Book to Movie Mania: City of Bones Chapters 8 and 9

Woo-hoo, Shadowhunters! We are almost done with Part One: Dark Descent! Two more chapters and we'll be in Part Two! Here is the reading today:

Chapter 8: Weapon of Choice
Chapter 9: The Circle and the Brotherhood

I'm so excited for today's reading! We get to learn about Valentine and his band of merry thieves. I'm just kidding, Valentine's hardly Robin Hood. I meant the Circle and everything. I love learning about the past of the Shadowhunters. It's so cool!

Discussions Questions: 
Shadowhunters! Here are some questions you all can answer in the comments. Obviously, you don't have to answer all the questions, it's just up for discussion! Have fun and Happy Book to Movie Mania!

1. In chapter 9, it is revealed that Valentine formed a group called the Circle of Raziel twenty years ago. The loyalty oath for the Circle is "I hereby render unconditional obedience to the Circle and its prinicples...I will be ready to risk my life at any time for the Circle, in order to preserve the purity of the bloodlines of Idris, and for the mortal world with whose safety we are charged." The Circle's main purpose was to wipe out all the Downworlders because Valentine thought they we not "pure." Hodge reveals to Clary that he was part of the Circle along with Clary's mom. What are your thoughts on this piece of information and what is Clary's reaction?

Beans' Thoughts:

First off, the whole Circle thing is so very racist. Yeah, so Downworlders don't have angel blood like the Nephilim but c'mon they're still people and are just like Shadowhunters with feelings, souls, and the like. As for the thing with Jocelyn once being a part of the Circle, Clary's reaction to it was denial. She couldn't believe her mother would be part of a "hate group." Those are Clary's words.

And today's Character Spotlight is...Valentine Morgenstern.

Full Name: Valentine Morgenstern

Portrayed By: Jonathan Rhys Meyers

Status: Shadowhunter   

Age: 38

Personality: Valentine embodies the classic evil overlord traits: charisma, a genius level intellect and a narcissistic sense of entitlement. He is sadistic and power hungry and driven by a furious rage and hatred brought about by his father's death. Despite this deep-seated anger, he usually maintains great emotional restraint in the face of dramatic situations, maintaining a demeanor of cool calculation and icy composure.
He is also extraordinarily manipulative, able to bend others to his will with relative ease. He views no one as his equal and sees others as either tools to be used or obstacles to be demolished. With all these traits it may be accurate to describe him as a sociopath. Despite his vindictive nature, Valentine presents himself in a cultured and sophisticated manner, dressing in expensive suits and speaking in a polite, civilized, almost old-fashioned manner. Jace remarks that Valentine is particular about "what type of cut crystal his decanters are made out of." He also exhibits a very dry, dark, cruel wit. (From the Shadowhunter's Wiki and obviously, the novel, City of Bones)

Family: Former husband of Jocelyn Fairchild. Two children: Clary Fray and Jonathan Morgenstern.

Physical Appearance: Tall and very handsome. Broad shouldered and has light blond, almost silver hair (although in the movie he has brown hair, I know what the heck?). Black eyes.

Love Interests: Jocelyn Fairchild. Himself (ha).

Fun Fact: Valentine does not consider himself evil, instead justifying his actions as for the good of humanity and the world despite the numerous atrocities and acts of genocide he has committed. He views himself as a heroic figure, willing to challenge the gods.  (Oh, c'mon that's just an excuse.)

Quote:

"Clarissa,' [Valentine] said, in a voice as oily as steel slicked with butter, 'this man is an enemy of our family, an enemy of the Clave. We are hunters, and the means sometimes we are killers. Surely you understand that.'"
--Valentine to Clary, City of Bones

I chose our nefarious villian and main antagonist of the first three books of The Mortal Instruments series because we start to learn more about his past in chapter 9 today. Valentine is such a jerk. Worse than a jerk, you know what I mean. He does awful stuff, even to his own children. The actor that plays Valentine is soo not what I pictured Valentine to look like. He's supposed to have light hair, not dark hair and I think he should look a bit older. Ehh, the whole thing's off but it'll do. I guess.

What are your thoughts on Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Valentine? Comments are open!