Understanding The Chosen One and Their Inevitable Journey

Last week I talked about the Reluctant Hero. Today, let’s delve into the Chosen One. This is a hero who may resist their calling, but their path is inevitable.

Elements of these two archetypes often overlap, but here’s where their core difference lies—it’s about the why. The Chosen One is often marked by destiny (that inevitable journey)—picked by prophecy, bloodline, or fate to fulfill a specific role (Harry Potter)—while the Reluctant Hero is an ordinary person thrust into extraordinary circumstances and forced to rise (John McClane). The Chosen One may resist their calling, but there’s a sense that the path was always meant for them and that, ultimately, it’s unavoidable. The Reluctant Hero, on the other hand, chooses their path despite having every reason to walk away.

So the Chosen Hero. You know them well: a prophecy, a mentor, or some mysterious legacy or secret power leads to the sudden realization that the fate of the world rests on one person’s shoulders…on their shoulders. It’s a common storytelling trope that’s been around forever because, well… it still works. It still gets us. It still gets me even when I see it coming a mile away.

Maybe it’s because the Chosen One’s calling is inevitable. It taps into something deep and universal—that quiet voice in all of us that wonders, “What if I’m meant for something more?”

Honestly, I’ve Had a Love-Hate Relationship With This Archetype

There was a period of time when I thought, Okay, not another Chosen One story. They were everywhere—YA books, dystopian worlds, fantasy series, and a lot—I mean a lot—of them started to feel a little too similar, and the whole trope felt overdone.

But I’m never quick to dismiss something, so I gave it some thought. Specifically, I thought about the Chosen One heroes that stuck with me. The ones that felt different somehow. The ones that made me feel something. That’s when I realized the trope was not the problem.

It’s how authors were using it.

The Chosen One will always work when the character feels real… when their journey is messy and emotional and personal (i.e., relatable). And not because they were told they were important, but because they grow into someone who matters through grit and growth and heartbreak. It’s the epitome of the Hero’s Journey.

Why Readers Keep Coming Back

At its heart, a story with the Chosen One archetype is about purpose. That matters to us, as readers, because we all want to feel like we matter, don’t we? That we’re part of something bigger. That our life has meaning.

That connection…that purpose is what these stories offer.

They can be set in magical kingdoms or post-apocalyptic wastelands. It doesn’t matter where, as long as there’s a deeply human core, which means a person who doubts themselves, who didn’t ask for the burden, and who has to figure out who they are while carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders.

When that’s done well, it can be so powerful.

Writing a Chosen One That Feels Fresh

If you’re playing with this archetype in your own story, here are a few things I’ve learned along the way—both from writing and from reading (and if I’m honest, a little bit of binge-watching 😚).

1. Make It Personal, Not Just Prophetic

The prophecy is fun. I’ve written about a prophecy in my upcoming (2026) release and fate in my Book Magic series. The scope is smaller in my books—more save the family rather than save the world, but the purpose is there, clear as day. If you make the stakes personal and close, it strengthens the whole story. 

Don’t just show the big “end of the world” stuff. Show the best friend who doesn’t understand. The mom they miss. The life they had to leave behind. That’s the stuff that gives the big moments their punch.

The world may very well be burning, but if your hero’s sister is in danger…well, now I’m all in.

2. Let Your Hero Push Back

One of my favorite things about the Chosen One archetype is when the hero doesn’t accept their role right away. Or maybe even not at all.

Let them question the prophecy and challenge the people trying to guide them. Let them want off the merry-go-round. That resistance is what will make their eventual commitment feel earned. The byproduct of that is that the story is way more interesting.

Some of my favorite Chosen Ones are the ones who looked at their supposed “destiny” and immediately said, “No thanks” (or, as sometimes happens in stories like this, the ‘no’ is thrust upon them–Moana comes to mind).

3. Keep Them Human

This is one of the most important things to remember. The best Chosen Ones aren’t shiny and perfect saviors. They mess up. They have moments of fear and selfishness. They grieve. They get angry. They cry. This is what makes them so relatable. They have doubts and, again, want off the ride.

You need to give your character room to grow. Let them earn their transformation (the resurrection in The Hero’s Journey). Let them disappoint people sometimes. All of this is what makes their journey feel real.

A Few of My Favorites

I love a good book recommendation, so here are a few Chosen One characters that do it right.

• • Buffy Summers (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)—Yes, Buffy’s the Slayer, but she’s also a teenage girl trying to live a normal life. Her snarky, complicated, emotional journey is everything (this may date me, but she’s iconic).

• • Aang (Avatar: The Last Airbender)—Aang is a kid who just wants to ride his sky bison, not save the world. The weight of his role and how he carries it with a true heart are what make him unforgettable. 

• • Rand al’Thor (Wheel of Time)—Rand al’Thor has a slow-burn arc that’s full of doubt, resistance, and lots of layers of internal conflict. It’s classic Chosen One in every sense. 

• • Katniss Everdeen—While Katniss is not technically a prophecy-style Chosen One (she’s definitely a Reluctant Hero), she does become a symbol of something big, and people cling to that. They need her. She never asked to lead a revolution…which makes it all the more powerful when she does.

 

Chosen… But Still Choosing

I think what draws me back to the Chosen One archetype isn’t just that someone is destined for greatness—it’s watching them wrestle with that destiny, question it, and ultimately choose what kind of hero they’ll become.

They weren’t seeking glory.
They were just trying to live their life.
But then the world asked something of them, and they had to say yes.
Even though it wasn’t part of their plan.
Even though they were scared.

That’s the part that sticks with me.
That’s the kind of story I want to write.

Now You!

Have you written a Chosen One hero? Or are you working on a story that plays with this idea?

Or maybe you’ve got a favorite version—book, movie, or show—that still gives you chills?

Leave a comment! I’d love to hear what you’re working on or reading. And I’d love to hear your Chosen One recommendations.

And if you want a tool to help you dig into your character’s journey, grab my free Character Archetype Cheat Sheets.

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