defectivemoxie 's review for:

The Assassin and the Healer by Sarah J. Maas
3.0

The Assassin and the Healer gives us an outsider's opinion into who Celaena Sardothien is through the eyes of a Yrene, a barmaid down on her luck. What Yrene sees is a girl cloaked in black, a savior, a murderer, and a thief. Celeana is all of these things, still spoiling for a fight on her way to make penance for her small indiscretion of freeing Arobynn Hamel's slaves. Celaena's punishment isn't what is important it's thef act that she could go anywhere else, but she still heads to the Silent Assassins. It speaks to her character, and her loyalty even when she has misgivings. Celaena is willing to see where the path leads, and along the way a bit of that hard exterior of hers cracks bit by bit.


Yrene gives Celeana hope. She may see Yrene, at first, as a weak creature. Yet, through their interactions Celeana learns that Yrene, like her is just another orphan of Ardalan, and who needs a bit of prodding to go after what she wants. Yrene may still hold onto the moral good, that Celeana scoffs at, but Celana also recognizes that Ardalan needs people like Yrene.