Maggie Blackbird

Today, award-winning author Eliza Hampstead is guesting. She’s talking about her latest release A Code of Knights and Deception, book one in the Swords of Time duology, a time travel, historical romance. Don’t forget to enter the Raflecopter giveaway.

“Outlander meets Black Mirror in this sizzling dark time travel romance!”

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Eliza on researching for a novel:

I adore research. Honestly, I probably do more than I need to—there’s something deeply satisfying about falling down rabbit holes of obscure historical detail. For A Code of Knights and Deception, research was both the foundation and one of the biggest time sinks. Because it’s set in 15th-century England, I needed to know everything from castle architecture to medieval bathing habits to the political climate of the time.

I started with primary and secondary sources: nonfiction books about medieval life, particularly focusing on women’s roles, castle structure, daily life, and warfare. I studied Warwick Castle in depth—it’s the story’s anchor setting, so I needed to understand its geography, its history, and its evolution over time. I looked into the de Beauchamp family, who really lived there, and imagined what it would’ve been like to walk those halls as a stranger out of time.

But research isn’t just about accuracy—it’s about authenticity. I wanted readers to feel Sophia’s discomfort when she’s forced into medieval gowns, to smell the smoke and sweat of a castle’s training ground, to hear the Latin chants in a stone chapel. I even researched medieval beauty standards, toxic cosmetics, and how women dealt with menstruation in an era without modern hygiene. (Spoiler: it’s grim.)

I also read about VR and neurotech, because Sophia’s journey isn’t magical—it’s grounded in science fiction. I wanted her time-travel experience to feel plausible, not fantastical, which meant brushing up on brain-computer interfaces and speculative tech.

And then there’s the emotional research. I ask myself: How would I react if this were me? What would terrify me? What would comfort me? I take those internal experiences and layer them into the prose, especially during pivotal moments where Sophia’s isolation, grief, or yearning is at its most raw.

Research grounds the story—but I’ve learned not to let it take over. At the end of the day, the goal is emotional truth, not academic perfection. I’m writing historical fiction, not a textbook. Still, I think readers can feel when the world is well lived-in—and that’s always worth the extra time.

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Title: A Code of Knights and Deception
Series: Swords of Time, book one
Author: Eliza Hampstead
Genre: Time Travel, Historical Romance
Length: 542 pages
Release Date: April 14, 2025

Sophia
I thought I was trapped in history. Turns out, it’s far worse than I imagined.
I woke up in 15th-century England, a brutal world where women are silenced, superstition rules, and survival depends on obedience. Trapped far from my husband and son, nothing makes sense. I’m a scientist, not a damsel in distress, so I did what I had to—I disguised myself as a man and trained with Henry, the castle’s master-at-arms, learning to wield a sword to defend myself.
But as I carve my place in this world, my forbidden love for Henry shakes everything I believed in. Do I fight to return home—or surrender to a future I never imagined?
Yet, I can’t shake the feeling that Henry is hiding something—something that could shatter everything I’ve fought for.

Ethan
What if the woman you’re supposed to observe becomes the one you can’t live without?
I never meant to fall for her. She’s fearless, brilliant, captivating. Every lesson, every stolen moment deepens the lie—and my guilt. I’m not the man she thinks I am. That my name is Ethan, not Henry, is the least of the lies I tell her.
If she learns the truth, I’ll lose her forever.
And time is running out.

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.

Note: The book is the first in a duology and ends with a cliffhanger.

Amazon | Bookbub | Goodreads

The Execution Scene – Sophia realises she is really in medieval England

I tensed up, unsure of what would happen next. Would they really go through with it? Beating someone up for a believable story was one thing, but they wouldn’t kill an actor, would they? No, they wouldn’t go that far; I was sure of it.

Before I could process the thought, two soldiers brought forth a rope, swinging it over the tall branch of an oak in the square. They couldn’t possibly stage this, could they? Hanging someone without harm wasn’t possible. Using the fake hand and stage blood was one thing, but hanging someone? That could go wrong very quickly! Surely, any moment now, a rider would burst through the crowd, interrupting the execution. But no such intervention came. The dreadful scene continued.

Helpless and sick, my stomach churned as the farmer was led to the tree, and the noose was placed around his neck. A priest stepped forward, reciting a brief Latin prayer, his voice audible amidst the oppressive silence. Was this really happening? They couldn’t just sentence him one minute and hang him the next! There had to be some sort of protocol or waiting period, right?

As time ticked by and nothing happened, it became clear that this was not a show or a performance. This was a real execution, taking place right before our eyes in a matter of minutes.

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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.

Follow Eliza: Website | Facebook | Instagram |Goodreads | BookBub | Amazon

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