Book Log 2010 #64: The High King of Montival by S. M. Stirling

This newest book in the Emberverse series sees Rudi Mackenzie, having gained the Sword of the Lady while on Nantucket, begin his return home as Artos, the high king of Montival (comprising most of the Oregon-based groups already introduced). Along the way he and his band make alliances with an eye towards a showdown with the Church Universal and Triumphant, whose powers have been blunted somewhat by the Sword.

While the book mostly sets up the coming war, I did like that it spent more time with characters and plot and less time messing about. One thing that did bother me, and seems to be a running issue over the last few books, is that the cover art. I assume the guy on the cover is supposed to be Rudi, but rather than getting the tall, muscular guy with curly reddish gold hair, the person on the cover is shorter and dark haired. I know this is kind of a fanboyish thing to get irritated with, but given how focused on detail Stirling is within the book, I'm surprised he's allowed the publisher to be so inaccurate on the cover.