12820+ Fantasy Short Stories to read

Submitted by writers on Reedsy Prompts to our weekly writing contest. Though fantasy is well known for its epically long sagas, fantasy short stories can deliver all the genre’s best attractions with one punch — or, shall we say, in one fiery dragon breath?

🏆 Winning stories

“Fae Touched” by D. Grimes

🏆 Winner of Contest #220

Siobhan awoke to the Irish sun spilling in the open doorframe of their single-room cottage. Her back pressed against Sean’s, and she moved carefully so as to not wake him on his day off morning duties— today, she would feed the cattle and chickens. She rolled over, a stray mattress feather poking her side, and saw Aoife’s small body in her basket, enveloped by a blanket. A surge in Siobhan’s chest shot her awake—Aoife hadn’t cried once through the night. Siobhan scrambled to her feet, bare soles pressed into the cool packed dirt, no longe...

116 likes 46 comments 46

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“Do Flamethrowers Belong In The Library?” by Kenz Ross

🏆 Winner of Contest #211

We lose people all the time. It’s just the nature of the job. What can you expect from a place full of nooks and crannies people intentionally go to get lost in? I usually don’t worry when I don’t see someone for a while, but when it’s been days since someone’s checked out, it’s usually a sign that I need to step in. I’m not doing this alone, thankfully. No Librarian i...

189 likes 166 comments 166

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“The Fate of Customer 12” by HR Pinches

🏆 Winner of Contest #197

 Normal people don’t have destinies. Of course, I never tell them that. When they come into my shop, I take their palms solemnly—after I take their payment, $25 cash or card—and stare into the blankness of their futures with undue reverence. Day after day, year after year, they come: the businessmen and the soccer moms, the mailroom clerks, dentists, and hairstylists of the world. The politicians and the theologians, too. The young an...

260 likes 113 comments 113

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⭐️ Recommended stories

“The Unintended Masterpiece” by Jim LaFleur

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #246

Once, in the recesses of Josh’s cluttered study—a space so densely populated with crumpled papers and half-finished manuscripts it could have been mistaken for the lair of a particularly literary breed of dragon—a plot of exquisite pettiness took root. Josh, an author whose disposition was as sunny as a thundercloud, and whose success in the literary world was comparable to a lead balloon in an origami competition, harbored a grudge. This was no ordinary grudge; it was an epic, monumental, could-be-the-subject-of-a-Greek-tragedy kind of grud...

35 likes 55 comments 55

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“Protector of the Stars” by Serynsatina Song

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #245

Low clouds swelled over splashes of gold-flecked vermilion sky on the sunset eve of my sister’s death anniversary. The air tasted of winter-chilled pine, piercing tiny needles into my lungs as I inhaled. The pain was electric, filling my head with a low buzzing. It was better than feeling nothing at all, and for that I was grateful. I trudged towards my apartment, nano-rifle swinging awkwardly against my hip, taking in the sights of my city awash in crepuscular glow. The sharp, clean lines of pewter architecture cutting austere shadows over ...

16 likes 7 comments 7

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“Apparition in Blue, No. 5. ” by Darya Black

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #242

“There is a hidden side to every picture—the conception which was in the artist’s mind and heart. That conception, when he formed it, expressed itself clearly in the astral and mental matter, even though he may have succeeded but partially in bringing his idea down to the physical world.” — C. W. Leadbeater, The Hidden Side of Things, Vol. II, 1913  1: Separation I don’t know much about the man who created me. I feel only threads of him, currents of his energy seeping through the paint in my veins. In my mind, he is a bearded man, ...

16 likes 9 comments 9

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✍️ All stories

“Match Point” by D.J. Bogner

Submitted to Contest #246

It was set point. I lost the first one—I can’t lose this one, too. I laser-focused onto Alex across the net at the baseline, took a deep breath, went into my Zen-mode, and sent him into slow-motion. I could read his serve like it was a kid’s picture book. High ball toss about a foot out into the court, deep knee dip into a low crouch, body swiveled under it, trunk and shoulders coiled. He’s going for the slice—I leaped right and straddled the alley. Slo-mo ended—WHAM! No! He pronated the racket at the last second—blasted it down the T! He ac...

16 likes 6 comments 6

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“I was seeing them” by Negin B

Submitted to Contest #246

It was a few minutes before sunset when I started noticing them. They weren’t showing their faces yet, but I could hear them or see a leaf moving strangely here or there. After that, It only took a few minutes for them to come out of their hiding places and slowly coming towards us – towards me, it felt -. Roger was sitting on one of the two swings in the park, and the other two musketeers – George and Eric – were sitting on the grass, right in front of him. Of course, no one would dare to use the other swing. I decided to get closer to the ...

2 likes 0 comments 0

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“A Whipped Dwarf” by Daniel Rogers

Submitted to Contest #246

"Stop shaking and just throw," Flimlet said.Gormick, a nervous black-bearded dwarf, ignored his dwarf comrade and continued shaking his fist full of five coins, "Four dragons! Four dragons! By Xer-Bane! Give me four dragons!" He released the coins into a walled square wooden game board. The coins bounced, spun, and fell – two dragons and three kings."Yes! Ah ha! Got you!" Flimlet slid a large pile of coins towards him. "All mine!""You're a butt hole," Gormick shook his head and laughed. "But a richer butt hole than me.""Sorry, Gormick," Flim...

24 likes 12 comments 12

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“On the Trail” by M B

Submitted to Contest #246

Normalton Middle School’s playground sat silent save for the slight metallic creak of the playground equipment as the breeze blew through. A far cry from the usual cacophony of children screaming and laughing in play. The sun had long set, and the moon now kept watch in the sky. The entire playground was a picture of serenity as it waited for the light of day and the return of the many children who would fill the yard with their voices and imaginations. But for now, only two teenage girls stood upon the grounds of the playground as they caug...

6 likes 2 comments 2

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“Be Careful What You Wish For” by Traci Dietrich

Submitted to Contest #246

I stepped out the front door with Sam, zipping his backpack as he struggled to get his arms in his jacket. He was late for the bus again today. Thankfully it stopped at the entrance to our cul-de-sac a block away. As I watched him sprint down the sidewalk, I saw Nina from next door working on her petunias.  A little early for that isn’t it, I thought to myself glancing at my watch. 7:18 A.M. It was too early for chit chat, so I waved and smiled in her direction before sneaking back inside.  I walked past Nina’s house yesterday afte...

10 likes 0 comments 0

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“When the Games Stop” by Timothy Motley

Submitted to Contest #246

Matt Lorain steamed. How could such insignificant creatures dare to question him? He was a genius, a billionaire, an innovator. These lowly creatures owed everything to him and now they had the gull to question him. Matt sat at the head of a large ovular desk surrounded by the board members of Nurv@na in a room encased by glass. The board members all wore suits, he wore his signature hooded sweatshirt and cargo pants. They were all clear eyed and bushy tailed. Matt’s eyes were bloodshot and he reeked of alcohol. Donald Parker cleared his thr...

3 likes 0 comments 0

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“Pandora's Game” by Kendall Cruze

Submitted to Contest #246

Claire stood outside the massive gray building that towered over the city. For a gaming facility, the outside was pretty bare, and institutional looking. She walked into the building, feeling the gust of icy air conditioning hit her face after being in the warm, spring air outside.Shivering slightly, she made her way across the empty lobby, her footsteps echoing throughout. Inside was one giant computer screen on the walls, flashing from one graphic to the next."Hello miss." A friendly voice pulled her gaze. Looking ahead, she saw friendly w...

2 likes 0 comments 0

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“Roll for Initiative” by Magnum Tenebrosum

Submitted to Contest #246

In the shadowed rear of "Legends & Lore," a quaint comic book store on the corner of an otherwise forgettable street in downtown Oakwood, a small, dimly lit room buzzed with excitement every Thursday night. The flicker of overhead lamps did little to illuminate the corners of the space, which was packed with shelves brimming with dusty role-playing game manuals and classic fantasy novels. Amidst this backdrop, a sturdy wooden table served as the weekly battlefield, sea chart, and mystic landscape for a group of tabletop role-playing enth...

4 likes 0 comments 0

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“The Planchette Spells L-O-V-E” by Teresa Antignani

Submitted to Contest #246

The Planchette Spells L-O-V-E  After their waltz, he grabbed her hand and led her through the crowded ballroom. Checking to see if the fire breathing chaperones noticed, he guided her with gusto through the double doors down a long hall and out a back door. Breathing in the fresh air, he ran ahead for an amusing game of cat and mouse. She followed him deep into the lush hedge maze of the mansion’s gardens. “Percival, come out come out wherever you are.” He sprang forth, surprising her. She giggled with delight as he bro...

4 likes 0 comments 0

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“The monster within” by Edoardo Garavaglia

Submitted to Contest #246

“And you dare to call that a song? Come on!” shouted the huntsman, emphasizing the admonition by throwing a dagger to the battered man sitting on a chair, the sole survivor of the tavern furniture, which has been crushed or simply overturned here and there around the room.  The wretch target couldn’t help but gasping as the point of the blade stub the wooden wall behind his shoulder, joining a crowd of companions already violently settled down.  “That was close” thought the hostage, giving birth to a sigh of relief.  “Don’t ge...

6 likes 0 comments 0

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“Appearance” by Lauren Normac

Submitted to Contest #246

Pryce put his hands on his hips. "You want me to what?""I think I was pretty clear.""Do you know who I am?""Of course I do. That's why you can swing with me."Presumably she meant she was safe, that she wouldn't make assumptions.When he didn't respond, she sighed. He couldn't read her expression for more. She had an invisible face. And invisible everything else. He could only look at her clothes to see her.Right now, he saw the heels of her shoes dig into the ground, bringing her swing to a halt. In fairness, she hadn't been swinging very har...

3 likes 0 comments 0

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“Lars From Mars” by Michael Jefferson

Submitted to Contest #246

Astronaut Lars Bergman plants the Swedish national flag on the surface. Spencer Vertigo embeds the flag of the United States next to it. “This is Lars from Mars…”  “CUT! Off camera, Frazier Capstone the project’s director, slams his open hand against his forehead. “I never thought I’d see a Swedish ham,” Frazier comments, as the camera crew attempts to stifle their laughter. “This is supposed to be the greatest moment in the history of mankind. We’re not doing this to turn you into a Swedish Oprah Winfrey. Try it again. And this time co...

6 likes 4 comments 4

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“Never Swing Too High” by Leslie Cieplechowicz

Submitted to Contest #246

Never Swing Too High    Fen and Tyrn sat curled on the curved seats layered with rusty fuzz, their ghostly bodies flickering every time a breeze stirred their perches. Their swings dangled on two sinewy ropes, mounted to a cylinder, bleached like aged bones. The apparitions’ fingers wrapped around the cords which cast stretched shadows across the small clearing hugged by mottled trees.    “If only I had sticked the landing. If only,” moaned Fen.    Tyrn sighed. Not again. How many d...

4 likes 1 comment 1

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“Enter the Shadowlands” by Jakob Roy

Submitted to Contest #246

Edward Crane stood in the stone frame of a high arching window, his too pale hands pressed against the cool glass. His world, the real world, had a sky bright and blue, crowned by a sun burning yellow. But here, the sky was a constant and unchanging shade of stormy gray, the sun itself a pale, dim thing, offering only the faintest illumination to the dead fields and thin forests of leafless, bone-white trees below. And though there was a strange, haunting beauty to this cold world, he had neither the interest nor the concentration to pay it ...

8 likes 1 comment 1

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“Trickster” by S. E. Foley

Submitted to Contest #246

This story contains fire, and details that could be triggering. Loki’s tail swept the air as he trotted along the wooded line behind the suburban houses on Siverlace Lane. He couldn’t resist the form of a coyote. What else should he be when skulking about aimlessly, weaving betwixt weed, tree, and ridiculously, meticulously trimmed lawns? People could mistake him for a rangy dog, or recognize him for the forest dweller he was pretending to be.  Human-shaped strangers tended to be noticed, and the game was to go unseen that afternoon. T...

16 likes 12 comments 12

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