diff --git a/ui/src/lib/components/SearchModal.svelte b/ui/src/lib/components/SearchModal.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e2725a1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui/src/lib/components/SearchModal.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,437 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+	import { browser } from '$app/environment';
+	import { goto } from '$app/navigation';
+	import { cn } from '$lib/utils';
+
+	interface Props {
+		onclose: () => void;
+	}
+	let { onclose }: Props = $props();
+
+	// ── Types ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+	interface SearchResult {
+		slug: string;
+		title: string;
+		cover?: string;
+		author?: string;
+		genres?: string[];
+		status?: string;
+		chapters?: string;  // e.g. "42 chapters"
+		url?: string;       // novelfire source url — present for remote results
+	}
+
+	interface SearchResponse {
+		results: SearchResult[];
+		local_count: number;
+		remote_count: number;
+	}
+
+	// ── State ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+	const RECENTS_KEY = 'search_recents_v1';
+	const MAX_RECENTS = 8;
+
+	function loadRecents(): string[] {
+		if (!browser) return [];
+		try {
+			const raw = localStorage.getItem(RECENTS_KEY);
+			if (raw) return JSON.parse(raw) as string[];
+		} catch { /* ignore */ }
+		return [];
+	}
+
+	function saveRecents(list: string[]) {
+		if (!browser) return;
+		try { localStorage.setItem(RECENTS_KEY, JSON.stringify(list)); } catch { /* ignore */ }
+	}
+
+	let recents = $state<string[]>(loadRecents());
+	let query   = $state('');
+	let results = $state<SearchResult[]>([]);
+	let localCount  = $state(0);
+	let remoteCount = $state(0);
+	let loading = $state(false);
+	let error   = $state('');
+
+	// For keyboard navigation through results
+	let selectedIdx = $state(-1);
+
+	// Input element ref for autofocus
+	let inputEl = $state<HTMLInputElement | null>(null);
+
+	// ── Autofocus + body scroll lock ──────────────────────────────────────────
+	$effect(() => {
+		if (inputEl) inputEl.focus();
+		if (browser) {
+			const prev = document.body.style.overflow;
+			document.body.style.overflow = 'hidden';
+			return () => { document.body.style.overflow = prev; };
+		}
+	});
+
+	// ── Keyboard shortcuts (global): Escape closes ────────────────────────────
+	function onKeydown(e: KeyboardEvent) {
+		if (e.key === 'Escape') { onclose(); return; }
+
+		const total = visibleResults.length;
+		if (total === 0) return;
+
+		if (e.key === 'ArrowDown') {
+			e.preventDefault();
+			selectedIdx = (selectedIdx + 1) % total;
+		} else if (e.key === 'ArrowUp') {
+			e.preventDefault();
+			selectedIdx = (selectedIdx - 1 + total) % total;
+		} else if (e.key === 'Enter' && selectedIdx >= 0) {
+			e.preventDefault();
+			navigateTo(visibleResults[selectedIdx]);
+		}
+	}
+
+	// ── Debounced search ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+	let debounceTimer = 0;
+
+	$effect(() => {
+		const q = query.trim();
+		selectedIdx = -1;
+
+		if (q.length < 2) {
+			results = [];
+			localCount = 0;
+			remoteCount = 0;
+			loading = false;
+			error = '';
+			clearTimeout(debounceTimer);
+			return;
+		}
+
+		loading = true;
+		error = '';
+		clearTimeout(debounceTimer);
+		debounceTimer = setTimeout(async () => {
+			try {
+				const res = await fetch(`/api/search?q=${encodeURIComponent(q)}`);
+				if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`HTTP ${res.status}`);
+				const data: SearchResponse = await res.json();
+				results    = data.results ?? [];
+				localCount  = data.local_count ?? 0;
+				remoteCount = data.remote_count ?? 0;
+			} catch (e) {
+				error = 'Search failed. Please try again.';
+				results = [];
+			} finally {
+				loading = false;
+			}
+		}, 300) as unknown as number;
+	});
+
+	// Results visible in the list — same as results (no client-side filter needed)
+	const visibleResults = $derived(results);
+
+	// ── Genre suggestions shown when query is empty ───────────────────────────
+	const GENRE_SUGGESTIONS = [
+		'Fantasy', 'Action', 'Romance', 'Cultivation', 'System',
+		'Reincarnation', 'Sci-Fi', 'Horror', 'Slice of Life', 'Adventure',
+	];
+
+	// ── Navigation helpers ────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+	function navigateTo(r: SearchResult) {
+		pushRecent(query.trim());
+		goto(`/books/${r.slug}`);
+		onclose();
+	}
+
+	function searchGenre(genre: string) {
+		goto(`/catalogue?genre=${encodeURIComponent(genre)}`);
+		onclose();
+	}
+
+	function submitQuery() {
+		const q = query.trim();
+		if (!q) return;
+		pushRecent(q);
+		goto(`/catalogue?q=${encodeURIComponent(q)}`);
+		onclose();
+	}
+
+	// ── Recent searches ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+	function pushRecent(q: string) {
+		if (!q || q.length < 2) return;
+		const next = [q, ...recents.filter(r => r.toLowerCase() !== q.toLowerCase())].slice(0, MAX_RECENTS);
+		recents = next;
+		saveRecents(next);
+	}
+
+	function removeRecent(q: string) {
+		const next = recents.filter(r => r !== q);
+		recents = next;
+		saveRecents(next);
+	}
+
+	function clearAllRecents() {
+		recents = [];
+		saveRecents([]);
+	}
+
+	function applyRecent(q: string) {
+		query = q;
+		if (inputEl) inputEl.focus();
+	}
+
+	// ── Helpers ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+	function parseGenres(genres: string[] | string | undefined): string[] {
+		if (!genres) return [];
+		if (Array.isArray(genres)) return genres;
+		try { const p = JSON.parse(genres); return Array.isArray(p) ? p : []; } catch { return []; }
+	}
+
+	const isRemote = (r: SearchResult) => r.url != null && r.url.includes('novelfire');
+</script>
+
+<!-- svelte:window for global keyboard handling -->
+<svelte:window onkeydown={onKeydown} />
+
+<!-- Backdrop -->
+<!-- svelte-ignore a11y_no_static_element_interactions -->
+<div
+	class="fixed inset-0 z-[70] flex flex-col"
+	style="background: rgba(0,0,0,0.6); backdrop-filter: blur(4px);"
+	onpointerdown={(e) => { if (e.target === e.currentTarget) onclose(); }}
+>
+	<!-- Modal panel — slides down from top -->
+	<!-- svelte-ignore a11y_no_static_element_interactions -->
+	<div
+		class="w-full max-w-2xl mx-auto mt-0 sm:mt-16 flex flex-col bg-(--color-surface) sm:rounded-2xl border-b sm:border border-(--color-border) shadow-2xl overflow-hidden"
+		style="max-height: 100svh; sm:max-height: calc(100svh - 8rem);"
+		onpointerdown={(e) => e.stopPropagation()}
+	>
+		<!-- ── Search input row ──────────────────────────────────────────────── -->
+		<div class="flex items-center gap-3 px-4 py-3 border-b border-(--color-border) shrink-0">
+			<!-- Search icon -->
+			{#if loading}
+				<svg class="w-5 h-5 text-(--color-brand) animate-spin shrink-0" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
+					<circle class="opacity-25" cx="12" cy="12" r="10" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="4"/>
+					<path class="opacity-75" fill="currentColor" d="M4 12a8 8 0 018-8V0C5.373 0 0 5.373 0 12h4z"/>
+				</svg>
+			{:else}
+				<svg class="w-5 h-5 text-(--color-muted) shrink-0" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
+					<path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" d="M21 21l-6-6m2-5a7 7 0 11-14 0 7 7 0 0114 0z"/>
+				</svg>
+			{/if}
+
+			<input
+				bind:this={inputEl}
+				bind:value={query}
+				type="search"
+				placeholder="Search books, authors, genres…"
+				class="flex-1 bg-transparent text-(--color-text) placeholder:text-(--color-muted) text-base focus:outline-none min-w-0"
+				onkeydown={(e) => { if (e.key === 'Enter') { e.preventDefault(); submitQuery(); } }}
+				autocomplete="off"
+				autocorrect="off"
+				spellcheck={false}
+			/>
+
+			{#if query}
+				<button
+					type="button"
+					onclick={() => { query = ''; inputEl?.focus(); }}
+					class="shrink-0 p-1 rounded-full text-(--color-muted) hover:text-(--color-text) hover:bg-(--color-surface-2) transition-colors"
+					aria-label="Clear search"
+				>
+					<svg class="w-4 h-4" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
+						<path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" d="M6 18L18 6M6 6l12 12"/>
+					</svg>
+				</button>
+			{/if}
+
+			<button
+				type="button"
+				onclick={onclose}
+				class="shrink-0 px-3 py-1 rounded-lg text-sm text-(--color-muted) hover:text-(--color-text) hover:bg-(--color-surface-2) transition-colors"
+				aria-label="Close search"
+			>
+				Cancel
+			</button>
+		</div>
+
+		<!-- ── Scrollable body ───────────────────────────────────────────────── -->
+		<div class="flex-1 overflow-y-auto overscroll-contain">
+
+			<!-- ── Error state ─────────────────────────────────────────────── -->
+			{#if error}
+				<p class="px-5 py-8 text-sm text-center text-(--color-danger)">{error}</p>
+
+			<!-- ── Results ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── -->
+			{:else if visibleResults.length > 0}
+				<!-- Result count + "see all" hint -->
+				<div class="flex items-center justify-between px-4 pt-3 pb-1.5">
+					<p class="text-xs text-(--color-muted)">
+						{#if localCount > 0 && remoteCount > 0}
+							<span class="text-(--color-text) font-medium">{localCount}</span> in library
+							· <span class="text-(--color-text) font-medium">{remoteCount}</span> from Novelfire
+						{:else if localCount > 0}
+							<span class="text-(--color-text) font-medium">{localCount}</span> in library
+						{:else}
+							<span class="text-(--color-text) font-medium">{remoteCount}</span> from Novelfire
+						{/if}
+					</p>
+					<!-- "All results in catalogue" shortcut -->
+					<button
+						type="button"
+						onclick={submitQuery}
+						class="text-xs text-(--color-brand) hover:text-(--color-brand-dim) transition-colors"
+					>
+						See all in catalogue →
+					</button>
+				</div>
+
+				{#each visibleResults as r, i}
+					{@const genres = parseGenres(r.genres)}
+					{@const remote = isRemote(r)}
+					<button
+						type="button"
+						onclick={() => navigateTo(r)}
+						class={cn(
+							'w-full flex items-center gap-3 px-4 py-3 text-left transition-colors border-b border-(--color-border)/40 last:border-0',
+							selectedIdx === i ? 'bg-(--color-surface-2)' : 'hover:bg-(--color-surface-2)'
+						)}
+					>
+						<!-- Cover thumbnail -->
+						<div class="shrink-0 w-10 h-14 rounded overflow-hidden bg-(--color-surface-2) border border-(--color-border)">
+							{#if r.cover}
+								<img src={r.cover} alt="" class="w-full h-full object-cover" loading="lazy" />
+							{:else}
+								<div class="w-full h-full flex items-center justify-center">
+									<svg class="w-5 h-5 text-(--color-muted)/40" fill="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
+										<path d="M18 2H6c-1.1 0-2 .9-2 2v16c0 1.1.9 2 2 2h12c1.1 0 2-.9 2-2V4c0-1.1-.9-2-2-2z"/>
+									</svg>
+								</div>
+							{/if}
+						</div>
+
+						<!-- Info -->
+						<div class="flex-1 min-w-0">
+							<div class="flex items-start gap-2">
+								<p class="text-sm font-semibold text-(--color-text) leading-snug line-clamp-1 flex-1">
+									{r.title}
+								</p>
+								{#if remote}
+									<span class="shrink-0 text-[10px] font-semibold px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded bg-(--color-surface-3) text-(--color-muted) border border-(--color-border) leading-none mt-0.5">
+										Novelfire
+									</span>
+								{/if}
+							</div>
+							{#if r.author}
+								<p class="text-xs text-(--color-muted) mt-0.5 truncate">{r.author}</p>
+							{/if}
+							<div class="flex items-center gap-1.5 mt-1 flex-wrap">
+								{#if r.chapters}
+									<span class="text-xs text-(--color-muted)/60">{r.chapters}</span>
+								{/if}
+								{#if r.status}
+									<span class="text-xs text-(--color-muted)/60 capitalize">{r.status}</span>
+								{/if}
+								{#each genres.slice(0, 2) as g}
+									<span class="text-[10px] px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded-full bg-(--color-surface-3) text-(--color-muted)">{g}</span>
+								{/each}
+							</div>
+						</div>
+
+						<!-- Chevron -->
+						<svg class="w-4 h-4 text-(--color-muted)/40 shrink-0" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
+							<path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" d="M9 5l7 7-7 7"/>
+						</svg>
+					</button>
+				{/each}
+
+				<!-- "See all results" footer button -->
+				<button
+					type="button"
+					onclick={submitQuery}
+					class="w-full flex items-center justify-center gap-2 px-4 py-4 text-sm text-(--color-brand) hover:bg-(--color-surface-2) transition-colors"
+				>
+					<svg class="w-4 h-4" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
+						<path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" d="M21 21l-6-6m2-5a7 7 0 11-14 0 7 7 0 0114 0z"/>
+					</svg>
+					See all results for "{query.trim()}"
+				</button>
+
+			<!-- ── No results ───────────────────────────────────────────────── -->
+			{:else if query.trim().length >= 2 && !loading}
+				<div class="px-5 py-10 text-center">
+					<p class="text-sm font-semibold text-(--color-text) mb-1">No results for "{query.trim()}"</p>
+					<p class="text-xs text-(--color-muted) mb-5">Try a different title, author, or browse by genre below.</p>
+					<div class="flex flex-wrap gap-2 justify-center">
+						{#each GENRE_SUGGESTIONS as genre}
+							<button
+								type="button"
+								onclick={() => searchGenre(genre)}
+								class="px-3 py-1.5 rounded-full border border-(--color-border) bg-(--color-surface-2) text-sm text-(--color-muted) hover:text-(--color-text) hover:border-(--color-brand)/50 transition-colors"
+							>
+								{genre}
+							</button>
+						{/each}
+					</div>
+				</div>
+
+			<!-- ── Empty state (query too short or empty) ───────────────────── -->
+			{:else if query.trim().length === 0}
+				<!-- Recent searches -->
+				{#if recents.length > 0}
+					<div class="px-4 pt-4 pb-2">
+						<div class="flex items-center justify-between mb-2">
+							<p class="text-xs font-semibold text-(--color-muted) uppercase tracking-wider">Recent</p>
+							<button
+								type="button"
+								onclick={clearAllRecents}
+								class="text-xs text-(--color-muted) hover:text-(--color-text) transition-colors"
+							>
+								Clear all
+							</button>
+						</div>
+						{#each recents as r}
+							<div class="flex items-center gap-2 group">
+								<button
+									type="button"
+									onclick={() => applyRecent(r)}
+									class="flex-1 flex items-center gap-2.5 px-1 py-2 rounded-lg text-sm text-(--color-text) hover:bg-(--color-surface-2) transition-colors text-left"
+								>
+									<svg class="w-3.5 h-3.5 text-(--color-muted)/50 shrink-0" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
+										<path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" d="M12 8v4l3 3m6-3a9 9 0 11-18 0 9 9 0 0118 0z"/>
+									</svg>
+									{r}
+								</button>
+								<button
+									type="button"
+									onclick={() => removeRecent(r)}
+									class="shrink-0 p-1 rounded text-(--color-muted)/40 hover:text-(--color-muted) opacity-0 group-hover:opacity-100 transition-all"
+									aria-label="Remove"
+								>
+									<svg class="w-3.5 h-3.5" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
+										<path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" d="M6 18L18 6M6 6l12 12"/>
+									</svg>
+								</button>
+							</div>
+						{/each}
+					</div>
+					<div class="mx-4 my-2 border-t border-(--color-border)/60"></div>
+				{/if}
+
+				<!-- Genre suggestions -->
+				<div class="px-4 pt-3 pb-5">
+					<p class="text-xs font-semibold text-(--color-muted) uppercase tracking-wider mb-3">Browse by genre</p>
+					<div class="flex flex-wrap gap-2">
+						{#each GENRE_SUGGESTIONS as genre}
+							<button
+								type="button"
+								onclick={() => searchGenre(genre)}
+								class="px-3 py-1.5 rounded-full border border-(--color-border) bg-(--color-surface-2) text-sm text-(--color-muted) hover:text-(--color-text) hover:border-(--color-brand)/50 transition-colors"
+							>
+								{genre}
+							</button>
+						{/each}
+					</div>
+				</div>
+			{/if}
+		</div>
+	</div>
+</div>
diff --git a/ui/src/routes/+layout.svelte b/ui/src/routes/+layout.svelte
index 655c40a..8cbde99 100644
--- a/ui/src/routes/+layout.svelte
+++ b/ui/src/routes/+layout.svelte
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 	import * as m from '$lib/paraglide/messages.js';
 	import { locales, getLocale } from '$lib/paraglide/runtime.js';
 	import ListeningMode from '$lib/components/ListeningMode.svelte';
+	import SearchModal from '$lib/components/SearchModal.svelte';
 	import { fly } from 'svelte/transition';
 
 	let { children, data }: { children: Snippet; data: LayoutData } = $props();
@@ -19,6 +20,15 @@
 	// Mobile nav drawer state
 	let menuOpen = $state(false);
 
+	// Universal search
+	let searchOpen = $state(false);
+
+	// Close search on navigation
+	$effect(() => {
+		void page.url.pathname;
+		searchOpen = false;
+	});
+
 	// Desktop dropdown menus
 	let userMenuOpen = $state(false);
 	let langMenuOpen = $state(false);
@@ -434,6 +444,20 @@
 		</a>
 		{/if}
 			<div class="ml-auto flex items-center gap-2">
+				<!-- Universal search button (hidden on chapter/reader pages) -->
+				{#if !/\/books\/[^/]+\/chapters\//.test(page.url.pathname)}
+					<button
+						type="button"
+						onclick={() => { searchOpen = true; userMenuOpen = false; langMenuOpen = false; themeMenuOpen = false; menuOpen = false; }}
+						title="Search (/ or ⌘K)"
+						aria-label="Search books"
+						class="flex items-center justify-center w-8 h-8 rounded transition-colors text-(--color-muted) hover:text-(--color-text) hover:bg-(--color-surface-2)"
+					>
+						<svg class="w-4 h-4" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
+							<path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" d="M21 21l-6-6m2-5a7 7 0 11-14 0 7 7 0 0114 0z"/>
+						</svg>
+					</button>
+				{/if}
 				<!-- Theme dropdown (desktop) -->
 				<div class="hidden sm:block relative">
 					<button
@@ -961,3 +985,22 @@
 		/>
 	</div>
 {/if}
+
+<!-- Universal search modal — shown from anywhere except focus mode / listening mode -->
+{#if searchOpen && !listeningModeOpen}
+	<SearchModal onclose={() => { searchOpen = false; }} />
+{/if}
+
+<svelte:window onkeydown={(e) => {
+	// Don't intercept when typing in an input/textarea
+	const tag = (e.target as HTMLElement).tagName;
+	if (tag === 'INPUT' || tag === 'TEXTAREA' || (e.target as HTMLElement).isContentEditable) return;
+	// Don't open on chapter reader pages
+	if (/\/books\/[^/]+\/chapters\//.test(page.url.pathname)) return;
+	if (searchOpen) return;
+	// `/` key or Cmd/Ctrl+K
+	if (e.key === '/' || ((e.metaKey || e.ctrlKey) && e.key === 'k')) {
+		e.preventDefault();
+		searchOpen = true;
+	}
+}} />