“The woman, well, she’s the devil to some, vengeance incarnate, the one who uses scars on the soul to hold you still while your heart comes out for examination.”
—Herja, Devastation, by Prem, Frank and CS Dunn

Adjectives that come to mind when I think of “Herja, Devastation” are smoldering, passionate, cold, dedicated, focused. Imagine, if you will, Count Dracula being a person people come to when they want someone obliterated and imagine R.M.Renfield as the ultimate assassin who carries out the contracts, in the fashion ordered by the Count. The entirety of Herja, Devastation swirls around this scenario, as told by “Renfield.” The story is exactly that, no more, no less.

There is a brilliant, mystical, and at times frightening power that is generated in the unique formatting of the book, which is written by author, Cage Dunn, and poet, Frank Prem. I’ve read works by each of them separately and enjoy both very much. When they sing their duet, alternating between prose and poetry, a magical chemistry is effected. As I read, it felt like I was inside the head of the expert and faithful assassin.

What this feels like to me is reading a graphic novel, but without the graphics. It stands alone, but I can see it set to graphics illustrated by David Mack, where it might take off big and be the beginning of a series.

5+ out of 5 stars