There exists in all of us a quiet voice—a whisper that perhaps we too are meant for something grander than the ordinary course of days. We suspect that destiny, that capricious architect, may yet tap us upon the shoulder and declare us extraordinary. It is this very longing that draws us, time and again, to stories of chosen ones, of prophecies fulfilled, and of quests that span the breadth of imagined worlds.
We have gathered here the finest such tales, in which ordinary souls awaken to find themselves extraordinary indeed, destined to carry the weight of ages upon their shoulders.
The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan
We begin, as one must, with the grandest prophecy tale ever committed to page. Robert Jordan’s magnificent fourteen-volume saga introduces us to Rand al’Thor, a shepherd’s son from a sleepy village who may be the Dragon Reborn—the prophesied figure destined either to save the world or destroy it utterly.
When the mysterious Aes Sedai Moiraine arrives in the Two Rivers, she sets in motion events foretold for millennia. Jordan weaves together elements of Buddhist cyclical time and Zoroastrian dualism into something wholly original. The prose never falters across some four million words, and each volume builds upon the last like stones in a magnificent cathedral. Brandon Sanderson completed the final three volumes after Jordan’s passing, honoring the vision with breathtaking skill.
Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
Speaking of Sanderson, we must direct your attention to this remarkable tale that dares to ask: what if the prophesied hero failed a thousand years ago? In a world where ash falls eternally from darkened skies and an immortal Lord Ruler reigns as god, a street urchin named Vin discovers she possesses extraordinary powers.
The genius of this novel lies in its audacious premise—that prophecies might be manipulated, that chosen ones might be chosen by forces less benevolent than they appear. Sanderson’s intricate magic system, where characters ingest and “burn” metals to gain abilities, stands among fantasy literature’s most inventive creations. Forbes magazine praised the series for its “bloody precision,” and we find ourselves quite unable to disagree.
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
We keep Sanderson close at hand, for his Stormlight Archive deserves equal reverence. Upon Roshar, a world of stone scoured by supernatural tempests, the Knights Radiant fell centuries ago, leaving behind mystical weapons and armor that make ordinary warriors nearly invincible.
Three souls—a fallen soldier turned slave, a high prince haunted by prophetic visions, and a young scholar with dangerous secrets—find their fates intertwining as ancient threats reawaken. At over a thousand pages, it demands commitment, yet readers proclaim it among the greatest epic fantasies ever penned. The David Gemmell Legend Award agreed, honoring it in 2011.
Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings
Long before prophecy tales became fashionable, David Eddings crafted the very archetype. Young Garion lives peacefully on a farm with his Aunt Pol, listening to tales told by an old storyteller called Mister Wolf. When dire news arrives concerning a stolen artifact, Garion finds himself swept into a journey far greater than anything he imagined—one that will reveal surprising truths about those closest to him and his own place in an ancient prophecy.
The Guardian credited Eddings with creating “the craze for doorstopper-sized fantasy series,” and The Belgariad remains comfort reading of the highest order. The banter sparkles with wit, particularly from the character Silk, whose roguish charm delights at every appearance. It may follow familiar paths, but it carved those very paths into existence.
The Black Prism by Brent Weeks
We present to you a world where light itself becomes the instrument of magic—and of prophecy most peculiar. Gavin Guile serves as the Prism, a religious emperor who can split light into every colour and wield powers beyond ordinary men. Yet nothing in this world proves quite what it seems, and a young boy named Kip may prove the key to ancient predictions.
The Lightbringer prophecy speaks of one who shall slay gods and kings, a champion of mysterious birth destined to shatter all that came before. Weeks crafted a magic system to rival Sanderson’s finest—chromaturgy, where drafters draw power from specific colours of light. The series earned a David Gemmell Legend Award nomination, and readers declare the plotting among the deepest in modern fantasy.
The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson
Princess Elisa bears the Godstone in her navel—a sapphire mark appearing once every century upon one chosen by God. Yet she begins this tale as an overlooked second daughter, uncertain and fearful, convinced she lacks the qualities her divine selection demands.
Rae Carson crafts something rare: a chosen one who must discover her own worth through struggle rather than destiny simply revealing itself. The William C. Morris Award recognized this remarkable debut, placing Carson alongside Tamora Pierce and Megan Whalen Turner among young adult fantasy’s finest voices. Elisa’s journey from frightened princess to capable leader resonates with profound authenticity.
Eragon by Christopher Paolini
When a farm boy discovers a mysterious stone that hatches into a dragon, he finds himself the last of the legendary Dragon Riders—hunted by an evil king, guided by an ancient storyteller, and destined to overthrow an empire. Christopher Paolini wrote this at fifteen, and its youthful enthusiasm shines throughout.
The Inheritance Cycle has sold over forty million copies, speaking to its irresistible premise. Paolini captures magnificently what it might feel like to ride a fire-breathing dragon—the wind, the views, the bond between rider and creature. A television adaptation for Disney+ approaches, promising to introduce these wonders to new generations.
Malice by John Gwynne
In the Banished Lands, an ancient prophecy foretells that two champions shall arise—the Bright Star, avatar of creation, and the Black Sun, herald of destruction. Young Corban, a blacksmith’s son, finds himself swept into this awakening conflict as the world around him transforms and ancient powers stir once more.
John Gwynne won the David Gemmell Morningstar Award for this magnificent debut, and comparisons to Gemmell himself abound throughout reviews. The tale unfolds across multiple perspectives, each character rendered with such care that readers declare themselves equally invested in every thread. Four volumes comprise the complete story, each nominated for or winning further accolades.
The Shadow of What Was Lost by James Islington
Twenty years have passed since the Augurs—wielders of prophecy and foresight—were overthrown, their powers now forbidden. Young Davian possesses abilities he dare not reveal, for those who once saw the future are now reviled as tyrants. Yet ancient enemies stir beyond the boundary, and prophecies long suppressed demand fulfillment.
James Islington crafted this debut with prophecies that speak plainly rather than in riddles, a refreshing departure from cryptic verse. The Barnes & Noble Fantasy Blog declared it destined to become the next obsession for Wheel of Time devotees, and the trilogy concludes with the kind of satisfaction that leaves readers both bereft and grateful.
The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams
In the castle of the High King, there lives a scullion named Simon—a dreamer given to laziness and wool-gathering, destined, one might assume, for nothing more remarkable than a lifetime of kitchen work. How deliciously wrong such assumptions prove to be.
Tad Williams crafted here a tale that bridged the ancient and the modern, inspiring a generation of fantasy authors including George R.R. Martin and Patrick Rothfuss. The prose flows with such descriptive beauty that one cannot help but be swept along. This is the sort of epic fantasy perfect for losing oneself entirely, wrapping its familiar tropes around you like the most comfortable of blankets whilst simultaneously surprising you at every turn.
She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan
In fourteenth-century China, a peasant girl is told by a fortune-teller that she is destined for nothing, while her brother shall achieve greatness. When famine claims her family, she refuses to accept this fate, taking her brother’s name and destiny as her own.
This historical fantasy subverts the chosen one narrative with fierce intelligence, asking whether destiny is assigned or seized. It won the British Fantasy Award for Best Novel and Best Newcomer simultaneously, and the praise proves well-earned. Political intrigue abounds, ambition blazes, and the protagonist’s complicated relationship with identity and power makes for uncommonly rich reading.
Wizard’s First Rule by Terry Goodkind
Richard Cypher lives a simple life as a woods guide until he rescues a mysterious woman named Kahlan from assassins. She brings word of a boundary between worlds falling, of dark magic spreading, and of Richard’s destiny as the Seeker of Truth.
Terry Goodkind crafted a tale packed with action, sorcery, and adventure, pushing the genre into darker territory than many predecessors dared. The novel crackles with intensity—readers scarcely catch their breath before the next peril arrives. The Sword of Truth series has sold over twenty-six million copies worldwide, inspiring a devoted following and a television adaptation. This is heroic fantasy painted in bold, unflinching strokes.
Crown of Vengeance by Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory
The prophecy speaks of Vieliessar Farcarinon and a great Darkness that shall consume the elven kingdoms. She is the Child of the Prophecy, destined to save her people—even if salvation requires shattering every custom and destroying the very world she was born to rule.
This vast epic spans generations and encompasses a remarkable cast of characters, each rendered with care and complexity. Lackey and Mallory blend their considerable talents to create a tale praised for its realism and scope. For readers who delight in ambitious fantasy that takes its time and rewards patience, this prophecy-driven saga offers generous satisfactions.
Discovering Your Own Destiny
Each of these tales offers something distinct—from Jordan’s sprawling epic to Carson’s intimate exploration of a reluctant chosen one. We suggest beginning wherever your heart directs you. Each story whispers the same tantalizing possibility: that the extraordinary lies dormant within the ordinary, awaiting only the proper moment to awaken.
Just wait, dear reader. Your future may be far greater than you know. Perhaps it might be best to prepare yourself, starting with any of these fine tales of those who have gone before, just in case.
