ANTHOLOGIES

These Bodies Ain’t Broken edited by Madeline Dyer (Page Street Publishing, October 7, 2025)

“From battling ancient evils to surviving their own darkest thoughts, these stories redefine bravery through the lens of those who refuse to be sidelined. Bold, terrifying, and beautifully defiant. “Us, of the Water,” “The Fig Tree” and “Kissed by Death” were three of my top favorites!” —Aiden Thomas, New York Times bestselling author of Cemetery Boys and The Sunbearer Trials

“A brilliant anthology of disabled and chronically ill kids fighting, surviving, and seeking vengeance with sharpened teeth.”
—Andrew Joseph White, award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of Compound Fracture

“The juxtaposition of the physical realities of EDS and the fantastical considerations of life as a vampire is so thoughtfully and thought-provokingly done, and in vivid, scene-setting prose. This is such a great example of how speculative fiction has such profound potential to speak to the realities of our lives.” —Anna-Marie McLemore, author of Stonewall Honor When the Moon Was Ours

“The stories in this anthology blend fear and resilience, featuring unforgettable characters who defy the idea of ‘brokenness’ and redefine what it means to be strong.”
—Brenda Drake, New York Times bestselling author of the Library Jumpers series

“Reimagining a genre that’s often known for representing characters with disabilities as villains, this horror anthology reveals the power held within disabled bodies.” —Kirkus, starred review

“Kissed By Death” by Fin Leary: Agender and disabled teenager Luca (they/she) hasn’t seen their best friend Ilana in nearly three years. Ilana (she/her) disappeared the day Luca confessed her romantic feelings on the beach in their coastal hometown of Provincetown, Massachusetts. Then Ilana knocks on her window late at night, only now she’s a violently hungry vampire and she’s thirsty for revenge. Can Luca help their old friend—who she still thinks is incredibly hot, despite the bloodstained jeans—without the two of them tearing each other apart? Fans of Jennifer’s Body and My Chemical Romance will sink their teeth into this YA sapphic horror-romance about grief and the lengths we would go to for the ones we love most.

About These Bodies Ain’t Broken

A monstrous transformation within your own body.
A sacrificial imprisonment.
A fight to the death against an ancient evil.

These stories showcase disabled characters winning against all odds.

Outsmarting deadly video games, hunting the predatory monster in the woods, rooting out evil within their community, finding love and revenge with their newly turned vampire friend―this anthology upends expectations of the roles disabled people can play in horror. With visibly and invisibly disabled characters whose illnesses include Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Crohn’s disease, diabetes, PTSD, and more, each entry also includes a short essay from the author about the conditions portrayed in their stories to further contextualize their characters’ perspectives. From breaking ancient curses to defying death itself, these 13 horror stories cast disabled characters as heroes we can all root for.

Contributors include bestselling and award-winning as well as emerging authors: Dana Mele, Lillie Lainoff, Anandi, Soumi Roy, Fin Leary, S.E. Anderson, K. Ancrum, Pintip Dunn, Lily Meade, Mo Netz, P.H. Low, and Carly Nugent.