diff --git a/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/Models/Models.swift b/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/Models/Models.swift
index a3ddcba..de73c85 100644
--- a/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/Models/Models.swift
+++ b/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/Models/Models.swift
@@ -101,11 +101,8 @@ struct UserSettings: Codable {
     var voice: String
     var speed: Double
 
-    enum CodingKeys: String, CodingKey {
-        case id
-        case autoNext = "auto_next"
-        case voice, speed
-    }
+    // Server sends/expects camelCase: { autoNext, voice, speed }
+    // (No CodingKeys needed — Swift synthesises the same names by default)
 
     static let `default` = UserSettings(id: nil, autoNext: false, voice: "af_bella", speed: 1.0)
 }
@@ -243,10 +240,6 @@ struct BookBrief: Codable {
 
 // MARK: - Audio
 
-enum AudioStatus {
-    case idle, loading, generating, ready, error(String)
-}
-
 enum NextPrefetchStatus {
     case none, prefetching, prefetched, failed
 }
diff --git a/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/Networking/APIClient.swift b/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/Networking/APIClient.swift
index 3b8d4c2..1518e68 100644
--- a/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/Networking/APIClient.swift
+++ b/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/Networking/APIClient.swift
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import Foundation
 actor APIClient {
     static let shared = APIClient()
 
-    private var baseURL: URL
+    var baseURL: URL
     private var authCookie: String?     // raw "libnovel_auth=<token>" header value
     private var sessionId: String?      // anon session id (UUID)
 
@@ -58,7 +58,16 @@ actor APIClient {
     // MARK: - Low-level request builder
 
     private func makeRequest(_ path: String, method: String = "GET", body: Encodable? = nil) throws -> URLRequest {
-        let url = baseURL.appendingPathComponent(path)
+        // Build URL by appending the path string directly to the base URL string.
+        // appendingPathComponent() percent-encodes slashes, which breaks multi-segment
+        // paths like /api/chapter/slug/1. URL(string:) preserves slashes correctly.
+        let urlString = baseURL.absoluteString.trimmingCharacters(in: CharacterSet(charactersIn: "/"))
+            + "/" + path.trimmingCharacters(in: CharacterSet(charactersIn: "/"))
+        print("[APIClient] ▶ \(method) \(urlString)")
+        guard let url = URL(string: urlString) else {
+            print("[APIClient] ✗ Could not construct URL from: \(urlString)")
+            throw APIError.invalidResponse
+        }
         var req = URLRequest(url: url)
         req.httpMethod = method
         req.setValue("application/json", forHTTPHeaderField: "Accept")
@@ -66,6 +75,12 @@ actor APIClient {
             req.setValue("application/json", forHTTPHeaderField: "Content-Type")
             req.httpBody = try JSONEncoder().encode(body)
         }
+        // Log cookies being sent
+        if let cookies = HTTPCookieStorage.shared.cookies(for: url), !cookies.isEmpty {
+            print("[APIClient]   cookies: \(cookies.map { "\($0.name)=\($0.value.prefix(20))…" })")
+        } else {
+            print("[APIClient]   cookies: (none)")
+        }
         return req
     }
 
@@ -75,15 +90,40 @@ actor APIClient {
         let req = try makeRequest(path, method: method, body: body)
         let (data, response) = try await session.data(for: req)
         guard let http = response as? HTTPURLResponse else {
+            print("[APIClient] ✗ \(path) — not an HTTP response")
             throw APIError.invalidResponse
         }
+        let rawBody = String(data: data, encoding: .utf8) ?? "<non-utf8 data, \(data.count) bytes>"
+        print("[APIClient] ◀ \(http.statusCode) \(path) — \(data.count) bytes")
+        if data.count < 2000 {
+            print("[APIClient]   body: \(rawBody)")
+        } else {
+            print("[APIClient]   body (first 2000 chars): \(rawBody.prefix(2000))")
+        }
         guard (200..<300).contains(http.statusCode) else {
-            let message = String(data: data, encoding: .utf8) ?? "HTTP \(http.statusCode)"
-            throw APIError.httpError(http.statusCode, message)
+            throw APIError.httpError(http.statusCode, rawBody)
         }
         do {
-            return try JSONDecoder.iso8601.decode(T.self, from: data)
+            let decoded = try JSONDecoder.iso8601.decode(T.self, from: data)
+            print("[APIClient] ✓ decoded \(T.self) from \(path)")
+            return decoded
         } catch {
+            print("[APIClient] ✗ decode error for \(T.self) from \(path)")
+            print("[APIClient]   decode error: \(error)")
+            if let decodingError = error as? DecodingError {
+                switch decodingError {
+                case .typeMismatch(let type, let ctx):
+                    print("[APIClient]   typeMismatch: expected \(type) at \(ctx.codingPath.map(\.stringValue).joined(separator: "."))")
+                case .valueNotFound(let type, let ctx):
+                    print("[APIClient]   valueNotFound: \(type) at \(ctx.codingPath.map(\.stringValue).joined(separator: "."))")
+                case .keyNotFound(let key, let ctx):
+                    print("[APIClient]   keyNotFound: '\(key.stringValue)' at \(ctx.codingPath.map(\.stringValue).joined(separator: "."))")
+                case .dataCorrupted(let ctx):
+                    print("[APIClient]   dataCorrupted: \(ctx.debugDescription) at \(ctx.codingPath.map(\.stringValue).joined(separator: "."))")
+                @unknown default:
+                    print("[APIClient]   unknown decoding error: \(error)")
+                }
+            }
             throw APIError.decodingError(error)
         }
     }
@@ -237,7 +277,9 @@ actor APIClient {
     // MARK: - Sessions
 
     func sessions() async throws -> [UserSession] {
-        try await fetch("/api/sessions")
+        struct Response: Decodable { let sessions: [UserSession] }
+        let r: Response = try await fetch("/api/sessions")
+        return r.sessions
     }
 
     func revokeSession(id: String) async throws {
@@ -316,7 +358,7 @@ struct BrowseResponse: Decodable {
 
     enum CodingKeys: String, CodingKey {
         case novels, page
-        case hasNext = "has_next"
+        case hasNext = "hasNext"
     }
 }
 
@@ -365,9 +407,10 @@ struct SearchResponse: Decodable {
 }
 
 struct AudioGenerateResponse: Decodable {
-    let status: String      // "generating" | "ready" | "error"
-    let url: String?
-    let message: String?
+    // The Go API is synchronous: it blocks until generation completes and
+    // returns {"url": "...", "filename": "..."} on success.
+    let url: String
+    let filename: String
 }
 
 struct ProgressEntry: Decodable, Identifiable {
diff --git a/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/Services/AudioPlayerService.swift b/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/Services/AudioPlayerService.swift
index 3e619ca..3c18d04 100644
--- a/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/Services/AudioPlayerService.swift
+++ b/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/Services/AudioPlayerService.swift
@@ -6,12 +6,12 @@ import Combine
 // MARK: - AudioPlayerService
 // Central singleton that owns AVPlayer, drives audio state, handles lock-screen
 // controls (NowPlayingInfoCenter + MPRemoteCommandCenter), and pre-fetches the
-// next chapter audio — mirroring the web AudioStore.
+// next chapter audio.
 
 @MainActor
 final class AudioPlayerService: ObservableObject {
 
-    // MARK: - Published state (mirrors web AudioStore fields)
+    // MARK: - Published state
 
     @Published var slug: String = ""
     @Published var chapter: Int = 0
@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@ final class AudioPlayerService: ObservableObject {
 
     @Published var nextPrefetchStatus: NextPrefetchStatus = .none
     @Published var nextAudioURL: String = ""
-    @Published var nextProgress: Double = 0
     @Published var nextPrefetchedChapter: Int? = nil
 
     var isActive: Bool {
@@ -52,10 +51,16 @@ final class AudioPlayerService: ObservableObject {
     private var playerItem: AVPlayerItem?
     private var timeObserver: Any?
     private var statusObserver: AnyCancellable?
+    private var durationObserver: AnyCancellable?
     private var finishObserver: AnyCancellable?
     private var generationTask: Task<Void, Never>?
     private var prefetchTask: Task<Void, Never>?
 
+    // Cached cover image — downloaded once per chapter load, reused on every
+    // updateNowPlaying() call so we don't re-download on every play/pause/seek.
+    private var cachedCoverArtwork: MPMediaItemArtwork?
+    private var cachedCoverURL: String = ""
+
     // MARK: - Init
 
     init() {
@@ -69,7 +74,6 @@ final class AudioPlayerService: ObservableObject {
     func load(slug: String, chapter: Int, chapterTitle: String,
               bookTitle: String, coverURL: String, voice: String, speed: Double,
               chapters: [ChapterIndexBrief], nextChapter: Int?) {
-        // Cancel any in-flight generation
         generationTask?.cancel()
         prefetchTask?.cancel()
         stop()
@@ -87,9 +91,16 @@ final class AudioPlayerService: ObservableObject {
         self.nextAudioURL = ""
         self.nextPrefetchedChapter = nil
 
-        status = .loading
+        status = .generating
         generationProgress = 0
 
+        // Invalidate cover cache if the book changed.
+        if coverURL != cachedCoverURL {
+            cachedCoverArtwork = nil
+            cachedCoverURL = coverURL
+            prefetchCoverArtwork(from: coverURL)
+        }
+
         generationTask = Task { await generateAudio() }
     }
 
@@ -112,9 +123,11 @@ final class AudioPlayerService: ObservableObject {
 
     func seek(to seconds: Double) {
         let time = CMTime(seconds: seconds, preferredTimescale: 600)
-        player?.seek(to: time)
-        currentTime = seconds
-        updateNowPlaying()
+        currentTime = seconds   // optimistic UI update
+        player?.seek(to: time, toleranceBefore: .zero, toleranceAfter: .zero) { [weak self] _ in
+            guard let self else { return }
+            Task { @MainActor in self.updateNowPlaying() }
+        }
     }
 
     func skip(by seconds: Double) {
@@ -133,84 +146,61 @@ final class AudioPlayerService: ObservableObject {
         isPlaying = false
         currentTime = 0
         duration = 0
+        audioURL = ""
         status = .idle
     }
 
-    // MARK: - Audio generation loop (mirrors web polling pattern)
+    // MARK: - Audio generation
 
     private func generateAudio() async {
         guard !slug.isEmpty, chapter > 0 else { return }
         do {
-            var pollCount = 0
-            while !Task.isCancelled {
-                let response = try await APIClient.shared.triggerAudio(slug: slug, chapter: chapter, voice: voice, speed: speed)
-                switch response.status {
-                case "ready":
-                    if let url = response.url {
-                        await MainActor.run {
-                            self.audioURL = url
-                            self.status = .ready
-                            self.generationProgress = 100
-                        }
-                        await playURL(url)
-                        await prefetchNext()
-                    }
-                    return
-                case "generating":
-                    await MainActor.run {
-                        self.status = .generating
-                        // Simulate progress ramp (same trick as the web UI)
-                        self.generationProgress = min(95, Double(pollCount) * 8)
-                    }
-                    pollCount += 1
-                    try await Task.sleep(for: .seconds(2))
-                case "error":
-                    await MainActor.run {
-                        self.status = .error(response.message ?? "Unknown error")
-                    }
-                    return
-                default:
-                    break
-                }
+            // Fast path: audio already in MinIO — get a presigned URL and play immediately.
+            if let presignedURL = try? await APIClient.shared.presignAudio(slug: slug, chapter: chapter, voice: voice) {
+                audioURL = presignedURL
+                status = .ready
+                generationProgress = 100
+                await playURL(presignedURL)
+                await prefetchNext()
+                return
             }
+
+            // Slow path: trigger TTS generation. Go API blocks until done.
+            status = .generating
+            generationProgress = 50
+            let response = try await APIClient.shared.triggerAudio(slug: slug, chapter: chapter, voice: voice, speed: speed)
+            audioURL = response.url
+            status = .ready
+            generationProgress = 100
+            await playURL(response.url)
+            await prefetchNext()
         } catch is CancellationError {
             // Cancelled — no-op
         } catch {
-            await MainActor.run {
-                self.status = .error(error.localizedDescription)
-                self.errorMessage = error.localizedDescription
-            }
+            status = .error(error.localizedDescription)
+            errorMessage = error.localizedDescription
         }
     }
 
     // MARK: - Prefetch next chapter
+    // Always prefetch regardless of autoNext — faster playback when the user
+    // manually navigates forward. autoNext only controls whether we auto-navigate.
 
     private func prefetchNext() async {
-        guard autoNext, let next = nextChapter, !Task.isCancelled else { return }
+        guard let next = nextChapter, !Task.isCancelled else { return }
         nextPrefetchStatus = .prefetching
         nextPrefetchedChapter = next
         do {
-            var pollCount = 0
-            while !Task.isCancelled {
-                let response = try await APIClient.shared.triggerAudio(slug: slug, chapter: next, voice: voice, speed: speed)
-                switch response.status {
-                case "ready":
-                    if let url = response.url {
-                        nextAudioURL = url
-                        nextPrefetchStatus = .prefetched
-                    }
-                    return
-                case "generating":
-                    nextProgress = min(95, Double(pollCount) * 8)
-                    pollCount += 1
-                    try await Task.sleep(for: .seconds(2))
-                case "error":
-                    nextPrefetchStatus = .failed
-                    return
-                default:
-                    break
-                }
+            // Fast path: already in MinIO.
+            if let presignedURL = try? await APIClient.shared.presignAudio(slug: slug, chapter: next, voice: voice) {
+                nextAudioURL = presignedURL
+                nextPrefetchStatus = .prefetched
+                return
             }
+            // Slow path: trigger generation so it's ready for next time.
+            let response = try await APIClient.shared.triggerAudio(slug: slug, chapter: next, voice: voice, speed: speed)
+            nextAudioURL = response.url
+            nextPrefetchStatus = .prefetched
         } catch {
             nextPrefetchStatus = .failed
         }
@@ -219,28 +209,63 @@ final class AudioPlayerService: ObservableObject {
     // MARK: - AVPlayer management
 
     private func playURL(_ urlString: String) async {
-        guard let url = URL(string: urlString) else { return }
+        // Resolve relative paths (e.g. "/api/audio/...") to absolute URLs.
+        let resolved: URL?
+        if urlString.hasPrefix("http://") || urlString.hasPrefix("https://") {
+            resolved = URL(string: urlString)
+        } else {
+            resolved = URL(string: urlString, relativeTo: await APIClient.shared.baseURL)?.absoluteURL
+        }
+        guard let url = resolved else { return }
         teardownPlayer()
         let item = AVPlayerItem(url: url)
         playerItem = item
         player = AVPlayer(playerItem: item)
-        player?.rate = Float(speed)
 
-        // Observe playback time
+        // KVO: update duration as soon as asset metadata is loaded.
+        durationObserver = item.publisher(for: \.duration)
+            .receive(on: RunLoop.main)
+            .sink { [weak self] dur in
+                guard let self else { return }
+                let secs = dur.seconds
+                if secs.isFinite && secs > 0 {
+                    self.duration = secs
+                    self.updateNowPlaying()
+                }
+            }
+
+        // KVO: set playback rate once the item is ready.
+        // Do NOT call player?.play() unconditionally — let readyToPlay trigger it
+        // so we don't race between AVPlayer's internal buffering and our call.
+        statusObserver = item.publisher(for: \.status)
+            .receive(on: RunLoop.main)
+            .sink { [weak self] itemStatus in
+                guard let self else { return }
+                if itemStatus == .readyToPlay {
+                    self.player?.rate = Float(self.speed)
+                    self.isPlaying = true
+                    self.updateNowPlaying()
+                } else if itemStatus == .failed {
+                    self.status = .error(item.error?.localizedDescription ?? "Playback failed")
+                    self.errorMessage = item.error?.localizedDescription ?? "Playback failed"
+                }
+            }
+
+        // Periodic time observer for seek bar position.
         timeObserver = player?.addPeriodicTimeObserver(
             forInterval: CMTime(seconds: 0.5, preferredTimescale: 600),
             queue: .main
         ) { [weak self] time in
             guard let self else { return }
             Task { @MainActor in
-                self.currentTime = time.seconds
-                if let dur = self.playerItem?.duration.seconds, dur.isFinite, dur > 0 {
-                    self.duration = dur
+                let secs = time.seconds
+                if secs.isFinite && secs >= 0 {
+                    self.currentTime = secs
                 }
             }
         }
 
-        // Observe when playback ends
+        // Observe when playback ends.
         finishObserver = NotificationCenter.default
             .publisher(for: AVPlayerItem.didPlayToEndTimeNotification, object: item)
             .sink { [weak self] _ in
@@ -249,14 +274,15 @@ final class AudioPlayerService: ObservableObject {
                 }
             }
 
+        // Kick off buffering — actual playback starts via statusObserver above.
         player?.play()
-        isPlaying = true
-        updateNowPlaying()
     }
 
     private func teardownPlayer() {
         if let observer = timeObserver { player?.removeTimeObserver(observer) }
         timeObserver = nil
+        statusObserver = nil
+        durationObserver = nil
         finishObserver = nil
         player = nil
         playerItem = nil
@@ -264,14 +290,74 @@ final class AudioPlayerService: ObservableObject {
 
     private func handlePlaybackFinished() {
         isPlaying = false
-        if autoNext, let next = nextChapter {
-            // The chapter view model listens for this signal to navigate
-            NotificationCenter.default.post(name: .audioDidFinishChapter,
-                                            object: nil,
-                                            userInfo: ["next": next])
+
+        guard let next = nextChapter else { return }
+
+        // Always notify the view that the chapter finished (it may update UI).
+        NotificationCenter.default.post(
+            name: .audioDidFinishChapter,
+            object: nil,
+            userInfo: ["next": next, "autoNext": autoNext]
+        )
+
+        // If autoNext is on, load the next chapter internally right away.
+        // We already have the metadata in `chapters`, so we can reconstruct
+        // everything without waiting for the view to navigate.
+        guard autoNext else { return }
+
+        let nextTitle = chapters.first(where: { $0.number == next })?.title ?? ""
+        let nextNextChapter = chapters.first(where: { $0.number > next })?.number
+
+        // If we already prefetched a URL for the next chapter, skip straight to
+        // playback and kick off generation in the background for the one after.
+        if nextPrefetchStatus == .prefetched, !nextAudioURL.isEmpty {
+            let url = nextAudioURL
+
+            // Advance state before tearing down the current player.
+            chapter = next
+            chapterTitle = nextTitle
+            nextChapter = nextNextChapter
+            nextPrefetchStatus = .none
+            nextAudioURL = ""
+            nextPrefetchedChapter = nil
+            audioURL = url
+            status = .ready
+            generationProgress = 100
+
+            generationTask = Task {
+                await playURL(url)
+                await prefetchNext()
+            }
+        } else {
+            // No prefetch available — do a full load.
+            load(
+                slug: slug,
+                chapter: next,
+                chapterTitle: nextTitle,
+                bookTitle: bookTitle,
+                coverURL: coverURL,
+                voice: voice,
+                speed: speed,
+                chapters: chapters,
+                nextChapter: nextNextChapter
+            )
         }
     }
 
+    // MARK: - Cover art prefetch
+
+    private func prefetchCoverArtwork(from urlString: String) {
+        guard !urlString.isEmpty, let url = URL(string: urlString) else { return }
+        URLSession.shared.dataTask(with: url) { [weak self] data, _, _ in
+            guard let self, let data, let image = UIImage(data: data) else { return }
+            let artwork = MPMediaItemArtwork(boundsSize: image.size) { _ in image }
+            Task { @MainActor in
+                self.cachedCoverArtwork = artwork
+                self.updateNowPlaying()
+            }
+        }.resume()
+    }
+
     // MARK: - Audio Session
 
     private func configureAudioSession() {
@@ -283,7 +369,7 @@ final class AudioPlayerService: ObservableObject {
         }
     }
 
-    // MARK: - Lock Screen / Control Center (NowPlayingInfoCenter)
+    // MARK: - Lock Screen / Control Center
 
     private func setupRemoteCommandCenter() {
         let center = MPRemoteCommandCenter.shared()
@@ -325,19 +411,10 @@ final class AudioPlayerService: ObservableObject {
             MPMediaItemPropertyPlaybackDuration: duration,
             MPNowPlayingInfoPropertyPlaybackRate: isPlaying ? speed : 0.0
         ]
-
-        // Cover art (async download)
-        if !coverURL.isEmpty, let url = URL(string: coverURL) {
-            URLSession.shared.dataTask(with: url) { data, _, _ in
-                if let data, let image = UIImage(data: data) {
-                    let artwork = MPMediaItemArtwork(boundsSize: image.size) { _ in image }
-                    var updated = MPNowPlayingInfoCenter.default().nowPlayingInfo ?? [:]
-                    updated[MPMediaItemPropertyArtwork] = artwork
-                    MPNowPlayingInfoCenter.default().nowPlayingInfo = updated
-                }
-            }.resume()
+        // Use cached artwork — downloaded once in prefetchCoverArtwork().
+        if let artwork = cachedCoverArtwork {
+            info[MPMediaItemPropertyArtwork] = artwork
         }
-
         MPNowPlayingInfoCenter.default().nowPlayingInfo = info
     }
 }
@@ -346,14 +423,13 @@ final class AudioPlayerService: ObservableObject {
 
 enum AudioPlayerStatus: Equatable {
     case idle
-    case loading
-    case generating
+    case generating   // covers both "loading" and "generating TTS" phases
     case ready
     case error(String)
 
     static func == (lhs: AudioPlayerStatus, rhs: AudioPlayerStatus) -> Bool {
         switch (lhs, rhs) {
-        case (.idle, .idle), (.loading, .loading), (.generating, .generating), (.ready, .ready):
+        case (.idle, .idle), (.generating, .generating), (.ready, .ready):
             return true
         case (.error(let a), .error(let b)):
             return a == b
diff --git a/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/ViewModels/BookDetailViewModel.swift b/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/ViewModels/BookDetailViewModel.swift
index 37051c4..384742c 100644
--- a/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/ViewModels/BookDetailViewModel.swift
+++ b/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/ViewModels/BookDetailViewModel.swift
@@ -26,7 +26,9 @@ final class BookDetailViewModel: ObservableObject {
             saved = detail.saved
             lastChapter = detail.lastChapter
         } catch {
-            self.error = error.localizedDescription
+            if !(error is CancellationError) {
+                self.error = error.localizedDescription
+            }
         }
         isLoading = false
     }
diff --git a/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/ViewModels/BrowseViewModel.swift b/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/ViewModels/BrowseViewModel.swift
index 0a2864a..75d3717 100644
--- a/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/ViewModels/BrowseViewModel.swift
+++ b/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/ViewModels/BrowseViewModel.swift
@@ -37,7 +37,9 @@ final class BrowseViewModel: ObservableObject {
             novels = result.results
             hasNext = false
         } catch {
-            self.error = error.localizedDescription
+            if !(error is CancellationError) {
+                self.error = error.localizedDescription
+            }
         }
         isLoading = false
     }
@@ -48,12 +50,14 @@ final class BrowseViewModel: ObservableObject {
     }
 
     private func loadPage(_ page: Int) async {
+        print("[Browse] loadPage(\(page)) genre=\(genre) sort=\(sort) status=\(status)")
         isLoading = true
         error = nil
         do {
             let result = try await APIClient.shared.browse(
                 page: page, genre: genre, sort: sort, status: status
             )
+            print("[Browse] ✓ page \(page) — \(result.novels.count) novels, hasNext=\(result.hasNext)")
             if page == 1 {
                 novels = result.novels
             } else {
@@ -62,7 +66,10 @@ final class BrowseViewModel: ObservableObject {
             hasNext = result.hasNext
             currentPage = page
         } catch {
-            self.error = error.localizedDescription
+            if !(error is CancellationError) {
+                print("[Browse] ✗ error on page \(page): \(error)")
+                self.error = error.localizedDescription
+            }
         }
         isLoading = false
     }
diff --git a/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/ViewModels/ChapterReaderViewModel.swift b/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/ViewModels/ChapterReaderViewModel.swift
index 56ff569..4b9112f 100644
--- a/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/ViewModels/ChapterReaderViewModel.swift
+++ b/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/ViewModels/ChapterReaderViewModel.swift
@@ -16,22 +16,32 @@ final class ChapterReaderViewModel: ObservableObject {
     }
 
     func load() async {
+        print("[ChapterReader] load() slug=\(slug) chapter=\(chapter)")
         isLoading = true
         error = nil
         do {
             content = try await APIClient.shared.chapterContent(slug: slug, chapter: chapter)
+            print("[ChapterReader] ✓ loaded chapter \(chapter), html length=\(content?.html.count ?? 0)")
             // Record reading progress
             try? await APIClient.shared.setProgress(slug: slug, chapter: chapter)
         } catch {
-            self.error = error.localizedDescription
+            if !(error is CancellationError) {
+                print("[ChapterReader] ✗ error: \(error)")
+                self.error = error.localizedDescription
+            }
         }
+        print("[ChapterReader] done — isLoading=false, content=\(content != nil), error=\(String(describing: self.error))")
         isLoading = false
     }
 
     func toggleAudio(audioPlayer: AudioPlayerService, settings: UserSettings) {
         guard let content else { return }
 
-        let isCurrent = audioPlayer.slug == slug && audioPlayer.chapter == chapter
+        // Only treat as "current" if the player is active (not idle/stopped).
+        // If the user stopped playback, isActive is false — we must re-load.
+        let isCurrent = audioPlayer.isActive &&
+                        audioPlayer.slug == slug &&
+                        audioPlayer.chapter == chapter
 
         if isCurrent {
             audioPlayer.togglePlayPause()
diff --git a/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/ViewModels/HomeViewModel.swift b/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/ViewModels/HomeViewModel.swift
index 55583c9..739ea25 100644
--- a/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/ViewModels/HomeViewModel.swift
+++ b/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/ViewModels/HomeViewModel.swift
@@ -19,7 +19,9 @@ final class HomeViewModel: ObservableObject {
             recentlyUpdated = data.recentlyUpdated
             stats = data.stats
         } catch {
-            self.error = error.localizedDescription
+            if !(error is CancellationError) {
+                self.error = error.localizedDescription
+            }
         }
         isLoading = false
     }
diff --git a/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/ViewModels/LibraryViewModel.swift b/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/ViewModels/LibraryViewModel.swift
index aed85b3..50dd87d 100644
--- a/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/ViewModels/LibraryViewModel.swift
+++ b/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/ViewModels/LibraryViewModel.swift
@@ -12,7 +12,9 @@ final class LibraryViewModel: ObservableObject {
         do {
             items = try await APIClient.shared.library()
         } catch {
-            self.error = error.localizedDescription
+            if !(error is CancellationError) {
+                self.error = error.localizedDescription
+            }
         }
         isLoading = false
     }
diff --git a/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/Views/BookDetail/BookDetailView.swift b/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/Views/BookDetail/BookDetailView.swift
index f346006..a2bbd7d 100644
--- a/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/Views/BookDetail/BookDetailView.swift
+++ b/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/Views/BookDetail/BookDetailView.swift
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ struct BookDetailView: View {
         .navigationBarTitleDisplayMode(.inline)
         .toolbar { bookmarkButton }
         .task { await vm.load() }
-        .alert("Error", isPresented: .constant(vm.error != nil)) {
+        .alert("Error", isPresented: Binding(get: { vm.error != nil }, set: { if !$0 { vm.error = nil } })) {
             Button("OK") { vm.error = nil }
         } message: { Text(vm.error ?? "") }
     }
diff --git a/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/Views/Browse/BrowseView.swift b/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/Views/Browse/BrowseView.swift
index dcb9f47..765701e 100644
--- a/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/Views/Browse/BrowseView.swift
+++ b/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/Views/Browse/BrowseView.swift
@@ -49,7 +49,23 @@ struct BrowseView: View {
                 if vm.isLoading && vm.novels.isEmpty {
                     ProgressView().frame(maxWidth: .infinity, maxHeight: .infinity)
                 } else if vm.novels.isEmpty && !vm.isLoading {
-                    EmptyStateView(icon: "magnifyingglass", title: "No results", message: "Try a different search or filter.").frame(maxWidth: .infinity, maxHeight: .infinity)
+                    VStack(spacing: 16) {
+                        if let errMsg = vm.error {
+                            Image(systemName: "wifi.slash")
+                                .font(.largeTitle)
+                                .foregroundStyle(.secondary)
+                            Text(errMsg)
+                                .multilineTextAlignment(.center)
+                                .foregroundStyle(.secondary)
+                                .padding(.horizontal)
+                            Button("Retry") { Task { await vm.loadFirstPage() } }
+                                .buttonStyle(.borderedProminent)
+                                .tint(.amber)
+                        } else {
+                            EmptyStateView(icon: "magnifyingglass", title: "No results", message: "Try a different search or filter.")
+                        }
+                    }
+                    .frame(maxWidth: .infinity, maxHeight: .infinity)
                 } else {
                     ScrollView {
                         LazyVGrid(columns: [GridItem(.adaptive(minimum: 150), spacing: 12)], spacing: 16) {
@@ -70,6 +86,7 @@ struct BrowseView: View {
                         }
                         .padding()
                     }
+                    .refreshable { await vm.loadFirstPage() }
                 }
             }
             .navigationTitle("Discover")
diff --git a/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/Views/ChapterReader/ChapterReaderView.swift b/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/Views/ChapterReader/ChapterReaderView.swift
index f111b9e..a95dd79 100644
--- a/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/Views/ChapterReader/ChapterReaderView.swift
+++ b/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/Views/ChapterReader/ChapterReaderView.swift
@@ -18,19 +18,46 @@ struct ChapterReaderView: View {
     }
 
     var body: some View {
+        let _ = print("[ChapterReaderView] body eval — slug=\(slug) ch=\(chapterNumber) isLoading=\(vm.isLoading) hasContent=\(vm.content != nil) error=\(vm.error ?? "nil")")
         Group {
             if vm.isLoading {
+                let _ = print("[ChapterReaderView] branch: LOADING")
                 ProgressView().frame(maxWidth: .infinity, maxHeight: .infinity)
             } else if let content = vm.content {
+                let _ = print("[ChapterReaderView] branch: CONTENT html=\(content.html.count)chars title='\(content.chapter.title)'")
                 readerContent(content)
+            } else if let errMsg = vm.error {
+                let _ = print("[ChapterReaderView] branch: ERROR '\(errMsg)'")
+                VStack(spacing: 16) {
+                    Image(systemName: "exclamationmark.triangle")
+                        .font(.largeTitle)
+                        .foregroundStyle(.orange)
+                    Text(errMsg)
+                        .multilineTextAlignment(.center)
+                        .foregroundStyle(.secondary)
+                        .padding(.horizontal)
+                    Button("Retry") { Task { await vm.load() } }
+                        .buttonStyle(.borderedProminent)
+                        .tint(.amber)
+                }
+                .frame(maxWidth: .infinity, maxHeight: .infinity)
+            } else {
+                let _ = print("[ChapterReaderView] branch: BLANK (no loading, no content, no error)")
+                Color.clear
             }
         }
         .navigationTitle(vm.content.map { "Ch.\($0.chapter.number)" } ?? "")
         .navigationBarTitleDisplayMode(.inline)
         .toolbar { audioToolbarButton }
-        .task { await vm.load() }
+        .task {
+            print("[ChapterReaderView] .task fired — calling vm.load()")
+            await vm.load()
+            print("[ChapterReaderView] .task completed")
+        }
         .onReceive(NotificationCenter.default.publisher(for: .audioDidFinishChapter)) { note in
-            if let next = note.userInfo?["next"] as? Int {
+            guard let next = note.userInfo?["next"] as? Int else { return }
+            let shouldAutoNavigate = note.userInfo?["autoNext"] as? Bool ?? false
+            if shouldAutoNavigate {
                 vm.navigateTo = next
             }
         }
@@ -42,15 +69,15 @@ struct ChapterReaderView: View {
                 ChapterReaderView(slug: slug, chapterNumber: next)
             }
         }
-        .alert("Error", isPresented: .constant(vm.error != nil)) {
-            Button("OK") { vm.error = nil }
-        } message: { Text(vm.error ?? "") }
     }
 
     // MARK: - Content
 
+    @State private var webHeight: CGFloat = 800
+
     @ViewBuilder
     private func readerContent(_ content: ChapterResponse) -> some View {
+        let _ = print("[ChapterReaderView] readerContent — html=\(content.html.count)chars webHeight=\(webHeight)")
         ScrollView {
             VStack(alignment: .leading, spacing: 16) {
                 // Header
@@ -68,7 +95,8 @@ struct ChapterReaderView: View {
                 Divider()
 
                 // Chapter body
-                HTMLContentView(html: content.html)
+                HTMLContentView(html: content.html, height: $webHeight)
+                    .frame(height: webHeight)
                     .padding(.horizontal)
 
                 Divider()
@@ -119,30 +147,62 @@ struct ChapterReaderView: View {
 
 struct HTMLContentView: UIViewRepresentable {
     let html: String
+    @Binding var height: CGFloat
+
+    func makeCoordinator() -> Coordinator { Coordinator(self) }
 
     func makeUIView(context: Context) -> WKWebView {
         let wv = WKWebView()
         wv.scrollView.isScrollEnabled = false
         wv.isOpaque = false
         wv.backgroundColor = .clear
+        wv.scrollView.backgroundColor = .clear
+        wv.navigationDelegate = context.coordinator
         return wv
     }
 
     func updateUIView(_ uiView: WKWebView, context: Context) {
+        let isDark = UITraitCollection.current.userInterfaceStyle == .dark
+        let textColor = isDark ? "#e5e5e5" : "#1a1a1a"
         let css = """
         body {
             font-family: -apple-system, Georgia, serif;
             font-size: 17px;
             line-height: 1.7;
-            color: \(UITraitCollection.current.userInterfaceStyle == .dark ? "#e5e5e5" : "#1a1a1a");
+            color: \(textColor);
             background: transparent;
             margin: 0; padding: 0;
+            word-break: break-word;
         }
         p { margin: 0 0 1em 0; }
         """
         let wrapped = "<html><head><style>\(css)</style><meta name='viewport' content='width=device-width, initial-scale=1'></head><body>\(html)</body></html>"
+        print("[HTMLContentView] updateUIView — html=\(html.count)chars loading into WKWebView")
         uiView.loadHTMLString(wrapped, baseURL: nil)
     }
+
+    class Coordinator: NSObject, WKNavigationDelegate {
+        var parent: HTMLContentView
+        init(_ parent: HTMLContentView) { self.parent = parent }
+
+        func webView(_ webView: WKWebView, didFinish navigation: WKNavigation!) {
+            print("[HTMLContentView] didFinish — evaluating scrollHeight")
+            webView.evaluateJavaScript("document.body.scrollHeight") { result, error in
+                DispatchQueue.main.async {
+                    print("[HTMLContentView] scrollHeight result=\(String(describing: result)) error=\(String(describing: error))")
+                    if let h = result as? CGFloat, h > 0 {
+                        print("[HTMLContentView] height set to CGFloat \(h)")
+                        self.parent.height = h
+                    } else if let h = result as? Double, h > 0 {
+                        print("[HTMLContentView] height set to Double \(h)")
+                        self.parent.height = CGFloat(h)
+                    } else {
+                        print("[HTMLContentView] ⚠️ could not read height — keeping \(self.parent.height)")
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 // MARK: - Reverse label style (icon on right)
diff --git a/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/Views/Home/HomeView.swift b/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/Views/Home/HomeView.swift
index c924bce..9fa6770 100644
--- a/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/Views/Home/HomeView.swift
+++ b/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/Views/Home/HomeView.swift
@@ -28,17 +28,17 @@ struct HomeView: View {
                     // Continue reading
                     if !vm.continueReading.isEmpty {
                         SectionHeader(title: "Continue Reading")
-                        ScrollView(.horizontal, showsIndicators: false) {
-                            HStack(spacing: 12) {
-                                ForEach(vm.continueReading) { item in
-                                    NavigationLink(value: NavDestination.book(item.book.slug)) {
-                                        ContinueReadingCard(item: item)
-                                    }
-                                    .buttonStyle(.plain)
+                    ScrollView(.horizontal, showsIndicators: false) {
+                        HStack(alignment: .top, spacing: 12) {
+                            ForEach(vm.continueReading) { item in
+                                NavigationLink(value: NavDestination.book(item.book.slug)) {
+                                    ContinueReadingCard(item: item)
                                 }
+                                .buttonStyle(.plain)
                             }
-                            .padding(.horizontal)
                         }
+                        .padding(.horizontal)
+                    }
                     }
 
                     // Recently updated
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ struct HomeView: View {
             }
             .refreshable { await vm.load() }
             .task { await vm.load() }
-            .alert("Error", isPresented: .constant(vm.error != nil)) {
+            .alert("Error", isPresented: Binding(get: { vm.error != nil }, set: { if !$0 { vm.error = nil } })) {
                 Button("OK") { vm.error = nil }
             } message: {
                 Text(vm.error ?? "")
diff --git a/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/Views/Library/LibraryView.swift b/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/Views/Library/LibraryView.swift
index b82f6da..1efd2e4 100644
--- a/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/Views/Library/LibraryView.swift
+++ b/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/Views/Library/LibraryView.swift
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ struct LibraryView: View {
             }
             .refreshable { await vm.load() }
             .task { await vm.load() }
-            .alert("Error", isPresented: .constant(vm.error != nil)) {
+            .alert("Error", isPresented: Binding(get: { vm.error != nil }, set: { if !$0 { vm.error = nil } })) {
                 Button("OK") { vm.error = nil }
             } message: { Text(vm.error ?? "") }
         }
diff --git a/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/Views/Player/PlayerViews.swift b/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/Views/Player/PlayerViews.swift
index 0fbf8a8..1ab0e3e 100644
--- a/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/Views/Player/PlayerViews.swift
+++ b/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/Views/Player/PlayerViews.swift
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ struct MiniPlayerView: View {
 
                 // Status spinner or playback controls
                 switch audioPlayer.status {
-                case .loading, .generating:
+                case .generating:
                     ProgressView()
                         .scaleEffect(0.8)
                         .frame(width: 36)
diff --git a/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/Views/Profile/ProfileView.swift b/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/Views/Profile/ProfileView.swift
index c92e8f9..56efe3c 100644
--- a/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/Views/Profile/ProfileView.swift
+++ b/ios/LibNovel/LibNovel/Views/Profile/ProfileView.swift
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ struct ProfileView: View {
             .sheet(isPresented: $showChangePassword) {
                 ChangePasswordView()
             }
-            .alert("Error", isPresented: .constant(vm.error != nil)) {
+            .alert("Error", isPresented: Binding(get: { vm.error != nil }, set: { if !$0 { vm.error = nil } })) {
                 Button("OK") { vm.error = nil }
             } message: { Text(vm.error ?? "") }
         }