Gargoyles, Monks and Werewolves Roam the Streets of Oberammergau

Three post-adolescent friends head off to Germany, expecting to have the trip of a lifetime. Kiara, a girl fascinated by the European world of legend, dictates the destination — while the others, Troy and Warren, tag along for the ride. What they find once they reach their final destination can only be conjured up in the strangest of nightmares.

Soon after they arrive in the town of Oberammergau, Kiara is attacked by wolves. She is saved by the mysterious Monk, Alaric. Despite her mixed feelings for her best friend Warren, she falls almost instantly for Alaric. Their love threatens the fabric of his holy order — an order that has existed for hundreds of years.

“Bad Polka,” the debut novel by Alterra Von Fueres, is quite a promising start to what will hopefully be a prolific writing career. Her novel takes her back to the Europe she visited in her early twenties and undoubtedly weaves together some of the myths she learned about while there. The town of Oberammergau comes alive in “Bad Polka.” It is an apt setting for this marvelously poignant and brooding tale of things that are not of this world.

“Bad Polka” may be a bit rough around the edges, but it works well as a passionate love story and a tale of an ancient curse — and it has its fair share of monsters. It is everything a good horror story should be. I would recommend it to anyone who is fascinated by European mythology, and also to anyone who likes the realism that a contemporary setting can provide.