10 Best Uses of the “Chosen One” Trope in Fantasy Books

The "Chosen One" trope in fantasy books arguably goes all the way back to The Epic of Gilgamesh, and it endures for a reason. Yet despite being a compelling heroic foundation when done well, it can also be a recipe for disaster in the wrong hands. A good Chosen One narrative puts our protagonist on a clear path towards their destiny while still giving them agency. It lets the Chosen One stumble and fail, even if they ultimately triumph. In some cases, the best Chosen One stories subvert the trope, giving readers something new and unexpected even within the familiar confines. Chosen Ones aren't limited to books, of course. Movies like The Matrix and TV series like Buffy the Vampire Slayer offer compelling, unique takes on the prophesied hero narrative. And of course, the Dragonborn in Skyrim is a sparkling example of a Chosen One in video game form. But alongside great examples on screen, readers looking to sink into a good Chosen One story can certainly find it in the pages of some of the best fantasy stories out there. Whether you want to see a classic triumph or a surprising, devastating failure, there's a Chosen One story ready to deliver. The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan For many readers, Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time series is the go-to example of a well-crafted, traditional Chosen One story. In Rand al'Thor, we have an imperfect Chosen One who is burdened by the weight of his destiny and the prophecy that shapes it. Not everything comes easy to him, and he must grow into his power. Not everyone adores our Chosen One, with plenty of characters determined to stop Rand or use his power for their own gain. In that way, though we do have something of a traditional, prophecy-style Chosen One, Jordan manages to complicate the trope in interesting, compelling ways. In part, this works because the 14-book series arc gives our main character and his companions plenty of space to grow, saving readers from a flat and predictable path from prophecy to fulfillment. You can purchase The Wheel of Time series here. Legendborn by Tracy Deonn The story of King Arthur pulling the sword from the stone is one of the blueprints for a chosen one narrative. Tracy Deonn gives that story a modern twist in her Legendborn series, where our protagonist uncovers a magic secret society. Our magic users, aka Legendborn, comprise a modern-day Round Table. But the Chosen One here isn't who readers might first expect, leading to quite a few complications. This series deliberately plays with reader expectations for how a Chosen One story should go. Our hero, Bree, doesn't immediately accept her destiny. Instead, she fights against it. And those around her aren't so keen to let her be the hero, either, leading to a complex, subversive take on fate, destiny, and lineage. The series has three books on the market so far, with the fourth and final installment still on the way, but what we've already seen proves that the Chosen One trope can still be used in interesting ways in modern fantasy. You can purchase Book 1 in the Legendborn series here. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien The Lord of the Rings has a few Chosen Ones woven into its narrative. We have Aragorn, a chosen king destined to rule again. And then there's Frodo, who becomes the Ringbearer, partly by choice, and partly because fate brought The Ring to him. In this way, Tolkien does some interesting things with the tapestries of fate in his iconic fantasy series. As a Chosen One, Aragorn himself is fairly traditional. Though as Strider, he rejects his destiny, he ultimately steps up to it in true noble form. Frodo, though, is more interesting. He's not very good at being a Chosen One, and it's largely due to the aid of friends and allies that he manages to destroy the One Ring at all. The idea of an ordinary Hobbit taking on such a great task puts a unique spin on the Chosen One Story, one that endures to this day. You can purchase The Lord of the Rings here. Chosen Ones by Veronica Roth Hodder Paperbacks From the title alone, you can tell that Veronica Roth is playing around with the Chosen One trope and reader expectations in Chosen Ones. The Divergent author uses this book to ask what happens after the Chosen Ones fulfill their destinies. It's a question more fantasy books should explore, to be honest, and Roth uses the premise to do something interesting. Chosen Ones takes place 10 years after five teens fulfilled their destinies by overthrowing the Dark One. But a decade later, few remember just how terrible things were before the Dark One disappeared. Few aside from our main character, Sloane, who is plagued by what to do with her life when her prophesied destiny is complete. Originally planned as a series, this book is a compelling standalone fantasy that takes the Chosen One trope in a different direction. You can purchase Chosen Ones here. Realm of the Elderlings by Robin Hobb Robin Hobb has become a Booktok darling, and for good reason. The fantasy writer's sprawling Realm of the Elderlings series, which began with Assassin's Apprentice back in 1995, is a great modern example of the Chosen One trope done well. Throughout the first three trilogies, we see FitzChivalry Farseer's full journey from childhood on through old age, offering a comprehensive look at the growth and toll of being a chosen hero. Like many of the best Chosen One stories, The Realm of the Elderling offers a flawed protagonist who isn't overly powerful and who is allowed to make plenty of mistakes. His destiny forces him to make sacrifices, one he isn't always rewarded for, offering a deep, nuanced take on the toll of being selected to save a kingdom. The expanded series also leaves room to explore other characters in the same world, showing the broader impact of Fitz's choices and journey. You can purchase The Farseer Trilogy for the start of Fitz' journey here. The Faithful and the Fallen by John Gwynne The Faithful and the Fallen is a bestselling high fantasy steeped in myth. In the four-book series, Gwynne draws on and subverts the Chosen One myth by giving us a prophecy centered on two key figures. The key here is that, while one Chosen One will bring light and the other is destined to wreak devastation, it's not entirely clear who will step into which role. For readers first stepping into the series, the puzzle of who will bring light and who will bring darkness adds a layer to this prophecy-driven narrative. And Gwynne doesn't rely on easy answers here, drawing the questions and its implications out across a full coming-of-age saga. It's not hard to see why this story has been optioned for TV. You can purchase Malice, the first book in The Faithful and the Fallen, here. Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson Brandon Sanderson is arguably one of the biggest names in the fantasy space right now, and the Mistborn series is one of his most beloved. It also puts an interesting spin on the Chosen One concept, as our story begins in a world where the chosen Hero of Ages failed in their task. Now, the Lord Ruler's rule continues, a thousand years later, and the Mistborn powers that might set someone apart as a new hero are instead a dangerous risk. As the series goes on, Sanderson continues to play with the Chosen One trope, subverting reader expectations as we follow the new would-be heroine and her band of rebels. You can buy Mistborn here. Kill the Farm Boy by Kevin Hearne & Delilah S. Dawson If you're looking for a book that doesn't just play around with the Chosen One trope, but full-on make fun of it, Kill the Farm Boy will fit the bill. In the not-so-serious style of Monty Python, Kevin Hearne and Delilah S. Dawson join forces to deliver a hilarious fantasy adventure that pokes fun at fairy tale tropes. Our Chosen One is a farm boy on a quest to save a cursed princess, and in his way is your typical Dark Lord determined to stop him. Along the way, the Farm Boy runs across a variety of potential foes and allies, but none of them are quite what he (or the reader) expects. With a diverse and unusual cast of characters, Kill the Farm Boy is a hilarious twist on the Chosen One story that will satisfy fans of Terry Pratchett and Christopher Moore. You can purchase Kill the Farm Boy here. Sailor Moon by Naoko Takeuchi Yes, Sailor Moon is best known by its anime and as a classic Magical Girl story. However, the series began as a manga, which serves as the foundation for the epic story of destiny and reincarnation. And as Princess Serenity, aka Sailor Moon, Usagi is indeed a Chosen One. Just a Chosen One who also happens to be a teenage girl prone to crying fits. Sailor Moon endures as a manga and anime because it delivers not only an interesting version of the Chosen One story, but also features other beloved tropes like fated mates and reincarnation. Readers get to watch Usagi grown into her own, from an unwilling Sailor Scout to the Moon Princess destined to save Earth. Despite the anime's reputation for being aimed at younger audiences, the series doesn't shy away from tough moments and even full-on character death, making the manga a worthy Chosen One series for fantasy readers to enjoy. You can purchase Sailor Moon here. Harry Potter by JK Rowling No matter how you might feel about The Boy Who Lived and the series' author, it's hard to deny that Harry Potter is one of the most well-known modern examples of a Chosen One narrative. From his early days at Hogwarts, Harry learns he's different. As the series progresses, he begins to puzzle out why, eventually uncovering a prophecy that proves his fate as Voldemort's ultimate foe has been sealed from birth. Harry Potter pulls from a lot of fantasy classics to craft its magical world, and in Harry, it delivers a classic Chosen One story. Throughout his arc, Harry spends some time revered and praised as the one who defeated Voldemort. But he also comes up against tough challenges and backlash as his destiny becomes all the more complicated. There's also the twist that the prophecy didn't have to apply to Harry until Voldemort picked him, which adds a satisfying wrinkle to this Chosen One story. You can purchase Harry Potter here.