I think Murphy is going to get killed here is why

[groinkick]

" In Norse mythology, the Valkyries were beautiful young women who served both as Odin's messengers and as escorts to the souls of warriors killed in battle. In fact, Valkyries means "choosers of the slain." During battle, they would ride upon winged horses and, surveying the field, select brave warriors to die. Then they would transport these souls to Valhalla, Odin's hall. Once in the afterlife, the brave souls were enlisted to fight in the battle of Ragnarok, an apocalyptic conflict signaling the end of the world."

I think that she will get killed, but not leave the stories.  I think that she will die on the field of battle, and be raised, and empowered by Odin as one of his soldiers.  Her youth, and health will be restored, plus enhanced speed, strength, and durability.  She will give the Winter Knight a run for his money in pure hand to hand combat.

Come to think of it there could be other characters who have died that we might see later that were enlisted by Odin...  Susan for example.  Or Morgan...  I mean anyone Jim decides to bring back now has a doorway since we know that Odin, and Valkyries exist.

[nadia.skylark]

Come to think of it there could be other characters who have died that we might see later that were enlisted by Odin...  Susan for example.  Or Morgan...  I mean anyone Jim decides to bring back now has a doorway since we know that Odin, and Valkyries exist.

I doubt Susan will come back. It would dilute the emotional impact of her death too much, and make Harry far too happy.

[peregrine]

Karrin is still pretty Catholic.  She works with Odin's folks, but when she dies she's going to the Christian afterlife.  Maybe work with her dad for Uriel, but I doubt she's going to become a Valkyrie.

[Kindler]

If Murphy dies, she's going to stay dead, I think. It would be way too much of an opportunity to emotionally wreck Harry to undo it by bringing her back. And I seriously doubt she'll become a Valkyrie, or anything other than a regular mortal; it's arguably the most important part of her character with regard to the overall narrative. Aside from that, there's no real benefit to turning her into something else. If Jim needs to give Harry a supernatural ally for something, he's got plenty on the bench that haven't been used recently (Alphas, for example, or all of Winter if it came down to it).

[Hankthemoose]

No, I see no reason that could happen, and a lot of reasons it shouldn't
-Sending Murphy on an afterlife trip would be redundant from a plot perspective.
-Murphy is Catholic, and is NOT in Vadderung's juristiction.
-Murphy's character is built up to be Harry's vanilla human ally who can keep up with the supers. Changing her role makes her boring and irrelevant.
-There is no indication that Odin is still taking applications for Einherjaren. As far as I understand from reading well constructed arguments on the forum, Odin and the Einherjaren used to hold Mab's responsibility of guarding the outer gates against the outsiders until the Fae took over. No need to fight Ragnarok anymore when the Winter Court is doing it.

[g33k]

Yeah... when Murphy dies (and I expect that's "when" not "if"), we won't see her come back to "life."

As others have noted, she'll never be one of Odin's.

She may return as some sort of ghost-ish thing, up to and including a member of Uriel's Spook Squad, or a dreamtime ghost like his dad has been.
 

[KurtinStGeorge]

Didn't Gard already make Murphy a job offer, and didn't Murphy turn down the opportunity; even if she didn't understand the full implications of what she was being offered?

IMO that means Murphy fits the profile Odin is interested in; probably as a valkyrie, not just another einherjar soldier, but she turned the offer down; and as others have pointed out, Murphy is Catholic.  She could never see Odin as more than an employer, not a deity requiring worship or blind obedience to do his bidding; unless it was in something she believed in, like she believed in upholding the law when was she was a part of the Chicago P.D.  I'm not seeing getting ready for Ragnarök something Murphy could really get behind.   

[Regenbogen]

I also don't think she will become a valkyrie.

I think Harry and Karrin will at first be a bit awkward with each other. Then they will get used to it, be happy for a few chapters, and then she will die. I'm not looking forward to reading that and perhaps I am wrong, but I don't think so.
I just can't see Harry in a healthy relationship.

[pcpoet]

Karen  is going to be regulated to being a side character. she is eventually is going to Mary Dresden and take on the role of step mother to Maggie.  this is not going to mean she is written out of the story it just means she will no longer be seeking to be the one who takes on the big bad monster. I am sure she will still have times that she does bad assery and kick some supernatural butt. now it will be her avoiding it but every once in a while being forced into kicking butt in defense of loved ones.

[nadia.skylark]

Karen  is going to be regulated to being a side character. she is eventually is going to Mary Dresden and take on the role of step mother to Maggie.  this is not going to mean she is written out of the story it just means she will no longer be seeking to be the one who takes on the big bad monster. I am sure she will still have times that she does bad assery and kick some supernatural butt. now it will be her avoiding it but every once in a while being forced into kicking butt in defense of loved ones.

So she's going to turn into Charity?

[pcpoet]

 (she is going to turn into charity)basically yes.

[ClintACK]

-There is no indication that Odin is still taking applications for Einherjaren.

Look at the way Gard eyes Dresden in Dead Beat, just before the ghoul almost kills him. Then look at the way Gard eyes Michael in Small Favor, when they're evacuating in the helicopter.

It's pretty clear that she was preparing to fulfill her "chooser of the slain" role and make each of them an afterlife job offer.

 

As far as I understand from reading well constructed arguments on the forum, Odin and the Einherjaren used to hold Mab's responsibility of guarding the outer gates against the outsiders until the Fae took over. No need to fight Ragnarok anymore when the Winter Court is doing it.

I think most of that is probably right, but I'd imagine the Einherjaren would be called into service again if there were ever a breach at the Outer Gates. Just because they're not actively manning the walls doesn't mean they don't have an interest.

And it's hard to imagine Odin isn't scheming *something* to do with his doomsday army, besides hiring them out to gangsters.

[Bad Alias]

It's pretty clear that she was preparing to fulfill her "chooser of the slain" role and make each of them an afterlife job offer.

I wouldn't go that far. It is a distinct possibility, but I wouldn't say she's about to get either of them. Nicodemus says something about how all Knights of the Cross go to Heaven, and that's his biggest disappointment in killing a Knight. That's a point in favor of Murphy going to a Catholic afterlife when she dies.

I would say that Gard has the ability to see that someone is about to die. I'd even say she could take them if they believed in the Norse pantheon. (Those guys are still around. I've met at least one).

[ClintACK]

I think she would have made Michael an offer, though he would have declined.

[Mira]

Karen  is going to be regulated to being a side character. she is eventually is going to Mary Dresden and take on the role of step mother to Maggie.  this is not going to mean she is written out of the story it just means she will no longer be seeking to be the one who takes on the big bad monster. I am sure she will still have times that she does bad assery and kick some supernatural butt. now it will be her avoiding it but every once in a while being forced into kicking butt in defense of loved ones.

I think that would be a very sad ending for her, better she go out in a blaze of glory.