Guest Post & #Giveaway: A Code of Knights and Deception (Swords of Time #1) by Eliza Hampstead
- Archaeolibrarian
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
@AuthorElizaHampstead @GoddessFishPromotions
@authorelizahampstead @goddessfishpromotions
She thought it was real. She was wrong.
When Sophia wakes up in 15th-century England, she expects hardship—but nothing prepares her for this brutal, unforgiving world. Lost, alone, and desperate to return to her husband and son, she vows to find a way home. But as weeks pass, Sophia finds kinship and purpose in this strange land.
After a violent attack, she takes fate into her own hands, disguising herself as a man to train under Henry, the castle’s enigmatic master-at-arms. As steel clashes and their connection deepens, forbidden desire ignites.
Yet Henry is not the knight he claims to be. His real name is Ethan, and this is the least of the lies he tells her. Falling for Sophia was never part of the plan—but the closer they become, the more he realises how wrong it is to keep her in the dark.
As danger closes in and the lines between reality and deception blur, Sophia must uncover the truth about Henry—and herself—before she runs out of time.
Outlander meets Black Mirror in this sizzling dark Historical Romantasy with time travel, forbidden love, found family, a morally grey knight, and a fierce heroine—both hiding secret identities, deceiving each other in a game of survival and passion.
*Warning: strong language, steamy scenes, and graphic violence inside. Mention/Description of, but not limited to, abduction, blood, death, amputation, childbirth, death, sexual assault, suicide, violence against children, rape, and torture.*
The book is the first in a duology and ends with a cliffhanger.
Then, with a sudden crash, I was yanked back into reality. My eyes blinked open to find myself lying on beaten earth, small stones scattered around me like the remnants of some forgotten battle. I attempted to reach for them, but my fingers refused to obey my command. Were those dark pellets in the corner rat droppings? The thought made me want to retch, but I had no air to spare.
Before me appeared the bluest eyes I had ever seen. They fixed intently on my face, twin beacons of azure that seemed to anchor me against the encroaching tide of despair. I stared into them, unable to pull my gaze away from their hypnotic depths. They were like the water in the Mediterranean—inviting, warm, and mysterious all at once. Just as I longed to dive into those azure waves and sink into them on a hot summer day, I wanted to immerse myself in the comforting embrace of those mesmerising eyes.
Strong hands grasped my shoulders, shaking me back into reality with a jolt. I tore my gaze from those captivating eyes and looked downward, my vision fixing on sensually shaped lips surrounded by a dark beard. The man's mouth moved vigorously, but I couldn't make out the words he was saying. My ears were filled with a persistent ringing, drowning out the world around me.
"…breathe," I finally heard him say, his voice taking on an urgent tone. "Can you hear me? You must draw breath!" He shook me again, his grip firm yet gentle, grounding me in the present moment. "Breathe! Quickly now, do not falter!"
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If I Could Witness One Historical Event
Thank you for having me! I’m excited to be here and to explore one of those thought-provoking questions that makes every historical fiction writer pause: If you could have personally witnessed one event in history, what would it be?
It’s a tough one. The part of me that grew up on stories of musical revolutions is tempted to say I’d go straight to the 1960s and catch the Beatles in concert. But as much as I’d love to sway with the crowd and scream like a true fan girl, my heart—and my imagination—pull me somewhere else entirely.
Medieval England.
As the author of A Code of Knights and Deception, a time-travel romance set in 15th-century England, my fascination with the era runs deep. And if I could be dropped into any moment, I’d want to meet John of Gaunt.
He wasn’t a king, but he was one of the most powerful men of his age. A prince, a military leader, a patron of the arts, and—perhaps most intriguingly—the political force behind the rise of the Lancastrian dynasty. His presence shaped everything around him, from royal succession to English governance. And yet, so much about the man remains shrouded in uncertainty. Was he a visionary? An opportunist? Both?
In my research, I also came across another fascinating historical figure: Richard de Beauchamp, the 13th Earl of Warwick. He makes a notable appearance in my novel. What intrigued me most was how little is written about his early life, even though he became one of the most famous of the Beauchamps. He inherited the earldom at just nineteen, and later played major roles in military campaigns and politics. What shaped him into the man he became? I often wonder if I’ve portrayed him correctly—if the thoughtful, strategic, and warm version of him I’ve imagined would feel authentic to the real Richard. Witnessing him in his youth, before history pinned a name to his legacy, would help me answer that.
And beyond the people, I’d love to see medieval England—not the romanticised version, but the real one. The mud, the smells, the noise. The simplicity and brutality of daily life. The glitter of candlelight in stone halls. The layers of etiquette and power struggles playing out in a world without modern distractions.
As someone who writes about women navigating this landscape, it would be invaluable to witness the texture of their lives firsthand—not just as observers, but as survivors and strategists in their own right.
Sometimes, the best way to write history is to imagine what it would’ve been like to stand in the room where it happened.
Award-winning author Eliza Hampstead, a scientist by training, lives with her family in the UK. When she's not writing, she spends her time as a geek. Playing all sorts of games (board games, video games, RPGs) and being a big fan of medieval history are only a few of the many hobbies she has. Passionate about fantasy, she’s always planning her next adventure.
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Thank you!
Sounds like a great book.
I would enjoy reading this one. Sounds good.