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| About the Book |
Book Title: Rogues & Kings
Series: Tales of Robin Hood
Author Name: Charlene Newcomb
Publication Date: 4th February, 2026
Publisher: self-published
Pages: 394
Genre: historical fiction
Any Triggers: rape
Deadly secrets. Hidden identities. A true enemy.
Silence is the only shield.
The year is 1216 and civil war rages in England. King John ravages the countryside against rebellious barons and a French invasion. Unbeknownst to him, his newest squire, Richard, is in fact the son of a man the king would hang without a second thought. A man the common folk call Robin Hood.
For years, Robin has lived as a knight in exile. But when his son is ensnared in the treachery of the royal court, Robin is forced out of the shadows, aided by his outlaw friends in the Hood.
There is no question for Richard where his loyalties lie but it’s more than his own life at risk. He has the trust of a dangerous king. Can he serve the Hood better from within John’s inner circle, or will schemes against the crown unravel?
Rob from the rich, give to the poor takes on a whole new meaning.
Rogues & Kings is a sweeping tale of courage and betrayal in a kingdom on the edge of ruin, of a boy coming of age in the midst of war, and of legends being born.
Buy Link:
This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.
Author Bio:
Charlene Newcomb, aka Char, is a retired librarian, a U.S. Navy veteran, mom to 3 amazing humans, and grandma to 3. She writes historical fiction and science fiction.
Her award-winning Battle Scars trilogy is set in the 12th century during the reign of Richard the Lionheart. Her writing roots are in the Star Wars Expanded Universe (aka Legends) where she published 10 short stories in the Star Wars Adventure Journal, and published the original novel Echoes of the Storm.
Char returned to medieval times with Rogue and her latest novel Rogues & Kings, both in her Tales of Robin Hood series.
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| read an excerpt |
A
shout rose from a sentry deep in the wood, and a covey of birds burst skyward
across the crescent moon. The vielle fell silent and the dancing stopped.
Slinging
his quiver over his shoulder, Robin scrambled to his feet. “Rider coming.” He
reached for his bow.
The
revelers retrieved swords and bows, whisking them from beneath their clothing
or from the weapons stashed at the edge of the gathering. Women hurrying for
cover at the tree line brandished daggers and cutting knives as the great fire
lighting the wedding celebration crackled and tree branches rustled.
Allan
studied the ancient oaks and birch, listening, his gray-streaked blonde hair
stirring in the breeze. The violent snap of a twig and the damp, grinding
crunch of leaves beneath a horse’s hooves betrayed the interloper’s approach.
The sound grew louder, closer, until a familiar bird call pierced the air and
Allan signaled for calm.
A
collective sigh of relief swept the air as wedding guests peeked out from
behind moss-covered tree trunks and prickly holly bushes. Firelight glinted off
polished swords as the men slowly lowered their blades.
The
rider came slowly, the darkened path to the camp mired in thick brush and
uneven tree roots. Curses echoed through the forest. Recognizing the voice,
Robin smiled and set down his bow before the last branches were swept aside.
The
outlaws waved and clapped as Little John urged his horse into the clearing. As
a child, “little” described him well—he’d been smaller than his orphan-friend
Allan, who’d given him the name when they’d met on the quay in London. But he’d
grown. And quite large, too, standing a head above most men.
Little
John sprang from his horse and strode toward Robin. The outlaws’ greetings
melted away as he held up his hand, the light from the fire revealing his grim
face.
“King
John has taken Richard hostage.”
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| My thoughts |
If you want the Robin of the Greenwood mythical folktale hero, this one might not be for you. If you want something more believable with down-to-earth, realistic characters doing the right thing for the right reasons - or for unlikeable characters, doing things for their own gain - then this one is for you!
Ms Newcomb has created a very believable England set in the early 1200s, it's a place of hardship and civil war, ruled by ruthless King John who is trying to survive at the expense of his kingdom, and to outwit the rebels who are against him.
Enter Richard, the son of Sir John Le Grand a man John distrusts, and hopes to control through the son... except Richard isn't John's son, and his friends and family are outlaws.
This is an ideal read for any Robin Hood fan who seeks something fresh and different, with interesting characters, detail and descriptions.
My only caveat is I'm not sure whether this one is enough of a standalone for readers who have not read the first story. So I suggest, read book 1, 'Rogue' first.
**** 4 stars
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Twitter Handle: @cathiedunn
Instagram Handle: @charnewc @thecoffeepotbookclub
Hashtags: #HistoricalFiction #RobinHood #MedievalEngland #KingJohn #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub
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Thrilled that you enjoyed Rogues & Kings, Helen. Thank you for the review and for hosting me today.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for hosting Charlene Newcomb today, with an enticing excerpt and a lovely new review for her riveting Robin Hood adventure, Rogues & Kings. We're delighted you enjoyed reading this novel. Much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteTake care,
Cathie xx
The Coffee Pot Book Club