipulative, and self-serving.
Serafina Pekkala
Serafina Pekkala is a Finnish witch queen. She rules over certain clans in the Lake Enara district. Her demon is a large grey goose named Kaisa.
Lord Asriel
Lord Asriel is a tall, determined man who is fierce and commands great respect. He is also Lyra's father. His daemon is a snow leopard named Stelmaria.
