Virtual Book Tour: A Code of Knights and Deception by Eliza Hampstead

A CODE OF KNIGHTS AND DECEPTION

Eliza Hampstead

GENRE:  Historical Time Travel Romance

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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.

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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?

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Eliza Hampstead:

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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Author Interview

Please tell us how long have you been writing? 

Eliza: I’ve been writing for about 12 years now, starting with A Code of Knights and Deception. But there was a pause in between while I worked on War of the Nephilim, which, looking back, was such a crucial part of my growth as a writer. I didn’t realise at the time, but I needed to write that first series to really mature and learn the ropes of storytelling. I can say now that I couldn’t have finished A Code of Knights and Deception without having written that first series. So, I guess I was just taking my sweet time to grow into the writer I needed to be!

What is your writing process like? Are you more of a plotter or a pantser?

Eliza: Definitely a plotter! I’m all about a detailed plan. I know exactly what needs to happen in each scene: the starting point, the conflict, and the resolution. But the fun part? Watching my characters surprise me with how they get from point A to point B. They’re a lot more creative than I am, so the way they come to the result is always a delightful twist, even for me. I guess you could say I’m a plotter with a touch of pantsing—because sometimes, they take the wheel!

 

How did you come up with the ideas for your series? 

Eliza: It all started with a simple "what if?"—what if I woke up in medieval England? From there, I read something or saw something that sparked an idea. Sometimes I’d twist it around in my mind for a few days until it made its way into the book. One example? The concept of “second sleep” in medieval times. I read about it in a study, and it fascinated me, so I just had to incorporate it into the story. Little bits of history and random facts are often the best inspiration!

How do you celebrate finishing a book? 

Eliza: For me, a book isn’t really “finished” until release day. I send it off to the editor after the draft is done, but then it goes through another round of changes. It feels like I’m never quite done! But once it’s out in the world, that’s when the real celebration begins. I love going out for a nice dinner with my family to mark the occasion—nothing too fancy, just a little moment to breathe and enjoy the accomplishment.

What would you tell a writer who is just starting out? What program do you use for writing? What advice would you give to a writer working on their first book? What’s your writing software of choice? 

Eliza: I’d say: Don’t rush the process! Trust me, you’ll look back at your first draft and laugh (maybe cry a little, too), but that’s all part of the journey. And don’t be afraid to let your characters surprise you! Look for beta-readers who are not your friends and family. Start marketing as early as you can.

For those just starting out, I recommend reading The Emotion Thesaurus and Understanding Show, Don’t Tell by Janice Hardy. They really helped me find my voice and polish my storytelling.

How do you organize everything and find the time to sit down and write? 

Eliza: I’m super organised. If there’s a list, you bet I’m ticking off boxes! I schedule my writing time, prioritize tasks, and make sure I’m sticking to deadlines. It’s all about finding balance between my writing and everything else.

As an author, what would you choose as your spirit animal? 

Eliza: Turtles! I mean, I’d love to be as chill and relaxed as they are. Slow and steady wins the race, right? But let’s be honest—I’m probably more of a frantic tortoise trying to keep up, but a girl can dream.

How do you name your characters? 

Eliza: Naming characters is the hardest part for me. The main characters always come naturally, but the side characters—ugh, they take forever! For A Code of Knights and Deception, I drew inspiration from real historical figures who lived at the castle during that time. For the others, I searched through old English names. Still, I ended up with three characters named Thomas—yeah, my editor had to step in and tell me to change two of them at the last minute.

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