Guest post by Eliza Hampstead on A CODE OF KNIGHTS AND DECEPTION

Books set in the past require a strong sense of life during the period. Tell me about the research you did for this series.

Thank you for having me! I’m excited to share insights about the historical accuracy of my book and how it brings the past to life.

Research: A Deep Dive into Medieval Life (Maybe Too Deep)

Oh, the research—so much research! Honestly, I think I might have overdone it (just a little). But I’m a scientist, and research is kind of my thing. When I first had the idea for this book, I had just started learning sword fighting—yes, actual longsword combat. That led me deep into the medieval rabbit hole, and I never really climbed back out.

I didn’t just read about the period—I lived it as much as I could. I trained with a sword (which, let me tell you, makes writing fight scenes a lot easier), shot a bow, and attended medieval conventions where I walked around in historical clothing, ate medieval food, and tried not to trip over my own gown. I read an absurd number of non-fiction books on everything from castle architecture to women’s daily lives, knights, medieval fashion (I must have looked up the word houppelande at least fifty times), and even the duties of the castle household—because, let’s be honest, that stuff matters when you’re thrown into the 15th century.

For accuracy, I even visited the town and Warwick Castle multiple times. The staff was amazing—they gave me a private tour and showed me hidden details most visitors don’t see, like a mysterious carving in the earl’s chamber that might be from a king. Naturally, I asked a million questions.

And I looked up every tiny detail that appears in my book. Were windows made of glass at that time? What did women do during their period? How did medieval toilets work? (Spoiler: not great.) If it made it into the story, you can bet I researched it first. Because I hate it when historical fiction gets things wrong, I was determined to do it right.

But—and here’s where things got tricky—I may have gone a bit overboard. At one point, my manuscript had 53,000 extra words of historical detail (yes, that’s about 200 pages). It was like I was trying to write a history textbook instead of a novel. So, I had to cut a lot to keep the story moving.

And yes, I had to tweak some details, like the specific dances used at the time, because the earliest recorded versions come from a later period. But don’t worry—I have an in-story reason for why these “mistakes” exist. Let’s just say that if you pay close attention, these little historical inaccuracies might just lead you straight to Ethan’s secret…

Researching this book was an adventure in itself, and I hope that love for history and detail shines through in the story. So, if you love immersive historical worlds with mystery and romance, this book is for you!

 

A CODE OF KNIGHTS AND DECEPTION

Eliza Hampstead

GENRE:  Historical Time Travel Romance

BLURB:

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.

 

Excerpt:

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!”

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

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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