The Hymn to Dionysus by Natasha Pulley
Goodreads | AmazonGenre: LGBT, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Character w/ Disability: Protagonist or Main Character
Disability: Deafness / Hard of Hearing
Is It Cured or Paranormal?: Yes
← Back to the Sci-Fi/Fantasy Books With Disability Masterlist // Cured: Yes
Representation of physical disabilities is hard to find, especially in sci-fi/fantasy, so my goal is to make a list containing as many sci-fi/fantasy books with physically disabled and chronically ill characters as possible.
List below can be filtered by genre, character, or disability. You can also check this list of all disability tags. If you’re looking for a specific book, it should come up if you use the blog search in the sidebar.
Since I have not read all of these books myself, I cannot guarantee that all the information is correct. I also cannot promise that these books have good representation of disability. If you find incorrect info, if I’ve used incorrect language, etc., feel free to email me to let me know!
If multiple books in a series are about the same character and the same disabilities (i.e. no changes), I only include one entry in the list.
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Submitting Books:
Because of my own disabilities, I can’t promise if/when I’ll get around to adding submitted books, but if you would like to let me know of a book, email metaphorsandmoonlight (at) gmail (dot) com. Include what info you can about 1) what disabilities*, 2) which characters (main, side, love interest), 3) if it’s a spoiler, and 4) if it’s cured or magically fixed. All should be sci-fi/fantasy, but let me know if it’s also YA, MG, children’s, LGBT+, graphic novel, or anthology.
*I’m only adding books with physical disabilities and illnesses. There was a time when I thought I might expand it, but I don’t think that will happen now. If a book has physical and other disabilities, feel free to mention it.
Disability: Deafness / Hard of Hearing
Is It Cured or Paranormal?: Yes
Disability: Asthma
Is It Cured or Paranormal?: Yes
Notes: It's magically cured in the end, but the cure is more a byproduct of what happens, not specifically done as a cure.
Disability: Amputation / Missing Limb
Is It Cured or Paranormal?: Assisted by Magic / Supernatural Ability, Yes
Notes: The character who is missing an arm below the elbow, Nadya, is one of many characters in Sugar Sky but the protag in Adrift. Nadya gets a magical water arm.
Disability: SPOILER
Is It Cured or Paranormal?: Yes
Notes: seizures and migraines (acquired, magical cause)
Disability: Epilepsy / Seizures
Is It Cured or Paranormal?: Yes
Notes: Muscle tremors and seizures
Disability: Lung Condition
Is It Cured or Paranormal?: Yes
Notes: Lung condition - magical (shaolong/"burnt lung")
Disability: Other/Unspecified/Fictional Chronic Illness, SPOILER, SPOILER - Scars / Physical Differences
Is It Cured or Paranormal?: Unknown, Yes
Notes: Facial scars. Magical (zombies feeding on life force).
Disability: Lung Condition
Is It Cured or Paranormal?: Yes
Notes: Chlorine gas, magically cured
Disability: ME/CFS
Is It Cured or Paranormal?: Yes
Notes: Kalina has chronic fatigue, paranormal in origin.
Disability: Mutism
Is It Cured or Paranormal?: Yes