This does contain some spoilers, like who dies, so be prepared! And EVERYONE that had a name, including horses and whatnot, are listed here.

The list for order of appearance has only the characters that had an physical part in the story, not the people that were mentioned only in passing (such as Mirianna Ohmsford - Par and Coll's mother). The one that has the characters organized in alphabetical order has all of them.

Addershag: an old and blind seer who has been dead for five years. She mentored Ryer Ord Star and was killed by the Ilse Witch.
Aden Kett: Captain of Black Moclips; in league with the Ilse Witch.
Ahren Elessedil: Kylen's younger brother next in line for the throne, represents the Elves on the journey to Castledown. Bek lends him the phoenix stone.
Aine Elessedil: the late Queen of the Elves and mother of Allardon and Kael Elessedil.
Allanon: a shade who was once a Druid; Walker asks him for help.
Allardon Elessedil: the assassinated king of Arborlon; makes an agreement with Walker to help establish a Druid Council.
Amberle Elessedil: she took the Ellcrys' seed to the Bloodfire and became the new Ellcrys.
Ard Patrinell: once a Captain of the Home Guard but was demoted when Allardon was assassinated; goes with Walker as the leader of the Elven Hunters.
Bek Rowe: Grianne's younger brother who also controls the wishsong; he wields the Sword of Shannara. He is the great-great-grandson of Par Ohmsford and Damson Rhee. Bek was brought to the Leahs at age two and was raised by them.
Blenud Trock: line sergeant that challenges Rue in a knife-throwing contest and loses twice.
Brae: Elven Hunter who lands on Shatterstone with Walker; died when the plant grabbed him on appearing.
Bremen: a Druid who lived during the time of Jerle Shannara.
Brin Ohmsford: the first Ohmsford to possess the wishsong. She destroyed the Ildatch.
Brona: a rogue Druid who attempted to conquer the Four Lands multiple times, he as finally defeated by Shea Ohmsford.
Cicatrix: a fortuneteller who arranged the meeting between Redden Alt Mer and Walker Boh.
Cogline: a once-Druid who lived during the War of the Shadowen.
Coll Ohmsford: Par's brother, he wielded the Sword of Shannara and used it to destroy the magic imprisoned in Southwatch.
Coran Leah: Quentin's father.
Cree Bega: Captain of the Mwellrets aboard Black Moclips.
Dace: Elven Hunter who lands on Shatterstone with Walker; died when he looked up at the Jerle Shannara and got grabbed by the poisonous plants.
Damson Rhee: Par Ohmsford's wife, she lived during the War of the Shadowen.
Dorne: an Elven Healer that lives on Bracken Clell; Hunter takes Kael to him.
Ebben Bonner: the Elven First Minister.
Ellcrys: a tree created by Elven magic that keeps the Forbidding closed.
Eventine Elessedil: one of the great Elven Kings from the time of Wil Ohmsford.
Ezael Sterret: a Rover who designed and built the first airship.
Flick Ohmsford: Shea's brother, he helped him to defeat Brona.
Furl Hawken: also a Rover, he is the helmsman of the Jerle Shannara. A Mwellret kills him.
Galaphile: the first Druid.
Gill: one of the three Wing Riders that accompanies Walker Boh from Arborlon to Castledown; is murdered by War Shrikes; his Roc's name is Tashin.
Grianne Ohmsford: more commonly known as the Ilse Witch, Walker Boh's enemy; she is Bek Rowe's sister and wields the power of the wishsong.
Holm Rowe: the late cousin of Coran Leah. He was said to be Bek's father.
Hunter Predd: one of the three Wing Riders that accompanies Walker Boh from Arborlon to Castledown; his Roc's name is Obsidian.
Ildatch: a book of evil destroyed by Brin Ohmsford.
Jair Ohmsford: Brin's brother, he helped her destroy the Ildatch.
Jerle Shannara: the receiver of the Sword of Shannara during the Second War of the Races. The Jerle Shannara is named after him.
Joad Rish: Elven healer who blunted the poison in Walker's body from Shatterstone.
Kael Elessedil: the castaway that Hunter found; he carried a map and a bracelet marking him as an Elessedil; Allardon's older brother.
Kian: Elven Hunter who lands on Shatterstone with Walker.
King of the Silver River: living since the time of Faerie, he gave Bek the phoenix stone, which can only be used once.
Kylen Elessedil: the new king of Arborlon.
Liria Leah: Quentin's mother.
Mallenroh: a witch of the Hollows from the time of Wil Ohmsford. She was rumored to be the Morgawr's sister.
Morag: a witch of the Hollows from the time of Wil Ohmsford. She was rumored to be the Morgawr's sister.
Morgan Leah: Quentin's ancestor, he lived during the War of the Shadowen.
Morgawr: a mixed breed between Mwellret and man; he raised the Ilse Witch and taught her how to use the wishsong.
Panax: a Dwarf who helped find Truls Rohk for Bek and Quentin; he goes with them on the journey for the lost books of magic.
Par Ohmsford: Coll's brother, he recovered the Sword of Shannara and helped to free the magic imprisoned in Southwatch.
Perin: a member of the Home Guard.
Po Kelles: one of the three Wing Rides that accompanies Walker Boh from Arborlon to Castledown; his Roc's name is Niciannon.
Quentin Leah: the great-great-grandson of Morgan Leah; has possession of the Sword of Leah; Bek's "cousin" and best friend.
Redden Alt Mer: a Rover; he is the captain of the Jerle Shannara.
Rimmer Dall: a First Seeker killed during the War of the Shadowen.
Rue Meridian: first mate of the Jerle Shannara; Redden Alt Mer's younger sister.
Rumor: Walker's giant moor cat; occasionally fades and reappears in bits and pieces.
Ryer Ord Star: a seer who follows Walker everywhere; she is the Ilse Witch's spy.
Sen Dunsidan: the Federation Minister of Defense who lent the airship Black Moclips to the Ilse Witch.
Shea Ohmsford: the wielder of the Sword of Shannara who finally defeated Brona.
Spanner Frew: the shipwright and builder of the Jerle Shannara.
Tamis: Elven tracker who discovered Castledown, also known as Kreshen; saved Bek and Ryer Ord Star from the ribbons of fire and the metal dogs.
Truls Rohk: a shape-shifter who saved Bek from the ruins of his home, he tells Bek that they are linked by magic.
Uhl Belk: known as the Stone King, he ruled over Eldwist during the War of the Shadowen.
Walker Boh: a Druid who seeks to establish a Druid council; he leads the expedition to Castledown to find the lost magic and the blue Elfstones that were lost. He is the Ilse Witch's greatest enemy.
Wil Ohmsford: he protected Amberle during the quest for the Bloodfire.
Word: the creator of life in the Four Lands.
Wren Elessedil: Queen of the Elves during the War of the Shadowen.
Wye: a member of the Home Guard.