Arguably literature’s most enduring trope. It has dominated storytelling for… well… literally forever. From ancient myths to modern bestsellers.

But what is it?

It’s a narrative device that revolves around a destined protagonist, prophecies, bloodlines, or divine meddling. Usually, the protagonist has to save the world, defeat the big bad evil whatever, and/or fulfill some great purpose.

Is it overused? Probably.

But who cares? It’s in our earliest remembered stories like King Arthur, and in modern stories, the trope has started to be deconstructed by authors like Terry Pratchett, Robert Jordan, and Brandon Sanderson.

Here’s the thing. It still works. The Chosen One! We all want to believe we’re special, that our struggles have meaning, and most importantly, that we can make a difference. This literary device offers fulfillment of these wishes, and it mirrors the hero’s journey that Joseph Campbell identified.

The call to adventure, refusal, mentorship, trials, and a transformation to create a satisfying arc that is familiar and profound.

Personally, I love those challenges to that cycle. In The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan, we see the exploration of the psychological cost of being the chosen one, of how prophecy can become a prison. Stephen King, in The Dark Tower, shows Roland driven close to insanity by his quest, giving up everything and everyone for his destiny.

This trope has endured and survived because it addresses a question we all have. Purpose, destiny, and significance—what is the point of all this? (Gestures vaguely to life.) The best Chosen Ones earn their status through sacrifice, growth, and moral choice, not just birthright.

Which is one problem I’ve always had with the Chosen One trope. The divine right of kings. They were born to it. But we have free will. WE get to choose what we want. We are all the protagonists of our own stories, but most of us don’t get prophecies or divine mandates. And … we can’t all be the chosen one, can we? Could you imagine? That would be crazy. So what happens when the main character isn’t the chosen one? Or when the main character is the chosen one, and they aren’t chosen?

I wrote a novel to answer that exact question. To explore what it is to be the main character, as we all are, and still not be chosen. And it’s coming out May 1st in honor of Military Appreciation Month and Mental Health Awareness Month, under the pseudonym Devin Vandriel.

If you’re interested here is a link to pre-order the book. Click HERE to go to Amazon.

If you want to read the book, but just can’t justify that price. That’s fine! I am looking for advanced readers who will get the book for free, in exchange for an honest review. Apply HERE.

Here’s a sneak peek of the cover!