Iris Fisher
Iris Fisher is the second ugly stepsister. She witnesses the events that would create the fairy tale. Margarethe Fisher and Jack Fisher are her parents, and Ruth Fisher is her younger sister. Iris becomes Clara van den Meer's stepsister when her mother marries Cornelius van den Meer. Her own mother describes her as "painfully plain-faced" and she refers to herself as a hound multiple times. Throughout the novel, Iris develops an interest in art and painting, as well as affections for Caspar, which she vehemently denies. She later marries Caspar.
Margarethe Fisher van den Meer
Margarethe ten Broek Fisher van den Meer is the mother of Iris and Ruth Fisher, and after marrying Clara's father, she becomes her stepmother. Her sole motivation in marrying Clara's father is to feed herself and her daughters. It's unclear if she likes Clara's father or not, especially given her doctrine: "Give me room to cast my eel spear, and let follow what may", but she is kind to him.
Ruth Fisher
Ruth Fisher is the older, mentally challenged daughter of Margarethe Fisher,who is revealed to be the story's narrator.
Clara van den Meer
Clara van den Meer is Van den Meer's only child with his first wife, Henrika. She is a beautiful young lady, who is kept hidden away in her home by her mother, initially against her will. But after her mother's death, she chooses to remain at home. Mr. van Stolk, her father's business acquaintance, kidnapped her as a child and held her captive in a windmill, receiving half of her family's riches as ransom. Clara claims she was kidnapped by water spirits and transformed into a changeling, which she believes she is. Clara continues to spend her time by the fire after her mother's death, giving herself the nicknames "Ashgirl," "Cinderling," and "Cinderella."
Henrika Vinckboons van den Meer
Henrika Vinckboons van den Meer is Clara’s mother. To keep Clara safe from the evils of the world, she kept her locked up inside their house. She is poisoned by Margarethe, and she dies shortly after the birth of her second child.
Cornelius van den Meer
Cornelius van den Meer is Clara’s father. He is a businessman who works in the tulip business. Later on, the Fishers refer to him as "Papa Cornelius." He appears to be in a catatonic state of depression, oblivious to everything but their impending destitution and how drastically his family has changed.
Luykas Schoonmaker
Luykas Schoonmaker is a local painter who was the first to offer the Fishers sanctuary. He subsequently urges them to return, but Margarethe marries Van den Meer and they do not.
Caspar
Caspar is an apprentice. He is in love with Iris and she with him, but Margarethe disapproves and attempts to steer Iris away from him by hinting that Caspar is homosexual. In the epilogue in the novel, it is revealed that Caspar later marries Iris.
