feat: Add auto-prefix option for chapter titles and enhance reader functionality

- Introduced `auto_prefix_chapter_titles` setting in Job and PendingJob classes to control prefixing of chapter titles with "Chapter".
- Updated job detail and settings templates to display and configure the new option.
- Enhanced reader.js to manage playback controls, including chapter navigation and playback speed adjustments.
- Implemented a new prepare_chapters.html template for chapter selection and configuration during job preparation.
- Added tests for chapter title formatting and heading equivalence to ensure correct behavior of the new feature.

abogen/web/conversion_runner.py

@@ -66,6 +66,67 @@ def _coerce_truthy(value: Any, default: bool = True) -> bool:
     return bool(value)
 
 
+_HEADING_SANITIZE_RE = re.compile(r"[^a-z0-9]+")
+_HEADING_NUMBER_PREFIX_RE = re.compile(r"^\s*(?P<number>(?:\d+|[ivxlcdm]+))(?P<suffix>(?:[\s.:;-].*)?)$", re.IGNORECASE)
+
+
+def _simplify_heading_text(text: str) -> str:
+    raw = str(text or "").strip().lower()
+    if not raw:
+        return ""
+    simplified = _HEADING_SANITIZE_RE.sub("", raw)
+    if simplified.startswith("chapter"):
+        simplified = simplified[7:]
+    return simplified
+
+
+def _headings_equivalent(left: str, right: str) -> bool:
+    simple_left = _simplify_heading_text(left)
+    simple_right = _simplify_heading_text(right)
+    return bool(simple_left and simple_left == simple_right)
+
+
+def _format_spoken_chapter_title(title: str, index: int, apply_prefix: bool) -> str:
+    base = str(title or "").strip()
+    if not base:
+        return f"Chapter {index}" if apply_prefix else ""
+    if not apply_prefix:
+        return base
+    lowered = base.lower()
+    if lowered.startswith("chapter") and (len(lowered) == 7 or not lowered[7].isalpha()):
+        return base
+    match = _HEADING_NUMBER_PREFIX_RE.match(base)
+    if match:
+        number = match.group("number") or ""
+        suffix = match.group("suffix") or ""
+        return f"Chapter {number}{suffix}"
+    return base
+
+
+def _strip_duplicate_heading_line(text: str, heading: str) -> tuple[str, bool]:
+    source_text = str(text or "")
+    if not source_text:
+        return source_text, False
+    normalized_heading = _simplify_heading_text(heading)
+    if not normalized_heading:
+        return source_text, False
+    lines = source_text.splitlines()
+    new_lines: List[str] = []
+    removed = False
+    for line in lines:
+        stripped = line.strip()
+        if not removed and stripped:
+            if _headings_equivalent(stripped, heading):
+                removed = True
+                continue
+        new_lines.append(line)
+    if not removed:
+        return source_text, False
+    while new_lines and not new_lines[0].strip():
+        new_lines.pop(0)
+    return "\n".join(new_lines), True
+
+
 def _spec_to_voice_ids(spec: Any) -> Set[str]:
     text = str(spec or "").strip()
     if not text:
@@ -909,6 +970,7 @@ def run_conversion_job(job: Job) -> None:
                 idx: items for idx, items in chunk_groups.items() if 0 <= idx < total_chapters
             }
         job.add_log(f"Detected {total_chapters} chapter{'s' if total_chapters != 1 else ''}")
+        auto_prefix_titles = getattr(job, "auto_prefix_chapter_titles", True)
 
         def emit_text(
             text: str,
@@ -992,7 +1054,11 @@ def run_conversion_job(job: Job) -> None:
 
         for idx, chapter in enumerate(extraction.chapters, start=1):
             canceller()
-            job.add_log(f"Processing chapter {idx}/{total_chapters}: {chapter.title}")
+            raw_title = str(getattr(chapter, "title", "") or "").strip()
+            spoken_title = _format_spoken_chapter_title(raw_title, idx, auto_prefix_titles)
+            heading_text = spoken_title or raw_title
+            chapter_display_title = heading_text or f"Chapter {idx}"
+            job.add_log(f"Processing chapter {idx}/{total_chapters}: {chapter_display_title}")
 
             chapter_start_time = current_time
             chapter_override = (
@@ -1016,7 +1082,7 @@ def run_conversion_job(job: Job) -> None:
                 if chapter_dir is not None:
                     chapter_audio_path = _build_output_path(
                         chapter_dir,
-                        f"{Path(job.original_filename).stem}_{_slugify(chapter.title, idx)}",
+                        f"{Path(job.original_filename).stem}_{_slugify(chapter_display_title, idx)}",
                         job.separate_chapters_format,
                     )
                     chapter_sink = _open_audio_sink(
@@ -1026,17 +1092,18 @@ def run_conversion_job(job: Job) -> None:
                         fmt=job.separate_chapters_format,
                     )
 
-                speak_heading = bool(chapter.title.strip())
+                speak_heading = bool(heading_text)
-                if speak_heading:
+                first_line = ""
-                    stripped_title = chapter.title.strip()
+                if chapter.text:
-                    if stripped_title:
                     first_line = next((line.strip() for line in chapter.text.splitlines() if line.strip()), "")
-                        if first_line and first_line.casefold() == stripped_title.casefold():
+                remove_heading_from_body = False
-                            speak_heading = False
+                if speak_heading and first_line:
+                    if _headings_equivalent(first_line, heading_text) or (raw_title and _headings_equivalent(first_line, raw_title)):
+                        remove_heading_from_body = True
 
                 if speak_heading:
                     heading_segments = emit_text(
-                        chapter.title,
+                        heading_text,
                         voice_choice=voice_choice,
                         chapter_sink=chapter_sink,
                         preview_prefix=f"Chapter {idx} title",
@@ -1052,6 +1119,7 @@ def run_conversion_job(job: Job) -> None:
 
                 chunks_for_chapter = chunk_groups.get(idx - 1, []) if chunk_groups else []
                 body_segments = 0
+                pending_heading_strip = remove_heading_from_body
                 if chunks_for_chapter:
                     job.add_log(
                         f"Emitting {len(chunks_for_chapter)} {job.chunk_level} chunks for chapter {idx}.",
@@ -1066,6 +1134,15 @@ def run_conversion_job(job: Job) -> None:
                     if not chunk_text:
                         continue
 
+                    if pending_heading_strip and heading_text:
+                        chunk_text, removed_heading = _strip_duplicate_heading_line(chunk_text, heading_text)
+                        if removed_heading:
+                            pending_heading_strip = False
+                            chunk_entry = dict(chunk_entry)
+                            chunk_entry["normalized_text"] = chunk_text
+                            if not chunk_text.strip():
+                                continue
+
                     chunk_voice_spec = _chunk_voice_spec(
                         job,
                         chunk_entry,
@@ -1116,8 +1193,13 @@ def run_conversion_job(job: Job) -> None:
 
                 if body_segments == 0:
                     chapter_body_start = current_time
+                    chapter_text = chapter.text
+                    if pending_heading_strip and heading_text:
+                        chapter_text, removed_heading = _strip_duplicate_heading_line(chapter_text, heading_text)
+                        if removed_heading:
+                            pending_heading_strip = False
                     emitted = emit_text(
-                        chapter.text,
+                        chapter_text,
                         voice_choice=voice_choice,
                         chapter_sink=chapter_sink,
                     )
@@ -1169,15 +1251,16 @@ def run_conversion_job(job: Job) -> None:
                 )
                 chapter_end_time = current_time
 
-            chapter_markers.append(
+            marker = {
-                {
                 "index": idx,
-                    "title": chapter.title,
+                "title": chapter_display_title,
                 "start": chapter_start_time,
                 "end": chapter_end_time,
                 "voice": chapter_voice_spec,
             }
-            )
+            if raw_title and raw_title != chapter_display_title:
+                marker["original_title"] = raw_title
+            chapter_markers.append(marker)
 
         if not audio_path and chapter_paths:
             job.result.audio_path = chapter_paths[0]

abogen/web/routes.py

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 
 import io
 import json
+import math
 import mimetypes
 import os
 import posixpath
@@ -196,6 +197,51 @@ def _decode_text(payload: bytes) -> str:
     return payload.decode("utf-8", "ignore")
 
 
+def _coerce_positive_time(value: Any) -> Optional[float]:
+    try:
+        numeric = float(value)
+    except (TypeError, ValueError):
+        return None
+    if not math.isfinite(numeric) or numeric < 0:
+        return None
+    return numeric
+
+
+def _load_job_metadata(job: Job) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    result = getattr(job, "result", None)
+    artifacts = getattr(result, "artifacts", None)
+    if not isinstance(artifacts, Mapping):
+        return {}
+    metadata_ref = artifacts.get("metadata")
+    if isinstance(metadata_ref, Path):
+        metadata_path = metadata_ref
+    elif isinstance(metadata_ref, str):
+        metadata_path = Path(metadata_ref)
+    else:
+        return {}
+    if not metadata_path.exists():
+        return {}
+    try:
+        return json.loads(metadata_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+    except (OSError, json.JSONDecodeError, UnicodeDecodeError):
+        return {}
+
+
+def _resolve_book_title(job: Job, *metadata_sources: Mapping[str, Any]) -> str:
+    for source in metadata_sources:
+        if not isinstance(source, Mapping):
+            continue
+        for key in ("title", "book_title", "name", "album", "album_title"):
+            value = source.get(key)
+            if isinstance(value, str):
+                candidate = value.strip()
+                if candidate:
+                    return candidate
+    filename = job.original_filename or ""
+    stem = Path(filename).stem if filename else ""
+    return stem or filename
+
+
 class _NavMapParser(HTMLParser):
     def __init__(self, base_dir: str) -> None:
         super().__init__()
@@ -1815,6 +1861,7 @@ BOOLEAN_SETTINGS = {
     "save_as_project",
     "generate_epub3",
     "enable_entity_recognition",
+    "auto_prefix_chapter_titles",
 }
 
 FLOAT_SETTINGS = {"silence_between_chapters", "chapter_intro_delay"}
@@ -1843,6 +1890,7 @@ def _settings_defaults() -> Dict[str, Any]:
         "chunk_level": "paragraph",
         "enable_entity_recognition": True,
         "generate_epub3": False,
+        "auto_prefix_chapter_titles": True,
         "speaker_analysis_threshold": _DEFAULT_ANALYSIS_THRESHOLD,
         "speaker_pronunciation_sentence": "This is {{name}} speaking.",
         "speaker_random_languages": [],
@@ -2946,6 +2994,7 @@ def enqueue_job() -> ResponseReturnValue:
     silence_between_chapters = settings["silence_between_chapters"]
     chapter_intro_delay = settings["chapter_intro_delay"]
     max_subtitle_words = settings["max_subtitle_words"]
+    auto_prefix_chapter_titles = settings["auto_prefix_chapter_titles"]
 
     chunk_level_default = str(settings.get("chunk_level", "paragraph")).strip().lower()
     raw_chunk_level = (request.form.get("chunk_level") or chunk_level_default).strip().lower()
@@ -3011,6 +3060,7 @@ def enqueue_job() -> ResponseReturnValue:
         cover_image_path=cover_path,
         cover_image_mime=cover_mime,
         chapter_intro_delay=chapter_intro_delay,
+        auto_prefix_chapter_titles=bool(auto_prefix_chapter_titles),
         chunk_level=chunk_level_value,
         speaker_mode=speaker_mode_value,
         generate_epub3=generate_epub3,
@@ -3290,6 +3340,7 @@ def finalize_job(pending_id: str) -> ResponseReturnValue:
         cover_image_path=pending.cover_image_path,
         cover_image_mime=pending.cover_image_mime,
         chapter_intro_delay=pending.chapter_intro_delay,
+        auto_prefix_chapter_titles=getattr(pending, "auto_prefix_chapter_titles", True),
         chunk_level=pending.chunk_level,
         chunks=processed_chunks,
         speakers=roster,
@@ -3581,6 +3632,63 @@ def job_reader(job_id: str) -> ResponseReturnValue:
     asset_base = url_for("web.job_reader_asset", job_id=job.id, asset_path="").rstrip("/") + "/"
     audio_url = url_for("web.job_audio_stream", job_id=job.id) if audio_path else ""
     epub_url = url_for("web.job_epub", job_id=job.id)
+    metadata_payload = _load_job_metadata(job)
+    metadata_section_raw = metadata_payload.get("metadata") if isinstance(metadata_payload, Mapping) else {}
+    metadata_section = metadata_section_raw if isinstance(metadata_section_raw, Mapping) else {}
+    job_metadata = job.metadata_tags if isinstance(job.metadata_tags, Mapping) else {}
+    display_title = _resolve_book_title(job, metadata_section, job_metadata)
+
+    timing_map: Dict[int, Dict[str, Any]] = {}
+    chapter_entries = metadata_payload.get("chapters") if isinstance(metadata_payload, Mapping) else []
+    for entry in chapter_entries or []:
+        if not isinstance(entry, Mapping):
+            continue
+        index_raw = entry.get("index")
+        index_value: Optional[int]
+        if isinstance(index_raw, (int, float)) and not isinstance(index_raw, bool):
+            index_value = int(index_raw) - 1
+        elif isinstance(index_raw, str):
+            stripped = index_raw.strip()
+            if not stripped:
+                continue
+            try:
+                index_value = int(stripped) - 1
+            except ValueError:
+                continue
+        else:
+            continue
+        if index_value < 0:
+            continue
+        start_value = _coerce_positive_time(entry.get("start"))
+        end_value = _coerce_positive_time(entry.get("end"))
+        title_value: Optional[str] = None
+        for key in ("title", "display_title", "spoken_title", "original_title"):
+            value = entry.get(key)
+            if isinstance(value, str) and value.strip():
+                title_value = value.strip()
+                break
+        timing_map[index_value] = {
+            "start": start_value,
+            "end": end_value,
+            "title": title_value,
+        }
+
+    chapter_timings: List[Dict[str, Any]] = []
+    for idx, chapter in enumerate(chapters):
+        marker = timing_map.get(idx)
+        if marker and marker.get("title") and isinstance(chapter, dict):
+            chapter_title = marker["title"]
+            if isinstance(chapter_title, str) and chapter_title.strip():
+                chapter["title"] = chapter_title
+        chapter_timings.append(
+            {
+                "index": idx,
+                "start": marker.get("start") if marker else None,
+                "end": marker.get("end") if marker else None,
+                "title": marker.get("title") if marker else None,
+            }
+        )
+
     return render_template(
         "reader_embed.html",
         job=job,
@@ -3589,6 +3697,8 @@ def job_reader(job_id: str) -> ResponseReturnValue:
         chapters=chapters,
         chapter_url=chapter_url,
         asset_base=asset_base,
+        chapter_timings=chapter_timings,
+        display_title=display_title,
     )
 
 

abogen/web/service.py

@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ class Job:
     metadata_tags: Dict[str, str] = field(default_factory=dict)
     max_subtitle_words: int = 50
     chapter_intro_delay: float = 0.5
+    auto_prefix_chapter_titles: bool = True
     status: JobStatus = JobStatus.PENDING
     started_at: Optional[float] = None
     finished_at: Optional[float] = None
@@ -171,6 +172,7 @@ class Job:
                 "voice_profile": self.voice_profile,
                 "max_subtitle_words": self.max_subtitle_words,
                 "chapter_intro_delay": self.chapter_intro_delay,
+                "auto_prefix_chapter_titles": getattr(self, "auto_prefix_chapter_titles", True),
             },
             "metadata_tags": dict(self.metadata_tags),
             "chapters": [
@@ -233,6 +235,7 @@ class PendingJob:
     cover_image_path: Optional[Path] = None
     cover_image_mime: Optional[str] = None
     chapter_intro_delay: float = 0.5
+    auto_prefix_chapter_titles: bool = True
     chunk_level: str = "paragraph"
     chunks: List[Dict[str, Any]] = field(default_factory=list)
     speakers: Dict[str, Any] = field(default_factory=dict)
@@ -312,6 +315,7 @@ class ConversionService:
         cover_image_path: Optional[Path] = None,
         cover_image_mime: Optional[str] = None,
         chapter_intro_delay: float = 0.5,
+    auto_prefix_chapter_titles: bool = True,
         chunk_level: str = "paragraph",
         chunks: Optional[Iterable[Any]] = None,
         speakers: Optional[Mapping[str, Any]] = None,
@@ -358,6 +362,7 @@ class ConversionService:
             cover_image_path=cover_image_path,
             cover_image_mime=cover_image_mime,
             chapter_intro_delay=chapter_intro_delay,
+            auto_prefix_chapter_titles=bool(auto_prefix_chapter_titles),
             chunk_level=chunk_level,
             chunks=normalized_chunks,
             speakers=dict(speakers or {}),
@@ -512,6 +517,7 @@ class ConversionService:
                 cover_image_path=job.cover_image_path,
                 cover_image_mime=job.cover_image_mime,
                 chapter_intro_delay=job.chapter_intro_delay,
+                auto_prefix_chapter_titles=job.auto_prefix_chapter_titles,
                 chunk_level=job.chunk_level,
                 chunks=job.chunks,
                 speakers=job.speakers,
@@ -737,6 +743,7 @@ class ConversionService:
             "cover_image_path": str(job.cover_image_path) if job.cover_image_path else None,
             "cover_image_mime": job.cover_image_mime,
             "chapter_intro_delay": job.chapter_intro_delay,
+            "auto_prefix_chapter_titles": job.auto_prefix_chapter_titles,
             "chunk_level": job.chunk_level,
             "chunks": [dict(entry) for entry in job.chunks],
             "speakers": dict(job.speakers),
@@ -828,6 +835,7 @@ class ConversionService:
             metadata_tags=payload.get("metadata_tags", {}),
             max_subtitle_words=int(payload.get("max_subtitle_words", 50)),
             chapter_intro_delay=float(payload.get("chapter_intro_delay", 0.5)),
+            auto_prefix_chapter_titles=bool(payload.get("auto_prefix_chapter_titles", True)),
         )
         job.status = JobStatus(payload.get("status", job.status.value))
         job.started_at = payload.get("started_at")

abogen/web/static/reader.js

@@ -41,7 +41,17 @@ const closeReaderModal = () => {
   readerModal.removeAttribute("data-open");
   document.body.classList.remove("modal-open");
   if (readerFrame) {
+    const frameWindow = readerFrame.contentWindow;
+    if (frameWindow) {
+      try {
+        frameWindow.postMessage({ type: "abogen:reader:pause", currentTime: 0 }, window.location.origin);
+      } catch (error) {
+        // Ignore cross-origin messaging errors.
+      }
+    }
+    window.setTimeout(() => {
       readerFrame.src = "about:blank";
+    }, 75);
   }
   if (readerHint && defaultReaderHint) {
     readerHint.textContent = defaultReaderHint;

abogen/web/templates/job_detail.html

@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
         <li><strong>Separate chapter format:</strong> {{ job.separate_chapters_format|upper }}</li>
         <li><strong>Silence between chapters:</strong> {{ '%.1f'|format(job.silence_between_chapters) }}s</li>
         <li><strong>Chapter intro delay:</strong> {{ '%.1f'|format(job.chapter_intro_delay) }}s</li>
+    <li><strong>Prefix chapter titles:</strong> {{ 'Yes' if job.auto_prefix_chapter_titles else 'No' }}</li>
         <li><strong>Max words per subtitle:</strong> {{ job.max_subtitle_words }}</li>
         <li><strong>Project folder:</strong> {{ 'Yes' if job.save_as_project else 'No' }}</li>
         <li><strong>Chunk granularity:</strong> {{ job.chunk_level|replace('_', ' ')|title }}</li>

abogen/web/templates/partials/jobs.html

@@ -92,13 +92,15 @@
               {% endif %}
             {% endif %}
             {% if reader_source %}
+              {% set metadata = job.metadata_tags if job.metadata_tags is mapping else {} %}
+              {% set job_display_title = metadata.get('title') or metadata.get('book_title') or metadata.get('name') or job.original_filename %}
               <button type="button"
                       class="icon-button"
                       data-role="open-reader"
                       data-reader-url="{{ url_for('web.job_reader', job_id=job.id) }}"
-                      data-book-title="{{ job.original_filename }}"
+                      data-book-title="{{ job_display_title }}"
                       title="Open reader"
-                      aria-label="Open EPUB reader for {{ job.original_filename }}">
+                      aria-label="Open EPUB reader for {{ job_display_title }}">
                 📖
               </button>
             {% endif %}

abogen/web/templates/prepare_chapters.html

@@ -0,0 +1,187 @@
+{% extends "base.html" %}
+
+{% block title %}Prepare · {{ pending.original_filename }}{% endblock %}
+
+{% set is_multi_speaker = pending.speaker_mode == 'multi' %}
+{% set total_steps = 3 if is_multi_speaker else 2 %}
+
+{% block content %}
+<section class="wizard-page wizard-page--modal" data-step="chapters">
+  <div class="modal modal--wizard" data-role="wizard-modal" data-open="true">
+    <div class="modal__overlay" aria-hidden="true"></div>
+    <div class="modal__content card card--modal wizard-card" role="dialog" aria-modal="true" aria-labelledby="prepare-chapters-title">
+      <header class="modal__header wizard-card__header">
+        <div class="wizard-card__headline">
+          <nav class="step-indicator" aria-label="Audiobook workflow">
+            <button type="button"
+                    class="step-indicator__item is-complete"
+                    data-role="open-upload-modal">
+              <span class="step-indicator__index">1</span>
+              <span class="step-indicator__label">Upload &amp; settings</span>
+            </button>
+            <a class="step-indicator__item is-active"
+               aria-current="step"
+               href="{{ url_for('web.prepare_job', pending_id=pending.id, step='chapters') }}">
+              <span class="step-indicator__index">2</span>
+              <span class="step-indicator__label">Chapters</span>
+            </a>
+            {% if is_multi_speaker %}
+            <a class="step-indicator__item"
+               href="{{ url_for('web.prepare_job', pending_id=pending.id, step='entities') }}">
+              <span class="step-indicator__index">3</span>
+              <span class="step-indicator__label">Entities</span>
+            </a>
+            {% endif %}
+          </nav>
+          <h2 class="modal__title" id="prepare-chapters-title">Select chapters</h2>
+          <p class="hint">Choose which chapters to convert. We'll analyse entities automatically when you continue.</p>
+        </div>
+        <div class="wizard-card__aside">
+          <p class="wizard-card__filename" title="{{ pending.original_filename }}">{{ pending.original_filename }}</p>
+        </div>
+      </header>
+      <form method="post"
+            action="{{ url_for('web.finalize_job', pending_id=pending.id) }}"
+            class="prepare-form"
+            id="prepare-form"
+            data-speaker-mode="{{ pending.speaker_mode }}"
+            data-analyze-url="{{ url_for('web.analyze_pending_job', pending_id=pending.id) }}">
+      <input type="hidden" name="active_step" value="chapters" data-role="active-step-input">
+      <div class="wizard-hidden-inputs" aria-hidden="true">
+        <input type="hidden" name="chunk_level" value="{{ pending.chunk_level }}">
+        <input type="hidden" name="speaker_mode" value="{{ pending.speaker_mode }}">
+        <input type="hidden" name="speaker_analysis_threshold" value="{{ pending.speaker_analysis_threshold }}">
+        <input type="hidden" name="chapter_intro_delay" value="{{ '%.2f'|format(pending.chapter_intro_delay) }}">
+        {% if pending.generate_epub3 %}
+          <input type="hidden" name="generate_epub3" value="true">
+        {% endif %}
+      </div>
+
+        <div class="modal__body wizard-card__body">
+        {% if error %}
+          <div class="alert alert--error">{{ error }}</div>
+        {% endif %}
+        {% if notice %}
+          <div class="alert alert--info">{{ notice }}</div>
+        {% endif %}
+
+        <section class="form-section">
+          <div class="form-section__title-row">
+            <h3 class="form-section__title">Detected chapters</h3>
+            <p class="hint">Toggle chapters on or off, rename them, and override the voice per chapter if needed.</p>
+          </div>
+          <div class="chapter-grid">
+            {% for chapter in pending.chapters %}
+              {% set is_enabled = chapter.enabled is not defined or chapter.enabled %}
+              {% set selected_option = '__default' %}
+              {% if chapter.voice_profile %}
+                {% set selected_option = 'profile:' ~ chapter.voice_profile %}
+              {% elif chapter.voice %}
+                {% set selected_option = 'voice:' ~ chapter.voice %}
+              {% elif chapter.voice_formula %}
+                {% set selected_option = 'formula' %}
+              {% endif %}
+              <article class="chapter-card"
+                       data-role="chapter-row"
+                       data-disabled="{{ 'false' if is_enabled else 'true' }}"
+                       data-expanded="false">
+                <header class="chapter-card__summary" data-role="chapter-summary">
+                  <label class="chapter-card__checkbox">
+                    <input type="checkbox"
+                           name="chapter-{{ loop.index0 }}-enabled"
+                           data-role="chapter-enabled"
+                           {% if is_enabled %}checked{% endif %}>
+                    <span>Chapter {{ loop.index }} · {{ chapter.title }}</span>
+                  </label>
+                  <button type="button"
+                          class="chapter-card__toggle"
+                          data-role="chapter-toggle"
+                          aria-expanded="false"
+                          aria-label="Toggle chapter details">
+                    <span class="chapter-card__toggle-icon" aria-hidden="true">&#9662;</span>
+                  </button>
+                </header>
+       <div class="chapter-card__details"
+         data-role="chapter-details">
+                  <div class="chapter-card__field">
+                    <label for="chapter-{{ loop.index0 }}-title">Title</label>
+                    <input type="text" id="chapter-{{ loop.index0 }}-title" name="chapter-{{ loop.index0 }}-title" value="{{ chapter.title }}">
+                  </div>
+                  <div class="chapter-card__preview">
+                    <details>
+                      <summary>Preview full text</summary>
+                      <pre>{{ chapter.text[:2000] }}{% if chapter.text|length > 2000 %}…{% endif %}</pre>
+                    </details>
+                  </div>
+                  <div class="chapter-card__field">
+                    <label for="chapter-{{ loop.index0 }}-voice">Voice override</label>
+                    <select id="chapter-{{ loop.index0 }}-voice" name="chapter-{{ loop.index0 }}-voice" data-role="voice-select">
+                      <option value="__default" {% if selected_option == '__default' %}selected{% endif %}>Use job default</option>
+                      <optgroup label="Voices">
+                        {% for voice in options.voices %}
+                          <option value="voice:{{ voice }}" {% if selected_option == 'voice:' ~ voice %}selected{% endif %}>{{ voice }}</option>
+                        {% endfor %}
+                      </optgroup>
+                      {% if options.voice_profile_options %}
+                      <optgroup label="Profiles">
+                        {% for profile in options.voice_profile_options %}
+                          <option value="profile:{{ profile.name }}" {% if selected_option == 'profile:' ~ profile.name %}selected{% endif %}>{{ profile.name }}{% if profile.language %} · {{ profile.language|upper }}{% endif %}</option>
+                        {% endfor %}
+                      </optgroup>
+                      {% endif %}
+                      <option value="formula" {% if selected_option == 'formula' %}selected{% endif %}>Custom formula…</option>
+                    </select>
+                    <input type="text"
+                           name="chapter-{{ loop.index0 }}-formula"
+                           class="chapter-card__formula"
+                           data-role="formula-input"
+                           placeholder="af_nova*0.4+am_liam*0.6"
+                           value="{{ chapter.voice_formula or '' }}"
+                           {% if selected_option != 'formula' %}hidden aria-hidden="true"{% else %}aria-hidden="false"{% endif %}>
+                  </div>
+                </div>
+              </article>
+            {% endfor %}
+          </div>
+        </section>
+        </div>
+        <footer class="modal__footer wizard-card__footer">
+          <div class="wizard-card__footer-actions">
+            <button type="button" class="button button--ghost" data-role="wizard-previous">Previous</button>
+            <button type="submit" class="button button--ghost" form="cancel-form">Cancel</button>
+          </div>
+          <div class="wizard-card__footer-actions">
+            {% if is_multi_speaker %}
+            <button type="submit"
+                    class="button"
+                    data-role="submit-speaker-analysis"
+                    data-step-toggle="analysis"
+                    formaction="{{ url_for('web.analyze_pending_job', pending_id=pending.id) }}"
+                    formmethod="post">
+              Continue to entities
+            </button>
+            {% endif %}
+            <button type="submit" class="button" data-step-toggle="finalize"{% if is_multi_speaker %} hidden aria-hidden="true"{% endif %}>
+              Queue conversion
+            </button>
+          </div>
+        </footer>
+      </form>
+      <form method="post" action="{{ url_for('web.cancel_pending_job', pending_id=pending.id) }}" id="cancel-form"></form>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+</section>
+{% with pending=pending, readonly=True, active_step='chapters' %}
+  {% include "partials/upload_modal.html" %}
+{% endwith %}
+{% endblock %}
+
+{% block scripts %}
+  {{ super() }}
+  <script id="voice-sample-texts" type="application/json">{{ options.sample_voice_texts | tojson }}</script>
+  <script id="voice-catalog-data" type="application/json">{{ options.voice_catalog | tojson }}</script>
+  <script id="voice-language-map" type="application/json">{{ options.languages | tojson }}</script>
+  <script type="module" src="{{ url_for('static', filename='speakers.js') }}"></script>
+  <script type="module" src="{{ url_for('static', filename='prepare.js') }}"></script>
+  <script type="module" src="{{ url_for('static', filename='dashboard.js') }}"></script>
+{% endblock %}

abogen/web/templates/prepare_job.html

@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+{# This template is intentionally left empty.
+   Step-specific templates now live in `prepare_chapters.html` and `prepare_entities.html`.
+   The file is kept as a placeholder to avoid breaking documentation references. #}

abogen/web/templates/reader_embed.html

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 <head>
   <meta charset="utf-8">
   <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
-  <title>{{ job.original_filename }} · Reader</title>
+  <title>{{ display_title or job.original_filename }} · Reader</title>
   <style>
     :root {
       color-scheme: dark;
@@ -144,6 +144,116 @@
       width: 100%;
     }
 
+    .reader-player {
+      display: flex;
+      flex-direction: column;
+      gap: 0.5rem;
+    }
+
+    .reader-player__controls {
+      display: flex;
+      flex-wrap: wrap;
+      gap: 0.5rem;
+      align-items: center;
+    }
+
+    .reader-player__controls button {
+      border: 1px solid var(--border);
+      background: rgba(30, 41, 59, 0.8);
+      color: var(--text);
+      border-radius: 12px;
+      padding: 0.4rem 0.8rem;
+      font-size: 0.9rem;
+      cursor: pointer;
+      transition: background 0.2s ease, border-color 0.2s ease, opacity 0.2s ease;
+    }
+
+    .reader-player__controls button:hover,
+    .reader-player__controls button:focus-visible {
+      background: rgba(56, 189, 248, 0.2);
+      border-color: rgba(56, 189, 248, 0.4);
+      outline: none;
+    }
+
+    .reader-player__controls button:disabled {
+      opacity: 0.4;
+      cursor: not-allowed;
+    }
+
+    .reader-player__secondary {
+      display: flex;
+      align-items: center;
+      gap: 0.5rem;
+      flex-wrap: wrap;
+      font-size: 0.85rem;
+      color: rgba(226, 232, 240, 0.75);
+    }
+
+    .reader-player__secondary label {
+      display: flex;
+      align-items: center;
+      gap: 0.5rem;
+    }
+
+    .reader-player__secondary select {
+      border-radius: 10px;
+      border: 1px solid var(--border);
+      background: rgba(30, 41, 59, 0.8);
+      color: var(--text);
+      padding: 0.25rem 0.5rem;
+      font-size: 0.9rem;
+    }
+
+    .reader-player__secondary select:focus-visible {
+      outline: 2px solid var(--accent);
+      outline-offset: 2px;
+    }
+
+    .reader-chapter-links {
+      display: flex;
+      flex-wrap: wrap;
+      gap: 0.5rem;
+      margin: 0.25rem 0;
+      max-height: 12.5rem;
+      overflow-y: auto;
+      padding: 0.25rem 0;
+    }
+
+    .reader-chapter-links button {
+      border: 1px solid var(--border);
+      background: rgba(30, 41, 59, 0.7);
+      color: var(--text);
+      border-radius: 999px;
+      padding: 0.35rem 0.75rem;
+      font-size: 0.85rem;
+      cursor: pointer;
+      white-space: nowrap;
+      transition: background 0.2s ease, border-color 0.2s ease, color 0.2s ease, opacity 0.2s ease;
+    }
+
+    .reader-chapter-links button:hover,
+    .reader-chapter-links button:focus-visible {
+      background: rgba(56, 189, 248, 0.2);
+      border-color: rgba(56, 189, 248, 0.4);
+      outline: none;
+    }
+
+    .reader-chapter-links button[aria-current="true"] {
+      background: rgba(56, 189, 248, 0.35);
+      border-color: rgba(56, 189, 248, 0.6);
+      color: var(--text);
+    }
+
+    .reader-chapter-links button:disabled {
+      opacity: 0.4;
+      cursor: not-allowed;
+    }
+
+    .reader-chapter-links__empty {
+      font-size: 0.85rem;
+      color: rgba(226, 232, 240, 0.6);
+    }
+
     .reader-status {
       font-size: 0.85rem;
       color: rgba(226, 232, 240, 0.75);
@@ -164,7 +274,7 @@
     <div class="reader-toolbar">
       <button type="button" data-action="prev">Previous</button>
     <select data-role="reader-chapter" aria-label="Select chapter"></select>
-      <div class="reader-toolbar__title" data-role="reader-title">{{ job.original_filename }}</div>
+    <div class="reader-toolbar__title" data-role="reader-title">{{ display_title or job.original_filename }}</div>
       <button type="button" data-action="next">Next</button>
     </div>
     <div id="reader-container">
@@ -172,12 +282,34 @@
     </div>
     <div class="reader-footer">
       {% if audio_url %}
+      <div class="reader-player" data-role="reader-player">
         <audio controls preload="metadata" src="{{ audio_url }}"></audio>
+        <div class="reader-player__controls">
+          <button type="button" data-action="player-prev" aria-label="Go to previous chapter">Prev chapter</button>
+          <button type="button" data-action="player-rewind" aria-label="Rewind 15 seconds">-15s</button>
+          <button type="button" data-action="player-toggle" aria-label="Play or pause audio">Play</button>
+          <button type="button" data-action="player-forward" aria-label="Skip forward 15 seconds">+15s</button>
+          <button type="button" data-action="player-next" aria-label="Go to next chapter">Next chapter</button>
+        </div>
+        <div class="reader-player__secondary">
+          <label for="reader-playback-rate">Speed</label>
+          <select id="reader-playback-rate" data-role="playback-rate">
+            <option value="0.75">0.75x</option>
+            <option value="0.9">0.90x</option>
+            <option value="1" selected>1.00x</option>
+            <option value="1.25">1.25x</option>
+            <option value="1.5">1.50x</option>
+            <option value="1.75">1.75x</option>
+            <option value="2">2.00x</option>
+          </select>
+        </div>
+      </div>
       {% endif %}
+      <div class="reader-chapter-links" data-role="chapter-links" aria-label="Chapters"></div>
       <div class="reader-status" data-role="reader-status" aria-live="polite">Loading EPUB…</div>
     </div>
   </div>
-  <script type="application/json" id="reader-data">{{ {'chapters': chapters, 'title': job.original_filename}|tojson }}</script>
+  <script type="application/json" id="reader-data">{{ {'chapters': chapters, 'title': display_title or job.original_filename, 'chapterTimings': chapter_timings}|tojson }}</script>
   <script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/jszip@3.10.1/dist/jszip.min.js"></script>
   <script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/epubjs@0.3.93/dist/epub.min.js"></script>
   <script type="module">
@@ -187,6 +319,13 @@
     const chapterSelect = document.querySelector('[data-role="reader-chapter"]');
     const titleEl = document.querySelector('[data-role="reader-title"]');
     const audioEl = document.querySelector('audio');
+    const playerPrevBtn = document.querySelector('[data-action="player-prev"]');
+    const playerNextBtn = document.querySelector('[data-action="player-next"]');
+    const playerRewindBtn = document.querySelector('[data-action="player-rewind"]');
+    const playerForwardBtn = document.querySelector('[data-action="player-forward"]');
+    const playerToggleBtn = document.querySelector('[data-action="player-toggle"]');
+    const playbackRateSelect = document.querySelector('[data-role="playback-rate"]');
+    const chapterLinksEl = document.querySelector('[data-role="chapter-links"]');
     const bodyDataset = document.body.dataset;
     const assetBase = bodyDataset.assetBase || '';
     const epubUrl = bodyDataset.epubUrl || '';
@@ -204,6 +343,7 @@
     }
 
     const ACTIVE_CLASS = 'chunk--active';
+    const PLAYER_SKIP_SECONDS = 15;
     const syncCache = new Map();
 
     const setStatus = (message) => {
@@ -212,6 +352,36 @@
       }
     };
 
+    const navigateToChapter = (index, options = {}) => {
+      if (!chapters.length) {
+        return Promise.resolve(null);
+      }
+      const normalizedIndex = Math.min(Math.max(index, 0), chapters.length - 1);
+      const preservePlayback = options.preservePlayback !== false;
+      const shouldScroll = options.scroll !== false;
+      const forcePlay = Boolean(options.forcePlay);
+      const wasPlaying = audioEl ? !audioEl.paused : false;
+      const targetShouldPlay = forcePlay || (preservePlayback && wasPlaying);
+      return displayChapter(normalizedIndex, { scroll: shouldScroll }).then((startTime) => {
+        if (!audioEl) {
+          return startTime;
+        }
+        const timelineEntry = getChapterTiming(normalizedIndex);
+        const fallbackStart = timelineEntry && Number.isFinite(timelineEntry.start) ? timelineEntry.start : null;
+        const resolvedStart = Number.isFinite(startTime) ? startTime : fallbackStart;
+        if (resolvedStart !== null && Number.isFinite(resolvedStart)) {
+          audioEl.currentTime = resolvedStart;
+        }
+        if (targetShouldPlay) {
+          audioEl.play().catch(() => {});
+        }
+        return resolvedStart;
+      }).catch((error) => {
+        console.warn('Failed to navigate to chapter', error);
+        return null;
+      });
+    };
+
     const removeLeadingSlash = (value) => {
       if (typeof value !== 'string') {
         return value;
@@ -359,6 +529,22 @@
       return null;
     };
 
+    const coerceTime = (value) => {
+      if (typeof value === 'number' && Number.isFinite(value) && value >= 0) {
+        return value;
+      }
+      if (typeof value === 'string') {
+        const trimmed = value.trim();
+        if (trimmed) {
+          const parsed = Number.parseFloat(trimmed);
+          if (Number.isFinite(parsed) && parsed >= 0) {
+            return parsed;
+          }
+        }
+      }
+      return null;
+    };
+
     const fetchEpubAsset = async (url) => {
       if (!url) {
         throw new Error('Missing EPUB URL');
@@ -460,10 +646,24 @@
         }
         const labelSource = entry.title ?? entry.label ?? entry.name ?? entry.text ?? '';
         const title = typeof labelSource === 'string' && labelSource.trim() ? labelSource.trim() : `Chapter ${normalized.length + 1}`;
+        let sourceIndex = null;
+        const rawIndex = entry.index ?? entry.order ?? entry.position;
+        if (typeof rawIndex === 'number' && Number.isFinite(rawIndex)) {
+          sourceIndex = Math.max(0, Math.floor(rawIndex));
+        } else if (typeof rawIndex === 'string') {
+          const parsed = Number.parseInt(rawIndex.trim(), 10);
+          if (Number.isInteger(parsed) && parsed >= 0) {
+            sourceIndex = parsed;
+          }
+        }
+        if (!Number.isInteger(sourceIndex)) {
+          sourceIndex = normalized.length;
+        }
         normalized.push({
           href,
           normalizedHref: normalizeHref(href),
           title,
+          sourceIndex,
         });
       });
       return normalized;
@@ -496,20 +696,70 @@
     const baseTitle = typeof payload.title === 'string' && payload.title ? payload.title : 'Book';
     document.title = `${baseTitle} · Reader`;
 
+    const rawTimingEntries = Array.isArray(payload.chapterTimings) ? payload.chapterTimings : [];
+    const timingBySourceIndex = new Map();
+    rawTimingEntries.forEach((entry) => {
+      if (!entry || typeof entry !== 'object') {
+        return;
+      }
+      const rawIndex = entry.index;
+      let sourceIndex = null;
+      if (typeof rawIndex === 'number' && Number.isFinite(rawIndex)) {
+        sourceIndex = Math.max(0, Math.floor(rawIndex));
+      } else if (typeof rawIndex === 'string') {
+        const parsed = Number.parseInt(rawIndex.trim(), 10);
+        if (Number.isInteger(parsed) && parsed >= 0) {
+          sourceIndex = parsed;
+        }
+      }
+      if (sourceIndex === null) {
+        return;
+      }
+      const timingEntry = {
+        start: coerceTime(entry.start),
+        end: coerceTime(entry.end),
+        title: typeof entry.title === 'string' && entry.title.trim() ? entry.title.trim() : null,
+      };
+      timingBySourceIndex.set(sourceIndex, timingEntry);
+    });
+
     let chapters = dedupeChapters(normalizeChapterList(Array.isArray(payload.chapters) ? payload.chapters : []));
     chapters = chapters.map((chapter, idx) => {
       const cleanedHref = removeLeadingSlash(chapter.href);
       const normalized = chapter.normalizedHref ? removeLeadingSlash(chapter.normalizedHref) : normalizeHref(cleanedHref);
+      const sourceIndex = Number.isInteger(chapter.sourceIndex) ? Number(chapter.sourceIndex) : idx;
       return {
         ...chapter,
         href: cleanedHref,
         normalizedHref: normalized,
         title: chapter.title || `Chapter ${idx + 1}`,
         spineHref: chapter.spineHref ? removeLeadingSlash(chapter.spineHref) : null,
+        sourceIndex,
       };
     });
     chapters = dedupeChapters(chapters);
     console.info('[reader] Chapters payload normalized', chapters.map((chapter) => chapter.href));
+    let chapterTimeline = [];
+    const rebuildChapterTimings = () => {
+      chapterTimeline = chapters.map((chapter, idx) => {
+        const sourceIndex = Number.isInteger(chapter.sourceIndex) ? Number(chapter.sourceIndex) : idx;
+        const timing = timingBySourceIndex.get(sourceIndex) || null;
+        return {
+          sourceIndex,
+          start: timing ? coerceTime(timing.start) : null,
+          end: timing ? coerceTime(timing.end) : null,
+          title: timing && typeof timing.title === 'string' ? timing.title : null,
+        };
+      });
+    };
+    rebuildChapterTimings();
+
+    const getChapterTiming = (index) => {
+      if (index < 0 || index >= chapterTimeline.length) {
+        return null;
+      }
+      return chapterTimeline[index] || null;
+    };
     let book = null;
     let rendition = null;
     let currentSync = [];
@@ -519,6 +769,98 @@
     let suppressRelocate = false;
     let scheduledSync = 0;
 
+    let chapterLinkButtons = [];
+
+    const updateChapterLinkState = () => {
+      if (!chapterLinkButtons.length) {
+        return;
+      }
+      chapterLinkButtons.forEach((button, idx) => {
+        if (!(button instanceof HTMLButtonElement)) {
+          return;
+        }
+        if (idx === currentChapterIndex) {
+          button.setAttribute('aria-current', 'true');
+        } else {
+          button.removeAttribute('aria-current');
+        }
+      });
+    };
+
+    const updatePlaybackControls = () => {
+      const hasChapters = chapters.length > 0;
+      const canPrev = hasChapters && currentChapterIndex > 0;
+      const canNext = hasChapters && currentChapterIndex < chapters.length - 1;
+      if (playerPrevBtn) {
+        playerPrevBtn.disabled = !canPrev;
+      }
+      if (playerNextBtn) {
+        playerNextBtn.disabled = !canNext;
+      }
+      if (playerRewindBtn) {
+        playerRewindBtn.disabled = !audioEl;
+      }
+      if (playerForwardBtn) {
+        playerForwardBtn.disabled = !audioEl;
+      }
+      if (playerToggleBtn) {
+        if (!audioEl) {
+          playerToggleBtn.disabled = true;
+          playerToggleBtn.textContent = 'Play';
+        } else {
+          playerToggleBtn.disabled = false;
+          playerToggleBtn.textContent = audioEl.paused ? 'Play' : 'Pause';
+        }
+      }
+      if (playbackRateSelect) {
+        playbackRateSelect.disabled = !audioEl;
+        if (audioEl) {
+          const currentRate = Math.max(0.5, Math.min(3, audioEl.playbackRate || 1));
+          const formattedRate = currentRate.toFixed(2);
+          let matchFound = false;
+          Array.from(playbackRateSelect.options).forEach((option) => {
+            const optionRate = Number.parseFloat(option.value);
+            if (Number.isFinite(optionRate) && Math.abs(optionRate - currentRate) < 0.01) {
+              matchFound = true;
+            }
+          });
+          if (!matchFound) {
+            const customOption = new Option(`${formattedRate}x`, currentRate.toString(), true, true);
+            playbackRateSelect.append(customOption);
+          }
+          playbackRateSelect.value = currentRate.toString();
+        } else {
+          playbackRateSelect.value = '1';
+        }
+      }
+    };
+
+    const buildChapterLinks = () => {
+      if (!chapterLinksEl) {
+        return;
+      }
+      chapterLinksEl.innerHTML = '';
+      chapterLinkButtons = [];
+      if (!chapters.length) {
+        const placeholder = document.createElement('span');
+        placeholder.className = 'reader-chapter-links__empty';
+        placeholder.textContent = 'No chapters available.';
+        chapterLinksEl.append(placeholder);
+        return;
+      }
+      chapters.forEach((chapter, idx) => {
+        const button = document.createElement('button');
+        button.type = 'button';
+        button.dataset.chapterIndex = String(idx);
+        const label = chapter.title || `Chapter ${idx + 1}`;
+        button.textContent = label;
+        button.title = label;
+        chapterLinksEl.append(button);
+        chapterLinkButtons.push(button);
+      });
+      updateChapterLinkState();
+    };
+
     const updateStatus = () => {
       if (!statusEl) {
         return;
@@ -572,6 +914,8 @@
         const chapter = chapters[currentChapterIndex];
         titleEl.textContent = chapter?.title ? `${chapter.title} · ${baseTitle}` : baseTitle;
       }
+      updatePlaybackControls();
+      updateChapterLinkState();
     };
 
     const highlightChunk = (chunkId, { scroll = false } = {}) => {
@@ -777,6 +1121,7 @@
         option.textContent = 'No chapters';
         chapterSelect.append(option);
         chapterSelect.disabled = true;
+        buildChapterLinks();
         return;
       }
       chapterSelect.disabled = false;
@@ -787,6 +1132,7 @@
         chapterSelect.append(option);
       });
       chapterSelect.value = String(currentChapterIndex);
+      buildChapterLinks();
     };
 
     const registerRenditionHooks = () => {
@@ -854,6 +1200,7 @@
       }
       navigationLock = true;
       let failed = false;
+      let resolvedStart = null;
       setStatus('Loading chapter…');
       highlightChunk(null);
       activeOverlay = null;
@@ -887,12 +1234,39 @@
         updateControls();
         const syncTarget = syncHref || target.normalizedHref || removeLeadingSlash(target.href);
         await loadChapterSync(syncTarget);
+        const syncStartCandidate = currentSync.length ? currentSync[0].begin : null;
+        if (Number.isFinite(syncStartCandidate)) {
+          const timelineEntry = getChapterTiming(normalizedIndex);
+          if (timelineEntry) {
+            timelineEntry.start = syncStartCandidate;
+          }
+          const sourceIndex = chapters[normalizedIndex] && Number.isInteger(chapters[normalizedIndex].sourceIndex)
+            ? Number(chapters[normalizedIndex].sourceIndex)
+            : null;
+          if (sourceIndex !== null) {
+            const existingTiming = timingBySourceIndex.get(sourceIndex) || {};
+            existingTiming.start = syncStartCandidate;
+            if (chapters[normalizedIndex] && typeof chapters[normalizedIndex].title === 'string') {
+              existingTiming.title = existingTiming.title || chapters[normalizedIndex].title;
+            }
+            timingBySourceIndex.set(sourceIndex, existingTiming);
+          }
+        }
+        const fallbackTiming = getChapterTiming(normalizedIndex);
+        resolvedStart = Number.isFinite(syncStartCandidate)
+          ? syncStartCandidate
+          : fallbackTiming && Number.isFinite(fallbackTiming.start)
+            ? fallbackTiming.start
+            : null;
         const shouldScroll = options.scroll ?? Boolean(audioEl && !audioEl.paused);
         if (fragment) {
           highlightChunk(fragment, { scroll: true });
           const overlayMatch = currentSync.find((entry) => entry.fragment === fragment);
           if (overlayMatch) {
             activeOverlay = overlayMatch;
+            if (Number.isFinite(overlayMatch.begin)) {
+              resolvedStart = overlayMatch.begin;
+            }
           }
         } else if (audioEl) {
           syncToTime(audioEl.currentTime || 0, { force: true, scroll: shouldScroll });
@@ -910,6 +1284,7 @@
           updateStatus();
         }
       }
+      return failed ? null : resolvedStart;
     };
 
     const scheduleSync = () => {
@@ -930,16 +1305,24 @@
       audioEl.addEventListener('seeked', () => {
         syncToTime(audioEl.currentTime || 0, { force: true, scroll: true });
       });
-      audioEl.addEventListener('loadedmetadata', updateStatus);
+      audioEl.addEventListener('loadedmetadata', () => {
+        updateStatus();
+        updatePlaybackControls();
+      });
       audioEl.addEventListener('play', () => {
         syncToTime(audioEl.currentTime || 0, { force: true, scroll: true });
         updateStatus();
+        updatePlaybackControls();
+      });
+      audioEl.addEventListener('pause', () => {
+        updateStatus();
+        updatePlaybackControls();
       });
-      audioEl.addEventListener('pause', updateStatus);
       audioEl.addEventListener('ended', () => {
         activeOverlay = null;
         highlightChunk(null);
         updateStatus();
+        updatePlaybackControls();
       });
     }
 
@@ -1104,6 +1487,7 @@
       }
 
       chapters = dedupeChapters(chapters);
+      rebuildChapterTimings();
 
       if (typeof book.canonical === 'function') {
         chapters = chapters.map((chapter) => {
@@ -1121,6 +1505,7 @@
           };
         });
         chapters = dedupeChapters(chapters);
+        rebuildChapterTimings();
       }
 
       chapters = chapters.map((chapter) => ({
@@ -1189,32 +1574,125 @@
       }
       if (event.key === 'ArrowLeft' && currentChapterIndex > 0) {
         event.preventDefault();
-        displayChapter(currentChapterIndex - 1, { scroll: true });
+        navigateToChapter(currentChapterIndex - 1, { preservePlayback: true });
       } else if (event.key === 'ArrowRight' && currentChapterIndex < chapters.length - 1) {
         event.preventDefault();
-        displayChapter(currentChapterIndex + 1, { scroll: true });
+        navigateToChapter(currentChapterIndex + 1, { preservePlayback: true });
       }
     });
 
     prevBtn?.addEventListener('click', () => {
       if (currentChapterIndex > 0) {
-        displayChapter(currentChapterIndex - 1, { scroll: true });
+        navigateToChapter(currentChapterIndex - 1, { preservePlayback: true });
       }
     });
 
     nextBtn?.addEventListener('click', () => {
       if (currentChapterIndex < chapters.length - 1) {
-        displayChapter(currentChapterIndex + 1, { scroll: true });
+        navigateToChapter(currentChapterIndex + 1, { preservePlayback: true });
       }
     });
 
     chapterSelect?.addEventListener('change', (event) => {
       const value = Number.parseInt(event.target.value, 10);
       if (!Number.isNaN(value)) {
-        displayChapter(value, { scroll: true });
+        navigateToChapter(value, { preservePlayback: true });
       }
     });
 
+    window.addEventListener('message', (event) => {
+      if (!audioEl) {
+        return;
+      }
+      if (event.origin && event.origin !== window.location.origin) {
+        return;
+      }
+      const data = event.data;
+      if (!data || typeof data !== 'object') {
+        return;
+      }
+      if (data.type === 'abogen:reader:pause') {
+        audioEl.pause();
+        if (Number.isFinite(data.currentTime) && data.currentTime >= 0) {
+          audioEl.currentTime = data.currentTime;
+        }
+        updateStatus();
+        updatePlaybackControls();
+      }
+    });
+
+    playerPrevBtn?.addEventListener('click', () => {
+      if (currentChapterIndex > 0) {
+        navigateToChapter(currentChapterIndex - 1, { preservePlayback: true });
+      }
+    });
+
+    playerNextBtn?.addEventListener('click', () => {
+      if (currentChapterIndex < chapters.length - 1) {
+        navigateToChapter(currentChapterIndex + 1, { preservePlayback: true });
+      }
+    });
+
+    playerRewindBtn?.addEventListener('click', () => {
+      if (!audioEl) {
+        return;
+      }
+      const current = Number.isFinite(audioEl.currentTime) ? audioEl.currentTime : 0;
+    audioEl.currentTime = Math.max(0, current - PLAYER_SKIP_SECONDS);
+    syncToTime(audioEl.currentTime || 0, { force: true, scroll: false });
+    updateStatus();
+    });
+
+    playerForwardBtn?.addEventListener('click', () => {
+      if (!audioEl || !Number.isFinite(audioEl.currentTime)) {
+        return;
+      }
+      const duration = Number.isFinite(audioEl.duration) ? audioEl.duration : undefined;
+      const target = audioEl.currentTime + PLAYER_SKIP_SECONDS;
+      audioEl.currentTime = duration ? Math.min(duration, target) : target;
+      syncToTime(audioEl.currentTime || 0, { force: true, scroll: false });
+      updateStatus();
+    });
+
+    playerToggleBtn?.addEventListener('click', () => {
+      if (!audioEl) {
+        return;
+      }
+      if (audioEl.paused) {
+        audioEl.play().catch(() => {});
+      } else {
+        audioEl.pause();
+      }
+    });
+
+    playbackRateSelect?.addEventListener('change', (event) => {
+      if (!audioEl) {
+        return;
+      }
+      const value = Number.parseFloat(event.target.value);
+      if (Number.isFinite(value) && value > 0) {
+        const clamped = Math.max(0.5, Math.min(3, value));
+        audioEl.playbackRate = clamped;
+      }
+      updatePlaybackControls();
+    });
+
+    chapterLinksEl?.addEventListener('click', (event) => {
+      const target = event.target instanceof Element ? event.target.closest('button[data-chapter-index]') : null;
+      if (!(target instanceof HTMLButtonElement)) {
+        return;
+      }
+      event.preventDefault();
+      const idx = Number.parseInt(target.dataset.chapterIndex || '', 10);
+      if (Number.isNaN(idx)) {
+        return;
+      }
+      const shouldResume = audioEl ? !audioEl.paused : false;
+      navigateToChapter(idx, { preservePlayback: true, forcePlay: shouldResume });
+    });
+
+    updatePlaybackControls();
+
     init().catch((error) => {
       console.error('Failed to initialize reader', error);
       setStatus('Reader failed to initialize.');

abogen/web/templates/settings.html

@@ -110,6 +110,13 @@
         <input type="number" step="0.1" min="0" id="chapter_intro_delay" name="chapter_intro_delay" value="{{ '%.2f'|format(settings.chapter_intro_delay) }}">
         <p class="hint">Inserted between the spoken chapter title and the chapter content. Set to 0 to disable.</p>
       </div>
+      <div class="field field--stack">
+        <label class="toggle-pill">
+          <input type="checkbox" name="auto_prefix_chapter_titles" value="true" {% if settings.auto_prefix_chapter_titles %}checked{% endif %}>
+          <span>Add "Chapter" before numeric chapter titles</span>
+        </label>
+        <p class="hint">Ensures the spoken chapter heading starts with "Chapter" when source titles begin with only a number or numeral.</p>
+      </div>
     </fieldset>
 
     <fieldset class="settings__section">

tests/test_conversion_chapter_titles.py

@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+from abogen.web.conversion_runner import (
+    _format_spoken_chapter_title,
+    _headings_equivalent,
+    _strip_duplicate_heading_line,
+)
+
+
+def test_format_spoken_chapter_title_adds_prefix() -> None:
+    assert _format_spoken_chapter_title("1: A Tale", 1, True) == "Chapter 1: A Tale"
+
+
+def test_format_spoken_chapter_title_respects_existing_prefix() -> None:
+    assert _format_spoken_chapter_title("Chapter 2: Story", 2, True) == "Chapter 2: Story"
+
+
+def test_format_spoken_chapter_title_handles_empty_title() -> None:
+    assert _format_spoken_chapter_title("", 4, True) == "Chapter 4"
+
+
+def test_headings_equivalent_ignores_case_and_prefix() -> None:
+    assert _headings_equivalent("1: The House", "Chapter 1: The House")
+
+
+def test_strip_duplicate_heading_line_removes_first_match() -> None:
+    text, removed = _strip_duplicate_heading_line("Chapter 3: Intro\nBody text", "Chapter 3: Intro")
+    assert removed is True
+    assert text.strip() == "Body text"