Dirge. A dirge is a slow, sad song or poem, and it can also be used to describe a story that has a very mournful tone. It's not as commonly used as some other words for a sad story.
Plaintive yarn. 'Plaintive' has a sense of expressing sorrow or melancholy. A 'yarn' is an informal term for a story. So a plaintive yarn is a rather sad or sorrowful story, which is a bit of an unusual way to refer to a sad story.
Repertory. While it is more often associated with things like a list of plays that a theater might perform, it can also be used in a more general sense to mean a collection. In the context of novels, we could think of a repertory of novels as a collection that might be used for study, reference, or enjoyment, although this usage is less common.
Amatory account. 'Amatory' is related to love or sexual love in a more archaic sense. So an amatory account can be a story about love, perhaps with a more old - fashioned or literary feel.
Phantom narrative.
Sure. In a certain city, there was a prohibition on dancing in public places. A group of dancers who used to perform for the joy of the people were heartbroken. They had spent years perfecting their art, and now they couldn't show it to the public. They lost their main source of income and the sense of community they had built around their dancing.
Sure, 'creepy yarn' can be used instead of horror story. It gives the idea of a story that makes you feel uneasy or gives you the creeps.
A 'doleful story' can also be used instead of a sad story. The word 'doleful' has a connotation of sadness and grief. It makes you think of something that is mournful or depressing. For example, a story about a character who has lost everything - their family, their home, and their hope - can be described as a doleful story.
A Chinese student who was studying abroad really wanted to go back home for his birthday. But he couldn't afford the flight ticket. On his birthday, he watched videos of his family back in China celebrating birthdays in the past, and he was very sad as he missed his home and family so much.
Romance can also be seen as another word for fiction. Fiction often includes elements of love and relationships, and romance novels are a big part of the fictional genre. So, in a way, romance can be used as a substitute for fiction, especially when the focus is on the relationship aspect of the story. It encompasses a wide range of stories from historical romances to contemporary love stories.