- Amabelle Desir – the young Haitian protagonist, whose parents died when she was a child. She lives and works in Don Ignacio's house, and is maid and confidante to his daughter, Señora Valencia.
- Sebastien Onius – a young Haitian man who is in a romantic relationship with Amabelle.
- Kongo - a worker, Joel's father, a symbol of both Haiti and African roots.
- Joël - young man, friend of Sebastien, killed by Señor Pico in a car accident.
- Félice - Joël's lover.
- Yves - another friend of Sebastien.
- Mimi - Sebastien's sister, maid for Doña Eva
- Papi / Don Ignacio – older, propertied man who finds Amabelle shortly after she is abandoned as a young girl. He is the father of Valencia; his wife died in labor.
- Señora Valencia – Papi's daughter. Although Amabelle and Señora grew up together, there is an obvious difference between their respective realities.
- Juana and Luis – Juana is a housemaid who has been tending to the Ignacio family for several years. Luis is her husband.
- Don Gilbert and Dona Sabine – Wealthy landowners. Don Gilbert owns a rum company whose family first owned it on Haitian soil. Through a land exchange, this land became Dominican land. Sabine is a cosmopolitan woman who had a career as a dancer. Originally Haitian, their wealth masks their heritage.
- Señor Pico Duarte - Señora Valencia's husband, a military man and unquestioning Trujillo supporter. Rebuffed by Beatriz, after an all too brief courtship he marries Valencia.
- Rosalinda and Rafael – Señora Valencia's children; Rafael is born last and dies soon.
- Beatriz – Doctor Javier's sister, representing the modern young woman during the time of Trujillo who goes against the traditional structure.
- Doctor Javier - a member of the intellectual elite in the Dominican Republic. He speaks both Spanish and Creole. He is close to the Ignacio family and treats Amabelle kindly.
- Doña Eva - widow, mother of Beatriz and Javier
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