Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz
A 17th century Mexican nun, poet, scholar and playwright who was a child prodigy and one of the most acclaimed writers of the Spanish Golden Age. She entered a convent at age 19 and later faced persecution from the Inquisition for her writings and ideas. A significant portion of the novel focuses on her life story.

Beulah Limosneros
A brilliant but troubled modern-day graduate student obsessed with Sor Juana. She travels to Mexico to retrace Sor Juana's life but disappears under mysterious circumstances, ending up in a coma after a vicious attack.

Donald Gregory
Beulah's former professor and lover. After Beulah's attack, he comes into possession of her papers related to Sor Juana and tries to piece together what happened to her.

Other notable characters include Antonia, Sor Juana's friend and scribe, and Don Carlos, Sor Juana's friend and supporter at the Mexican court.

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