Rogues & Kings: Tales of Robin Hood by Charlene Newcomb

Rogues & Kings

Tales of Robin Hood

By Charlene Newcomb

Publication Date: February 4th, 2026

Publisher: independently published

Pages: 394

Genre: Historical Fiction

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.

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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Charlene Newcomb

Charlene Newcomb, aka Char, is a retired librarian, a U.S. Navy veteran, mom to three amazing humans, and grandma to three. 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.

Author Links:

Website • Substack • Bluesky • Facebook • Instagram • Pinterest

Amazon Author Page • BookBub • Goodreads

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