Everything you need to know about Covered Tales
Every book in the shop is a real, full-length novel that has been wrapped so the cover and title are completely hidden. You pick a genre tag that matches your taste, read the cryptic oracle hint for a flavour of what's inside, and then decide whether to buy — without knowing exactly what it is. The magic is in the unwrapping.
Tags indicate the primary genre or theme of the wrapped book. Current categories include:
A single book can carry multiple tags, so a listing might be Fantasy + Dark + Spicy all at once.
Condition is shown on every listing — New, Like New, or Good. Used books are always in solid reading condition; any notable wear is noted in the description. When in doubt, reach out and ask before buying.
Many listings include goodies alongside the wrapped book — things like personalised bookmarks, handwritten-style author notes, sticker sheets, tea sachets, mystery trinkets, character art cards, wax-seal envelopes, and more. The exact extras for each listing are listed in the "What's Included" section of its popup before you buy.
Because the mystery is the product, we cannot accept returns on unwrapped books — opening the wrapping reveals the title and ends the surprise. If your book arrives damaged, please contact us with a photo within 7 days of delivery and we will sort it out immediately.
Each book comes with a short, poetic clue written in the style of a fortune teller's prophecy. It captures the atmosphere and mood of the book — dark and foreboding for horror, lush and romantic for romance, whimsical and wonder-filled for fantasy — without ever naming the title, author, or characters.
Oracle hints are crafted with the help of Claude AI, fine-tuned to sound like an enigmatic bookseller rather than a plot summary. We then review each hint before it goes live to make sure it's evocative without being a spoiler.
Maybe — if you're very well read! The hints are intentionally cryptic. Some readers love the guessing game; others prefer a total surprise. Either way, the real reward is the moment you tear off the wrapping.
Coupons can be either a percentage off (e.g. 15% off) or a fixed dollar amount off (e.g. $3 off). Some codes have a minimum order value, a limited number of uses, or an expiry date — the shop will tell you if a code isn't valid and why.
We share discount codes through our newsletter, social media, and occasionally as thank-you gifts with orders. Sign up for the newsletter at the bottom of the homepage so you never miss one.
All payments are processed through PayPal, which accepts:
You do not need a PayPal account — guest checkout with a card works fine.
Yes. We never see or store your card details. All payment data is handled directly by PayPal using industry-standard encryption (TLS/SSL). The PayPal button on our site communicates directly with PayPal's servers.
PayPal sends an instant receipt to your email as soon as payment is approved. We'll follow up separately with a shipping confirmation and tracking number once your package is on its way.
When your order ships you'll receive an email with your carrier and tracking number. Use the tracking number on the carrier's website to follow your package in real time.
Orders are packed and shipped within 1–3 business days of payment. Delivery time after that depends on your location and the shipping method used. You'll get a tracking number as soon as your package is with the carrier.
We offer free shipping on qualifying orders — the current threshold is shown at checkout. Shipping costs for orders below that threshold are calculated and displayed before you pay.
Please contact us before placing an international order so we can confirm availability and provide an accurate shipping quote for your country.
We're sorry to hear that! Contact us within 7 days of delivery with your order details and a photo of the damage. We'll replace the book or issue a refund — whichever you prefer.
Still have questions?
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