A dashing American who finds himself trapped in the darkest corners of Victorian London, Ethan's charm and brash ways are catnip to the ladies. Sir Malcolm enlists him to help in a personal quest, and Ethan becomes protective of the beautiful Vanessa. But behind Ethan's bright eyes lurk dark secrets. He is running from something, and his troubling past threatens to overtake him at every turn.
A hardened African explorer by trade, Sir Malcolm has paid a heavy price for his exciting career. Although his stately mansion is filled with marvelous souvenirs of his travels, he has destroyed all of his personal relationships along the way except one: Vanessa Ives, whom he has known since childhood and considers a daughter. Vanessa is troubled and in danger, and Sir Malcolm will do everything in his power to help her and keep her safe.
Poised, mysterious and utterly composed, Vanessa is a seductive and formidable beauty full of secrets and danger. She is keenly observant -- clairvoyant even -- as well as an expert medium. Her supernatural gifts are powerful and useful to those around her, but they are also a heavy burden. Her inner demons just may be more real than emotional, and they threaten to destroy her relationships, her sanity, and her very life.
Dorian Gray is a fabulously wealthy young gentleman who is almost unnerving in his beauty. His skin seems to radiate a golden glow of intoxicating youth and promise. A recklessly abandoned sensualist, he has a devil-may-care attitude that borders on dangerous. Nothing seems to faze him, nor are any risks too great. In fact, he is unnaturally drawn to them.
More Romantic poet than surgeon, Dr. Frankenstein is a tender, gentle soul who is fascinated by the mysteries of life and death. He has dedicated himself to researching what makes something live, and has sacrificed everything for his scientific pursuit. He is also recruited by Sir Malcolm, and becomes a willing member of his solemn band. But the good doctor is playing with fire, and his research pays off in shocking ways with devastating personal consequences.
Dr. Frankenstein revives the corpse of the poor Irish immigrant Brona Croft and creates Lily, his most magnificent creation yet. Intended as a mate for The Creature, Lily soon establishes herself as a vibrant, unpredictable force in her own right, who captivates many men besides her intended.
A poor Irish immigrant to Victorian London, Brona tries to escape a dark and sordid past. The Gaelic meaning of her name is "sadness," and she lives up to it as she valiantly fights a fatal case of consumption. Ethan Chandler is madly in love with the doomed Brona, but it is Dr. Frankenstein who has ultimate unholy plans for her.
Dr. Frankenstein's original creation is a hideous, immortal monster whom nevertheless has a deep and anguished soul. His horrible appearance and unusual "birth" have left him a lonely, misunderstood outcast, and he is furious at his creator over his unfortunate fate. He will not rest until Dr. Frankenstein creates an immortal mate for him.
Sembene is an African man with ritual face scarring who serves as Sir Malcolm's sentry and confidant. He has an air of mystery about him and his heroic efforts prove invaluable to Sir Malcolm and his friends many times over.
Beneath the surface of this gracious, attractive lady lies an evil wicked old witch. Evelyn Poole is a wicked, conniving practitioner of the occult. Her dark powers are great, and she recognizes an equally powerful potential kindred spirit in Vanessa. Evelyn has big plans for Vanessa, and she will do everything she can to entrap the young woman and hijack her power.
The eccentric, fawning Egyptologist from the British Museum's Department of Egyptian and Assyrian Antiquities is initially called upon by Sir Malcolm to help translate some unusual hieroglyphics. His expertise and connections continue to prove useful to Sir Malcolm and his friends, and his heart proves more than generous.
Sir Malcolm's only daughter is Vanessa's closest childhood friend growing up. Mina eventually falls victim to a terrible dark force from which Sir Malcolm tries valiantly to save her.
The strong, confident American Dr. Seward is a practitioner of Alienism, an early form of psychotherapy, whom Vanessa goes to for treatment. She is also a dead ringer for Joan Clayton, the woman who instructed Vanessa in the dark arts.
A tenacious investigator for Scotland Yard, Inspector Rusk comes to believe that Ethan Chandler is guilty of horrible crimes, and goes to great lengths to bring him to justice.
Evelyn Poole's beautiful daughter is also a practitioner of the dark arts. Seemingly a pawn of her mothers, Hecate has an evil agenda all her own.
A Chiricahua Apache, Kaetenay has a father-like relationship to Ethan Chandler. He will do anything in his considerable power to ensure Ethan's safety.
Quirkily attractive and bookish, Dr. Sweet is the Director of Zoological Studies at the London Natural History Museum whom Vanessa befriends. Perhaps their paths will continue to cross.
Justine is a terrified young prostitute about to meet a grisly fate when she meets Dorian and Lily. She turns out to be just the naïve but fearless woman they need.
Henry Jekyll is a brilliant chemist of Indian decent, and a former classmate and friend of Victor Frankenstein's. A bold and outrageous explorer in the world of neurological experimentation, Dr. Jekyll seeks to solve the mysteries of the brain that turn ordinary people into madmen.
The prim, nervous secretary of Dr. Seward appears quite harmless. But looks can definitely be deceiving.