Greetings, Fellow Adventurers,
It’s another Folklore Friday!
As you know every Friday, we’ll embark on a journey through ancient tales, hidden myths, and mysterious legends that make up the fantasy worlds. Folklore Fridays will dive into the stories that shape the heart of our epic adventures.
So grab your sword, light your lantern, and prepare to journey into realms of fantasy and lore. Who knows what we’ll uncover?
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Your contribution is greatly appreciated. 🙏
THIS WEEK: ENDINGS
Since this is the last Folklore Friday in the series, it seemed fitting to end it on, well, endings.
In fantasy writing, endings serve as the final brushstrokes on a richly imagined canvas, shaping how your readers remember the journey and the world they’ve come to inhabit. Whether triumphant or tragic, ambiguous or neatly resolved, the conclusion of a fantasy story carries immense weight, it must satisfy narrative arcs, honor character growth, and uphold the themes woven throughout the tale. Different kinds of endings offer unique emotional and intellectual payoffs, from the classic “happily ever after” to the unsettling open-ended finale. By exploring the variety of endings found in fantasy, we gain insight into how those endings influence the legacy of our worlds.
Image: Final Fantasy The Spirits Within
TYPES OF ENDINGS
1. The Happy Ending
A satisfying resolution where the protagonist achieves their goal, evil is defeated, and balance is restored. Often features reunion, peace, or the return to a safe or improved home.
Ways to write it in fantasy: Resolve major conflicts decisively, for example, the Dark Lord is defeated, or the curse is broken. Give your characters rewards or closure that reflect their growth like the hero becoming king. Finally use tone and imagery that suggest hope and renewal for example the sun rising or lands restoring.
Example: The Lord of the Rings Frodo and his friends defeat Sauron, the Shire is saved, and the characters return home changed but victorious.
2. The Tragic Ending
A somber conclusion where the protagonist fails or dies, or the world suffers irreversible loss. This emphasizes the harsh realities of fate, war, or flawed choices.
How to write it in fantasy: Foreshadow inevitable consequences or fatal flaws throughout the story. Let the ending reflect the story’s darker themes, such as betrayal, and sacrifice. Kill characters for reasons tied to the narrative arc, not just for shock. Use tone, pacing, and imagery like decay, silence, or fading light to build emotional weight.
Example: Game of Thrones While peace is eventually achieved, many major characters die, and the final outcome is bittersweet and politically complex.
Beowulf is another example of a tragic ending. Beowulf's final act of heroism (slaying the dragon) comes at the cost of his life, leaving his people exposed to invasion and enslavement.
3. The Bittersweet Ending
A blend of triumph and loss. The main goal may be achieved, but not without personal or societal cost. Some characters may die, relationships may end, or peace may be uneasy.
How to write it in fantasy: Let your protagonist win, but leave scars (physically, emotionally, or morally). Create tension between victory and grief; a kingdom saved, but a loved one lost. Reflect on the price of success. Was it worth it? Could it have been avoided? Use reflective dialogue or inner monologue to show your characters processing complex emotions.
Example: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Voldemort is defeated, but key characters like Fred, Lupin, and Tonks die. The world is saved, but not without sacrifice.
4. The Open-Ended Conclusion
An ambiguous or unresolved ending. Major threads may be left hanging, or new questions may arise, inviting readers to imagine what happens next.
How to write it in fantasy: Leave some mysteries intact like the fate of a god, or the meaning of a prophecy. End with a significant but incomplete action, like a journey beginning, a door opening, a letter being read. Make sure the emotional or thematic arc feels complete, even if the plot is not.
Example: Inception The film ends with Cobb, returning home, but his spinning top continues to whirl. The audience is left to decide whether he is finally awake or still in a dream.
5. The Twist Ending
A last-minute revelation changes the reader’s understanding of the story or characters. Often recontextualizes the entire narrative or world.
How to write it in fantasy: Plant subtle clues throughout the story. Keep readers engaged but unaware of the twist’s full implications until the reveal. Make sure the twist adds meaning or depth (not just shock). It should connect to theme or character.
Example: Planet of the Apes the twist is the reveal that the astronauts did not land on an alien planet but on a future, devastated Earth, marked by the discovery of the buried Statue of Liberty.
(I picked an older movie as hopefully not to spoil anything for you)
6. The Cyclical Ending
The story concludes in a state very similar to its beginning, often with the protagonist returning to their starting point, sometimes with subtle changes in their understanding or circumstance.
How to write it in fantasy: Echo the opening scene, setting, or situation in the final chapter. Use recurring motifs like seasons, or legends to reinforce the cycle. Make the repetition meaningful, are your characters trapped in fate, or do they break free? Consider blending ancient prophecy or lore into the plot to foreshadow the return to the beginning.
Example: Wizard of Oz Dorothy is taken from home and after a series of adventures, eventually returns home.
Are you enjoying Folklore Fridays? Any tips are greatly appreciated and help me continue to create and share more content like this. Thank you so much for your generosity and encouragement! 🙏❤️
Personally, I love crafting happy endings, where my characters come out on top after overcoming great challenges. There’s a sense of closure and triumph, but I also like to leave just enough open-ended questions to keep things intriguing. It’s a sweet spot where I think my readers can feel satisfied, yet excited about what’s next. I enjoy weaving in little hints or mysteries that suggest there’s more to come, leaving the door wide open for the next adventure while still honoring the journey my characters just completed.
Let’s call this type of ending
The Happy Open-ended Conclusion
After the climactic battle, where the your protagonist triumphs over the dark forces threatening their world, they return home to a land at peace. The hero is hailed, their journey celebrated, and life begins to rebuild. Yet, as they gaze out toward the horizon, a faint shadow looms, a distant mystery uncovered, or a cryptic message is delivered. The hero realizes that while this chapter is closed, there is a greater adventure that awaits.
The Chronicles of the Shalvasan series follows Klatu and Lily on their journey across the planet Shalvasan. Klatu, once a dustling in the mines, has been taken by King Sylos and raised as the heir to the throne. During the Warrior Trials, Klatu feels a strange pull toward the Red Zone. Driven by this mysterious force, he meets Lily, who is returning to Shalvasan with a deadly infection that threatens to destroy the entire planet. Now, Klatu is torn between his duties to the throne, the growing war, and the desperate search for a cure, all while trying to save the woman he loves.
(I have given you all a little sneak peek into Book One there ❤️)
The series includes:
The Chronicles of the Shalvasan (not released)
The Chronicles of the Shalvasan Ka’nar
The Chronicles of the Shalvasan Hope Against Peril
The Chronicles of the Shalvasan The Dustborne’s Last Oasis
At the end of The Dustborne’s Last Oasis I utilize my Happy open-ended conclusion technique.
Here is one line from Part XL (part of Novaheart’s Exclusive Content)
“Kairys, among them, had taken a liking to King Kragar, attempting to manipulate his decisions with her feminine wiles. She was Kragar’s only weakness, though so far, this had not come to light.”⬅️
That was my seed for The Crown of Ashes and Blood Series. Which now is into it’s third book!
Get your copy of The Crown of Ashes Book I and Book II today! Both books are available now on Amazon and Kindle.✨
I know how The Crown of Ashes and Blood ends. It should also be 4 books long. I do not want to give away too much 😉
Picture of Lily and Klatu at the end of The Chronicles of the Shalvasan A Dustborne’s Last Oasis.
I can't believe we're at the end of the Folklore Friday series. It's been such an amazing journey, and I hope you've been enjoying every twist and turn! But don’t worry, there's still time to dive into the magic, mystery, and adventure that these stories hold.
If you haven’t yet explored my books, now's the perfect time! You can grab your copies through these links:
🔗 Check out the full series on Substack
📚 Or head over to Amazon to grab your favorites:
Red Fall Rising
The Crown of Ashes Blood I & II
Thank you so much for your support and encouragement, they mean the world to me! ❤️