CHARACTER
The Book of Azraelby Amber Nicole

Character Overview

The world of The Book of Azrael brims with warring gods, monstrous Ig’Morruthen, and the mortals tangled in their schemes. At its heart is a struggle between freedom and control, love and power, played out through intimate bonds and cosmic stakes. For a broader plot overview, see the Full Book Summary.

Main Characters

The story is primarily driven by its two protagonists, Dianna and Liam, and the central antagonist, Kaden.

Dianna

Bold, lethal, and deeply conflicted, Dianna—the “Bloodthirsty Queen”—serves as second-in-command to Kaden after striking a centuries-old bargain to save her sister, Gabby. An Ig’Morruthen with terrifying gifts—shapeshifting, firecraft, and reading blood-memory—she’s both Kaden’s weapon and his prisoner, her ferocity fueled by devotion and guilt. Her slow disillusionment with Kaden accelerates when she crosses paths with Liam (Samkiel), whose shared trauma and iron will mirror her own; enemies become allies, then lovers, forcing her to confront the “monster” she has been made to be. In choosing to betray Kaden—not only for Gabby but for the world—she reclaims agency, embodying the book’s tensions between Identity and Monstrosity, Freedom vs. Servitude, and Love and Sacrifice.

Liam (Samkiel)

Ancient, formidable, and haunted, Liam—true name Samkiel, the “World Ender”—returns from self-imposed exile when one of his elite guard, Zekiel, falls, pulling him back into a conflict he can no longer ignore. Son of Unir and King of the Gods, he wields cosmic power and the Oblivion blade, yet grief over the destruction of Rashearim and the Gods War has left him guarded, stoic, and adrift. Through his uneasy alliance with Dianna and the rekindling of bonds with The Hand (Logan, Vincent, and others), he begins to shoulder duty without letting it devour him, shifting from instrument of destruction to protector. His arc threads the pain of legacy, the burden of leadership, and slow, hard-won healing at the core of Grief and Trauma.

Kaden

Magnetic, erudite, and merciless, Kaden is a powerful Ig’Morruthen—likely one of the legendary Four Kings of Yejedin—whose ambition centers on finding the Book of Azrael to unseal realms and establish dominion. He maintains absolute control through seduction and terror, exploiting Dianna’s love for Gabby while directing ruthless lieutenants like Tobias and Alistair. As Liam resurfaces and Dianna’s obedience falters, Kaden grows more desperate and overt, escalating his war and revealing the rot beneath his charm. His tyranny crystallizes the dangers of Power and Corruption, culminating in a monstrous act designed to break Dianna’s will and force open conflict.

Supporting Characters

These characters play crucial roles in the lives of the protagonists and the unfolding plot.

Gabby (Gabriella Martinez)

Gentle, grounded, and steadfast, Gabby is Dianna’s younger sister and moral center—the human life Dianna has sacrificed everything to protect since a plague nearly killed her centuries ago. Though she possesses a minor healing/calming gift, her power lies in the ordinary: love, conscience, and the vision of a life free from violence. Her longing for normalcy is tragically weaponized when Kaden captures and murders her in Chapter 51, unleashing Dianna’s full, untamed fury.

Alistair

A pure-blood Ig’Morruthen and Kaden’s fourth-in-command, Alistair is a sadist who often accompanies Dianna on missions, taunting and testing her loyalties. His mind-control talents—used to craft spies like Peter McBridge—make him a silent, pervasive threat. Dianna kills him in Chapter 35 to save Logan, a decisive break with Kaden that signals her turning point.

Tobias

Kaden’s third-in-command, Tobias is a venomous Ig’Morruthen necromancer who resents Dianna’s status and never conceals it. Revealed to be Haldnunen, one of the Four Kings of Yejedin, he raises the stakes from court intrigue to existential peril. His unwavering loyalty to Kaden culminates in seizing Gabby and delivering her to her doom.

Drake Vanderkai

The rakish Vampire Prince, Drake is a true friend to Dianna—until he isn’t. Initially aligned with Kaden alongside his brother, King Ethan, he helps Dianna fake his death in Chapter 3, only to appear at Kaden’s side in Chapter 51, revealing a ruthless pragmatism and loyalty to family over friendship.

Vincent

A senior member of The Hand, Vincent keeps operations steady during Liam’s absence, bridging godhood and the human world with cool-headed pragmatism. He’s loyal but not blindly so, pressing Liam to examine his faith in Dianna. His skepticism provides crucial friction that ultimately strengthens the group’s cohesion.

Logan

Liam’s oldest friend and a cornerstone of The Hand, Logan is as warm as he is formidable, anchored by his mate, Neverra. He worries over Liam’s trauma while advocating mercy and trust where others see only threat. His near-death prompts Dianna to kill Alistair, entwining his fate with hers and tightening the alliance around Liam.

Minor Characters

  • Zekiel: A member of The Hand whose battle with Dianna in Chapter 6 and subsequent self-sacrifice summons Liam back to the Etherworld, setting the plot in motion.
  • Ethan Vanderkai: The Vampire King and Drake’s brother, a calculating ruler who ultimately defies Kaden and catalyzes a major power shift.
  • Camilla: Witch Queen of El Donuma and Dianna’s former lover, whose betrayal enables Kaden’s ambush in Chapter 36.
  • Santiago: A domineering coven leader allied with Kaden, infamous for harassing Dianna and aiding the El Donuma ambush.
  • Unir: Liam’s father and former King of the Gods, appearing only in memories and blooddreams as the weight of legacy Liam cannot escape.
  • The Hand (Neverra, Cameron, Xavier, Imogen): Liam’s elite guard and chosen family; Neverra is Logan’s mate, Cameron’s heightened senses and Xavier’s stoicism steady the unit, while Imogen—once Liam’s lover—still longs for what was lost.
  • The Four Kings of Yejedin: Mythic Ig’Morruthen rulers; Tobias is revealed as Haldnunen, and Kaden is heavily implied to be another, magnifying the threat they pose.

Character Relationships & Dynamics

At the center stands the volatile bond between Dianna and Liam, which evolves from a brutal clash into a wary partnership and, finally, a deeply felt love. Their shared isolation and trauma become common ground, each challenging the other’s fatalism: Dianna pushes Liam toward purpose beyond destruction, while Liam mirrors back a path for Dianna beyond servitude and self-loathing.

Dianna and Kaden embody a master-servant dynamic cloaked in intimacy, where devotion is coerced and affection weaponized. Kaden’s obsession with ownership—of Dianna’s power, body, and choices—meets Dianna’s growing refusal to be defined by his leash, transforming fear into defiance.

Dianna’s bond with Gabby is the emotional engine of the narrative: sisterhood as both salvation and shackle. Gabby keeps Dianna tethered to her humanity even as the cost of that love fuels Dianna’s darkest deeds; her loss detonates the fragile balance holding the factions apart.

Liam’s relationships with The Hand—especially Logan’s brotherhood and Vincent’s principled skepticism—rebuild his capacity for trust and leadership. Friction within the group over Dianna becomes a crucible, ultimately forging a stronger, more honest alliance.

Across the broader field, Kaden’s faction coalesces around fear and opportunism—Tobias’s ancient malice, Alistair’s cruelty, and the calculated alliances of witches and vampires—while Liam’s side gathers those willing to risk everything for restoration rather than conquest. Drake and Ethan’s maneuvers underscore how power politics blur the line between ally and enemy, making betrayal as strategic as loyalty.

Factions at a glance:

  • Team Kaden: Kaden (leader); Tobias (enforcer/ancient king); Alistair (general, deceased); Santiago (ally); Camilla (ally/betrayer); Drake and Ethan Vanderkai (covert partners).
  • Team Liam: Liam (leader); The Hand (Logan, Vincent, Neverra, Cameron, Xavier, Imogen); Dianna (ally/lover).

Character Themes