FAQ

The Locked Library is a monthly subscription box curated by HarperCollins UK, delivering exclusive, beautifully bound special editions straight to your door.

The subscription includes all the fantasy genres you love, from epic to urban, dark to romantic. A new adventure every month.

The Forbidden Wing is a monthly romantasy-focused subscription box curated by HarperCollins UK.

Each month promises a beautiful special edition where romance and magic are always at the heart of the story.

Think of The Forbidden Wing as the romantasy corner of our secret library – every monthly pick is chosen specifically for readers who love romance woven through their fantasy.

The Locked Library casts a wider net, featuring all the fantasy genres you love, from epic to urban, dark to romantic.

Both deliver exclusive special editions you won't find anywhere else.

Both The Locked Library and The Forbidden Wing are for readers aged 18 and over.

We operate a waitlist, so spaces are released as they become available.

Pop your name on the list and we'll email you the moment a spot opens up – join The Locked Library waitlist here or The Forbidden Wing waitlist here .

The boxes are curated by our Locked Library team, including our own Head of Special Editions, talented designers and passionate editorial teams.

Each monthly subscription box will include a beautifully bound special edition book, lovingly packaged and sealed with our signature 'Shhh, I'm reading' sticker.

For The Locked Library, every pick is one of the best fantasy titles from HarperCollins – spanning all the fantasy genres you love, from epic to urban, dark to romantic.

For The Forbidden Wing, the focus is always romantasy at its most enchanting, from deliciously spicy to achingly slow-burn.

Yes, always. Every special edition is printed in hardback.

Each month we reveal a theme – a series of hints and clues about that month's special edition before it arrives.

Each box is £22 a month, or just £20 a month when you pay quarterly. Postage and packaging is calculated at checkout and varies depending on your delivery address – you can find a full list of shipping costs here.

We accept Visa, Visa Debit, Mastercard, Apple Pay, and PayPal. All transactions are securely authorised at checkout, so your details are always safe with us.

Payment is taken each month, and each payment guarantees you one subscription box containing a special edition book.

Your first payment will be taken on the day you subscribe, and after that, on the 1st of every month.

Payment is taken every three months, guaranteeing delivery of one box per month across that period – three beautifully bound special editions in total.

It's a great option if you'd like a little more of the magic locked in at once – and with a great discount!

The cut-off date is always the 3rd of the month to receive that month's books.

For example, if you wanted to receive the June box, you would need to be subscribed by the 3rd June. Orders placed from 4th June would receive the July box.

Your first payment is taken when you subscribe.

After that, payments are taken on the 1st of every month (monthly subscription) or every three months (quarterly subscription) following the delivery of your first box – unless you cancel before then.

If your payment fails on the 1st, we’ll send you an email
asking you to update your payment details. We’ll also send two more reminder
emails before the 4th.

If your payment details still have not updated by the 4th,
your subscription will not automatically renew. After the 4th, we’ll send two
additional emails asking whether you want to restart or renew for the next
month. To restore your subscription, update your payment information in your
account or contact support at customerservices@thelockedlibrary.co.uk .

You'll have three days to update your payment details. If updated within that window, your payment will be taken and your subscription will continue as normal. If the payment isn't resolved within three days, your subscription will be cancelled automatically.

Log in to your account, go to Manage Subscriptions, and select Payment Methods. Click Edit, then Send Update Email – you'll receive a secure link to update your payment details safely.

If you're on a 1-month subscription, you can skip your next upcoming box at any time – and unskip it right up until the day before the 1st of the month if you change your mind. Please note you cannot skip the very first month of your subscription. Skipping is not currently available on the 3-month subscription.

The easiest way is to log in to your Locked Library account and complete the cancellation form. You can also email us at customerservices@thelockedlibrary.co.uk .

Here's what to expect, depending on your subscription type:

Monthly subscription:

• Before your first box is dispatched: You'll receive a full refund of any payment made, and no box will be sent.
• Within 14 days of receiving your very first box: You're within the cooling-off period. You'll receive a full refund of the Monthly Box Cost, provided you notify us by email at customerservices@thelockedlibrary.co.uk with your order number and reason for return, and return the special edition book in saleable condition to: Returns Department, HarperCollins Publishers, Westerhill Road, Glasgow, G64 2QT. Please note: you are responsible for the cost of return postage.
• After the cooling-off period (or after any box beyond your first): No refund will be issued for the current period, but you won't be charged for any future months.

Please note: your cancellation takes effect from the following monthly period. Any boxes you've already paid for will continue to be delivered.

Quarterly subscription:

• Before your first box is dispatched: You'll receive a full refund of the Quarterly Subscription Payment made.
• Within 14 days of receiving your very first box: You're within the cooling-off period. You'll receive a full refund of the Quarterly Box Costs paid, plus a prorated refund of any Delivery Costs paid but not yet used — provided you notify us by email at customerservices@thelockedlibrary.co.uk with your order number and reason for return, and return the special edition book in saleable condition to: Returns Department, HarperCollins Publishers, Westerhill Road, Glasgow, G64 2QT. Please note: you are responsible for the cost of return postage.
• After the cooling-off period (or after any box beyond your first): No refund will be issued, but you'll continue to receive all remaining special edition books due for the current quarter, and you won't be charged for any future quarterly periods.

For full details, please refer to our Terms and Conditions.

Outside of the cancellation terms above, we'll also issue a prorated refund of your subscription payment in the following circumstances:

• There is a significant risk of delay to your box due to circumstances outside our control, and we've been unable to minimise the impact of that delay (as set out in clause 7.4 of our Terms and Conditions); or
• We've been unable to fulfil your order due to limited availability of a special edition book, and we've let you know by email.

If you think either of these applies to you, please get in touch at customerservices@thelockedlibrary.co.uk .

We check every book before it leaves us, but we know that sometimes the unexpected happens in transit. If your book arrives damaged, we want to put it right. Head to the Damages Criteria on our website to check whether your book qualifies for a replacement, then get in touch with us at customerservices@thelockedlibrary.co.uk with your order number and photographic evidence of the damage – please do this within 14 days of receiving your book.

Please note: damage to the outer subscription box where the book itself is undamaged does not qualify for a replacement.

We're unable to offer exchanges, but if your special edition book arrives damaged, you may be eligible for a replacement. If you're within your cooling-off period and wish to cancel, please see the cancellation section for return instructions.

You are responsible for the cost of return postage in all cases.

First, check your expected delivery window (UK subscribers: up to two weeks after the monthly closing date; international subscribers: up to four weeks). If your box hasn't arrived after that time, please contact us at customerservices@thelockedlibrary.co.uk with your order number and we'll look into it for you.

We ship to a number of countries worldwide. You can find the full list of destinations and their shipping costs here.

Shipping costs are calculated at checkout based on your delivery address. You can view the full breakdown of costs here before you commit.

This depends on where you're based:

• UK: Around two weeks after the monthly closing date.
• International: Up to four weeks after the monthly closing date.

We're not able to ship to P.O. Boxes, PSC Boxes, or military addresses at this time.

If you're based outside of the UK, your order may be subject to import duties or taxes on arrival. These charges are your responsibility, and as policies vary widely between countries, we'd recommend checking with your local customs office or postal service before ordering. You will be the named importer of the goods.

Yes. Log in to your account, go to Manage Subscriptions, select Shipping Address, and then Edit Shipping Address to make your changes.

Yes – when you update your delivery address, your shipping costs will be recalculated to reflect your new location. You can check all current shipping rates here .

Being a subscriber unlocks more than just your monthly box. Active subscribers who are signed up to the newsletter get early access to our website sales, plus any exclusive subscriber discounts on offer.

To make sure you're first to hear about upcoming sales and get your early access code, you must be signed up to our newsletter.

Early access gives subscribers an exclusive window to browse and buy website editions before they go on general sale.

Subscribers must be signed up to our newsletter to receive early access.

Early access is for active subscribers only. If you subscribe on the same day as an early access period begins, you may not be included in that particular window.

Subscribers must be signed up to our newsletter to receive early access.

If you did not receive your early access code, we suggest signing up or resigning up to the newsletter to ensure you will get them for any future sales.

For now, please send us a DM on Instagram or contact our customer service team including your registered email for your active subscription and we will reply with the code.

If you currently have a subscription with us, you're considered an active subscriber–even if you've skipped that month's box. Skipping a box doesn't affect your subscriber status or early access eligibility as long as you're signed up to the newsletter.

Website editions are any editions that fall outside of our monthly subscriptions.

This includes Archive editions, Locked Library Classics, sequels and any other edition advertised outside of the subscription.

Website editions and sequel books are carefully packed in mailers rather than our signature pink or teal subscription boxes.

If your book arrives and you have concerns about its condition, please review our damages criteria and contact us if you believe it qualifies for a replacement or refund.

Active subscribers get early access to website editions.

After this, we hold a 'general sale' for anyone who does not have an active subscription. Please note that if stock runs out during early access, it may not make it to the general sale.