My thougths on A Code of Knights and Deception Swords of Time Book 1 by Eliza Hampstead

A Code of Knights and Deception

Swords of Time Book 1

by Eliza Hampstead

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.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Cover Art: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

In this gripping historical-time travel romance, Sophia — a scientist and modern mother — suddenly finds herself transported to 15th-century England after a violent incident. What begins as a desperate bid to return to her husband and child slowly turns into a fight for survival in a brutal, hierarchical world where obedience is demanded and danger looms at every turn. 

Sophia’s strength is one of the most compelling parts of the story: she refuses to be helpless. Disguising herself as a man, she trains under the castle’s master-at-arms, and her journey to carve out a place in this dangerous world feels very real. 

 Her developing relationship with “Henry” (who is not who he seems) is fraught with tension, deception, and longing — the emotional stakes are high, and the chemistry is powerful. 

What makes the novel really stand out is the way Hampstead explores power, identity, and truth. The historical setting is harsh and visceral, and there are moments of strong violence and emotional struggle. 

At the same time, the book plays with genre expectations in clever ways — is this real time travel, an illusion, or something more sinister? 

 The ambiguity makes it addictive.

That said, not all readers loved the pacing: some felt the first half dragged before the major twist hit. 

 But when the story fully picks up, there are intense battles, raw emotion, and a cliffhanger that promises a dramatic continuation.