Disability Book List
SFF novels with disabled, chronically ill, and neurodivergent characters
As someone with a chronic illness, I love reading books that include disabled characters, particularly when the story isn’t about the disability; it’s nice to see disabled characters just existing and going on adventures. Any representation, much less positive representation that isn’t full of harmful tropes, can be difficult to find in science fiction and fantasy, so I’ve noted down books I’ve read and enjoyed here! Click on the cover to go to the book’s Goodreads page.
The Outside
Ada Hoffmann
Series: The Outside #1
Genre: Adult Sci-Fi
Publication Date: 2019
Condition: autism
A Curse So Dark...
Brigid Kemmerer
Series: Cursebreakers #1
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publication Date: 2019
Condition: cerebral palsy
The Iron Trial
Holly Black/Cassandra Clare
Series: Magisterium #1
Genre: MG Fantasy
Publication Date: 2014
Condition: limp
The Tea Dragon Society
K. O'Neill
Series: Tea Dragon #1
Genre: Adult Fantasy / GN
Publication Date: 2017
Condition: wheelchair use, memory loss
Dragons of Autumn...
Margaret Weis/Tracy Hickman
Series: Dragonlance #1
Genre: Adult Fantasy
Publication Date: 1984
Condition: weak constitution, chronic cough
To Shape a Dragon's...
Moniquill Blackgoose
Series: Nampeshiweisit #1
Genre: YAFantasy
Publication Date: 2023
Condition: wheelchair use, language disability
The Book Eaters
Sunyi Dean
Series: N/A
Genre: Paranormal Fantasy
Publication Date: 2022
Condition: PTSD, trauma
Carve the Mark
Veronica Roth
Series: Carve the Mark #1
Genre: YA Sci-Fi
Publication Date: 2017
Condition: chronic pain
Unravel
Amelia Loken
Series: N/A
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publication Date: 2022
Condition: deafness
Ink Blood Sister Scribe
Emma Törzs
Series: N/A
Genre: Adult Fantasy
Publication Date: 2023
Condition: missing eye
Unseelie
Ivelisse Housman
Series: Unseelie #1
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publication Date: 2023
Condition: autism
Shadow and Bone
Leigh Bardugo
Series: Shadow and Bone #1
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publication Date: 2012
Condition: chronic illness
Magonia
Maria Dahvana Headley
Series: Magonia #1
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publication Date: 2015
Condition: chronic illness / lung issues
Nimona
N.D. Stevenson
Series: N/A
Genre: Adult Fantasy / Graphic Novel
Publication Date: 2015
Condition: amputation
Mockingjay
Suzanne Collins
Series: Hunger Games #3
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publication Date: 2010
Condition: PTSD, memory alteration
Chosen Ones
Veronica Roth
Series: N/A
Genre: Adult Fantasy
Publication Date: 2020
Condition: PTSD
Perception Check
Astrid Knight
Series: The Mages of Velmyra #1
Genre: Adult Fantasy
Publication Date: 2022
Condition: anxiety
Deeplight
Frances Hardinge
Series: N/A
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publication Date: 2019
Condition: deafness
Fellowship of the Ring
J.R.R. Tolkien
Series: Lord of the Rings #1
Genre: Adult Fantasy
Publication Date: 1954
Condition: pain from blade wound
Six of Crows
Leigh Bardugo
Series: Six of Crows #1
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publication Date: 2015
Condition: limp / cane usage
Cinder
Marissa Meyer
Series: The Lunar Chronicles #1
Genre: YA Sci-Fi
Publication Date: 2012
Condition: amputation
Akata Witch
Nnedi Okorafor
Series: The Nsibidi Scripts #1
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publication Date: 2011
Condition: albinism
The Thirteenth Hour
Trudie Skies
Series: The Cruel Gods
Genre: Gaslamp Fantasy
Publication Date: 2021
Condition: arthritis, asthma, chronic pain, PTSD
Iron Widow
Xiran Jay Zhao
Series: Iron Widow #1
Genre: Adult Sci-Fi
Publication Date: 2021
Condition: lotus feet, PTSD
Tress of the Emerald Sea
Brandon Sanderson
Series: The Cosmere
Genre: Adult Fantasy
Publication Date: 2023
Condition: deafness
A Game of Thrones
George R.R. Martin
Series: ASOIAF #1
Genre: Adult Fantasy
Publication Date: 1996
Condition: dwarfism, amputation, paraplegia
The Moth Keeper
K. O'Neill
Series: N/A
Genre: Fantasy / Graphic Novel
Publication Date: 2023
Condition: cane usage, albinism
Vespertine
Margaret Rogerson
Series: N/A
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publication Date: 2021
Condition: disabled hand
All Systems Red
Martha Wells
Series: Murderbot Diaries #1
Genre: Adult Sci-Fi
Publication Date: 2017
Condition: anxiety
Toby and the Silver...
Sally Doherty
Series: Toby Bean #1
Genre: MG Fantasy
Publication Date: 2021
Condition: Condition: myalgic encephalomyelitis
Escaping Peril
Tui T. Sutherland
Series: Wings of Fire #8
Genre: MG Fantasy
Publication Date: 2016
Condition: fire scales / burns others
Thrud
Zach Schuster
Series: Standalone
Genre: Adult Fantasy / Graphic Novel
Publication Date: 2021
Condition: muteness