Kris Phoenix stands as the quintessential embodiment of legendary English rock icons, capturing the essence of visionaries like John Lennon, Mick Jagger, and David Bowie. Despite his questionable morals, he possesses an unwavering resolve, driven by a burning ambition to triumph. His actions, no matter how unsavory, are executed with the conviction that his artistry will vindicate his existence. Meanwhile, Bobby Mondella, with his striking features and roots in the ghetto, navigates the path to superstardom through necessary compromises. In stark contrast, Rafealla epitomizes the aimless wealth of youth, having lived life at such a breakneck speed that she's already jaded before reaching twenty-one. She almost stumbles into rock stardom out of sheer ennui.

Then, there is the formidable, ruthless elder—a puppet master controlling lives with the indifferent precision of a child at play. Marcus Citroen epitomizes this omnipotent figure, wielding the power to shape or shatter the destinies of those who dare tread the treacherous waters of the entertainment industry.

True to form, Collins introduces a "loose cannon" character, Maxwell Sicily, who purposefully disrupts the main characters' plans, culminating in the usual crescendo of terror and chaos. Her protagonists, the trio of rock stars, exhibit a spectrum of human flaws: callousness, arrogance, selfishness, and occasional folly. Yet, they are equally portrayed as loyal, sensitive, devoted, and kind-hearted. On the other side, the antagonists possess scant redeeming traits. Marcus Citroen is a manipulative, vindictive, and emotionless predator, exploiting others for his own amusement. His rare glimpse of humanity surfaces when he inexplicably allows Bobby Mondella to revive his career, a career Citroen himself had violently terminated.

Nova Citroen, his wife, exudes an icy, calculating demeanor, consumed by self-interest. Even when she exhibits apparent vulnerability after a savage beating from her husband, Collins invites readers to question her sincerity, leaving them unsure if Nova genuinely possesses a shred of humanity or if she is merely acting for personal gain.

Maxwell Sicily, rotten to the core, becomes so irredeemable that his own father, Carmine, disowns him as an utter failure and family embarrassment. By the story's end, Carmine, exasperated to the brink, plots to "put a hit on his own son and get him out of his life forever. The boy was no good, never had been."

The ensemble of minor characters—both relatively virtuous and villainous—add richness to the narrative. Luiz Oliveira, a charming rogue adored by Rafealla, initially seems deserving of her affection until she uncovers his gigolo nature. Yet, beyond his larceny of her heart, he proves no worse than the average person. Then there's Speed, the hapless would-be getaway driver, whose comedic misfortune during Maxwell Sicily's escapade renders him a pitiable clown.

In the book's Epilogue, loose ends are meticulously tied, with every character's fate accounted for. The "good" characters find solace in appropriate unions, while the "bad" face fitting retribution. The merely despicable linger on, ready to wreak havoc on another day.