Today I am bringing you a short extract from Rogues and Kings by Charlene Newcomb. It is part of the Tales of Robin Hood series and is a gritty retelling of the Robin Hood story. Enjoy!
The Blurb
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.
The Excerpt
Robin gripped Robert’s shoulder and placed a gentle hand on Joanna’s. “So you’ve decided to be Hood from inside the sheriff’s circle?”
“No fine manor house, no knight’s fees paid to the king, Robert,” Allan said, “just your sword and a cause.”
Nodding, Robert said, “And you’ll be pleased having a spy in Nottingham Castle—”
Joanna elbowed Robert.
He grunted but pulled her closer. “—another spy, one sat ‘tween the sheriff and King John.”
Robin studied his son. See what love gets you? Give your heart to a pretty girl. Learn she works with outlaws. And then make a choice—turn her in, keep quiet, or join her.
He smiled wistfully. He thought of the choices he’d made, his promise to Marian. He had loyally served King Richard, though it pained him to be away from Marian all those years. Serving King John was never an option. A new name and a different life, one that offered more comfort than living in Sherwood with the Hood. Self-exile of a sort. And with his family to keep them safe.
Robin respected the Hood, loved every one of them. Sending coin, distributing food and goods from the hidden stores in the castle with Allan and his gang any time he traveled to Nottingham—was that enough?
Marian wouldn’t like it, but even she would recognize Robert’s spying while working for the sheriff would be less risky than robbing folks on the Old North Road with the Hood.
Book Details
ISBN: 979 8218903244
Publisher: Independently published
Formats: e-book and paperback (currently available on Kindle Unlimited)
No. of Pages: 394 (paperback)
Series: Tales of Robin Hood series
Purchase Links
About the Author
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.
You can also find Char at:
(media courtesy of The Coffee Pot Book Club)
(all opinions are my own)
No comments:
Post a Comment