Circus of the Damned characters

Appears from the start

A professional animator and court-authorized vampire executioner in St. Louis. Anita has survived cases involving a master vampire and a human-sacrifice zombie, but she remains unwilling to serve Jean-Claude, the city's new master, despite the two mystical marks linking them. She assists the police when unlawful vampire killings threaten the public.

Also known as Larry

Appears from the start

A young animator assigned to learn from Anita. Larry is intelligent and eager to take on field work, though he has little experience with the physical and ethical dangers surrounding animation and vampire cases.

Also known as Dolph

Appears from the start

The detective who leads St. Louis's Regional Preternatural Investigation Team. Dolph relies on Anita to interpret evidence when deaths appear to involve vampires or other supernatural causes.

First appears in chapter 2

A detective on Dolph's specialist squad. Zerbrowski is informal and teasing, but dependable at dangerous scenes and attentive to the practical details of the investigation.

First appears in chapter 4

A junior-high science teacher introduced to Anita as a prospective date. Richard is considerate, physically confident, and more comfortable around supernatural matters than an ordinary blind date might be.

First appears in chapter 5

The new master vampire of St. Louis and proprietor of the Circus of the Damned. Jean-Claude asks Anita to help identify outsiders challenging his authority. Their two marks give him a connection to her, but she continues to reject his claim that she is his human servant.

First appears in chapter 7

A journalist and one of Anita's information sources in St. Louis's supernatural community. Irving trades knowledge carefully and has personal reasons to understand the local werewolf pack.

Also known as Death

First appears in chapter 10

A professional hunter known to vampires as Death. Edward wants the identity and location of St. Louis's master vampire, and his friendship with Anita does not prevent him from using pressure to obtain a target.

First appears in chapter 12

An ancient vampire newly active in St. Louis. Alejandro tries to place his own supernatural marks on Anita and treats her connection to Jean-Claude as something he can seize and use.

First appears in chapter 15

An elderly-looking traveler who arrives with Karl Inger during the struggle among powerful vampires. Mr. Oliver presents himself as knowledgeable, restrained, and interested in preventing uncontrolled bloodshed.

First appears in chapter 15

Mr. Oliver's human companion and protector. Karl handles practical arrangements and shields the apparently frail older man while they investigate the supernatural conflict in St. Louis.

First appears in chapter 18

A young werewolf associated with Jean-Claude's businesses. Stephen's vulnerable position illustrates the bargains and divided loyalties connecting the city's vampires and lycanthropes.

First appears in chapter 22

A master vampire who is present amid the alliances and rivalries surrounding Jean-Claude's claim to St. Louis. Yasmeen's cooperation has limits of its own, making her another powerful figure Anita cannot treat as wholly safe.

First appears in chapter 29

A lamia displayed at the Circus of the Damned, with a human appearance and a serpentine supernatural form. Melanie is controlled by stronger powers and remains dangerous to anyone caught in the contest at the Circus.