Blind Vision by Marguerite Krause

Review from: Bookbrowser & Midwest Book Review
Reviewed by: Harriet Klausner

On a world much like France during the Middle Ages, the Duchy of Montrouge is in a severe state of decline even though the king has blessed the new duke, Bernard d'Albin. The king's seer had a vision of the duchy house in flames, Bernard dead, and another person declared the Duke. The vision spread across the land taking away the hope of the people but Bernard is determined to rule his birthright. In desperation, the duke asks that Phillipe become the Ducal Seer and save Montrouge from war or annexation.

Phillipe has no choice but to accept the position even though he knows that keeping Bernard in power will be one of the most difficult things he can attempt to do. To change the visions of the future he must befriend the Lady Zuleika d'Albin, Bernard's sister. The blemish on her must change from Goddess cursed to Goddess blessed. Since the ducal title is passed through the female line, Zuli must marry and have heirs. By the time Zuli is convinced she has a happy future ahead of her if she wants it, she and Phillipe fall in love with one another. This unwanted emotion can never come to fruition for dynastic and other reasons.

Marguerite Krause is a shining new talent on the story-telling horizon by creating a world so real and lifelike that the audience will actually believe it exists. The characters are three dimensional and very likable, not because of their virtues but because of their weaknesses. BLIND VISION is the kind of tale most of us like to read but rarely have the opportunity to do so because very few authors have the ability to craft such an amazing tale.

Review from: www.crescentblues.com
Reviewed by: Patricia Lucas White

This highly original fantasy took my breath away and came very close to stealing my heart. The unique characters, the interesting premise and the excellent writing, by a very talented author, will measure high by anyone's standards and provide a wonderful fantasy read with a great love story as an added savor.

Born with a rare and dangerous gift -- the ability to see a plethora of possible futures -- Phillipe sees every future but his own. The late duke exiled Phillipe and his father, the old ducal seer. When the irascible old duke dies, his son asks Phillipe to return to the faltering, enemy-ridden court. Phillipe wants to give the young duke good news, but all Phillipe's visions of the coming spring lead to bloodshed and
destruction. Except one.

That one happy vision concerns the duke's sister Zuli, and thus can never be. Lady Zuli bears a large port-wine birthmark on her face and body. The court sees this birthmark as a mark of the Goddess's
displeasure and tries to ignore her. The seer sees something far different, but Lady Zuli considers him a charlatan and his visions a
fabric of lies and trickery. She plans to thwart Phillipe and immediately sets those plans into motion.

Neither hero nor heroine make any pretense to beauty. Zuli's mark covers half of her face. Worn and thin, Phillipe shows the effects of
the merleweed, a poisonous plant that he uses to induce the vision
trances. Yet the welfare of the duchy spurs both of them on until the inevitable happens and their goals collide and change. But can they join forces to do what must be done?

Marguerite Krause's imagination is exceeded only by her skillful use of language in depicting a land that never existed. She made me
willingly accept the time and the place, and care about what happens to her characters. I hope that she will continue to keep me supplied well into the future with more of her sojourns in wonderland.

Review from: sfsite.com
Review by: Georges P. Dodd

Being the author's first solo novel, BLIND VISION, is remarkably well done. If you enjoy well-plotted, pseudo-mediaeval fare with an element of nicely understated romance, then BLIND VISION should amply satisfy.

To read the full review:
www.sfsite.com/03a/vis99.htm

Review from: Science Fiction Romance
Review by: Jennifer Dune

"Blind Vision will drag you completely into Phillipe's world as you
struggle with him to make sense of his prophecies in time to save
Bernard, his sister, and the rest of the Duchy. Hopefully, Phillipe's
final prophecy of future seers means that there will be more books in this series by this wonderfully talented author."