diff --git a/docs/superpowers/plans/audiobook-player-qol.md b/docs/superpowers/plans/audiobook-player-qol.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d0c86ba0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/superpowers/plans/audiobook-player-qol.md
@@ -0,0 +1,224 @@
+# Audiobook Player QoL Improvements
+
+Commands assume the repository root is the cwd. All paths are repository-relative.
+
+## Goal
+
+Bring the web audiobook player to feature parity with best-in-class audiobook apps
+(Audiobookshelf, Audible, BookPlayer, Prologue) on the quality-of-life axis. The current
+surface architecture (persistent mini bar + expandable Now Listening view, playback
+survives navigation) is already the de-facto standard and stays as-is.
+
+Explicitly **out of scope**: Media Session / lock-screen integration, bookmarks (needs a
+server endpoint — follow-up), offline/download, queue.
+
+## Features
+
+1. **Keyboard shortcuts** — space/K play-pause, arrow skips, volume, chapter nav, speed step.
+2. **Configurable skip intervals** — asymmetric defaults (back 10s, forward 30s), user-tunable.
+3. **Expanded speed control** — 0.5×–3.0× with fine stepping, presets, and per-book memory.
+4. **Chapter prev/next buttons** — alongside the seconds-skip buttons.
+5. **Volume control** — reuse the shared `VolumeControl`, persisted like the video player.
+6. **Smart rewind** — auto-rewind on resume, scaled by how long playback was paused.
+7. **Time remaining at current speed** — real-clock remaining display in Now Listening.
+
+No server/API changes are required; everything is web-frontend only, so no Android/Apple
+client coordination is needed. (Per-book speed memory is device-local in v1; syncing it
+server-side via profile settings is a noted follow-up.)
+
+## Existing seams (read these first)
+
+| File | Relevance |
+| --- | --- |
+| `web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/useAudiobookPlayback.ts` | Playback engine. `togglePlay` (~line 499), `skip` (~534), `setRate` (~541), returned API (~690+). All engine work lands here. |
+| `web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/MiniBar.tsx` | Bottom bar. Hardcoded `SKIP_*_SECONDS = 30` and `PLAYBACK_RATES` at lines 10–12. |
+| `web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/NowListening.tsx` | Full-screen view. Same hardcoded constants; dead "More" button (lines 50–56) becomes the settings menu trigger; remaining-time toggle at lines 33–37. |
+| `web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/AudiobookPlayer.tsx` | Wrapper that owns mini/now-listening mode — mount point for the keyboard shortcuts hook. |
+| `web/src/player/components/VolumeControl.tsx` | Existing slider + `getPersistedVolume`/`persistVolume` helpers (shared `player-volume`/`player-muted` storage keys). Styled for dark video overlay — needs a surface-toned variant. |
+| `web/src/player/components/SpeedMenu.tsx` | Current preset-only menu (shared with video player). Audiobook gets a richer `SpeedControl`; video keeps `SpeedMenu` untouched. |
+| `web/src/player/hooks/useKeyboardShortcuts.ts` | Video player's shortcut hook — pattern to mirror (input-field guard, single document listener). |
+| `web/src/utils/storage.ts` | Typed localStorage wrapper — add new keys here, never call `localStorage` directly. |
+| `web/src/player/components/SeekBar.tsx`, `CircleButton.tsx`, `SleepTimerMenu.tsx`, `ChaptersMenu.tsx` | Established player design language; reuse, don't fork. |
+
+## Design language
+
+These are additions to an existing, refined system — extend it, don't restyle it:
+
+- **Surfaces**: mini bar is a themed surface (`bg-background`, `border-t`, token colors).
+  Popovers anchored to it use the established dark-glass treatment
+  (`bg-black/90 backdrop-blur-sm rounded-lg shadow-xl`, white/75 text, `data-active` rows)
+  exactly as `SpeedMenu`/`SleepTimerMenu` do today.
+- **Type**: time and rate values are always `font-mono`/`tabular-nums` so nothing shifts as
+  digits tick. The new speed readout (`1.45×`) must reserve width for two decimals.
+- **Buttons**: all transport controls are `CircleButton` (`sm` secondary flanks, `md`/`lg`
+  primary center). Chapter prev/next use `SkipBack`/`SkipForward` lucide glyphs at the same
+  stroke weight (1.6) as the rotate icons, so the cluster reads as one family.
+- **Micro-interactions**, small and purposeful:
+  - Skip buttons: a quick ~18° icon flick in the skip direction on press
+    (CSS transform transition, ~150ms ease-out) — confirms the action without a toast.
+  - Speed stepper: value crossfades (opacity 120ms) on change; the active preset chip gets
+    the same `bg-white/5 text-white` treatment as current menu rows.
+  - Smart rewind: when it fires, the seek bar playhead animates the small jump back rather
+    than teleporting (SeekBar already animates position; verify it holds for ≤30s deltas).
+- **Accessibility**: every new control keeps the existing patterns — `aria-label`,
+  `aria-expanded`/`aria-haspopup` on triggers, roving focus + Escape in menus (copy from
+  `SleepTimerMenu`), `role="slider"` semantics from `VolumeControl`/`SeekBar`.
+
+## Phase 1 — Engine + preferences model
+
+### 1a. Preferences hook
+
+New `web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/useAudiobookPrefs.ts`:
+
+- Add storage keys: `AUDIOBOOK_SKIP_BACK`, `AUDIOBOOK_SKIP_FORWARD`,
+  `AUDIOBOOK_SMART_REWIND` (bool), `AUDIOBOOK_RATES` (JSON map) in `web/src/utils/storage.ts`.
+- Exposes `{ skipBack, skipForward, smartRewind, setSkipBack, setSkipForward, setSmartRewind }`.
+- Defaults: back **10s**, forward **30s** (the asymmetric convention — small "what did she
+  say?" hops back, bigger hops forward), smart rewind **on**.
+- Allowed skip values: 5, 10, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 (two digits max keeps `SkipIcon`'s inset
+  number legible).
+- Per-book rate map: single JSON object `{ [contentId]: rate }` under `AUDIOBOOK_RATES`,
+  LRU-capped at 50 entries (store `{ rate, at }` and evict oldest on insert).
+  Helpers `getBookRate(contentId)` / `setBookRate(contentId, rate)` live here too.
+
+### 1b. Engine extensions (`useAudiobookPlayback.ts`)
+
+- **Volume/mute**: initialize from `getPersistedVolume()`; apply to the `<audio>` element in
+  an effect; expose `volume`, `muted`, `setVolume`, `setMuted`; persist via `persistVolume`.
+  Sharing the video player's keys is intentional — one volume preference per device.
+- **Per-book rate**: on mount, initialize `rate` from `getBookRate(contentId)` (fallback 1);
+  in `setRate`, also `setBookRate`. The hook needs `contentId` passed in (it already
+  receives the files/options object — extend that input).
+- **Chapter navigation**: expose `nextChapter()` and `prevChapter()`.
+  - `next`: seek to start of the chapter after `currentChapter`; no-op at the last chapter.
+  - `prev`: if more than 3s into the current chapter, seek to its start; otherwise seek to
+    the previous chapter's start (the universal music/audiobook convention).
+- **Smart rewind**: record `pausedAtRef = performance.now()` whenever playback pauses (in
+  the `pause` event handler so it also catches OS-initiated pauses). On resume, before
+  `audio.play()`, compute rewind from pause duration and `seekTo(currentTime - rewind)`:
+  - < 10s paused → 0s; < 1min → 3s; < 10min → 10s; < 1h → 20s; ≥ 1h → 30s.
+  - Clamp at 0; skip entirely when the smart-rewind pref is off or the resume immediately
+    follows a user seek (seeking sets a short suppress flag so explicit jumps aren't undone).
+  - Also apply on **cold resume**: when starting with `initialPositionSeconds > 0` from the
+    detail page, rewind by the same schedule using the age of the saved progress if the
+    API exposes an updated-at timestamp; otherwise apply a flat 10s. Keep this logic in one
+    pure function `smartRewindSeconds(pauseMs)` so it's unit-testable.
+- **Skip intervals**: no engine change — `skip(delta)` already takes a signed delta; the UI
+  passes the configured values.
+
+### 1c. Tests
+
+Vitest, colocated like existing `*.test.tsx`:
+
+- `smartRewindSeconds` schedule boundaries.
+- Per-book rate LRU (cap, eviction, malformed-JSON tolerance).
+- `prevChapter` 3s threshold behavior and first/last chapter edges
+  (chapter math is pure — test against `buildChapterList` fixtures from
+  `web/src/lib/audiobooks/chapters.ts`).
+
+## Phase 2 — Controls UI
+
+### 2a. SpeedControl (new, audiobook-specific)
+
+New `web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/SpeedControl.tsx`, replacing `SpeedMenu` usage in both
+audiobook views (video player keeps `SpeedMenu`):
+
+- Trigger: same `player-utility-btn` showing the current rate (`1.45×`, tabular-nums).
+- Popover (dark-glass, bottom-anchored like today):
+  - A stepper row: `−` / big mono readout / `+`, stepping **0.05** per tap, clamped to
+    **0.5–3.0**. Press-and-hold repeats (250ms initial, 80ms repeat).
+  - A preset chip row: 1× · 1.25× · 1.5× · 1.75× · 2× · 2.5× · 3×.
+  - Footnote line: "Remembered for this book" (quiet `text-white/40`, 11px) — makes the
+    per-book memory discoverable instead of magical.
+- Keyboard: ArrowUp/Down step inside the popover; Escape closes (copy menu plumbing from
+  `SleepTimerMenu`).
+
+### 2b. Chapter prev/next buttons
+
+- Add `SkipBack`/`SkipForward` `CircleButton size="sm" variant="secondary"` on the outside
+  of the transport cluster in both `MiniBar` and `NowListening`:
+  `⏮ ↺10 ▶ ↻30 ⏭`. Wire to `prevChapter`/`nextChapter`; render only when
+  `playback.chapters.length > 0`; disable at the ends (prev stays enabled mid-chapter).
+- In `MiniBar`, hide the chapter buttons below `sm:` — the 3-column grid is already tight
+  on phones and the chapters menu remains available.
+
+### 2c. Volume
+
+- Add a `tone` prop to `web/src/player/components/VolumeControl.tsx`
+  (`"overlay"` = current white-on-dark, `"surface"` = theme tokens: track `bg-muted`,
+  fill `bg-foreground`, focus ring `ring-ring`). Default `"overlay"` so the video player is
+  untouched.
+- Mount in `MiniBar`'s right cluster (before the sleep timer) at `md:` and up, and in
+  `NowListening`'s utility row. Wire to the new engine `volume`/`muted` state.
+
+### 2d. Player settings menu
+
+New `web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/PlayerSettingsMenu.tsx` (dark-glass popover):
+
+- **Skip back** / **Skip forward**: rows of small value chips (5/10/15/30/45/60/90s).
+- **Smart rewind**: toggle row with a one-line description ("Backs up a little after a pause").
+- Triggers: the currently-dead "More" (`MoreHorizontal`) button in `NowListening`
+  (lines 50–56) and a matching trigger in `MiniBar`'s right cluster.
+- `MiniBar`/`NowListening` read `useAudiobookPrefs()` and pass the configured seconds to
+  the skip buttons and `SkipIcon` (which already renders a dynamic number) — delete the
+  `SKIP_*_SECONDS` constants.
+
+## Phase 3 — Shortcuts + time display + polish
+
+### 3a. Keyboard shortcuts
+
+New `web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/useAudiobookKeyboardShortcuts.ts`, mounted in
+`AudiobookPlayer.tsx` (so it's active in both mini and expanded modes, on every route):
+
+| Key | Action |
+| --- | --- |
+| Space / K | play-pause |
+| ← / → | skip by configured back/forward seconds |
+| ↑ / ↓ | volume ±5% |
+| M | mute toggle |
+| N / P | next / previous chapter |
+| Shift+. / Shift+, | speed +0.05 / −0.05 (YouTube convention) |
+| E | expand / collapse Now Listening |
+| Esc | collapse Now Listening (expanded mode only) |
+
+- Mirror `useKeyboardShortcuts.ts` guards: ignore when target is input/textarea/
+  contentEditable, single document listener, cleanup on unmount.
+- Additional guard: **do nothing while a video session is active** — the video player binds
+  the same keys. Check `WatchPlaybackProvider` state (or simply whether a `<video>` watch
+  route is mounted) and bail; the audiobook bar is backgrounded in that case anyway. Space
+  must also not fire when a button has focus (let the focused control handle Enter/Space).
+- Add `title` tooltips with the shortcut hint to transport buttons
+  (e.g. `Back 10 seconds (←)`) for discoverability.
+
+### 3b. Time remaining at current speed
+
+In `NowListening`, the right time label currently toggles total ↔ remaining. Make it cycle
+three states (persist last choice in component state only):
+
+1. total (`12:04:00`)
+2. remaining (`−3:21:09`)
+3. remaining at speed (`−2:14:06 at 1.5×`) — `remaining / rate`, hidden (skipped in the
+   cycle) when `rate === 1`.
+
+Keep the `data-testid="now-listening-right-time"` hook and update its test.
+
+### 3c. Polish pass
+
+- Skip-flick and speed-crossfade micro-interactions from the design section.
+- Verify mini bar layout on 360px-wide viewports with all new controls (chapter buttons and
+  volume hidden, settings menu accessible).
+- `cd web && pnpm run lint && pnpm run format:check`; run the player test suites.
+
+## Risks / notes
+
+- `useAudiobookPlayback.ts` is 707 lines and growing — extract smart rewind + prefs-coupled
+  logic into small pure modules (`smartRewind.ts`) rather than inflating the hook; consider
+  splitting volume/rate concerns into a `useAudioElementSettings` helper if the hook passes
+  ~800 lines.
+- Smart rewind must not fight the 10s progress reporter: rewinding on resume changes
+  `currentTime`, which triggers a progress write — that's correct (the rewound position is
+  the truth), just confirm no oscillation with the suppress-after-seek flag.
+- Per-book rate uses `contentId`; switching narrators navigates to a different `contentId`,
+  so each narration remembers its own speed — acceptable, arguably desirable.
+- Cross-device sync of prefs/per-book speed is a candidate follow-up once a profile
+  settings endpoint exists; the `useAudiobookPrefs` API is the seam to swap storage behind.
diff --git a/web/src/lib/audiobooks/chapters.test.ts b/web/src/lib/audiobooks/chapters.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..aee83c51
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/src/lib/audiobooks/chapters.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+import type { AudiobookFile } from "@/lib/audiobooks/types";
+import { buildPlayerChapters, nextChapterStart, prevChapterStart } from "./chapters";
+
+function file(id: number, durationSeconds: number, chapterStarts: number[]): AudiobookFile {
+  return {
+    id,
+    duration_seconds: durationSeconds,
+    chapters: chapterStarts.map((start, index) => ({
+      index,
+      title: `File ${id} Chapter ${index + 1}`,
+      start_seconds: start,
+      end_seconds: chapterStarts[index + 1] ?? durationSeconds,
+      source: "embedded",
+    })),
+  } as AudiobookFile;
+}
+
+const files = [file(1, 600, [0, 300]), file(2, 400, [0, 200])];
+const chapters = buildPlayerChapters(files);
+
+describe("buildPlayerChapters", () => {
+  it("flattens chapters across files with absolute offsets", () => {
+    expect(chapters.map((c) => c.start_seconds)).toEqual([0, 300, 600, 800]);
+    expect(chapters.map((c) => c.index)).toEqual([0, 1, 2, 3]);
+    expect(chapters[2]?.end_seconds).toBe(800);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("nextChapterStart", () => {
+  it("returns the following chapter's absolute start", () => {
+    expect(nextChapterStart(chapters, chapters[0]!)).toBe(300);
+    expect(nextChapterStart(chapters, chapters[1]!)).toBe(600);
+  });
+
+  it("returns null at the last chapter and without a current chapter", () => {
+    expect(nextChapterStart(chapters, chapters[3]!)).toBeNull();
+    expect(nextChapterStart(chapters, null)).toBeNull();
+  });
+});
+
+describe("prevChapterStart", () => {
+  it("restarts the current chapter when more than the threshold in", () => {
+    expect(prevChapterStart(chapters, chapters[1]!, 310)).toBe(300);
+  });
+
+  it("jumps to the previous chapter near the chapter start", () => {
+    expect(prevChapterStart(chapters, chapters[1]!, 302)).toBe(0);
+    expect(prevChapterStart(chapters, chapters[2]!, 601)).toBe(300);
+  });
+
+  it("stays at the start of the first chapter", () => {
+    expect(prevChapterStart(chapters, chapters[0]!, 2)).toBe(0);
+  });
+
+  it("returns null without a current chapter", () => {
+    expect(prevChapterStart(chapters, null, 100)).toBeNull();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/web/src/lib/audiobooks/chapters.ts b/web/src/lib/audiobooks/chapters.ts
index 8f3d53dd..923366ec 100644
--- a/web/src/lib/audiobooks/chapters.ts
+++ b/web/src/lib/audiobooks/chapters.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import type { AudiobookChapter, AudiobookFile } from "@/lib/audiobooks/types";
+import type { PlayerChapter } from "@/player/types";
 
 export interface ChapterListEntry {
   chapter: AudiobookChapter;
@@ -46,3 +47,55 @@ export function findChapterAt(
 export function totalAudiobookDuration(files: AudiobookFile[]): number {
   return files.reduce((acc, file) => acc + (file.duration_seconds ?? 0), 0);
 }
+
+/**
+ * Flattens per-file chapters into the player's chapter shape with absolute
+ * start/end offsets and a contiguous 0-based index across the whole book.
+ */
+export function buildPlayerChapters(files: AudiobookFile[]): PlayerChapter[] {
+  const out: PlayerChapter[] = [];
+  let offset = 0;
+  let nextIndex = 0;
+  for (const file of files) {
+    for (const chapter of file.chapters ?? []) {
+      const start = offset + chapter.start_seconds;
+      const end = offset + (chapter.end_seconds || chapter.start_seconds);
+      out.push({
+        index: nextIndex++,
+        title: chapter.title || `Chapter ${chapter.index + 1}`,
+        start_seconds: start,
+        end_seconds: end > start ? end : start + 1,
+        source: chapter.source || "embedded",
+      });
+    }
+    offset += file.duration_seconds ?? 0;
+  }
+  return out;
+}
+
+/** Absolute start of the chapter after `current`, or null at the last chapter. */
+export function nextChapterStart(
+  chapters: PlayerChapter[],
+  current: PlayerChapter | null,
+): number | null {
+  if (!current) return null;
+  return chapters[current.index + 1]?.start_seconds ?? null;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Target for a "previous chapter" press, following the universal player
+ * convention: more than `restartThresholdSeconds` into the current chapter
+ * restarts it; otherwise jump to the previous chapter's start.
+ */
+export function prevChapterStart(
+  chapters: PlayerChapter[],
+  current: PlayerChapter | null,
+  currentTime: number,
+  restartThresholdSeconds = 3,
+): number | null {
+  if (!current) return null;
+  if (currentTime - current.start_seconds > restartThresholdSeconds) {
+    return current.start_seconds;
+  }
+  return (chapters[current.index - 1] ?? current).start_seconds;
+}
diff --git a/web/src/pages/ItemDetail/AudiobookContent.test.tsx b/web/src/pages/ItemDetail/AudiobookContent.test.tsx
index d6e77cb9..96ec853c 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/ItemDetail/AudiobookContent.test.tsx
+++ b/web/src/pages/ItemDetail/AudiobookContent.test.tsx
@@ -157,8 +157,9 @@ describe("AudiobookContent playback actions", () => {
 
     await userEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /^resume/i }));
     expect(mocks.startPlayback).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    // Smart rewind backs a cold resume up 10s so the listener regains context.
     expect(mocks.startPlayback.mock.calls[0]?.[0]).toMatchObject({
-      initialPositionSeconds: 5000,
+      initialPositionSeconds: 4990,
     });
 
     await userEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /listen from start/i }));
diff --git a/web/src/pages/ItemDetail/AudiobookContent.tsx b/web/src/pages/ItemDetail/AudiobookContent.tsx
index 13dd9a4d..dd0a924d 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/ItemDetail/AudiobookContent.tsx
+++ b/web/src/pages/ItemDetail/AudiobookContent.tsx
@@ -9,11 +9,14 @@ import { NarratorCard } from "@/pages/audiobooks/components/NarratorCard";
 import { NarratorPicker } from "@/pages/audiobooks/components/NarratorPicker";
 import { RelatedRail } from "@/pages/audiobooks/components/RelatedRail";
 import DetailHero from "@/pages/ItemDetail/DetailHero";
+import PageBack from "@/components/PageBack";
 import MetadataBadges from "@/pages/ItemDetail/components/MetadataBadges";
 import type { AudiobookFile } from "@/lib/audiobooks/types";
 import { buildChapterList, findChapterAt, totalAudiobookDuration } from "@/lib/audiobooks/chapters";
 import { audiobookFilesFromVersions } from "@/lib/audiobooks/files";
 import { useAudiobookPlaybackController } from "@/pages/audiobooks/player/audiobookPlaybackContext";
+import { coldResumePosition } from "@/pages/audiobooks/player/smartRewind";
+import { getAudiobookSmartRewind } from "@/pages/audiobooks/player/useAudiobookPrefs";
 
 function formatSeconds(totalSeconds: number): string {
   if (!Number.isFinite(totalSeconds) || totalSeconds < 0) return "";
@@ -120,7 +123,7 @@ export default function AudiobookContent({
       audiobookPlayback?.toggleActivePlayback();
       return;
     }
-    openPlayer(hasProgress ? resumeSeconds : 0);
+    openPlayer(hasProgress ? coldResumePosition(resumeSeconds, getAudiobookSmartRewind()) : 0);
   }
 
   function primaryPlaybackLabel() {
@@ -142,7 +145,13 @@ export default function AudiobookContent({
       return;
     }
     handledPlayParamRef.current = true;
-    openPlayer(searchParams.get("restart") === "1" ? 0 : hasProgress ? resumeSeconds : 0);
+    openPlayer(
+      searchParams.get("restart") === "1"
+        ? 0
+        : hasProgress
+          ? coldResumePosition(resumeSeconds, getAudiobookSmartRewind())
+          : 0,
+    );
   }, [files.length, hasProgress, openPlayer, resumeSeconds, searchParams]);
 
   return (
@@ -156,6 +165,7 @@ export default function AudiobookContent({
 
       <DetailHero
         title={item.title}
+        topNav={<PageBack />}
         context="Audiobook"
         studioLabel={item.audiobook?.publisher || item.studios?.[0] || undefined}
         posterUrl={item.poster_url}
diff --git a/web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/AudiobookPlayer.tsx b/web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/AudiobookPlayer.tsx
index 3292063b..f0e222de 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/AudiobookPlayer.tsx
+++ b/web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/AudiobookPlayer.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 import { useEffect, useRef, useState } from "react";
 import type { AudiobookFile } from "@/lib/audiobooks/types";
+import { useAudiobookKeyboardShortcuts } from "./useAudiobookKeyboardShortcuts";
 import { useAudiobookPlayback } from "./useAudiobookPlayback";
+import { useAudiobookPrefs } from "./useAudiobookPrefs";
 import { MiniBar } from "./MiniBar";
 import { NowListening } from "./NowListening";
 
@@ -43,14 +45,25 @@ export default function AudiobookPlayer({
   onPlaybackStateChange,
   onControlsChange,
 }: AudiobookPlayerProps) {
+  const prefs = useAudiobookPrefs();
   const playback = useAudiobookPlayback({
     contentId,
     files,
     initialPositionSeconds,
     autoPlay,
+    smartRewindEnabled: prefs.smartRewind,
     onStopRequested: onClose,
   });
   const [mode, setMode] = useState<"mini" | "now-listening">("mini");
+
+  useAudiobookKeyboardShortcuts({
+    playback,
+    prefs,
+    expanded: mode === "now-listening",
+    onToggleExpanded: () => setMode((m) => (m === "mini" ? "now-listening" : "mini")),
+    onCollapse: () => setMode("mini"),
+  });
+
   const lastPlaybackStateEmitRef = useRef<{
     emittedAt: number;
     duration: number;
@@ -145,6 +158,7 @@ export default function AudiobookPlayer({
           title={title}
           posterUrl={posterUrl}
           playback={playback}
+          prefs={prefs}
           onClose={onClose}
           onExpand={() => setMode("now-listening")}
         />
@@ -156,6 +170,7 @@ export default function AudiobookPlayer({
           narrator={narrator}
           posterUrl={posterUrl ?? ""}
           playback={playback}
+          prefs={prefs}
           onCollapse={() => setMode("mini")}
         />
       )}
diff --git a/web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/MiniBar.test.tsx b/web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/MiniBar.test.tsx
index 0502afd3..b0325ca5 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/MiniBar.test.tsx
+++ b/web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/MiniBar.test.tsx
@@ -2,46 +2,46 @@ import { describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
 import { render, screen } from "@testing-library/react";
 import userEvent from "@testing-library/user-event";
 import { MiniBar } from "./MiniBar";
-import type { AudiobookPlayback } from "./useAudiobookPlayback";
-
-function makePlayback(over: Partial<AudiobookPlayback> = {}): AudiobookPlayback {
-  return {
-    audioRef: { current: null },
-    streamUrl: "",
-    hasFile: true,
-    playing: false,
-    currentTime: 0,
-    duration: 600,
-    buffered: null,
-    rate: 1,
-    chapters: [],
-    currentChapter: null,
-    togglePlay: vi.fn(),
-    seekTo: vi.fn(),
-    skip: vi.fn(),
-    setRate: vi.fn(),
-    sleep: { setting: { kind: "off" as const }, remainingMs: null },
-    setSleep: vi.fn(),
-    ...over,
-  };
-}
+import { makeChapters, makePlayback, makePrefs } from "./playerTestUtils";
 
 describe("MiniBar", () => {
   it("renders the title", () => {
-    render(<MiniBar contentId="book-1" title="Project Hail Mary" playback={makePlayback()} />);
+    render(
+      <MiniBar
+        contentId="book-1"
+        title="Project Hail Mary"
+        playback={makePlayback()}
+        prefs={makePrefs()}
+      />,
+    );
     expect(screen.getByText("Project Hail Mary")).toBeInTheDocument();
   });
 
   it("calls togglePlay when the center button is clicked", async () => {
     const togglePlay = vi.fn();
-    render(<MiniBar contentId="book-1" title="X" playback={makePlayback({ togglePlay })} />);
+    render(
+      <MiniBar
+        contentId="book-1"
+        title="X"
+        playback={makePlayback({ togglePlay })}
+        prefs={makePrefs()}
+      />,
+    );
     await userEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /^(Play|Pause)$/ }));
     expect(togglePlay).toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
 
   it("calls onClose when the close button is clicked", async () => {
     const onClose = vi.fn();
-    render(<MiniBar contentId="book-1" title="X" playback={makePlayback()} onClose={onClose} />);
+    render(
+      <MiniBar
+        contentId="book-1"
+        title="X"
+        playback={makePlayback()}
+        prefs={makePrefs()}
+        onClose={onClose}
+      />,
+    );
     await userEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /close player/i }));
     expect(onClose).toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ describe("MiniBar", () => {
             source: "embedded",
           },
         })}
+        prefs={makePrefs()}
       />,
     );
     expect(screen.getByText("The Astrophage")).toBeInTheDocument();
@@ -67,7 +68,12 @@ describe("MiniBar", () => {
 
   it("omits the chapter row when no current chapter is known", () => {
     render(
-      <MiniBar contentId="book-1" title="X" playback={makePlayback({ currentChapter: null })} />,
+      <MiniBar
+        contentId="book-1"
+        title="X"
+        playback={makePlayback({ currentChapter: null })}
+        prefs={makePrefs()}
+      />,
     );
     expect(screen.queryByTestId("minibar-chapter-title")).not.toBeInTheDocument();
   });
@@ -80,10 +86,64 @@ describe("MiniBar", () => {
         title="X"
         posterUrl="/p.jpg"
         playback={makePlayback()}
+        prefs={makePrefs()}
         onExpand={onExpand}
       />,
     );
     await userEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /open now listening/i }));
     expect(onExpand).toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
+
+  it("skips by the configured intervals", async () => {
+    const skip = vi.fn();
+    render(
+      <MiniBar
+        contentId="book-1"
+        title="X"
+        playback={makePlayback({ skip })}
+        prefs={makePrefs({ skipBack: 15, skipForward: 60 })}
+      />,
+    );
+    await userEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Back 15 seconds" }));
+    expect(skip).toHaveBeenCalledWith(-15);
+    await userEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Forward 60 seconds" }));
+    expect(skip).toHaveBeenCalledWith(60);
+  });
+
+  it("shows chapter prev/next buttons only when chapters exist and wires them up", async () => {
+    const prevChapter = vi.fn();
+    const nextChapter = vi.fn();
+    const chapters = makeChapters([0, 300], 600);
+    const { rerender } = render(
+      <MiniBar
+        contentId="book-1"
+        title="X"
+        playback={makePlayback({ chapters, currentChapter: chapters[0], prevChapter, nextChapter })}
+        prefs={makePrefs()}
+      />,
+    );
+    await userEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Previous chapter" }));
+    expect(prevChapter).toHaveBeenCalled();
+    await userEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Next chapter" }));
+    expect(nextChapter).toHaveBeenCalled();
+
+    rerender(
+      <MiniBar contentId="book-1" title="X" playback={makePlayback()} prefs={makePrefs()} />,
+    );
+    expect(screen.queryByRole("button", { name: "Previous chapter" })).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it("disables next chapter at the last chapter", () => {
+    const chapters = makeChapters([0, 300], 600);
+    render(
+      <MiniBar
+        contentId="book-1"
+        title="X"
+        playback={makePlayback({ chapters, currentChapter: chapters[1] })}
+        prefs={makePrefs()}
+      />,
+    );
+    expect(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Next chapter" })).toBeDisabled();
+    expect(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Previous chapter" })).toBeEnabled();
+  });
 });
diff --git a/web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/MiniBar.tsx b/web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/MiniBar.tsx
index c26db0b1..fda96089 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/MiniBar.tsx
+++ b/web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/MiniBar.tsx
@@ -1,21 +1,22 @@
-import { X, Pause, Play, RotateCcw, RotateCw } from "lucide-react";
+import { X, Pause, Play, SkipBack, SkipForward } from "lucide-react";
 import { SeekBar, formatTime } from "@/player/components/SeekBar";
 import { ChaptersMenu } from "@/player/components/ChaptersMenu";
 import { CircleButton } from "@/player/components/CircleButton";
-import { SpeedMenu } from "@/player/components/SpeedMenu";
 import { SleepTimerMenu } from "@/player/components/SleepTimerMenu";
+import { VolumeControl } from "@/player/components/VolumeControl";
 import { CoverExpandTile } from "./CoverExpandTile";
+import { PlayerSettingsMenu } from "./PlayerSettingsMenu";
+import { SkipIcon } from "./SkipIcon";
+import { SpeedControl } from "./SpeedControl";
 import type { AudiobookPlayback } from "./useAudiobookPlayback";
-
-const SKIP_BACK_SECONDS = 30;
-const SKIP_FORWARD_SECONDS = 30;
-const PLAYBACK_RATES = [0.75, 1, 1.25, 1.5, 2] as const;
+import type { AudiobookPrefs } from "./useAudiobookPrefs";
 
 interface MiniBarProps {
   contentId: string;
   title?: string;
   posterUrl?: string;
   playback: AudiobookPlayback;
+  prefs: AudiobookPrefs;
   onClose?: () => void;
   onExpand?: () => void;
 }
@@ -25,9 +26,14 @@ export function MiniBar({
   title,
   posterUrl,
   playback,
+  prefs,
   onClose,
   onExpand,
 }: MiniBarProps) {
+  const hasChapters = playback.chapters.length > 0;
+  const hasNextChapter =
+    playback.currentChapter != null && playback.currentChapter.index + 1 < playback.chapters.length;
+
   return (
     <div
       className="bg-background fixed right-0 bottom-0 z-40 border-t px-3 pt-2 pb-2 shadow-lg sm:px-6"
@@ -78,20 +84,38 @@ export function MiniBar({
         </div>
 
         <div className="flex items-center justify-center gap-2 sm:gap-3">
+          {hasChapters && (
+            <span className="hidden sm:contents">
+              <CircleButton
+                size="sm"
+                variant="secondary"
+                ariaLabel="Previous chapter"
+                title="Previous chapter (P)"
+                onClick={playback.prevChapter}
+                disabled={!playback.hasFile}
+              >
+                <SkipBack className="h-4 w-4" strokeWidth={0} fill="currentColor" />
+              </CircleButton>
+            </span>
+          )}
+
           <CircleButton
             size="sm"
             variant="secondary"
-            ariaLabel={`Back ${SKIP_BACK_SECONDS} seconds`}
-            onClick={() => playback.skip(-SKIP_BACK_SECONDS)}
+            ariaLabel={`Back ${prefs.skipBack} seconds`}
+            title={`Back ${prefs.skipBack} seconds (←)`}
+            className="group"
+            onClick={() => playback.skip(-prefs.skipBack)}
             disabled={!playback.hasFile}
           >
-            <SkipIcon direction="back" seconds={SKIP_BACK_SECONDS} />
+            <SkipIcon direction="back" seconds={prefs.skipBack} />
           </CircleButton>
 
           <CircleButton
             size="md"
             variant="primary"
             ariaLabel={playback.playing ? "Pause" : "Play"}
+            title={playback.playing ? "Pause (space)" : "Play (space)"}
             onClick={playback.togglePlay}
             disabled={!playback.hasFile}
             data-paused={!playback.playing}
@@ -106,28 +130,55 @@ export function MiniBar({
           <CircleButton
             size="sm"
             variant="secondary"
-            ariaLabel={`Forward ${SKIP_FORWARD_SECONDS} seconds`}
-            onClick={() => playback.skip(SKIP_FORWARD_SECONDS)}
+            ariaLabel={`Forward ${prefs.skipForward} seconds`}
+            title={`Forward ${prefs.skipForward} seconds (→)`}
+            className="group"
+            onClick={() => playback.skip(prefs.skipForward)}
             disabled={!playback.hasFile}
           >
-            <SkipIcon direction="forward" seconds={SKIP_FORWARD_SECONDS} />
+            <SkipIcon direction="forward" seconds={prefs.skipForward} />
           </CircleButton>
+
+          {hasChapters && (
+            <span className="hidden sm:contents">
+              <CircleButton
+                size="sm"
+                variant="secondary"
+                ariaLabel="Next chapter"
+                title="Next chapter (N)"
+                onClick={playback.nextChapter}
+                disabled={!playback.hasFile || !hasNextChapter}
+              >
+                <SkipForward className="h-4 w-4" strokeWidth={0} fill="currentColor" />
+              </CircleButton>
+            </span>
+          )}
         </div>
 
         <div className="flex items-center justify-end gap-2">
+          <div className="hidden md:block">
+            <VolumeControl
+              tone="surface"
+              volume={playback.volume}
+              muted={playback.muted}
+              onVolumeChange={playback.setVolume}
+              onMutedChange={playback.setMuted}
+            />
+          </div>
           <SleepTimerMenu
             setting={playback.sleep.setting}
             remainingMs={playback.sleep.remainingMs}
             onChange={playback.setSleep}
           />
-          {playback.chapters.length > 0 && (
+          {hasChapters && (
             <ChaptersMenu
               chapters={playback.chapters}
               currentTime={playback.currentTime}
               onSeek={playback.seekTo}
             />
           )}
-          <SpeedMenu rates={PLAYBACK_RATES} value={playback.rate} onChange={playback.setRate} />
+          <SpeedControl value={playback.rate} onChange={playback.setRate} />
+          <PlayerSettingsMenu prefs={prefs} />
           {onClose && (
             <button
               type="button"
@@ -143,15 +194,3 @@ export function MiniBar({
     </div>
   );
 }
-
-function SkipIcon({ direction, seconds }: { direction: "back" | "forward"; seconds: number }) {
-  const Arrow = direction === "back" ? RotateCcw : RotateCw;
-  return (
-    <span className="relative flex h-6 w-6 items-center justify-center">
-      <Arrow className="h-6 w-6" strokeWidth={1.6} />
-      <span className="absolute inset-0 flex items-center justify-center pb-[1px] text-[8px] font-semibold tracking-tight tabular-nums">
-        {seconds}
-      </span>
-    </span>
-  );
-}
diff --git a/web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/NowListening.test.tsx b/web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/NowListening.test.tsx
index 2fa86ad3..1e510c8b 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/NowListening.test.tsx
+++ b/web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/NowListening.test.tsx
@@ -2,29 +2,7 @@ import { describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
 import { render, screen } from "@testing-library/react";
 import userEvent from "@testing-library/user-event";
 import { NowListening } from "./NowListening";
-import type { AudiobookPlayback } from "./useAudiobookPlayback";
-
-function makePlayback(over: Partial<AudiobookPlayback> = {}): AudiobookPlayback {
-  return {
-    audioRef: { current: null },
-    streamUrl: "",
-    hasFile: true,
-    playing: false,
-    currentTime: 0,
-    duration: 600,
-    buffered: null,
-    rate: 1,
-    chapters: [],
-    currentChapter: null,
-    togglePlay: vi.fn(),
-    seekTo: vi.fn(),
-    skip: vi.fn(),
-    setRate: vi.fn(),
-    sleep: { setting: { kind: "off" as const }, remainingMs: null },
-    setSleep: vi.fn(),
-    ...over,
-  };
-}
+import { makePlayback, makePrefs } from "./playerTestUtils";
 
 describe("NowListening", () => {
   it("renders title, author, narrator, and the current chapter heading", () => {
@@ -44,6 +22,7 @@ describe("NowListening", () => {
             source: "embedded",
           },
         })}
+        prefs={makePrefs()}
         onCollapse={vi.fn()}
       />,
     );
@@ -61,6 +40,7 @@ describe("NowListening", () => {
         title="X"
         posterUrl=""
         playback={makePlayback()}
+        prefs={makePrefs()}
         onCollapse={onCollapse}
       />,
     );
@@ -68,18 +48,42 @@ describe("NowListening", () => {
     expect(onCollapse).toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
 
-  it("toggles between remaining and total time when the right time is clicked", async () => {
+  it("cycles total → remaining → total at 1x speed", async () => {
     render(
       <NowListening
         contentId="book-1"
         title="X"
         posterUrl=""
         playback={makePlayback({ currentTime: 100, duration: 600 })}
+        prefs={makePrefs()}
         onCollapse={vi.fn()}
       />,
     );
-    expect(screen.getByTestId("now-listening-right-time")).toHaveTextContent("10:00");
-    await userEvent.click(screen.getByTestId("now-listening-right-time"));
-    expect(screen.getByTestId("now-listening-right-time")).toHaveTextContent("-8:20");
+    const label = () => screen.getByTestId("now-listening-right-time");
+    expect(label()).toHaveTextContent("10:00");
+    await userEvent.click(label());
+    expect(label()).toHaveTextContent("-8:20");
+    await userEvent.click(label());
+    expect(label()).toHaveTextContent("10:00");
+  });
+
+  it("offers remaining time at the current speed when rate is not 1x", async () => {
+    render(
+      <NowListening
+        contentId="book-1"
+        title="X"
+        posterUrl=""
+        playback={makePlayback({ currentTime: 100, duration: 600, rate: 2 })}
+        prefs={makePrefs()}
+        onCollapse={vi.fn()}
+      />,
+    );
+    const label = () => screen.getByTestId("now-listening-right-time");
+    await userEvent.click(label()); // remaining
+    expect(label()).toHaveTextContent("-8:20");
+    await userEvent.click(label()); // remaining at speed: 500s / 2 = 250s
+    expect(label()).toHaveTextContent("-4:10 at 2×");
+    await userEvent.click(label());
+    expect(label()).toHaveTextContent("10:00");
   });
 });
diff --git a/web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/NowListening.tsx b/web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/NowListening.tsx
index 58934ffc..559f964f 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/NowListening.tsx
+++ b/web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/NowListening.tsx
@@ -1,15 +1,17 @@
 import { useState } from "react";
-import { ChevronDown, MoreHorizontal, Pause, Play, RotateCcw, RotateCw } from "lucide-react";
+import { ChevronDown, Pause, Play, SkipBack, SkipForward } from "lucide-react";
 import { SeekBar, formatTime } from "@/player/components/SeekBar";
 import { ChaptersMenu } from "@/player/components/ChaptersMenu";
 import { CircleButton } from "@/player/components/CircleButton";
-import { SpeedMenu } from "@/player/components/SpeedMenu";
 import { SleepTimerMenu } from "@/player/components/SleepTimerMenu";
+import { VolumeControl } from "@/player/components/VolumeControl";
+import { PlayerSettingsMenu } from "./PlayerSettingsMenu";
+import { SkipIcon } from "./SkipIcon";
+import { SpeedControl, formatRate } from "./SpeedControl";
 import type { AudiobookPlayback } from "./useAudiobookPlayback";
+import type { AudiobookPrefs } from "./useAudiobookPrefs";
 
-const SKIP_BACK_SECONDS = 30;
-const SKIP_FORWARD_SECONDS = 30;
-const PLAYBACK_RATES = [0.75, 1, 1.25, 1.5, 2] as const;
+type TimeMode = "total" | "remaining" | "remaining-at-speed";
 
 interface NowListeningProps {
   contentId: string;
@@ -18,6 +20,7 @@ interface NowListeningProps {
   narrator?: string;
   posterUrl: string;
   playback: AudiobookPlayback;
+  prefs: AudiobookPrefs;
   onCollapse: () => void;
 }
 
@@ -28,13 +31,35 @@ export function NowListening({
   narrator,
   posterUrl,
   playback,
+  prefs,
   onCollapse,
 }: NowListeningProps) {
-  const [showRemaining, setShowRemaining] = useState(false);
+  const [timeMode, setTimeMode] = useState<TimeMode>("total");
 
-  const rightTimeLabel = showRemaining
-    ? `-${formatTime(Math.max(0, playback.duration - playback.currentTime))}`
-    : formatTime(playback.duration);
+  const remaining = Math.max(0, playback.duration - playback.currentTime);
+  // "At current speed" only exists as a distinct reading when rate ≠ 1.
+  const effectiveMode =
+    timeMode === "remaining-at-speed" && playback.rate === 1 ? "remaining" : timeMode;
+  const rightTimeLabel =
+    effectiveMode === "total"
+      ? formatTime(playback.duration)
+      : effectiveMode === "remaining"
+        ? `-${formatTime(remaining)}`
+        : `-${formatTime(remaining / playback.rate)} at ${formatRate(playback.rate)}`;
+
+  const cycleTimeMode = () => {
+    setTimeMode((mode) => {
+      if (mode === "total") return "remaining";
+      if (mode === "remaining") {
+        return playback.rate !== 1 ? "remaining-at-speed" : "total";
+      }
+      return "total";
+    });
+  };
+
+  const hasChapters = playback.chapters.length > 0;
+  const hasNextChapter =
+    playback.currentChapter != null && playback.currentChapter.index + 1 < playback.chapters.length;
 
   return (
     <div className="bg-background fixed inset-0 z-50 flex flex-col overflow-y-auto">
@@ -47,13 +72,7 @@ export function NowListening({
           <ChevronDown className="h-5 w-5" />
           <span>Back to player</span>
         </button>
-        <button
-          type="button"
-          aria-label="More"
-          className="text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground rounded p-1.5"
-        >
-          <MoreHorizontal className="h-5 w-5" />
-        </button>
+        <PlayerSettingsMenu prefs={prefs} />
       </div>
 
       <div className="grid flex-1 grid-cols-1 items-center gap-8 px-6 pt-2 pb-10 sm:gap-10 md:grid-cols-[auto_1fr] md:px-16">
@@ -101,7 +120,8 @@ export function NowListening({
               <button
                 type="button"
                 data-testid="now-listening-right-time"
-                onClick={() => setShowRemaining((v) => !v)}
+                onClick={cycleTimeMode}
+                title="Toggle total / remaining / remaining at speed"
                 className="hover:text-foreground transition-colors"
               >
                 {rightTimeLabel}
@@ -109,21 +129,37 @@ export function NowListening({
             </div>
           </div>
 
-          <div className="flex items-center justify-center gap-4">
+          <div className="flex items-center justify-center gap-3 sm:gap-4">
+            {hasChapters && (
+              <CircleButton
+                size="sm"
+                variant="secondary"
+                ariaLabel="Previous chapter"
+                title="Previous chapter (P)"
+                onClick={playback.prevChapter}
+                disabled={!playback.hasFile}
+              >
+                <SkipBack className="h-4 w-4" strokeWidth={0} fill="currentColor" />
+              </CircleButton>
+            )}
+
             <CircleButton
               size="sm"
               variant="secondary"
-              ariaLabel={`Back ${SKIP_BACK_SECONDS} seconds`}
-              onClick={() => playback.skip(-SKIP_BACK_SECONDS)}
+              ariaLabel={`Back ${prefs.skipBack} seconds`}
+              title={`Back ${prefs.skipBack} seconds (←)`}
+              className="group"
+              onClick={() => playback.skip(-prefs.skipBack)}
               disabled={!playback.hasFile}
             >
-              <SkipIcon direction="back" seconds={SKIP_BACK_SECONDS} />
+              <SkipIcon direction="back" seconds={prefs.skipBack} size="lg" />
             </CircleButton>
 
             <CircleButton
               size="lg"
               variant="primary"
               ariaLabel={playback.playing ? "Pause" : "Play"}
+              title={playback.playing ? "Pause (space)" : "Play (space)"}
               onClick={playback.togglePlay}
               disabled={!playback.hasFile}
               data-paused={!playback.playing}
@@ -138,43 +174,53 @@ export function NowListening({
             <CircleButton
               size="sm"
               variant="secondary"
-              ariaLabel={`Forward ${SKIP_FORWARD_SECONDS} seconds`}
-              onClick={() => playback.skip(SKIP_FORWARD_SECONDS)}
+              ariaLabel={`Forward ${prefs.skipForward} seconds`}
+              title={`Forward ${prefs.skipForward} seconds (→)`}
+              className="group"
+              onClick={() => playback.skip(prefs.skipForward)}
               disabled={!playback.hasFile}
             >
-              <SkipIcon direction="forward" seconds={SKIP_FORWARD_SECONDS} />
+              <SkipIcon direction="forward" seconds={prefs.skipForward} size="lg" />
             </CircleButton>
+
+            {hasChapters && (
+              <CircleButton
+                size="sm"
+                variant="secondary"
+                ariaLabel="Next chapter"
+                title="Next chapter (N)"
+                onClick={playback.nextChapter}
+                disabled={!playback.hasFile || !hasNextChapter}
+              >
+                <SkipForward className="h-4 w-4" strokeWidth={0} fill="currentColor" />
+              </CircleButton>
+            )}
           </div>
 
-          <div className="text-muted-foreground flex items-center justify-center gap-6 text-sm">
+          <div className="text-muted-foreground flex flex-wrap items-center justify-center gap-4 text-sm sm:gap-6">
+            <VolumeControl
+              tone="surface"
+              volume={playback.volume}
+              muted={playback.muted}
+              onVolumeChange={playback.setVolume}
+              onMutedChange={playback.setMuted}
+            />
             <SleepTimerMenu
               setting={playback.sleep.setting}
               remainingMs={playback.sleep.remainingMs}
               onChange={playback.setSleep}
             />
-            {playback.chapters.length > 0 && (
+            {hasChapters && (
               <ChaptersMenu
                 chapters={playback.chapters}
                 currentTime={playback.currentTime}
                 onSeek={playback.seekTo}
               />
             )}
-            <SpeedMenu rates={PLAYBACK_RATES} value={playback.rate} onChange={playback.setRate} />
+            <SpeedControl value={playback.rate} onChange={playback.setRate} />
           </div>
         </div>
       </div>
     </div>
   );
 }
-
-function SkipIcon({ direction, seconds }: { direction: "back" | "forward"; seconds: number }) {
-  const Arrow = direction === "back" ? RotateCcw : RotateCw;
-  return (
-    <span className="relative flex h-7 w-7 items-center justify-center">
-      <Arrow className="h-7 w-7" strokeWidth={1.6} />
-      <span className="absolute inset-0 flex items-center justify-center pb-[1px] text-[8.5px] font-semibold tracking-tight tabular-nums">
-        {seconds}
-      </span>
-    </span>
-  );
-}
diff --git a/web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/PlayerSettingsMenu.tsx b/web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/PlayerSettingsMenu.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f7772296
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/PlayerSettingsMenu.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,115 @@
+import { useCallback, useEffect, useRef, useState } from "react";
+import { SlidersHorizontal } from "lucide-react";
+import { SKIP_INTERVAL_CHOICES, type AudiobookPrefs } from "./useAudiobookPrefs";
+
+interface PlayerSettingsMenuProps {
+  prefs: AudiobookPrefs;
+}
+
+/** Skip-interval and smart-rewind preferences, anchored to the player bar. */
+export function PlayerSettingsMenu({ prefs }: PlayerSettingsMenuProps) {
+  const [open, setOpen] = useState(false);
+  const containerRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
+
+  const handleBlur = useCallback((e: React.FocusEvent) => {
+    if (!containerRef.current?.contains(e.relatedTarget as Node)) {
+      setOpen(false);
+    }
+  }, []);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!open) return;
+    const onKey = (e: KeyboardEvent) => e.key === "Escape" && setOpen(false);
+    document.addEventListener("keydown", onKey);
+    return () => document.removeEventListener("keydown", onKey);
+  }, [open]);
+
+  return (
+    <div ref={containerRef} className="relative" onBlur={handleBlur}>
+      <button
+        type="button"
+        className="player-utility-btn"
+        onClick={() => setOpen((v) => !v)}
+        aria-label="Player settings"
+        aria-expanded={open}
+        aria-haspopup="dialog"
+        title="Player settings"
+      >
+        <SlidersHorizontal className="h-[18px] w-[18px]" />
+      </button>
+
+      {open && (
+        <div
+          role="dialog"
+          aria-label="Player settings"
+          className="absolute right-0 bottom-full mb-2 flex w-[260px] flex-col gap-4 rounded-lg bg-black/90 px-4 py-3.5 shadow-xl backdrop-blur-sm"
+        >
+          <SkipIntervalRow label="Skip back" value={prefs.skipBack} onChange={prefs.setSkipBack} />
+          <SkipIntervalRow
+            label="Skip forward"
+            value={prefs.skipForward}
+            onChange={prefs.setSkipForward}
+          />
+
+          <button
+            type="button"
+            role="switch"
+            aria-checked={prefs.smartRewind}
+            className="group flex items-start justify-between gap-3 text-left focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-white/70 focus-visible:outline-none"
+            onClick={() => prefs.setSmartRewind(!prefs.smartRewind)}
+          >
+            <span className="flex flex-col gap-0.5">
+              <span className="text-sm text-white/85">Smart rewind</span>
+              <span className="text-[11px] leading-snug text-white/40">
+                Backs up a little after a pause
+              </span>
+            </span>
+            <span
+              aria-hidden
+              className={`mt-0.5 inline-flex h-[18px] w-8 shrink-0 items-center rounded-full px-[2px] transition-colors ${
+                prefs.smartRewind ? "bg-white/80" : "bg-white/20"
+              }`}
+            >
+              <span
+                className={`h-[14px] w-[14px] rounded-full bg-black/80 transition-transform ${
+                  prefs.smartRewind ? "translate-x-[14px]" : "translate-x-0"
+                }`}
+              />
+            </span>
+          </button>
+        </div>
+      )}
+    </div>
+  );
+}
+
+function SkipIntervalRow({
+  label,
+  value,
+  onChange,
+}: {
+  label: string;
+  value: number;
+  onChange: (seconds: number) => void;
+}) {
+  return (
+    <div className="flex flex-col gap-1.5">
+      <span className="text-[11px] tracking-[0.14em] text-white/40 uppercase">{label}</span>
+      <div className="flex flex-wrap gap-1">
+        {SKIP_INTERVAL_CHOICES.map((seconds) => (
+          <button
+            key={seconds}
+            type="button"
+            data-active={seconds === value ? "true" : undefined}
+            className={`rounded-full px-2 py-0.5 text-xs tabular-nums transition-colors hover:bg-white/10 focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-white/70 focus-visible:outline-none ${
+              seconds === value ? "bg-white/15 text-white" : "text-white/60"
+            }`}
+            onClick={() => onChange(seconds)}
+          >
+            {seconds}s
+          </button>
+        ))}
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/SkipIcon.tsx b/web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/SkipIcon.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..edd855a8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/SkipIcon.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+import { RotateCcw, RotateCw } from "lucide-react";
+
+/**
+ * Rotate-arrow glyph with the skip interval inset, shared by the mini bar and
+ * Now Listening transports. Pair with `className="group"` on the surrounding
+ * CircleButton so the arrow flicks in the skip direction while pressed.
+ */
+export function SkipIcon({
+  direction,
+  seconds,
+  size = "md",
+}: {
+  direction: "back" | "forward";
+  seconds: number;
+  size?: "md" | "lg";
+}) {
+  const Arrow = direction === "back" ? RotateCcw : RotateCw;
+  const box = size === "lg" ? "h-7 w-7" : "h-6 w-6";
+  const label = size === "lg" ? "text-[8.5px]" : "text-[8px]";
+  const flick =
+    direction === "back" ? "group-active:-rotate-[18deg]" : "group-active:rotate-[18deg]";
+  return (
+    <span className={`relative flex items-center justify-center ${box}`}>
+      <Arrow
+        className={`${box} transition-transform duration-150 ease-out ${flick}`}
+        strokeWidth={1.6}
+      />
+      <span
+        className={`absolute inset-0 flex items-center justify-center pb-[1px] font-semibold tracking-tight tabular-nums ${label}`}
+      >
+        {seconds}
+      </span>
+    </span>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/SpeedControl.tsx b/web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/SpeedControl.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f48ecd0e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/SpeedControl.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,187 @@
+import { useCallback, useEffect, useRef, useState } from "react";
+import { Minus, Plus } from "lucide-react";
+import {
+  AUDIOBOOK_RATE_MAX,
+  AUDIOBOOK_RATE_MIN,
+  AUDIOBOOK_RATE_PRESETS,
+  AUDIOBOOK_RATE_STEP,
+  clampAudiobookRate,
+} from "./useAudiobookPrefs";
+
+const HOLD_DELAY_MS = 250;
+const HOLD_REPEAT_MS = 80;
+
+export function formatRate(rate: number): string {
+  return `${rate}×`;
+}
+
+interface SpeedControlProps {
+  value: number;
+  onChange: (rate: number) => void;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Audiobook playback speed popover: fine ±0.05 stepper (press-and-hold to
+ * repeat) plus quick presets. The chosen rate is remembered per book by the
+ * playback engine.
+ */
+export function SpeedControl({ value, onChange }: SpeedControlProps) {
+  const [open, setOpen] = useState(false);
+  const containerRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
+  const valueRef = useRef(value);
+  const holdTimerRef = useRef<number | null>(null);
+  const holdIntervalRef = useRef<number | null>(null);
+  valueRef.current = value;
+
+  const handleBlur = useCallback((e: React.FocusEvent) => {
+    if (!containerRef.current?.contains(e.relatedTarget as Node)) {
+      setOpen(false);
+    }
+  }, []);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!open) return;
+    const onKey = (e: KeyboardEvent) => e.key === "Escape" && setOpen(false);
+    document.addEventListener("keydown", onKey);
+    return () => document.removeEventListener("keydown", onKey);
+  }, [open]);
+
+  const step = useCallback(
+    (direction: 1 | -1) => {
+      onChange(clampAudiobookRate(valueRef.current + direction * AUDIOBOOK_RATE_STEP));
+    },
+    [onChange],
+  );
+
+  const stopHold = useCallback(() => {
+    if (holdTimerRef.current != null) window.clearTimeout(holdTimerRef.current);
+    if (holdIntervalRef.current != null) window.clearInterval(holdIntervalRef.current);
+    holdTimerRef.current = null;
+    holdIntervalRef.current = null;
+  }, []);
+
+  const startHold = useCallback(
+    (direction: 1 | -1) => {
+      step(direction);
+      stopHold();
+      holdTimerRef.current = window.setTimeout(() => {
+        holdIntervalRef.current = window.setInterval(() => step(direction), HOLD_REPEAT_MS);
+      }, HOLD_DELAY_MS);
+    },
+    [step, stopHold],
+  );
+
+  useEffect(() => stopHold, [stopHold]);
+
+  const handlePopoverKeyDown = useCallback(
+    (e: React.KeyboardEvent) => {
+      if (e.key === "ArrowUp" || e.key === "ArrowRight") {
+        e.preventDefault();
+        step(1);
+      } else if (e.key === "ArrowDown" || e.key === "ArrowLeft") {
+        e.preventDefault();
+        step(-1);
+      }
+    },
+    [step],
+  );
+
+  return (
+    <div ref={containerRef} className="relative" onBlur={handleBlur}>
+      <button
+        type="button"
+        className="player-utility-btn min-w-[3.25rem] px-2 text-xs tabular-nums"
+        onClick={() => setOpen((v) => !v)}
+        aria-label="Playback speed"
+        aria-expanded={open}
+        aria-haspopup="dialog"
+        title="Playback speed (shift+. / shift+,)"
+      >
+        {formatRate(value)}
+      </button>
+
+      {open && (
+        <div
+          role="dialog"
+          aria-label="Playback speed"
+          className="absolute right-0 bottom-full mb-2 flex w-[230px] flex-col gap-3 rounded-lg bg-black/90 px-4 py-3 shadow-xl backdrop-blur-sm"
+          onKeyDown={handlePopoverKeyDown}
+        >
+          <div className="flex items-center justify-between">
+            <StepperButton
+              direction={-1}
+              disabled={value <= AUDIOBOOK_RATE_MIN}
+              onHoldStart={startHold}
+              onHoldStop={stopHold}
+            />
+            <span className="min-w-[4.5rem] text-center font-mono text-lg text-white tabular-nums">
+              {formatRate(value)}
+            </span>
+            <StepperButton
+              direction={1}
+              disabled={value >= AUDIOBOOK_RATE_MAX}
+              onHoldStart={startHold}
+              onHoldStop={stopHold}
+            />
+          </div>
+
+          <div className="flex flex-wrap justify-center gap-1.5">
+            {AUDIOBOOK_RATE_PRESETS.map((preset) => (
+              <button
+                key={preset}
+                type="button"
+                data-active={preset === value ? "true" : undefined}
+                className={`rounded-full px-2.5 py-1 text-xs tabular-nums transition-colors hover:bg-white/10 focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-white/70 focus-visible:outline-none ${
+                  preset === value ? "bg-white/15 text-white" : "text-white/60"
+                }`}
+                onClick={() => onChange(preset)}
+              >
+                {formatRate(preset)}
+              </button>
+            ))}
+          </div>
+
+          <p className="text-center text-[11px] text-white/40">Remembered for this book</p>
+        </div>
+      )}
+    </div>
+  );
+}
+
+function StepperButton({
+  direction,
+  disabled,
+  onHoldStart,
+  onHoldStop,
+}: {
+  direction: 1 | -1;
+  disabled: boolean;
+  onHoldStart: (direction: 1 | -1) => void;
+  onHoldStop: () => void;
+}) {
+  const Icon = direction === 1 ? Plus : Minus;
+  return (
+    <button
+      type="button"
+      aria-label={direction === 1 ? "Faster" : "Slower"}
+      disabled={disabled}
+      className="flex h-8 w-8 items-center justify-center rounded-full text-white/75 transition-colors hover:bg-white/10 hover:text-white focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-white/70 focus-visible:outline-none disabled:cursor-not-allowed disabled:opacity-40"
+      onPointerDown={(e) => {
+        // Keep focus behavior; only pointer presses start the hold-repeat.
+        if (e.button === 0 || e.pointerType !== "mouse") onHoldStart(direction);
+      }}
+      onPointerUp={onHoldStop}
+      onPointerLeave={onHoldStop}
+      onPointerCancel={onHoldStop}
+      onKeyDown={(e) => {
+        if (e.key === "Enter" || e.key === " ") {
+          e.preventDefault();
+          onHoldStart(direction);
+        }
+      }}
+      onKeyUp={onHoldStop}
+    >
+      <Icon className="h-4 w-4" />
+    </button>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/playerTestUtils.ts b/web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/playerTestUtils.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e2cebf24
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/playerTestUtils.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+import { vi } from "vitest";
+import type { PlayerChapter } from "@/player/types";
+import type { AudiobookPlayback } from "./useAudiobookPlayback";
+import {
+  DEFAULT_SKIP_BACK_SECONDS,
+  DEFAULT_SKIP_FORWARD_SECONDS,
+  type AudiobookPrefs,
+} from "./useAudiobookPrefs";
+
+export function makePlayback(over: Partial<AudiobookPlayback> = {}): AudiobookPlayback {
+  return {
+    audioRef: { current: null },
+    streamUrl: "",
+    hasFile: true,
+    playing: false,
+    currentTime: 0,
+    duration: 600,
+    buffered: null,
+    rate: 1,
+    chapters: [],
+    currentChapter: null,
+    volume: 1,
+    muted: false,
+    togglePlay: vi.fn(),
+    seekTo: vi.fn(),
+    skip: vi.fn(),
+    setRate: vi.fn(),
+    setVolume: vi.fn(),
+    setMuted: vi.fn(),
+    nextChapter: vi.fn(),
+    prevChapter: vi.fn(),
+    sleep: { setting: { kind: "off" as const }, remainingMs: null },
+    setSleep: vi.fn(),
+    ...over,
+  };
+}
+
+export function makePrefs(over: Partial<AudiobookPrefs> = {}): AudiobookPrefs {
+  return {
+    skipBack: DEFAULT_SKIP_BACK_SECONDS,
+    skipForward: DEFAULT_SKIP_FORWARD_SECONDS,
+    smartRewind: true,
+    setSkipBack: vi.fn(),
+    setSkipForward: vi.fn(),
+    setSmartRewind: vi.fn(),
+    ...over,
+  };
+}
+
+export function makeChapters(starts: number[], total: number): PlayerChapter[] {
+  return starts.map((start, index) => ({
+    index,
+    title: `Chapter ${index + 1}`,
+    start_seconds: start,
+    end_seconds: starts[index + 1] ?? total,
+    source: "embedded",
+  }));
+}
diff --git a/web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/smartRewind.test.ts b/web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/smartRewind.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..49414013
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/smartRewind.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+import { coldResumePosition, smartRewindSeconds } from "./smartRewind";
+
+describe("smartRewindSeconds", () => {
+  it("does not rewind for brief pauses", () => {
+    expect(smartRewindSeconds(0)).toBe(0);
+    expect(smartRewindSeconds(9_999)).toBe(0);
+  });
+
+  it("scales the rewind with the pause duration", () => {
+    expect(smartRewindSeconds(10_000)).toBe(3);
+    expect(smartRewindSeconds(59_999)).toBe(3);
+    expect(smartRewindSeconds(60_000)).toBe(10);
+    expect(smartRewindSeconds(599_999)).toBe(10);
+    expect(smartRewindSeconds(600_000)).toBe(20);
+    expect(smartRewindSeconds(3_599_999)).toBe(20);
+    expect(smartRewindSeconds(3_600_000)).toBe(30);
+    expect(smartRewindSeconds(86_400_000)).toBe(30);
+  });
+
+  it("treats invalid input as no rewind", () => {
+    expect(smartRewindSeconds(NaN)).toBe(0);
+    expect(smartRewindSeconds(-5)).toBe(0);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("coldResumePosition", () => {
+  it("rewinds a flat amount when enabled", () => {
+    expect(coldResumePosition(120, true)).toBe(110);
+  });
+
+  it("never goes negative", () => {
+    expect(coldResumePosition(4, true)).toBe(0);
+  });
+
+  it("leaves fresh starts and disabled prefs untouched", () => {
+    expect(coldResumePosition(0, true)).toBe(0);
+    expect(coldResumePosition(120, false)).toBe(120);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/smartRewind.ts b/web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/smartRewind.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..223d60c8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/smartRewind.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+/**
+ * Smart rewind: after a pause, back up a little so the listener regains
+ * context before new audio starts. The longer the pause, the bigger the jump.
+ */
+export function smartRewindSeconds(pauseMs: number): number {
+  if (!Number.isFinite(pauseMs) || pauseMs < 10_000) return 0;
+  if (pauseMs < 60_000) return 3;
+  if (pauseMs < 600_000) return 10;
+  if (pauseMs < 3_600_000) return 20;
+  return 30;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Rewind applied when resuming a book "cold" (from the detail page) where the
+ * age of the saved progress is unknown. Flat, small, and skipped for fresh
+ * starts so "Listen from Start" and chapter jumps are never moved.
+ */
+export const COLD_RESUME_REWIND_SECONDS = 10;
+
+export function coldResumePosition(resumeSeconds: number, smartRewindEnabled: boolean): number {
+  if (!smartRewindEnabled || resumeSeconds <= 0) return Math.max(0, resumeSeconds);
+  return Math.max(0, resumeSeconds - COLD_RESUME_REWIND_SECONDS);
+}
diff --git a/web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/useAudiobookKeyboardShortcuts.test.tsx b/web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/useAudiobookKeyboardShortcuts.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ea75736b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/useAudiobookKeyboardShortcuts.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,113 @@
+import { describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+import { fireEvent, renderHook } from "@testing-library/react";
+import { useAudiobookKeyboardShortcuts } from "./useAudiobookKeyboardShortcuts";
+import { makePlayback, makePrefs } from "./playerTestUtils";
+import type { AudiobookPlayback } from "./useAudiobookPlayback";
+
+function setup(playbackOver: Partial<AudiobookPlayback> = {}, expanded = false) {
+  const playback = makePlayback(playbackOver);
+  const onToggleExpanded = vi.fn();
+  const onCollapse = vi.fn();
+  renderHook(() =>
+    useAudiobookKeyboardShortcuts({
+      playback,
+      prefs: makePrefs({ skipBack: 15, skipForward: 45 }),
+      expanded,
+      onToggleExpanded,
+      onCollapse,
+    }),
+  );
+  return { playback, onToggleExpanded, onCollapse };
+}
+
+describe("useAudiobookKeyboardShortcuts", () => {
+  it("toggles playback on space and K", () => {
+    const { playback } = setup();
+    fireEvent.keyDown(document.body, { key: " " });
+    fireEvent.keyDown(document.body, { key: "k" });
+    expect(playback.togglePlay).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
+  });
+
+  it("skips by the configured intervals on arrow keys", () => {
+    const { playback } = setup();
+    fireEvent.keyDown(document.body, { key: "ArrowLeft" });
+    expect(playback.skip).toHaveBeenCalledWith(-15);
+    fireEvent.keyDown(document.body, { key: "ArrowRight" });
+    expect(playback.skip).toHaveBeenCalledWith(45);
+  });
+
+  it("adjusts volume on up/down and unmutes when raising while muted", () => {
+    const { playback } = setup({ volume: 0.5, muted: true });
+    fireEvent.keyDown(document.body, { key: "ArrowUp" });
+    expect(playback.setVolume).toHaveBeenCalledWith(0.55);
+    expect(playback.setMuted).toHaveBeenCalledWith(false);
+    fireEvent.keyDown(document.body, { key: "ArrowDown" });
+    expect(playback.setVolume).toHaveBeenCalledWith(0.45);
+  });
+
+  it("toggles mute on M and navigates chapters on N/P", () => {
+    const { playback } = setup();
+    fireEvent.keyDown(document.body, { key: "m" });
+    expect(playback.setMuted).toHaveBeenCalledWith(true);
+    fireEvent.keyDown(document.body, { key: "n" });
+    expect(playback.nextChapter).toHaveBeenCalled();
+    fireEvent.keyDown(document.body, { key: "p" });
+    expect(playback.prevChapter).toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it("steps the playback rate on shift+. and shift+,", () => {
+    const { playback } = setup({ rate: 1.5 });
+    fireEvent.keyDown(document.body, { key: ">", shiftKey: true });
+    expect(playback.setRate).toHaveBeenCalledWith(1.55);
+    fireEvent.keyDown(document.body, { key: "<", shiftKey: true });
+    expect(playback.setRate).toHaveBeenCalledWith(1.45);
+  });
+
+  it("expands/collapses on E and collapses on Escape when expanded", () => {
+    const { onToggleExpanded, onCollapse } = setup({}, true);
+    fireEvent.keyDown(document.body, { key: "e" });
+    expect(onToggleExpanded).toHaveBeenCalled();
+    fireEvent.keyDown(document.body, { key: "Escape" });
+    expect(onCollapse).toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it("ignores Escape when collapsed", () => {
+    const { onCollapse } = setup({}, false);
+    fireEvent.keyDown(document.body, { key: "Escape" });
+    expect(onCollapse).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it("does nothing while typing in an input", () => {
+    const { playback } = setup();
+    const input = document.createElement("input");
+    document.body.appendChild(input);
+    input.focus();
+    fireEvent.keyDown(input, { key: " " });
+    expect(playback.togglePlay).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    input.remove();
+  });
+
+  it("leaves space alone when a button has focus", () => {
+    const { playback } = setup();
+    const button = document.createElement("button");
+    document.body.appendChild(button);
+    button.focus();
+    fireEvent.keyDown(button, { key: " " });
+    expect(playback.togglePlay).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    button.remove();
+  });
+
+  it("ignores keys with system modifiers held", () => {
+    const { playback } = setup();
+    fireEvent.keyDown(document.body, { key: "k", metaKey: true });
+    fireEvent.keyDown(document.body, { key: "ArrowLeft", ctrlKey: true });
+    expect(playback.togglePlay).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(playback.skip).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it("stays inert without a loaded file", () => {
+    const { playback } = setup({ hasFile: false });
+    fireEvent.keyDown(document.body, { key: " " });
+    expect(playback.togglePlay).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/useAudiobookKeyboardShortcuts.ts b/web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/useAudiobookKeyboardShortcuts.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..eff43e76
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/useAudiobookKeyboardShortcuts.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,156 @@
+import { useContext, useEffect } from "react";
+import { WatchPlaybackControllerContext } from "@/playback/watchPlaybackContext";
+import type { AudiobookPlayback } from "./useAudiobookPlayback";
+import { AUDIOBOOK_RATE_STEP, type AudiobookPrefs } from "./useAudiobookPrefs";
+
+interface AudiobookKeyboardShortcutsOptions {
+  playback: AudiobookPlayback;
+  prefs: AudiobookPrefs;
+  /** Whether the Now Listening full-screen view is open. */
+  expanded: boolean;
+  onToggleExpanded: () => void;
+  onCollapse: () => void;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Global keyboard shortcuts for the audiobook player, active on every route
+ * while the player is mounted:
+ *
+ *   Space/K play-pause · ←/→ skip · ↑/↓ volume · M mute · N/P chapter ·
+ *   Shift+. / Shift+, speed · E expand/collapse · Esc collapse
+ *
+ * Stays inert while a video watch session exists — the video player owns the
+ * same keys and the audiobook bar is backgrounded in that case.
+ */
+export function useAudiobookKeyboardShortcuts({
+  playback,
+  prefs,
+  expanded,
+  onToggleExpanded,
+  onCollapse,
+}: AudiobookKeyboardShortcutsOptions) {
+  // Read the watch context leniently: outside the provider (tests) it is
+  // simply null rather than an error.
+  const watch = useContext(WatchPlaybackControllerContext);
+  const videoSessionActive = watch?.state.request != null;
+
+  const { skipBack, skipForward } = prefs;
+  const {
+    hasFile,
+    rate,
+    volume,
+    muted,
+    togglePlay,
+    skip,
+    setRate,
+    setVolume,
+    setMuted,
+    nextChapter,
+    prevChapter,
+  } = playback;
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (videoSessionActive || !hasFile) return;
+
+    function handleKeyDown(e: KeyboardEvent) {
+      // A focused control (seek bar, volume slider, open menu) that already
+      // handled the key wins; so does anything the user is typing into.
+      if (e.defaultPrevented || e.metaKey || e.ctrlKey || e.altKey) return;
+      const target = e.target as HTMLElement;
+      if (
+        target.tagName === "INPUT" ||
+        target.tagName === "TEXTAREA" ||
+        target.tagName === "SELECT" ||
+        target.isContentEditable
+      ) {
+        return;
+      }
+      // Space activates a focused button/link; never steal it.
+      if (e.key === " " && target.closest("button, a, [role='button'], [role='slider']")) {
+        return;
+      }
+
+      switch (e.key) {
+        case " ":
+        case "k":
+        case "K":
+          e.preventDefault();
+          togglePlay();
+          break;
+        case "ArrowLeft":
+          e.preventDefault();
+          skip(-skipBack);
+          break;
+        case "ArrowRight":
+          e.preventDefault();
+          skip(skipForward);
+          break;
+        case "ArrowUp":
+          e.preventDefault();
+          setVolume(Math.min(1, volume + 0.05));
+          if (muted) setMuted(false);
+          break;
+        case "ArrowDown":
+          e.preventDefault();
+          setVolume(Math.max(0, volume - 0.05));
+          break;
+        case "m":
+        case "M":
+          e.preventDefault();
+          setMuted(!muted);
+          break;
+        case "n":
+        case "N":
+          e.preventDefault();
+          nextChapter();
+          break;
+        case "p":
+        case "P":
+          e.preventDefault();
+          prevChapter();
+          break;
+        case ">":
+          e.preventDefault();
+          setRate(rate + AUDIOBOOK_RATE_STEP);
+          break;
+        case "<":
+          e.preventDefault();
+          setRate(rate - AUDIOBOOK_RATE_STEP);
+          break;
+        case "e":
+        case "E":
+          e.preventDefault();
+          onToggleExpanded();
+          break;
+        case "Escape":
+          // Open popovers close themselves on Escape; only collapse the
+          // full-screen view when nothing else is consuming the key.
+          if (expanded && !document.querySelector("[role='menu'], [role='dialog']")) {
+            onCollapse();
+          }
+          break;
+      }
+    }
+
+    document.addEventListener("keydown", handleKeyDown);
+    return () => document.removeEventListener("keydown", handleKeyDown);
+  }, [
+    expanded,
+    hasFile,
+    muted,
+    nextChapter,
+    onCollapse,
+    onToggleExpanded,
+    prevChapter,
+    rate,
+    setMuted,
+    setRate,
+    setVolume,
+    skip,
+    skipBack,
+    skipForward,
+    togglePlay,
+    videoSessionActive,
+    volume,
+  ]);
+}
diff --git a/web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/useAudiobookPlayback.ts b/web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/useAudiobookPlayback.ts
index c2169260..bb53a1cf 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/useAudiobookPlayback.ts
+++ b/web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/useAudiobookPlayback.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 import { useEffect, useMemo, useRef, useState, useCallback, type RefObject } from "react";
 import { toast } from "sonner";
 import { useReportMediaProgress } from "@/hooks/queries/progress";
+import { buildPlayerChapters, nextChapterStart, prevChapterStart } from "@/lib/audiobooks/chapters";
 import type { AudiobookFile } from "@/lib/audiobooks/types";
+import { getPersistedVolume, persistVolume } from "@/player/components/VolumeControl";
 import { usePlayerConfig } from "@/player/context/PlayerConfigContext";
 import { playerFetch } from "@/player/player-fetch";
 import type { PlaybackRealtimeCommandEnvelope } from "@/player/realtime-protocol";
@@ -9,6 +11,8 @@ import { buildPlayerStreamUrl } from "@/player/stream-url";
 import type { PlaybackSessionResponse, PlayerChapter } from "@/player/types";
 import { usePlaybackRealtime } from "@/player/hooks/usePlaybackRealtime";
 import type { SleepSetting } from "@/player/components/SleepTimerMenu";
+import { smartRewindSeconds } from "./smartRewind";
+import { clampAudiobookRate, getBookRate, setBookRate } from "./useAudiobookPrefs";
 
 const REPORT_INTERVAL_MS = 10_000;
 
@@ -17,6 +21,7 @@ export interface UseAudiobookPlaybackOptions {
   files: AudiobookFile[];
   initialPositionSeconds: number;
   autoPlay?: boolean;
+  smartRewindEnabled?: boolean;
   onStopRequested?: () => void;
 }
 
@@ -31,10 +36,16 @@ export interface AudiobookPlayback {
   rate: number;
   chapters: PlayerChapter[];
   currentChapter: PlayerChapter | null;
+  volume: number;
+  muted: boolean;
   togglePlay: () => void;
   seekTo: (seconds: number) => void;
   skip: (delta: number) => void;
   setRate: (r: number) => void;
+  setVolume: (volume: number) => void;
+  setMuted: (muted: boolean) => void;
+  nextChapter: () => void;
+  prevChapter: () => void;
   sleep: { setting: SleepSetting; remainingMs: number | null };
   setSleep: (next: SleepSetting) => void;
 }
@@ -134,27 +145,6 @@ function absoluteBufferedRanges(
   } as TimeRanges;
 }
 
-function buildPlayerChapters(files: AudiobookFile[]): PlayerChapter[] {
-  const out: PlayerChapter[] = [];
-  let offset = 0;
-  let nextIndex = 0;
-  for (const file of files) {
-    for (const chapter of file.chapters ?? []) {
-      const start = offset + chapter.start_seconds;
-      const end = offset + (chapter.end_seconds || chapter.start_seconds);
-      out.push({
-        index: nextIndex++,
-        title: chapter.title || `Chapter ${chapter.index + 1}`,
-        start_seconds: start,
-        end_seconds: end > start ? end : start + 1,
-        source: chapter.source || "embedded",
-      });
-    }
-    offset += file.duration_seconds ?? 0;
-  }
-  return out;
-}
-
 function readNumericPayload(
   payload: Record<string, unknown> | undefined,
   ...keys: string[]
@@ -184,6 +174,7 @@ export function useAudiobookPlayback({
   files,
   initialPositionSeconds,
   autoPlay = true,
+  smartRewindEnabled = true,
   onStopRequested,
 }: UseAudiobookPlaybackOptions): AudiobookPlayback {
   const config = usePlayerConfig();
@@ -199,7 +190,9 @@ export function useAudiobookPlayback({
     clampedBookTime(initialPositionSeconds, duration),
   );
   const [buffered, setBuffered] = useState<TimeRanges | null>(null);
-  const [rate, setRateState] = useState(1);
+  const [rate, setRateState] = useState(() => getBookRate(contentId) ?? 1);
+  const [volume, setVolumeState] = useState(() => getPersistedVolume().volume);
+  const [muted, setMutedState] = useState(() => getPersistedVolume().muted);
   const [sessionState, setSessionState] = useState<AudiobookSessionState>({
     sessionId: null,
     streamUrl: "",
@@ -220,6 +213,9 @@ export function useAudiobookPlayback({
   );
   const playAfterSourceSwitchRef = useRef(false);
   const autoPlayPendingRef = useRef(autoPlay);
+  // Wall-clock time playback last paused, for smart rewind on resume. Cleared
+  // by explicit seeks so a hand-picked position is never second-guessed.
+  const pausedAtRef = useRef<number | null>(null);
 
   const setAbsoluteTime = useCallback(
     (seconds: number) => {
@@ -418,6 +414,7 @@ export function useAudiobookPlayback({
       reportSessionRef.current(absoluteFromAudio(), false);
     };
     const onPause = () => {
+      pausedAtRef.current = performance.now();
       setPlaying(false);
       reportRef.current(absoluteFromAudio());
     };
@@ -486,6 +483,15 @@ export function useAudiobookPlayback({
     return () => window.clearInterval(id);
   }, [playing]);
 
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const audio = audioRef.current;
+    if (!audio) return;
+    audio.volume = volume;
+    audio.muted = muted;
+    // sessionState.streamUrl keeps this in the deps so a freshly mounted
+    // element picks the persisted values up before playback starts.
+  }, [muted, sessionState.streamUrl, volume]);
+
   useEffect(() => {
     const audio = audioRef.current;
     return () => {
@@ -496,18 +502,9 @@ export function useAudiobookPlayback({
     };
   }, []);
 
-  const togglePlay = useCallback(() => {
-    const audio = audioRef.current;
-    if (!audio) return;
-    if (audio.paused) {
-      audio.play().catch((err) => console.error("audiobook play failed", err));
-    } else {
-      audio.pause();
-    }
-  }, []);
-
   const seekTo = useCallback(
     (seconds: number) => {
+      pausedAtRef.current = null;
       const target = clampedBookTime(seconds, duration);
       const nextIndex = findPartIndex(parts, target);
       const nextPart = parts[nextIndex];
@@ -531,6 +528,38 @@ export function useAudiobookPlayback({
     [activeFileIndex, duration, parts, playing],
   );
 
+  const resumePlayback = useCallback(() => {
+    const audio = audioRef.current;
+    if (!audio) return;
+    const pausedAtMs = pausedAtRef.current;
+    pausedAtRef.current = null;
+    if (smartRewindEnabled && pausedAtMs != null) {
+      const rewind = smartRewindSeconds(performance.now() - pausedAtMs);
+      if (rewind > 0) {
+        const target = clampedBookTime(currentTimeRef.current - rewind, duration);
+        const targetIndex = findPartIndex(parts, target);
+        seekTo(target);
+        if (targetIndex !== activeFileIndex) {
+          // The rewind crossed a file boundary; playback resumes once the new
+          // source is ready instead of racing the source switch.
+          playAfterSourceSwitchRef.current = true;
+          return;
+        }
+      }
+    }
+    audio.play().catch((err) => console.error("audiobook play failed", err));
+  }, [activeFileIndex, duration, parts, seekTo, smartRewindEnabled]);
+
+  const togglePlay = useCallback(() => {
+    const audio = audioRef.current;
+    if (!audio) return;
+    if (audio.paused) {
+      resumePlayback();
+    } else {
+      audio.pause();
+    }
+  }, [resumePlayback]);
+
   const skip = useCallback(
     (delta: number) => {
       seekTo(currentTimeRef.current + delta);
@@ -538,10 +567,32 @@ export function useAudiobookPlayback({
     [seekTo],
   );
 
-  const setRate = useCallback((nextRate: number) => {
-    setRateState(nextRate);
-    if (audioRef.current) audioRef.current.playbackRate = nextRate;
-  }, []);
+  const setRate = useCallback(
+    (nextRate: number) => {
+      const clamped = clampAudiobookRate(nextRate);
+      setRateState(clamped);
+      setBookRate(contentId, clamped);
+      if (audioRef.current) audioRef.current.playbackRate = clamped;
+    },
+    [contentId],
+  );
+
+  const setVolume = useCallback(
+    (next: number) => {
+      const clamped = Math.min(1, Math.max(0, Number.isFinite(next) ? next : 1));
+      setVolumeState(clamped);
+      persistVolume(clamped, muted);
+    },
+    [muted],
+  );
+
+  const setMuted = useCallback(
+    (next: boolean) => {
+      setMutedState(next);
+      persistVolume(volume, next);
+    },
+    [volume],
+  );
 
   const executeRealtimeCommand = useCallback(
     async (command: PlaybackRealtimeCommandEnvelope) => {
@@ -553,12 +604,12 @@ export function useAudiobookPlayback({
           return;
         case "unpause":
           if (!audio) return;
-          await audio.play();
+          resumePlayback();
           return;
         case "play_pause":
           if (!audio) return;
           if (audio.paused) {
-            await audio.play();
+            resumePlayback();
           } else {
             audio.pause();
           }
@@ -577,13 +628,13 @@ export function useAudiobookPlayback({
           return;
         }
         case "set_volume": {
-          const volume = readNumericPayload(command.payload, "volume", "level");
-          if (volume === null || !audio) {
+          const nextVolume = readNumericPayload(command.payload, "volume", "level");
+          if (nextVolume === null || !audio) {
             throw new Error("missing_volume");
           }
-          audio.volume = Math.min(1, Math.max(0, volume));
-          if (audio.volume > 0 && audio.muted) {
-            audio.muted = false;
+          setVolume(nextVolume);
+          if (nextVolume > 0) {
+            setMuted(false);
           }
           return;
         }
@@ -614,7 +665,7 @@ export function useAudiobookPlayback({
           throw new Error("unsupported");
       }
     },
-    [onStopRequested, seekTo],
+    [onStopRequested, resumePlayback, seekTo, setMuted, setVolume],
   );
 
   usePlaybackRealtime({
@@ -633,6 +684,16 @@ export function useAudiobookPlayback({
     return chapters[0] ?? null;
   }, [chapters, currentTime]);
 
+  const nextChapter = useCallback(() => {
+    const target = nextChapterStart(chapters, currentChapter);
+    if (target != null) seekTo(target);
+  }, [chapters, currentChapter, seekTo]);
+
+  const prevChapter = useCallback(() => {
+    const target = prevChapterStart(chapters, currentChapter, currentTimeRef.current);
+    if (target != null) seekTo(target);
+  }, [chapters, currentChapter, seekTo]);
+
   const [sleepSetting, setSleepSetting] = useState<SleepSetting>({ kind: "off" });
   const [sleepTargetMs, setSleepTargetMs] = useState<number | null>(null);
   const [sleepChapterEndSeconds, setSleepChapterEndSeconds] = useState<number | null>(null);
@@ -697,10 +758,16 @@ export function useAudiobookPlayback({
     rate,
     chapters,
     currentChapter,
+    volume,
+    muted,
     togglePlay,
     seekTo,
     skip,
     setRate,
+    setVolume,
+    setMuted,
+    nextChapter,
+    prevChapter,
     sleep: { setting: sleepSetting, remainingMs: sleepRemainingMs },
     setSleep,
   };
diff --git a/web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/useAudiobookPrefs.test.ts b/web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/useAudiobookPrefs.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f90d16e0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/useAudiobookPrefs.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,116 @@
+import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+import { storage } from "@/utils/storage";
+import {
+  clampAudiobookRate,
+  getAudiobookSkipBack,
+  getAudiobookSkipForward,
+  getAudiobookSmartRewind,
+  getBookRate,
+  setBookRate,
+} from "./useAudiobookPrefs";
+
+beforeEach(() => {
+  // The vitest jsdom environment ships a non-functional localStorage; install
+  // an in-memory one per test, matching the convention in api/client.test.ts.
+  const state = new Map<string, string>();
+  Object.defineProperty(globalThis, "localStorage", {
+    value: {
+      get length() {
+        return state.size;
+      },
+      getItem: (key: string) => state.get(key) ?? null,
+      key: (index: number) => Array.from(state.keys())[index] ?? null,
+      setItem: (key: string, value: string) => {
+        state.set(key, value);
+      },
+      removeItem: (key: string) => {
+        state.delete(key);
+      },
+      clear: () => {
+        state.clear();
+      },
+    } satisfies Storage,
+    configurable: true,
+  });
+});
+
+describe("skip interval prefs", () => {
+  it("returns asymmetric defaults", () => {
+    expect(getAudiobookSkipBack()).toBe(10);
+    expect(getAudiobookSkipForward()).toBe(30);
+  });
+
+  it("reads persisted values", () => {
+    storage.set(storage.KEYS.AUDIOBOOK_SKIP_BACK, "15");
+    storage.set(storage.KEYS.AUDIOBOOK_SKIP_FORWARD, "60");
+    expect(getAudiobookSkipBack()).toBe(15);
+    expect(getAudiobookSkipForward()).toBe(60);
+  });
+
+  it("falls back to defaults for values outside the allowed set", () => {
+    storage.set(storage.KEYS.AUDIOBOOK_SKIP_BACK, "7");
+    storage.set(storage.KEYS.AUDIOBOOK_SKIP_FORWARD, "garbage");
+    expect(getAudiobookSkipBack()).toBe(10);
+    expect(getAudiobookSkipForward()).toBe(30);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("smart rewind pref", () => {
+  it("defaults to enabled", () => {
+    expect(getAudiobookSmartRewind()).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it("only an explicit false disables it", () => {
+    storage.set(storage.KEYS.AUDIOBOOK_SMART_REWIND, "false");
+    expect(getAudiobookSmartRewind()).toBe(false);
+    storage.set(storage.KEYS.AUDIOBOOK_SMART_REWIND, "true");
+    expect(getAudiobookSmartRewind()).toBe(true);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("clampAudiobookRate", () => {
+  it("clamps to the supported range", () => {
+    expect(clampAudiobookRate(0.1)).toBe(0.5);
+    expect(clampAudiobookRate(9)).toBe(3);
+  });
+
+  it("snaps to the 0.05 grid without float drift", () => {
+    expect(clampAudiobookRate(1.2500000000003)).toBe(1.25);
+    expect(clampAudiobookRate(1.23)).toBe(1.25);
+  });
+
+  it("treats invalid input as 1x", () => {
+    expect(clampAudiobookRate(NaN)).toBe(1);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("per-book rate memory", () => {
+  it("round-trips a rate per book", () => {
+    expect(getBookRate("book-a")).toBeNull();
+    setBookRate("book-a", 1.5);
+    setBookRate("book-b", 2);
+    expect(getBookRate("book-a")).toBe(1.5);
+    expect(getBookRate("book-b")).toBe(2);
+  });
+
+  it("evicts the oldest entries beyond the cap", () => {
+    const now = vi.spyOn(Date, "now");
+    for (let i = 0; i < 55; i++) {
+      // Distinct timestamps make eviction order deterministic.
+      now.mockReturnValue(1_000_000 + i);
+      setBookRate(`book-${i}`, 1.25);
+    }
+    now.mockRestore();
+    expect(getBookRate("book-0")).toBeNull();
+    expect(getBookRate("book-4")).toBeNull();
+    expect(getBookRate("book-5")).toBe(1.25);
+    expect(getBookRate("book-54")).toBe(1.25);
+  });
+
+  it("tolerates malformed stored JSON", () => {
+    storage.set(storage.KEYS.AUDIOBOOK_RATES, "{not json");
+    expect(getBookRate("book-a")).toBeNull();
+    setBookRate("book-a", 1.75);
+    expect(getBookRate("book-a")).toBe(1.75);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/useAudiobookPrefs.ts b/web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/useAudiobookPrefs.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e1c79f49
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/src/pages/audiobooks/player/useAudiobookPrefs.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,129 @@
+import { useCallback, useState } from "react";
+import { storage } from "@/utils/storage";
+
+export const SKIP_INTERVAL_CHOICES = [5, 10, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90] as const;
+export const DEFAULT_SKIP_BACK_SECONDS = 10;
+export const DEFAULT_SKIP_FORWARD_SECONDS = 30;
+
+export const AUDIOBOOK_RATE_MIN = 0.5;
+export const AUDIOBOOK_RATE_MAX = 3;
+export const AUDIOBOOK_RATE_STEP = 0.05;
+export const AUDIOBOOK_RATE_PRESETS = [1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2, 2.5, 3] as const;
+
+export function clampAudiobookRate(rate: number): number {
+  if (!Number.isFinite(rate)) return 1;
+  const clamped = Math.min(AUDIOBOOK_RATE_MAX, Math.max(AUDIOBOOK_RATE_MIN, rate));
+  // Snap to the step grid so repeated +/- stepping never accumulates float drift.
+  return Number((Math.round(clamped / AUDIOBOOK_RATE_STEP) * AUDIOBOOK_RATE_STEP).toFixed(2));
+}
+
+type SkipKey = typeof storage.KEYS.AUDIOBOOK_SKIP_BACK | typeof storage.KEYS.AUDIOBOOK_SKIP_FORWARD;
+
+function readSkipSeconds(key: SkipKey, fallback: number): number {
+  const raw = storage.get(key);
+  const value = raw == null ? NaN : Number(raw);
+  return (SKIP_INTERVAL_CHOICES as readonly number[]).includes(value) ? value : fallback;
+}
+
+export function getAudiobookSkipBack(): number {
+  return readSkipSeconds(storage.KEYS.AUDIOBOOK_SKIP_BACK, DEFAULT_SKIP_BACK_SECONDS);
+}
+
+export function getAudiobookSkipForward(): number {
+  return readSkipSeconds(storage.KEYS.AUDIOBOOK_SKIP_FORWARD, DEFAULT_SKIP_FORWARD_SECONDS);
+}
+
+/** Smart rewind defaults to on; only an explicit "false" disables it. */
+export function getAudiobookSmartRewind(): boolean {
+  return storage.get(storage.KEYS.AUDIOBOOK_SMART_REWIND) !== "false";
+}
+
+export interface AudiobookPrefs {
+  skipBack: number;
+  skipForward: number;
+  smartRewind: boolean;
+  setSkipBack: (seconds: number) => void;
+  setSkipForward: (seconds: number) => void;
+  setSmartRewind: (enabled: boolean) => void;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Device-local audiobook player preferences. Instantiate once per player
+ * (in AudiobookPlayer) and pass down — multiple instances do not observe each
+ * other's changes within a render lifetime.
+ */
+export function useAudiobookPrefs(): AudiobookPrefs {
+  const [skipBack, setSkipBackState] = useState(getAudiobookSkipBack);
+  const [skipForward, setSkipForwardState] = useState(getAudiobookSkipForward);
+  const [smartRewind, setSmartRewindState] = useState(getAudiobookSmartRewind);
+
+  const setSkipBack = useCallback((seconds: number) => {
+    setSkipBackState(seconds);
+    storage.set(storage.KEYS.AUDIOBOOK_SKIP_BACK, String(seconds));
+  }, []);
+
+  const setSkipForward = useCallback((seconds: number) => {
+    setSkipForwardState(seconds);
+    storage.set(storage.KEYS.AUDIOBOOK_SKIP_FORWARD, String(seconds));
+  }, []);
+
+  const setSmartRewind = useCallback((enabled: boolean) => {
+    setSmartRewindState(enabled);
+    storage.set(storage.KEYS.AUDIOBOOK_SMART_REWIND, String(enabled));
+  }, []);
+
+  return { skipBack, skipForward, smartRewind, setSkipBack, setSkipForward, setSmartRewind };
+}
+
+// --- Per-book playback rate memory -----------------------------------------
+
+const MAX_REMEMBERED_BOOK_RATES = 50;
+
+interface StoredBookRate {
+  rate: number;
+  at: number;
+}
+
+function readBookRates(): Record<string, StoredBookRate> {
+  const raw = storage.get(storage.KEYS.AUDIOBOOK_RATES);
+  if (!raw) return {};
+  try {
+    const parsed: unknown = JSON.parse(raw);
+    if (typeof parsed !== "object" || parsed === null || Array.isArray(parsed)) return {};
+    const out: Record<string, StoredBookRate> = {};
+    for (const [key, value] of Object.entries(parsed)) {
+      const entry = value as Partial<StoredBookRate> | null;
+      if (
+        entry &&
+        typeof entry.rate === "number" &&
+        Number.isFinite(entry.rate) &&
+        typeof entry.at === "number"
+      ) {
+        out[key] = { rate: entry.rate, at: entry.at };
+      }
+    }
+    return out;
+  } catch {
+    return {};
+  }
+}
+
+/** Last playback rate used for this book, or null if never adjusted. */
+export function getBookRate(contentId: string): number | null {
+  const entry = readBookRates()[contentId];
+  return entry ? clampAudiobookRate(entry.rate) : null;
+}
+
+/** Remember the playback rate for this book (LRU-capped). */
+export function setBookRate(contentId: string, rate: number): void {
+  const rates = readBookRates();
+  rates[contentId] = { rate: clampAudiobookRate(rate), at: Date.now() };
+  const entries = Object.entries(rates);
+  if (entries.length > MAX_REMEMBERED_BOOK_RATES) {
+    entries
+      .sort((a, b) => a[1].at - b[1].at)
+      .slice(0, entries.length - MAX_REMEMBERED_BOOK_RATES)
+      .forEach(([key]) => delete rates[key]);
+  }
+  storage.set(storage.KEYS.AUDIOBOOK_RATES, JSON.stringify(rates));
+}
diff --git a/web/src/player/components/CircleButton.tsx b/web/src/player/components/CircleButton.tsx
index 9a0d0b51..2b47d622 100644
--- a/web/src/player/components/CircleButton.tsx
+++ b/web/src/player/components/CircleButton.tsx
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ export type CircleButtonProps = {
   onClick?: () => void;
   disabled?: boolean;
   children: React.ReactNode;
+  className?: string;
+  title?: string;
   "data-paused"?: boolean;
 };
 
@@ -22,6 +24,8 @@ export function CircleButton({
   onClick,
   disabled,
   children,
+  className,
+  title,
   "data-paused": dataPaused,
 }: CircleButtonProps) {
   const base =
@@ -37,9 +41,10 @@ export function CircleButton({
     <button
       type="button"
       aria-label={ariaLabel}
+      title={title}
       onClick={onClick}
       disabled={disabled}
-      className={`${base} ${sizing} ${skin}`}
+      className={`${base} ${sizing} ${skin}${className ? ` ${className}` : ""}`}
       data-paused={dataPaused ? "true" : undefined}
     >
       {children}
diff --git a/web/src/player/components/VolumeControl.tsx b/web/src/player/components/VolumeControl.tsx
index 06c9087e..2c6b98c5 100644
--- a/web/src/player/components/VolumeControl.tsx
+++ b/web/src/player/components/VolumeControl.tsx
@@ -23,6 +23,12 @@ interface VolumeControlProps {
   muted: boolean;
   onVolumeChange: (volume: number) => void;
   onMutedChange: (muted: boolean) => void;
+  /**
+   * "overlay" (default) is the white-on-dark video HUD styling; "surface"
+   * uses theme tokens for placement on regular app surfaces like the
+   * audiobook mini bar.
+   */
+  tone?: "overlay" | "surface";
 }
 
 export function VolumeControl({
@@ -30,6 +36,7 @@ export function VolumeControl({
   muted,
   onVolumeChange,
   onMutedChange,
+  tone = "overlay",
 }: VolumeControlProps) {
   const sliderRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
 
@@ -133,6 +140,17 @@ export function VolumeControl({
     [volume, muted, onVolumeChange, onMutedChange],
   );
 
+  const surface = tone === "surface";
+  const buttonClass = surface
+    ? "text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground hover:bg-muted inline-flex h-9 w-9 items-center justify-center rounded-full transition-colors"
+    : "player-utility-btn";
+  const sliderFocusClass = surface ? "focus-visible:ring-ring" : "focus-visible:ring-white/70";
+  const trackClass = surface ? "bg-muted" : "bg-white/15";
+  const fillClass = surface
+    ? "bg-foreground"
+    : "bg-white shadow-[0_0_8px_-1px_rgb(255_255_255/0.35)]";
+  const thumbClass = surface ? "bg-foreground ring-border" : "bg-white ring-black/10";
+
   return (
     // Scroll-wheel still adjusts volume from anywhere in the group, but the
     // mute button and slider are now fully independent items — nothing shifts
@@ -140,9 +158,10 @@ export function VolumeControl({
     <div className="group/vol flex items-center gap-2" onWheel={handleWheel}>
       <button
         type="button"
-        className="player-utility-btn"
+        className={buttonClass}
         onClick={() => onMutedChange(!muted)}
         aria-label={muted ? "Unmute" : "Mute"}
+        title={muted ? "Unmute (M)" : "Mute (M)"}
         data-active={muted || volume === 0 ? "false" : undefined}
       >
         {muted || volume === 0 ? (
@@ -164,18 +183,20 @@ export function VolumeControl({
         aria-valuemax={100}
         aria-valuenow={Math.round(displayVolume * 100)}
         aria-valuetext={`Volume ${Math.round(displayVolume * 100)}%`}
-        className="group/vol-slider relative flex h-6 w-24 cursor-pointer touch-none items-center rounded-full focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-white/70 focus-visible:outline-none"
+        className={`group/vol-slider relative flex h-6 w-24 cursor-pointer touch-none items-center rounded-full focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:outline-none ${sliderFocusClass}`}
         onMouseDown={handleMouseDown}
         onTouchStart={handleTouchStart}
         onKeyDown={handleKeyDown}
       >
-        <div className="relative h-[3px] w-full rounded-full bg-white/15 transition-[height] duration-150 ease-out group-hover/vol-slider:h-[5px]">
+        <div
+          className={`relative h-[3px] w-full rounded-full transition-[height] duration-150 ease-out group-hover/vol-slider:h-[5px] ${trackClass}`}
+        >
           <div
-            className="absolute inset-y-0 left-0 rounded-full bg-white shadow-[0_0_8px_-1px_rgb(255_255_255/0.35)]"
+            className={`absolute inset-y-0 left-0 rounded-full ${fillClass}`}
             style={{ width: `${displayVolume * 100}%` }}
           />
           <div
-            className="absolute top-1/2 h-3 w-3 -translate-x-1/2 -translate-y-1/2 rounded-full bg-white opacity-0 shadow-[0_2px_8px_rgb(0_0_0/0.5)] ring-1 ring-black/10 transition-opacity duration-150 group-hover/vol-slider:opacity-100"
+            className={`absolute top-1/2 h-3 w-3 -translate-x-1/2 -translate-y-1/2 rounded-full opacity-0 shadow-[0_2px_8px_rgb(0_0_0/0.5)] ring-1 transition-opacity duration-150 group-hover/vol-slider:opacity-100 ${thumbClass}`}
             style={{ left: `${displayVolume * 100}%` }}
           />
         </div>
diff --git a/web/src/utils/storage.ts b/web/src/utils/storage.ts
index 6241a32f..8f8ee29b 100644
--- a/web/src/utils/storage.ts
+++ b/web/src/utils/storage.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,10 @@ const STORAGE_KEYS = {
   DEVICE_ID: "silo-device-id",
   VOLUME: "player-volume",
   MUTED: "player-muted",
+  AUDIOBOOK_SKIP_BACK: "audiobook-skip-back",
+  AUDIOBOOK_SKIP_FORWARD: "audiobook-skip-forward",
+  AUDIOBOOK_SMART_REWIND: "audiobook-smart-rewind",
+  AUDIOBOOK_RATES: "audiobook-rates",
   THEME: "silo-theme",
   UI_TEXT_SCALE: "silo-ui-text-scale",
   UI_TEXT_WEIGHT: "silo-ui-text-weight",