Interesting narrative devices, twists and turns

[redgarters]

There's a few end of year posts already, but I thought it might be interesting if the AH crowd would share interesting narrative devices, plot twists, world-builds, setups or solutions that you've found interesting in stories published in 2025. No self promotion this time, lets give others the laurels here. Maybe warn about spoilers too, if necessary.

 

[old_prof]

I mentioned this one already, but I love how @HyunnaPark weavesxin bits of Korean, both language and culture, in Language Exchange. Teaser, she does it well again in her upcoming Valentine’s Day contest entry

I feel more alignment with Korea from her writing than I have for almost any place form a story, whether here or elsewhere

 

[SmilingLez]

This has been one of my favorite stories this year. @FreyaGersemi

https://www.literotica.com/s/it-started-with-a-broken-mirror

 

[ADirtyPerv]

I'll throw in @storyteller19 's story Survivor's Guilt. Pretty hot sibcest set in the middle of a really interesting (and fuggin gruesome) slasher plot.

 

[SmilingLez]

When it comes to a non-erotic story, @dmallord, this is been my favorite - https://www.literotica.com/s/donovan-milfords-timely-departure

 

[THBGato]

I'm going to sound like a stuck record here soon, but @PennyThompson created one of the most delightful voices with which to world build in Mothman is real... plus her use of Alt Text as a plot device in Accessibility Compliance - well, I haven't come across a more interesting plot device in the 1,000+ stories I've read here this year.

 

[redgarters]

I'm a sucker for worldbuilding that's just slightly skewed from the real world, and @onehitwanda 's Damselfly did that wonderfully. She creates a world that's our world, but not really, and on top of that manages to make Damselfly herself an important character in the story. I loved that.
But the story I had to engage my brain with the most, and read a few times to properly appreciate all the nuances in the narrative was @THBGato's Clara and the Solar System. It's a story that had to be hard to put together, every small thing saying a lot about very big things. I love how much thought is put into things like the symbolism of the Chinese names.

 

[Actingup]

Since @PennyThompson's been grabbed already (so to speak), I'll mention @Publius68's giant

in his Tiki Totem series. Publius always writes with flair, but this one is a cut above.

 

[onehitwanda]

Damselfly did that wonderfully. She creates a world that's our world, but not really, and on top of that manages to make Damselfly herself an important character in the story. I loved that.

I'm glad you enjoyed it. Honestly, I just wanted the excuse to combine planes, romance and France and when the idea took me I ran with it!

 

[THBGato]

This was really well done: https://www.literotica.com/s/a-night-at-the-county-fair by @Arcadia

One night, three interconnected stories. They are great stories too but the cleverness comes from seeing how they link.

 

[Publius68]

Since @PennyThompson's been grabbed already (so to speak), I'll mention @Publius68's giant

in his Tiki Totem series. Publius always writes with flair, but this one is a cut above.

“Bespoke ornament” is great. But the bespoke ornament in question would probably not understand the phrase.
I’m glad people seem to have loved this series. The views have not been exceptional, but the scores and comments have been, frankly, better than I thought the series was going to get. I really was not sure if the idea was going to work or not.

 

[Arcadia]

This was really well done: https://www.literotica.com/s/a-night-at-the-county-fair by @Arcadia

One night, three interconnected stories. They are great stories too but the cleverness comes from seeing how they link.

I'm flattered you thought so highly of it!