Luna
Luna is the protagonist of the story. As a baby, the Elders take her to the forest to sacrifice her. However, she is saved by the witch Xan, who accidentally feeds her moonlight instead of starlight. This makes Luna powerful in terms of magic but also unpredictable. She grows up in the witch’s house causing all sorts of problems. She is very smart but also very naughty, which soon makes it impossible to teach her. As a last resort, Xan puts a spell on her, effectively bundling her magic into a tiny grain. However, this also results in Luna being unable to hear the word ‘magic’ or see anything that has to do with magic. Close to her 13th birthday, she begins to understand the nature of her abilities. She reunites with her mother Adara and uses her magic to protect the city from an erupting volcano. Eventually, she kills the evil witch Sister Ignatia and seizes power over the Protectorate, where she now spends her time telling other Star Children about their real parents.
Xan
Xan is a friendly witch who is described as a “large, good-tempered toad.” She has a big heart and saves the sacrificed children who the Elders place in the forest every year. Giving them starlight to drink, she calls them Star Children and brings them to the Free Cities, where they grow up to become rich and happy people. However, her old age is taking a toll on her, and she accidentally gives Luna moonlight to drink, which makes the child very naughty and her magical powers unpredictable. Therefore, she puts a spell on her to contain her magic. However, this spell also means that she sets the time for her own death which is due on the day that Luna’s magic erupts. Luckily, Xan is able to teach Luna how to manage her magical powers, and Glerk takes care of the child after Xan’s death.
Glerk
Glerk is a friendly swamp monster that lives together with Xan. He is a poet and has a feeble for language. When Xan brings Luna home, he tries his best not to like the baby, but as soon as she mentions his name, his heart melts. He also carries her around and takes care of her. When Luna becomes a naughty child, he wants to teach her poetry to keep her occupied.
Glerk is a strong advocate for telling and facing the truth, so he dislikes Xan giving Fyrian false hope that he will grow up to become a Simply Enormous Dragon, and he warns Xan not to put a spell on Luna to contain her magic. Moreover, he teaches Fyrian kindness so he does not kill Sister Ignatia. After Xan’s death, he takes her spirit to the Bog.
Antain
Antain is an Elder apprentice who was only accepted because of his aggressive mother. He is the nephew of the Grand Elder, who oversees his development. However, his compassion, critical thinking, and idealism go against the practices of the Elders. For example, he tries to avoid the day of the sacrifice by pretending that he is sick, and when the Elders leave the helpless baby out in the forest, he suggests waiting for the witch to pick up the girl to ensure she is safe.
Years later, when he visits Adara, the mother of the sacrificed baby, in the tower, he is attacked by the paper birds that she has made. He begins to change his mind about family and considers himself being closer to his brother than his sisters (as a boy he used to work for the Sisters of the Star including Sister Ignatia).
After being harmed by the paper birds, he follows his dream of becoming a woodworker and marries his childhood love Ethyne, with whom he has a son called Luken. He starts to question the practice of sacrificing children and plans to kill the evil witch. However, when he learns the truth about her, he contributes to stopping the sacrifices.
Gherland
Gherland is the Grand Elder, and therefore the most powerful of the rulers of the Protectorate. He is the uncle of Antain and described as a man who enjoys the power and privileges that come with the office. Even though he takes care of Antain, he has a rather cold heart and protects his power at all costs, while considering himself a protector and mentor who teaches his subjects valuable lessons.
When Antain and his wife Ethyne start to question the story of the witch, he asks Sister Ignatia for help to stop them. However, when their attempt fails, Gherland’s subjects put him and the other Elders in prison, where he dies alone and forgotten.
