Friday, April 25, 2025

Virtual Book Tour & Giveaway: A Code of Knights and Deception (Swords of Time, #1) by Eliza Hampstead


A CODE OF KNIGHTS AND DECEPTION
Sword of Time, Book One
by
Eliza Hampstead


This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by
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Historical Time Travel Romance
Publication Date: April 14, 2025
Page count: 542 pages


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SYNOPSIS:

Outlander meets Black Mirror in this sizzling dark time travel romance.
 
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 the days turn into months, Sophia begins to build a new life, finding unexpected 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 who 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.
 
*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.

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ENJOY AN EXCERPT:

I had the strangest dream. Nothing unusual for me, but this one lingered in vivid detail, as if I’d truly been there—in a medieval castle, smoke and burning wood perfuming the air, stone walls looming around me. Azure blue eyes. I smiled at the memory, then made the mistake of swallowing and winced at the sharp, scratchy sensation in my throat. I reached for my phone on the nightstand, seeking comfort in the familiar routine of checking the time, but my hand met only empty space.
 
Confused, I squinted into the darkness. My surroundings looked much as it had last night: thick red bed curtains drawn nearly shut, letting in only a small beam. I shifted under the heavy covers, my feet touching the icy stone floor and sending shivers up my legs as I sat up in my underdress. A faint shaft of light crept in from a small window, softly hinting at dawn. It might have been around six.
 
Breathing out a small cloud, I rubbed my arms to coax some warmth back into them and took in the room's strangeness, feeling how truly alien this place was.
 
"Good mornin', my lady! How be ye feelin' today?" she chirped, her voice motherly and comforting in my panic. Her plain brown dress rustled as she moved about the room, efficient and unfazed.
 
"Toilet?" I croaked, my voice strained and hoarse from my sore throat.
 
Polly looked at me in confusion, observing me standing there with legs crossed.
 
"Ah, a privy ye seek." She nodded thoughtfully, then produced a chamber pot from under the bed, holding it out to me.
 
I reached for it, mortified. What was I supposed to do now?


GUEST POST:

Readers, I've asked Eliza Hampstead, the author of today's featured book, to give us some insight on the following:

Discuss the world you've created for the book

Thanks for having me! Today, I’d love to discuss the world I created in A Code of Knights and Deception.

 

When I set out to write A Code of Knights and Deception, I didn’t just want to tell a time travel romance—I wanted to transport readers to medieval England and make them feel like they were truly there. The sights, the sounds, the unrelenting cold of a stone castle even in summer, the weight of a wool dress, the scent of woodsmoke… every detail mattered. 

I’ve always been fascinated by medieval England, and I spent countless hours researching everything from daily life to castle defenses, from medieval justice to what people ate for breakfast (spoiler: it wasn’t a hearty full English). I wanted Sophia’s experience to feel as immersive and authentic as possible—especially because she’s a modern woman suddenly thrown into a world where survival isn’t guaranteed. 

Life in the Castle

The majority of the story takes place in a grand castle inspired by Warwick Castle in the early 15th century. Unlike the romanticised versions we often see in fiction, castles weren’t just majestic fortresses—they were cold, damp, noisy, and full of people. Lords and ladies lived alongside servants, knights, and soldiers, and there was a strict social order that Sophia quickly learns she can’t ignore. 

Daily life revolved around rigid routines, religious observances, and an unrelenting awareness of rank. Sophia, used to independence, suddenly finds herself expected to obey without question, dress in layers of restrictive clothing, and navigate a world where a misplaced word could have serious consequences. 

The Marketplace and Medieval Society

Beyond the castle walls, the marketplace bustles with life—vendors shouting, animals roaming freely, the clatter of carts on uneven roads. It’s here that Sophia first encounters the stark contrast between the nobility and the common folk. She also learns just how dangerous life in medieval England can be. Laws are brutal, punishments even more so, and justice is often swift and merciless. 

The Role of Women

One of the biggest challenges for Sophia is understanding a woman’s place in this world. Her instincts—to speak her mind, to question, to take control—are at odds with expectations. Women of her status were expected to sew, obey, and marry well, not question knights or discuss swordplay. She quickly realises that if she wants to survive, she has to be careful about how she pushes boundaries. 

The Contrast Between Eras

One of my favourite aspects of writing this book was showing the contrast between modern sensibilities and medieval realities. Sophia struggles with things we take for granted—basic hygiene, privacy, food that isn’t heavily salted or spoiled, and of course, the constant weight of superstition and religion. Even something as simple as trying to explain a scientific concept can put her at risk. 

This world isn’t a fairytale—it’s gritty, dangerous, and steeped in history. And as much as Sophia longs for home, she also starts to find something unexpected here: belonging.

 

I hope readers will feel as immersed in this world as I did while writing it. Medieval England isn’t always kind, but it is fascinating, full of intrigue, danger, and—against all odds—love.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

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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GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!

Eliza Hampstead will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.






5 comments:

  1. Thank you so much for featuring A CODE OF KNIGHTS AND DECEPTION today.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sounds like a good read.

    ReplyDelete
  3. This sounds like an interesting book.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Have a good weekend.

    ReplyDelete