diff --git a/ui/src/lib/components/AudioPlayer.svelte b/ui/src/lib/components/AudioPlayer.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..187318c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui/src/lib/components/AudioPlayer.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,187 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+	/**
+	 * AudioPlayer — fetches a presigned MinIO URL for the chapter audio
+	 * and renders a native <audio> element with custom controls.
+	 *
+	 * The audio is generated server-side by Kokoro and cached.
+	 * If no audio exists yet, the user can trigger generation via the scraper API.
+	 */
+
+	interface Props {
+		slug: string;
+		chapter: number;
+		voice?: string;
+		speed?: number;
+	}
+
+	let { slug, chapter, voice = 'af_bella', speed = 1.0 }: Props = $props();
+
+	type Status = 'idle' | 'loading' | 'ready' | 'error' | 'generating';
+
+	let status = $state<Status>('idle');
+	let audioUrl = $state('');
+	let errorMsg = $state('');
+	let audioEl = $state<HTMLAudioElement | null>(null);
+	let currentTime = $state(0);
+	let duration = $state(0);
+	let isPlaying = $state(false);
+
+	async function loadAudio() {
+		status = 'loading';
+		errorMsg = '';
+		try {
+			const params = new URLSearchParams({
+				slug,
+				n: String(chapter),
+				voice,
+				speed: String(speed)
+			});
+			const res = await fetch(`/api/presign/audio?${params.toString()}`);
+			if (res.status === 404) {
+				status = 'idle';
+				return;
+			}
+			if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`HTTP ${res.status}`);
+			const data = (await res.json()) as { url: string };
+			audioUrl = data.url;
+			status = 'ready';
+		} catch (e) {
+			status = 'error';
+			errorMsg = String(e);
+		}
+	}
+
+	async function generateAudio() {
+		status = 'generating';
+		errorMsg = '';
+		try {
+			const res = await fetch(`http://localhost:8080/ui/audio/${slug}/${chapter}`, {
+				method: 'POST',
+				headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+				body: JSON.stringify({ voice, speed })
+			});
+			if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`Generation failed: ${res.status}`);
+			// After generation, fetch the presigned URL
+			await loadAudio();
+		} catch (e) {
+			status = 'error';
+			errorMsg = `Generation failed: ${e}`;
+		}
+	}
+
+	function formatTime(s: number): string {
+		const m = Math.floor(s / 60);
+		const sec = Math.floor(s % 60);
+		return `${m}:${sec.toString().padStart(2, '0')}`;
+	}
+
+	function togglePlay() {
+		if (!audioEl) return;
+		if (isPlaying) {
+			audioEl.pause();
+		} else {
+			audioEl.play();
+		}
+	}
+
+	function seek(e: Event) {
+		if (!audioEl) return;
+		const input = e.target as HTMLInputElement;
+		audioEl.currentTime = parseFloat(input.value);
+	}
+</script>
+
+<div class="mt-6 p-4 rounded-lg bg-zinc-800 border border-zinc-700">
+	<div class="flex items-center gap-2 mb-3">
+		<svg class="w-4 h-4 text-amber-400" fill="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
+			<path d="M11.536 3.464a5 5 0 010 7.072L8 14H5v3H2V7h3l3.536-3.536a5 5 0 017.072 0l-4.072 4.072zM19 8a1 1 0 011 1v6a1 1 0 01-2 0V9a1 1 0 011-1zm-4-2a1 1 0 011 1v10a1 1 0 01-2 0V7a1 1 0 011-1z"/>
+		</svg>
+		<span class="text-sm text-zinc-300 font-medium">Audio Narration</span>
+	</div>
+
+	{#if status === 'idle'}
+		<div class="flex gap-2">
+			<button
+				onclick={loadAudio}
+				class="px-3 py-1.5 rounded bg-zinc-700 text-zinc-300 text-sm hover:bg-zinc-600 transition-colors"
+			>
+				Check for audio
+			</button>
+			<button
+				onclick={generateAudio}
+				class="px-3 py-1.5 rounded bg-amber-400 text-zinc-900 text-sm font-semibold hover:bg-amber-300 transition-colors"
+			>
+				Generate audio
+			</button>
+		</div>
+
+	{:else if status === 'loading' || status === 'generating'}
+		<div class="flex items-center gap-2 text-zinc-400 text-sm">
+			<svg class="w-4 h-4 animate-spin" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
+				<circle class="opacity-25" cx="12" cy="12" r="10" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="4"></circle>
+				<path class="opacity-75" fill="currentColor" d="M4 12a8 8 0 018-8V0C5.373 0 0 5.373 0 12h4z"></path>
+			</svg>
+			{status === 'generating' ? 'Generating audio (this may take a few minutes)…' : 'Loading…'}
+		</div>
+
+	{:else if status === 'error'}
+		<div class="text-red-400 text-sm">
+			<p>{errorMsg || 'Failed to load audio.'}</p>
+			<button
+				onclick={() => { status = 'idle'; }}
+				class="mt-1 text-xs underline text-zinc-400 hover:text-zinc-200"
+			>
+				Dismiss
+			</button>
+		</div>
+
+	{:else if status === 'ready' && audioUrl}
+		<!-- Native audio element (hidden, controlled by custom UI) -->
+		<audio
+			bind:this={audioEl}
+			src={audioUrl}
+			bind:currentTime
+			bind:duration
+			onplay={() => (isPlaying = true)}
+			onpause={() => (isPlaying = false)}
+			onended={() => (isPlaying = false)}
+			preload="metadata"
+		></audio>
+
+		<!-- Custom controls -->
+		<div class="flex flex-col gap-2">
+			<!-- Play/pause + time -->
+			<div class="flex items-center gap-3">
+				<button
+					onclick={togglePlay}
+					class="w-9 h-9 rounded-full bg-amber-400 text-zinc-900 flex items-center justify-center hover:bg-amber-300 transition-colors flex-shrink-0"
+					aria-label={isPlaying ? 'Pause' : 'Play'}
+				>
+					{#if isPlaying}
+						<svg class="w-4 h-4" fill="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
+							<path d="M6 4h4v16H6V4zm8 0h4v16h-4V4z"/>
+						</svg>
+					{:else}
+						<svg class="w-4 h-4 ml-0.5" fill="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
+							<path d="M8 5v14l11-7z"/>
+						</svg>
+					{/if}
+				</button>
+
+				<span class="text-xs text-zinc-400 w-20 flex-shrink-0">
+					{formatTime(currentTime)} / {formatTime(duration || 0)}
+				</span>
+
+				<!-- Seek bar -->
+				<input
+					type="range"
+					min="0"
+					max={duration || 0}
+					value={currentTime}
+					oninput={seek}
+					class="flex-1 accent-amber-400 h-1.5 rounded"
+				/>
+			</div>
+		</div>
+	{/if}
+</div>
diff --git a/ui/src/routes/api/presign/audio/+server.ts b/ui/src/routes/api/presign/audio/+server.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5ba05f5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui/src/routes/api/presign/audio/+server.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+import { json, error } from '@sveltejs/kit';
+import type { RequestHandler } from './$types';
+import { presignAudio } from '$lib/server/minio';
+
+/**
+ * GET /api/presign/audio?slug=...&n=...&voice=...&speed=...
+ * Returns a presigned MinIO URL for the audio file so the browser
+ * can stream it directly without going through the server.
+ */
+export const GET: RequestHandler = async ({ url }) => {
+	const slug = url.searchParams.get('slug');
+	const n = parseInt(url.searchParams.get('n') ?? '', 10);
+	const voice = url.searchParams.get('voice') ?? undefined;
+	const speed = parseFloat(url.searchParams.get('speed') ?? '1') || 1;
+
+	if (!slug || !n || n < 1) {
+		error(400, 'Missing slug or n');
+	}
+
+	try {
+		const presignedUrl = await presignAudio(slug, n, voice, speed);
+		return json({ url: presignedUrl });
+	} catch (e) {
+		error(500, `Could not get presigned URL: ${e}`);
+	}
+};
diff --git a/ui/src/routes/api/progress/+server.ts b/ui/src/routes/api/progress/+server.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d499620
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui/src/routes/api/progress/+server.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+import { json, error } from '@sveltejs/kit';
+import type { RequestHandler } from './$types';
+import { setProgress } from '$lib/server/pocketbase';
+
+/**
+ * POST /api/progress
+ * Body: { slug: string, chapter: number }
+ * Records the user's reading position for the current session.
+ */
+export const POST: RequestHandler = async ({ request, locals }) => {
+	const body = await request.json().catch(() => null);
+
+	if (!body || typeof body.slug !== 'string' || typeof body.chapter !== 'number') {
+		error(400, 'Invalid body — expected { slug, chapter }');
+	}
+
+	await setProgress(locals.sessionId, body.slug, body.chapter);
+	return json({ ok: true });
+};
diff --git a/ui/src/routes/books/[slug]/chapters/[n]/+page.svelte b/ui/src/routes/books/[slug]/chapters/[n]/+page.svelte
index e4706fb..9089b84 100644
--- a/ui/src/routes/books/[slug]/chapters/[n]/+page.svelte
+++ b/ui/src/routes/books/[slug]/chapters/[n]/+page.svelte
@@ -1,7 +1,22 @@
 <script lang="ts">
+	import { onMount } from 'svelte';
+	import AudioPlayer from '$lib/components/AudioPlayer.svelte';
 	import type { PageData } from './$types';
 
 	let { data }: { data: PageData } = $props();
+
+	// Record reading progress when the chapter is opened
+	onMount(async () => {
+		try {
+			await fetch('/api/progress', {
+				method: 'POST',
+				headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+				body: JSON.stringify({ slug: data.book.slug, chapter: data.chapter.number })
+			});
+		} catch {
+			// Non-critical — silently ignore
+		}
+	});
 </script>
 
 <svelte:head>
@@ -41,7 +56,7 @@
 </div>
 
 <!-- Chapter heading -->
-<div class="mb-8">
+<div class="mb-6">
 	<p class="text-zinc-500 text-sm mb-1">Chapter {data.chapter.number}</p>
 	<h1 class="text-xl font-bold text-zinc-100">
 		{data.chapter.title || `Chapter ${data.chapter.number}`}
@@ -51,13 +66,16 @@
 	{/if}
 </div>
 
+<!-- Audio player -->
+<AudioPlayer slug={data.book.slug} chapter={data.chapter.number} />
+
 <!-- Chapter content -->
 {#if !data.html}
 	<div class="text-zinc-500 text-center py-16">
 		<p>Chapter content not available.</p>
 	</div>
 {:else}
-	<div class="prose-chapter">
+	<div class="prose-chapter mt-8">
 		{@html data.html}
 	</div>
 {/if}