CITY OF BONES Read-Along: Chapter 21 & 22

In honor of the movie coming out in theaters on August 21st, I have decided to join the City of Bones Read-Along. If you haven't read this book, now is the perfect opportunity! Especially if you're planning to see the movie. If you would like to join, click here for more info. NOTE: If you haven't read the book, please beware of spoilers in the Read-Along posts. There will be quotes and chapter summaries, as well as my own thoughts on certain events that occur within the story and I don't plan on holding back.

Just a quick note: I know that I'm just a couple chapters behind and since tomorrow is the last day of the read-along, I decided to split the last 3 chapters and epilogue in half. Two chapters tonight and then the last chapter and epilogue tomorrow night.

Part Three: The Descent Beckons

Chapter 21: The Werewolf's Tale

Summary:

This chapter is one long story being to to Clary from Luke about his past--with Valentine and her mother. He grew up in Idris with Jocelyn. When they were old enough they went to school and met Valentine who was handsome, clever, popular.. everything that Luke was not. Valentine helped him to train and Luke worshiped him. Valentine took in all of the 'misfits': Hodge Starkweather, Maryse Trueblood, Robert Lightwood, etc. Valentine believed that Shadowhunters were a dying breed and therefore they must make new ones--all men should have the chance to become a Shadowhunter. He believed that the teachers were lying when they said that most humans couldn't survive the transition. Then Valentine's father was killed on a raid to a werewolf encampment and he was forever changed. The only person who could calm his rage was Jocelyn and they soon fell in love. Luke loved him too, as his closest friend, and he was happy he was with Jocelyn. After school, Jocelyn and Valentine married. The Circle continued to grow both in scale and power--they wanted the Mortal Cup but they also wanted to do away with the Accords: the Downworlders couldn't be trusted because they were part demon. Luke was uncomfortable with the direction the Circle had taken but he stayed for Valentine and Jocelyn. They sought out the Downworlders.

They Jocelyn became pregnant, and told Luke that she feared her husband. Luke confronted Valentine but he dismissed her fears as her pregnancy jitters. They went that night hunting werewolves, just the two of them. Luke was bit, and turned into a werewolf. Valentine gave him a dagger and told him he should be honorable and end his life. Luke then went straight to the werewolf encampment, demanding a fight with the wolf who changed him who just so happened to be the clan leader. He killed him and became the clan's new leader. He stayed away from Jocelyn, but one night she came to see him. She had had her son, Johnathan Christopher. He and Jocelyn continued to meet in secret. They began a plan to disrupt Valentine's plans to thwart the Accords. Valentine had stolen the Mortal Cup and planned on using it, thought Jocelyn didn't know how. They began working with the Downworlders in secret. The night of the Accords, Luke and his pack along with other Downworlders rose against Valentine and the Circle in the Great Hall of the Angel. Luke fought Valentine himself, but Valentine got away. Much blood was shed on that night, both Shadowhunter and Downworlder. Both Jocelyn and Luke followed Valentine home, afraid for Johnathan, but when they reached the manor it had been burned with demonic witchcraft. Jocelyn found bones, one set with Valentine's silver amulet and another set a child's. The two of them left the country, first to Paris with Jocelyn refusing to go to the Institute for help. She then told Luke that she was carrying another child and she wanted this child to have nothing to do with the Shadow World. She bought a plane ticket and was gone after these words: Valentine is not dead.

Luke then went back to Idris for the Accords, finding the Lightwoods punished to the New York Institute. Luke left the clan and went on a search for Jocelyn: first to Paris, then to London and from there to Boston. Not long after his arrival he moved on to New York where most exiled Shadowhunters go. He found Jocelyn through a painting hanging in a gallery window. That evening he showed up at her door which was opened by a little girl: Clary.

Chapter 22: Renwick's Ruin

Summary:

Clary is sitting in bewilderment. She has just been told that the man in the picture that sat on the mantel wasn't her father: Valentine is. It was her brother that Jocelyn cried over, not her father. One of the other wolves, Gretel, addresses Clary and Luke's wounds then try to figure out where Valentine could be. They eventually decide on a place called Renwick's after a quick call to Simon who says it's abandoned hospital. Luke calls his pack to get ready for battle. On the ride to Renwick's Luke and Clary discuss Jace and what Valentine could want with him. They come upon the hospital to find Forsaken guarding the building. They can do nothing but fight their way in. Luke and Clary make their way to the door to find a darkened entryway. Clary brings out her witchlight and they work their way through the building level by level. They find Jocelyn in one of the bedrooms, lying in a bed asleep. Clary rushes to her mother, wrapping her arms around her. They contemplate how to release Jocelyn from the spell she's under, not realizing someone had snuck up on them: Blackwell. Panborn enters the room and they begin to fight. Blackwell is killed almost instantly but it's clear that Pangborn isn't going to go down so easily. Luke tells Clary to run, and she does--down the hall to the weapons room. All of the weapons were stuck to the wall with a dark magic. She walk out and soon finds herself in another room--one with Jace in it. He asks her what she's doing there and she says that she came for him. He tells her she shouldn't have. And then he starts to talk strangely. He tells her to have Luke call of his pack because there's been a misunderstanding--his father isn't dead. Clary asks where his father is and that's when another person enters the room: Valentine himself. Clary grabs for her dagger but Jace holds her off. She can't kill him because he's his father.

Thoughts:

Whoooaa... something MAJOR just happened! Valentine is Jace's father? But... he's Clary's father too! Well... this is awkward. So, for those of you only reading this for the first time.. what are you thinking right now? Rather shocking right?

If you have any thoughts you'd like to add, please feel free to leave a comment!

Happy Reading!