surface audio-ready chapters: headphones badge on chapter list, instant-play prompt on reader

- getReadyChaptersForSlug(slug, preferredVoice) in pocketbase.ts: per-slug done jobs map, cached 60s, prefers user's voice
- GET /api/audio/chapters?slug=&voice= endpoint
- Chapter list (/books/[slug]/chapters): amber headphones icon on ready rows, play button for instant listen, banner showing ready count
- Chapter reader: audioReady + availableVoice from server load; 'Audio ready — Listen now' banner shown when audio exists and player is not yet active; sets voice preference before expanding player

ui/src/lib/server/pocketbase.ts

@@ -1219,6 +1219,47 @@ export async function getBooksWithAudioCount(limit = 100): Promise<AudioBookEntr
 	return entries.slice(0, limit);
 }
 
+/**
+ * Returns a map of chapter number → best available voice for a given slug.
+ * "Best" means: prefer `preferredVoice` if a done job exists for it,
+ * otherwise fall back to any done voice for that chapter.
+ * Result is cached per slug for 60 seconds (audio jobs complete frequently).
+ */
+export async function getReadyChaptersForSlug(
+	slug: string,
+	preferredVoice = ''
+): Promise<Map<number, string>> {
+	const cacheKey = `audio:ready_chapters:${slug}`;
+	const cached = await cache.get<{ chapter: number; voice: string }[]>(cacheKey);
+	const raw = cached ?? await (async () => {
+		const filter = encodeURIComponent(`slug="${slug.replace(/"/g, '\\"')}"&&status="done"`);
+		const jobs = await listAll<AudioJob>('audio_jobs', filter, 'chapter');
+		const result: { chapter: number; voice: string }[] = jobs.map((j) => ({
+			chapter: j.chapter,
+			voice: j.voice ?? ''
+		}));
+		await cache.set(cacheKey, result, 60);
+		return result;
+	})();
+
+	// Build chapter → voices map
+	const byChapter = new Map<number, string[]>();
+	for (const { chapter, voice } of raw) {
+		if (!byChapter.has(chapter)) byChapter.set(chapter, []);
+		byChapter.get(chapter)!.push(voice);
+	}
+
+	// Resolve best voice per chapter
+	const result = new Map<number, string>();
+	for (const [chapter, voices] of byChapter) {
+		const best = preferredVoice && voices.includes(preferredVoice)
+			? preferredVoice
+			: voices[0] ?? '';
+		result.set(chapter, best);
+	}
+	return result;
+}
+
 // ─── Translation jobs ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 export interface TranslationJob {

ui/src/routes/api/audio/chapters/+server.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+import { json, error } from '@sveltejs/kit';
+import type { RequestHandler } from './$types';
+import { getReadyChaptersForSlug } from '$lib/server/pocketbase';
+
+export const GET: RequestHandler = async ({ url }) => {
+	const slug = url.searchParams.get('slug') ?? '';
+	if (!slug) error(400, 'slug is required');
+
+	const voice = url.searchParams.get('voice') ?? '';
+	const readyMap = await getReadyChaptersForSlug(slug, voice);
+
+	// Return array of { chapter, voice } pairs
+	const chapters = [...readyMap.entries()].map(([chapter, v]) => ({ chapter, voice: v }));
+
+	return json({ chapters }, {
+		headers: { 'Cache-Control': 'public, max-age=60' }
+	});
+};

ui/src/routes/books/[slug]/chapters/+page.server.ts

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { error } from '@sveltejs/kit';
 import type { PageServerLoad } from './$types';
-import { getBook, listChapterIdx, getProgress } from '$lib/server/pocketbase';
+import { getBook, listChapterIdx, getProgress, getReadyChaptersForSlug } from '$lib/server/pocketbase';
 import { log } from '$lib/server/logger';
 
 export const load: PageServerLoad = async ({ params, locals }) => {
@@ -13,20 +13,26 @@ export const load: PageServerLoad = async ({ params, locals }) => {
 
 	if (!book) error(404, `Book "${slug}" not found`);
 
-	let chapters, progress;
+	let chapters, progress, readyMap;
 	try {
-		[chapters, progress] = await Promise.all([
+		[chapters, progress, readyMap] = await Promise.all([
 			listChapterIdx(slug),
-			getProgress(locals.sessionId, slug, locals.user?.id)
+			getProgress(locals.sessionId, slug, locals.user?.id),
+			getReadyChaptersForSlug(slug).catch(() => new Map<number, string>())
 		]);
 	} catch (e) {
 		log.error('chapters', 'failed to load chapters', { slug, err: String(e) });
 		throw error(500, 'Failed to load chapters');
 	}
 
+	// Serialize Map as plain object for SvelteKit data transfer
+	const readyChapters: Record<number, string> = {};
+	for (const [ch, voice] of readyMap) readyChapters[ch] = voice;
+
 	return {
 		book: { slug: book.slug, title: book.title, cover: book.cover ?? '', totalChapters: book.total_chapters },
 		chapters,
-		lastChapter: progress?.chapter ?? null
+		lastChapter: progress?.chapter ?? null,
+		readyChapters
 	};
 };

ui/src/routes/books/[slug]/chapters/+page.svelte

@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 <script lang="ts">
+	import { goto } from '$app/navigation';
+	import { audioStore } from '$lib/audio.svelte';
 	import type { PageData } from './$types';
 	import type { ChapterIdx } from '$lib/server/pocketbase';
 	import * as m from '$lib/paraglide/messages.js';
@@ -7,6 +9,18 @@
 
 	const PAGE_SIZE = 100;
 
+	// ── Ready-to-listen map ──────────────────────────────────────────────────
+	// readyChapters is a Record<number, string> (chapter → voice) from server
+	const readySet = $derived(new Set(Object.keys(data.readyChapters).map(Number)));
+	const readyCount = $derived(readySet.size);
+
+	function listenChapter(chapterNum: number) {
+		const voice = data.readyChapters[chapterNum];
+		if (voice) audioStore.voice = voice;
+		audioStore.autoStartChapter = chapterNum;
+		goto(`/books/${data.book.slug}/chapters/${chapterNum}`);
+	}
+
 	// ── Search ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 	let searchQuery = $state('');
 
@@ -76,6 +90,20 @@
 	<h1 class="text-base font-semibold text-(--color-text) truncate">{data.book.title}</h1>
 </div>
 
+<!-- ── Audio ready banner ────────────────────────────────────────────────── -->
+{#if readyCount > 0}
+<div class="flex items-center gap-2.5 mb-4 px-3 py-2.5 rounded-lg bg-(--color-brand)/10 border border-(--color-brand)/25">
+	<svg class="w-4 h-4 text-(--color-brand) shrink-0" fill="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
+		<path d="M12 3a9 9 0 00-9 9v5a3 3 0 003 3h1a1 1 0 001-1v-4a1 1 0 00-1-1H5v-2a7 7 0 0114 0v2h-2a1 1 0 00-1 1v4a1 1 0 001 1h1a3 3 0 003-3v-5a9 9 0 00-9-9z"/>
+	</svg>
+	<p class="text-sm text-(--color-brand) font-medium">
+		{readyCount} chapter{readyCount !== 1 ? 's' : ''} ready to listen — tap
+		<svg class="w-3 h-3 inline-block" fill="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24"><path d="M8 5v14l11-7z"/></svg>
+		to play instantly
+	</p>
+</div>
+{/if}
+
 <!-- ── Search bar ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────── -->
 <div class="relative mb-4">
 	<svg class="absolute left-3 top-1/2 -translate-y-1/2 w-4 h-4 text-(--color-muted) pointer-events-none" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
@@ -147,40 +175,65 @@
 	<div class="flex flex-col gap-0.5">
 		{#each visibleChapters as chapter}
 			{@const isCurrent = data.lastChapter === chapter.number}
-			<a
-				href="/books/{data.book.slug}/chapters/{chapter.number}"
-				id="ch-{chapter.number}"
-				class="flex items-center gap-3 px-3 py-2.5 rounded transition-colors group
+			{@const isReady = readySet.has(chapter.number)}
+			<div
+				class="flex items-center gap-1 rounded transition-colors group
 					{isCurrent ? 'bg-(--color-surface-2)' : 'hover:bg-(--color-surface-2)/60'}"
 			>
-				<!-- Number badge -->
-				<span
-					class="w-9 text-right text-sm font-mono flex-shrink-0
-						{isCurrent ? 'text-(--color-brand) font-semibold' : 'text-(--color-muted)'}"
+				<a
+					href="/books/{data.book.slug}/chapters/{chapter.number}"
+					id="ch-{chapter.number}"
+					class="flex items-center gap-3 px-3 py-2.5 flex-1 min-w-0"
 				>
-					{chapter.number}
-				</span>
-
-				<!-- Title -->
-				<span
-					class="flex-1 min-w-0 text-sm truncate transition-colors
-						{isCurrent ? 'text-(--color-brand-dim) font-medium' : 'text-(--color-text) group-hover:text-(--color-text)'}"
-				>
-					{chapter.title || m.reader_chapter_n({ n: String(chapter.number) })}
-				</span>
-
-				<!-- Date — desktop only -->
-				{#if chapter.date_label}
-					<span class="hidden sm:block text-xs text-(--color-muted) flex-shrink-0">
-						{chapter.date_label}
+					<!-- Number badge -->
+					<span
+						class="w-9 text-right text-sm font-mono flex-shrink-0
+							{isCurrent ? 'text-(--color-brand) font-semibold' : 'text-(--color-muted)'}"
+					>
+						{chapter.number}
 					</span>
-				{/if}
 
-				<!-- Reading indicator -->
-				{#if isCurrent}
-					<span class="text-xs text-(--color-brand) font-medium flex-shrink-0">{m.chapters_reading_indicator()}</span>
+					<!-- Title -->
+					<span
+						class="flex-1 min-w-0 text-sm truncate transition-colors
+							{isCurrent ? 'text-(--color-brand-dim) font-medium' : 'text-(--color-text) group-hover:text-(--color-text)'}"
+					>
+						{chapter.title || m.reader_chapter_n({ n: String(chapter.number) })}
+					</span>
+
+					<!-- Headphones icon for ready chapters -->
+					{#if isReady}
+						<svg class="w-3.5 h-3.5 text-(--color-brand) shrink-0" fill="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24" aria-label="Audio ready">
+							<path d="M12 3a9 9 0 00-9 9v5a3 3 0 003 3h1a1 1 0 001-1v-4a1 1 0 00-1-1H5v-2a7 7 0 0114 0v2h-2a1 1 0 00-1 1v4a1 1 0 001 1h1a3 3 0 003-3v-5a9 9 0 00-9-9z"/>
+						</svg>
+					{/if}
+
+					<!-- Date — desktop only -->
+					{#if chapter.date_label}
+						<span class="hidden sm:block text-xs text-(--color-muted) flex-shrink-0">
+							{chapter.date_label}
+						</span>
+					{/if}
+
+					<!-- Reading indicator -->
+					{#if isCurrent}
+						<span class="text-xs text-(--color-brand) font-medium flex-shrink-0">{m.chapters_reading_indicator()}</span>
+					{/if}
+				</a>
+
+				<!-- Instant-play button (only for ready chapters) -->
+				{#if isReady}
+					<button
+						type="button"
+						onclick={() => listenChapter(chapter.number)}
+						class="mr-2 flex items-center justify-center w-7 h-7 rounded-full bg-(--color-brand)/15 hover:bg-(--color-brand)/30 text-(--color-brand) transition-colors shrink-0"
+						title="Listen now"
+						aria-label="Listen to chapter {chapter.number} now"
+					>
+						<svg class="w-3.5 h-3.5 ml-0.5" fill="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24"><path d="M8 5v14l11-7z"/></svg>
+					</button>
 				{/if}
-			</a>
+			</div>
 		{/each}
 	</div>
 

ui/src/routes/books/[slug]/chapters/[n]/+page.server.ts

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { error } from '@sveltejs/kit';
 import { marked } from 'marked';
 import type { PageServerLoad } from './$types';
-import { getBook, listChapterIdx } from '$lib/server/pocketbase';
+import { getBook, listChapterIdx, getReadyChaptersForSlug } from '$lib/server/pocketbase';
 import { log } from '$lib/server/logger';
 import { backendFetch } from '$lib/server/scraper';
 import type { Voice } from '$lib/types';
@@ -87,18 +87,22 @@ export const load: PageServerLoad = async ({ params, url, locals }) => {
 			lang: '',
 			translationStatus: 'unavailable' as string,
 			isPro: locals.isPro,
-			chapterImageUrl: null as string | null
+			chapterImageUrl: null as string | null,
+			audioReady: false,
+			availableVoice: null as string | null
 		};
 	}
 
 	// ── Normal path: fetch from PocketBase + MinIO ─────────────────────────
-	// Fetch book metadata, chapter index, voice list, and chapter image check in parallel.
+	// Fetch book metadata, chapter index, voice list, chapter image check, and
+	// audio-ready map in parallel.
 	// HEAD /api/chapter-image checks existence cheaply without downloading the image.
-	const [book, chapters, voicesRes, chapterImageRes] = await Promise.all([
+	const [book, chapters, voicesRes, chapterImageRes, readyMap] = await Promise.all([
 		getBook(slug),
 		listChapterIdx(slug),
 		backendFetch('/api/voices').catch(() => null),
-		backendFetch(`/api/chapter-image/novelfire.net/${encodeURIComponent(slug)}/${n}`, { method: 'HEAD' }).catch(() => null)
+		backendFetch(`/api/chapter-image/novelfire.net/${encodeURIComponent(slug)}/${n}`, { method: 'HEAD' }).catch(() => null),
+		getReadyChaptersForSlug(slug).catch(() => new Map<number, string>())
 	]);
 
 	if (!book) error(404, `Book "${slug}" not found`);
@@ -112,6 +116,10 @@ export const load: PageServerLoad = async ({ params, url, locals }) => {
 			? `/api/chapter-image/novelfire.net/${encodeURIComponent(slug)}/${n}`
 			: null;
 
+	// Audio readiness for this specific chapter
+	const availableVoice = readyMap.get(n) ?? null;
+	const audioReady = availableVoice !== null;
+
 	// Parse voices — fall back to empty list on error
 	let voices: Voice[] = [];
 	try {
@@ -146,7 +154,9 @@ export const load: PageServerLoad = async ({ params, url, locals }) => {
 			lang,
 			translationStatus: 'done',
 			isPro: locals.isPro,
-			chapterImageUrl
+			chapterImageUrl,
+			audioReady,
+			availableVoice
 				};
 			}
 			// 404 = not generated yet — fall through to original, UI can trigger generation
@@ -204,6 +214,8 @@ export const load: PageServerLoad = async ({ params, url, locals }) => {
 		lang: useTranslation ? lang : '',
 		translationStatus,
 		isPro: locals.isPro,
-		chapterImageUrl
+		chapterImageUrl,
+		audioReady,
+		availableVoice
 	};
 };

ui/src/routes/books/[slug]/chapters/[n]/+page.svelte

@@ -427,6 +427,13 @@
 			audioExpanded = true;
 		}
 	});
+
+	// ── Audio-ready instant play ─────────────────────────────────────────────────
+	function listenNow() {
+		if (data.availableVoice) audioStore.voice = data.availableVoice;
+		audioStore.autoStartChapter = data.chapter.number;
+		audioExpanded = true;
+	}
 </script>
 
 <svelte:head>
@@ -600,6 +607,27 @@
 			</a>
 		</div>
 	{:else}
+		<!-- Audio ready prompt — shown when audio exists and player is not yet active -->
+		{#if data.audioReady && !(audioStore.slug === data.book.slug && audioStore.chapter === data.chapter.number && audioStore.active)}
+			<div class="mb-3 flex items-center gap-3 px-4 py-3 rounded-lg bg-(--color-brand)/10 border border-(--color-brand)/30">
+				<svg class="w-5 h-5 text-(--color-brand) shrink-0" fill="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
+					<path d="M12 3a9 9 0 00-9 9v5a3 3 0 003 3h1a1 1 0 001-1v-4a1 1 0 00-1-1H5v-2a7 7 0 0114 0v2h-2a1 1 0 00-1 1v4a1 1 0 001 1h1a3 3 0 003-3v-5a9 9 0 00-9-9z"/>
+				</svg>
+				<div class="flex-1 min-w-0">
+					<p class="text-sm font-semibold text-(--color-text)">Audio ready</p>
+					<p class="text-xs text-(--color-muted)">This chapter has been narrated — listen instantly</p>
+				</div>
+				<button
+					type="button"
+					onclick={listenNow}
+					class="shrink-0 flex items-center gap-1.5 px-3 py-1.5 rounded-lg bg-(--color-brand) text-(--color-surface) text-sm font-semibold hover:bg-(--color-brand-dim) transition-colors"
+				>
+					<svg class="w-3.5 h-3.5" fill="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24"><path d="M8 5v14l11-7z"/></svg>
+					Listen now
+				</button>
+			</div>
+		{/if}
+
 		<!-- Collapsible audio panel -->
 		<div class="mb-6">
 			<button