Why do “unchosen” or rejected protagonists feel more powerful than chosen ones? > Likes and Comments

I’ve been noticing that some of the most compelling YA fantasy stories aren’t about characters who are immediately chosen or destined for greatness, but the ones who are overlooked, rejected, or left behind.

There’s something about that initial rejection that makes their journey feel more real and more earned.

When a character isn’t chosen at first, their growth feels like a struggle rather than a given, and it makes the payoff much stronger when they finally step into something bigger.

I’m curious how others feel about this.

Do you find “unchosen” or outsider protagonists more engaging than traditional chosen ones?

Any books that really did this well?

I'm going to go with the basic answer on that second question and say Powerless lol.