Val Thorvald

Q: "Who is Val Thorvald?"

"Val is a freelance assassin with magical abilities living in modern-day Seattle. She specializes in taking down dangerous paranormals and supernatural threats for a living."

Q: "What defines Val's character?"

"Val is pragmatic, independent, and skilled in combat. She has a dry, cynical sense of humor and initially cares only about completing jobs and getting paid, but her experiences with Zav and ongoing threats force her to confront larger responsibilities."

Q: "What are Val's magical abilities?"

"Val possesses powerful magically-imbued combat skills, though the exact nature of her powers and their origin becomes a central mystery that unfolds throughout the series as she discovers connections to ancient magical lineages."

Val Thorvald is the protagonist of Lindsay Buroker’s Death Before Dragons urban fantasy series, set in modern-day Seattle. A freelance assassin with magical abilities, Val makes her living hunting down dangerous paranormals—supernatural beings who have fled from other realms to hide on Earth.

Val’s life follows a predictable pattern of taking assignments, eliminating threats, and collecting payment until she encounters Zavryd, a dragon shifter and judge from the cosmic realms who enforces Dragon Justice. Forced into an unwanted partnership, Val finds herself increasingly entangled in supernatural conspiracies far more complex than her usual contracts.

As the series progresses, Val discovers that her magical abilities and her past are connected to larger supernatural conflicts she never understood. Her pragmatic, cynical worldview is challenged as she forms an unlikely alliance with Zav and discovers there may be more at stake than just survival and profit.

Reading Order

See the complete Death Before Dragons reading order for all books in the series.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Val Thorvald?

Val is a freelance assassin with magical abilities living in modern-day Seattle. She specializes in taking down dangerous paranormals and supernatural threats for a living.

What defines Val's character?

Val is pragmatic, independent, and skilled in combat. She has a dry, cynical sense of humor and initially cares only about completing jobs and getting paid, but her experiences with Zav and ongoing threats force her to confront larger responsibilities.

What are Val's magical abilities?

Val possesses powerful magically-imbued combat skills, though the exact nature of her powers and their origin becomes a central mystery that unfolds throughout the series as she discovers connections to ancient magical lineages.

Reading Order#

Frequently Asked Questions

Reading Order