Research Run Wild: The Fascinating Facts That Didn’t Make the Final Page ... #TimeTravelRomance #Medieval #Giveaway

By Eliza Hampstead (Guest Blogger)

In the course of writing A Code of Knights and Deception, I fell into the classic historical fiction trap: the rabbit hole of research. And what a marvellous warren it was! One of my favourite deep dives centred around Warwick Castle, a place I visited multiple times during the drafting process. I even had the chance to go on a special behind-the-scenes tour, and let me tell you—if you ever get the chance, go. It's a treasure trove of inspiration.

I initially tried to cram far too much of that inspiration into the book. One subplot I adored but had to cut involved a bear. Yes, a real bear. Warwick Castle’s banner animal is a bear with a staff, and historically, the castle did in fact keep a live bear on the grounds. During a scene in my early drafts, Sophia visits the poor creature on her tour of the castle with Richard, Earl of Warwick. Disheartened by the animal’s miserable conditions, she resolves that the bear deserves better. I planned to hint at the eventual construction of the Bear Tower—built in the 1480s to house such creatures—but alas, that scene ended up on the cutting room floor.

Another delightfully nerdy bit I cut was the tale of Guy of Warwick, a legendary figure whose gigantic sword and armour are still on display in the castle. They’re so massive, one wonders if Guy was a hero—or a giant! I couldn’t resist including his story in earlier drafts, but it was another casualty of pacing and page count.

Speaking of excess, I became a little too enamoured with describing every medieval architectural detail—from the octagonal towers to the gatehouse construction. As fascinating as these features are, they slowed the narrative more than they served it.

Still, many of my favourite historical nuggets remain. The story is woven around real figures: Thomas de Beauchamp, 12th Earl of Warwick, and his son Richard, the 13th. Thomas’s death on 8 April 1401 triggers a power shift in the castle that Sophia experiences firsthand. Around the same time, England was dealing with the Welsh rebellion led by Owain Glyndŵr—a real and growing threat. This uprising becomes the reason why the peasants at the castle are trained for war. It gives Sophia the perfect excuse to disguise herself as a boy and join the training grounds, desperate to learn how to defend herself in this unfamiliar, often brutal world.

I had originally planned to incorporate every church holiday—there was practically one a week—but even I had to admit it was getting out of hand.

In the end, while not all of the research made it onto the page, it deepened the world I was writing and helped me understand my characters more richly. Sometimes the fun facts must stay in the wings, but they’re never wasted.

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

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?

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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