Fantasy Books with Good Disability Representation

​This week we bring you a list of excellent fantasy books featuring characters—not necessarily the main character—with a disability or chronic illness. This topic is near and dear to our hearts because two of us have a chronic illness, and one of us has a husband with a disability. (For the sake of a shorter title, we’re including chronic illness under the umbrella category of disability.) See this blog post for what we mean by “good representation.”

1. The Cursebreakers trilogy by Brigid Kemmerer: A modern girl is drawn into a cursed fantasy kingdom where she and its tormented prince must battle dark magic, political betrayal, and their own hearts to break an endless curse and save their people.
 
2. The Six of Crows duology by Leigh Bardugo: A crew of outcasts and criminals undertakes impossible heists in a corrupt, magic-laced world, testing their loyalties, survival, and the fragile bonds that form between them.
 
3. The Bride of the Shadow King trilogy by Sylvia Mercedes: A shunned princess with a hidden magical gift is thrust into a politically arranged marriage with a reluctant king. Through deceit, heartache, and war, their fragile bond evolves into something powerful enough to shape the fate of both their realms.
 
4. Saints and Monsters by Ellen McGinty: Princess Meera, born with a crooked spine and a reckless heart, must claim a fearsome sea dragon to become queen—even as that dragon becomes mortal and shares her heart—and together they must reverse a curse to defend their kingdom.
 
5. The Mark of the Least series by Kendra Merritt: A diverse cast of young women—each carrying physical scars or magical burdens—must confront hidden threats, uncover forgotten magic, and learn their worth as they navigate a richly woven fantasy world shaped by fairytale echoes.
 
6. The Daindreth’s Assassin series by Elisabeth Wheatley: A cursed sorceress-turned-assassin falls for her target, an archduke bound by dark magic, and together they fight to break their curses and save an empire.
 
7. Akithar’s Greatest Trick (Teshovar #1) by Jason Dorough: In a realm where real magic is forbidden, a celebrated stage magician must orchestrate a daring heist and spin his illusions into survival when ruthless mage-hunters descend on his troupe—and the secret behind his tricks proves more dangerous than anyone imagined.
 
8. The Guilds of Ilbrea series by Megan O’Russell: The Guilds who rule Ilbrea will kill to protect their dark secrets. Adrial, heir to the Lord Scribe, and his found family gather these secrets, hoping one day to topple the tyrants—but how can they stand against nearly all-powerful sorcerers?
 
9. The Academy of Magical Creatures series by Megan Linski and Alicia Rades: College freshman Sophia Henley discovers her elemental Fire powers and bonds with a magical Familiar at Orenda Academy, where she must survive deadly trials, navigate a forbidden romance with a Water warrior, and confront a prophecy that could decide the fate of their tribe.
 
10. The Poison Wars duology by Sam Hawke: In a city besieged by poison and political intrigue, siblings Jovan and Kalina must navigate deadly conspiracies, unravel ancient magic, and protect their people from threats both human and supernatural.

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What’s your favorite book with good disability rep? Tell us in the comments!


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