Who Are The Main Characters In Steeplejack?

Anglet Sutonga is the heart of 'Steeplejack,' and her perspective as a working-class steeplejack gives the story such a fresh feel. She’s not your typical chosen one; she’s just trying to survive in a city that’s stacked against her. Berrit, her mentor, has this tragic arc that hits hard, and Mnenga, the foreign diplomat, brings this outsider’s curiosity that contrasts with Ang’s street smarts. Willinghouse is the slippery politician you never quite trust, and Dahria’s sharp tongue hides her own vulnerabilities. Even minor characters like the ruthless minister Felton leave a mark. The dynamics between them—especially Ang’s uneasy alliances—make the political thriller elements crackle.

One of the things I love about 'Steeplejack' is how A.J. Hartley crafts such vivid characters in this gritty, industrial fantasy world. The protagonist, Anglet Sutonga, is a young steeplejack who scales the towering chimneys of Bar-Selehm to clean them—a dangerous job that mirrors her precarious life. She's resourceful, tough, and deeply loyal to her found family, especially her mentor Berrit. Then there's Willinghouse, a politician with a hidden agenda, and Dahria, his sharp-witted sister, who adds layers of intrigue. The way their paths collide amidst political conspiracies and racial tensions makes the story unforgettable.

What really stands out is how Ang isn't just some action hero; she's deeply human, grappling with her identity as a Lani outsider in a city that treats her people as second-class. The side characters, like the street-smart Josiah and the enigmatic Mnenga, flesh out the world beautifully. Hartley doesn’t just throw tropes at you—every character feels like they’ve lived a full life before the book even starts. It’s one of those casts that lingers in your mind long after you’ve turned the last page.

Bar-Selehm feels alive because of its characters. Anglet’s the kind of protagonist who stays with you—her voice is so distinct, whether she’s navigating the city’s towering smokestacks or its back-alley betrayals. Berrit’s fatherly warmth makes his fate even more gutting, and Mnenga’s cultural outsider status parallels Ang’s in a way that deepens the themes. Willinghouse and Dahria are the perfect foils: one all calculated charm, the other bristling with sarcasm. Even the antagonists, like the manipulative minister, feel nuanced. The book’s strength is how these personalities clash and intertwine, driven by survival and secrets. It’s rare to find a cast where everyone, down to the side characters, has this much depth.

'Steeplejack'’s characters are its backbone. Ang’s resilience makes her easy to root for, but it’s her relationships—like her bond with Berrit or her tense truce with Willinghouse—that give the story weight. Dahria’s wit and Mnenga’s quiet wisdom round out a cast that never feels flat. Even the city itself feels like a character, with its smog and inequality shaping everyone’s choices. Hartley writes people, not plot devices, and that’s why the story sticks.