fix: surface streamed load failures inline

The streamed loaders on bookmarks, collections, library, search, and the
collection detail page swallowed only ApiError into their in-band `error`
field and re-threw anything else. A raw network failure (a non-ApiError
TypeError from fetch) therefore escaped the `{#await}` to SvelteKit's
generic error page. On the collection detail page a content-load failure
showed a misleading "this collection is empty", and on search a failed
results query showed a false "no matches" because the streamed `error`
was never rendered.

Fold non-ApiError failures into the same in-band `error` so every
transient blip renders as an inline message, add a `contentError` branch
to the collection detail grid, and render the search results `error` in
both result views.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>

backend/Cargo.lock

@@ -1558,7 +1558,7 @@ checksum = "c41e0c4fef86961ac6d6f8a82609f55f31b05e4fce149ac5710e439df7619ba4"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "mangalord"
-version = "0.109.1"
+version = "0.122.1"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "argon2",

backend/Cargo.toml

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name = "mangalord"
-version = "0.109.1"
+version = "0.122.1"
 edition = "2021"
 default-run = "mangalord"
 

frontend/e2e/author-page.spec.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+import { test, expect, type Page } from './fixtures';
+
+// The author page streams its manga grid: the cheap author header renders
+// immediately while the (potentially large) grid shows a skeleton, then swaps
+// in without a layout shift.
+
+const authorId = 'a1111111-1111-1111-1111-111111111111';
+
+async function mockCommon(page: Page) {
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/auth/config', (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({
+            status: 200,
+            contentType: 'application/json',
+            body: JSON.stringify({ self_register_enabled: true, private_mode: false })
+        })
+    );
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/auth/me', (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({ status: 401, contentType: 'application/json', body: '{"error":{"code":"x","message":"x"}}' })
+    );
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/auth/me/preferences', (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({ status: 401, contentType: 'application/json', body: '{"error":{"code":"x","message":"x"}}' })
+    );
+    await page.route(`**/api/v1/authors/${authorId}`, (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({
+            status: 200,
+            contentType: 'application/json',
+            body: JSON.stringify({ id: authorId, name: 'Kentaro Miura', manga_count: 1 })
+        })
+    );
+}
+
+test('shows a grid skeleton while the author mangas stream, then the grid', async ({ page }) => {
+    await mockCommon(page);
+
+    let release: () => void = () => {};
+    const gate = new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
+        release = resolve;
+    });
+    await page.route(`**/api/v1/authors/${authorId}/mangas*`, async (route) => {
+        await gate;
+        await route.fulfill({
+            status: 200,
+            contentType: 'application/json',
+            body: JSON.stringify({
+                items: [
+                    {
+                        id: 'm1', title: 'Berserk', status: 'ongoing', alt_titles: [], description: null,
+                        cover_image_path: null, created_at: '2026-01-01T00:00:00Z', updated_at: '2026-01-01T00:00:00Z'
+                    }
+                ],
+                page: { limit: 50, offset: 0, total: 1 }
+            })
+        });
+    });
+
+    await page.goto(`/authors/${authorId}`);
+    // Header renders immediately (not blocked on the grid).
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('author-name')).toHaveText('Kentaro Miura');
+    // Grid skeleton stands in while the stream is pending.
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('manga-grid-skeleton')).toBeVisible();
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('author-manga-list')).toHaveCount(0);
+
+    release();
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('author-manga-list')).toContainText('Berserk');
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('manga-grid-skeleton')).toHaveCount(0);
+});

frontend/e2e/bookmarks-skeleton.spec.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+import { test, expect, type Page } from './fixtures';
+
+// The bookmarks page streams its list (the single fetch is also the auth
+// gate), so a row skeleton shows while it loads, then resolves to the list.
+
+async function mockCommon(page: Page) {
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/auth/config', (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({
+            status: 200,
+            contentType: 'application/json',
+            body: JSON.stringify({ self_register_enabled: true, private_mode: false })
+        })
+    );
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/auth/me', (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({
+            status: 200,
+            contentType: 'application/json',
+            body: JSON.stringify({ user: { id: 'u1', username: 'reader', created_at: '2026-01-01T00:00:00Z', is_admin: false } })
+        })
+    );
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/auth/me/preferences', (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({ status: 200, contentType: 'application/json', body: '{}' })
+    );
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/files/**', (r) => r.fulfill({ status: 200, body: '' }));
+}
+
+test('shows a row skeleton while bookmarks stream, then the list', async ({ page }) => {
+    await mockCommon(page);
+
+    let release: () => void = () => {};
+    const gate = new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
+        release = resolve;
+    });
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/me/bookmarks*', async (route) => {
+        await gate;
+        await route.fulfill({
+            status: 200,
+            contentType: 'application/json',
+            body: JSON.stringify({
+                items: [
+                    {
+                        id: 'bk1', user_id: 'u1', manga_id: 'm1', chapter_id: null, page: null,
+                        created_at: '2026-01-01T00:00:00Z', manga_title: 'Berserk', manga_cover_image_path: null
+                    }
+                ],
+                page: { limit: 50, offset: 0, total: 1 }
+            })
+        });
+    });
+
+    await page.goto('/bookmarks');
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('list-row-skeleton')).toBeVisible();
+
+    release();
+    await expect(page.getByText('Berserk')).toBeVisible();
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('list-row-skeleton')).toHaveCount(0);
+});

frontend/e2e/collection-detail-skeleton.spec.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+import { test, expect, type Page } from './fixtures';
+
+// The collection detail page streams its manga/page grids: the header renders
+// immediately while a grid skeleton stands in, then the real grid swaps in.
+
+const collectionId = 'd1111111-1111-1111-1111-111111111111';
+
+async function mockCommon(page: Page) {
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/auth/config', (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({
+            status: 200,
+            contentType: 'application/json',
+            body: JSON.stringify({ self_register_enabled: true, private_mode: false })
+        })
+    );
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/auth/me', (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({
+            status: 200,
+            contentType: 'application/json',
+            body: JSON.stringify({ user: { id: 'u1', username: 'reader', created_at: '2026-01-01T00:00:00Z', is_admin: false } })
+        })
+    );
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/auth/me/preferences', (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({ status: 200, contentType: 'application/json', body: '{}' })
+    );
+    await page.route(`**/api/v1/collections/${collectionId}`, (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({
+            status: 200,
+            contentType: 'application/json',
+            body: JSON.stringify({ id: collectionId, name: 'Favourites', description: null, manga_count: 1 })
+        })
+    );
+    await page.route(`**/api/v1/collections/${collectionId}/pages*`, (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({ status: 200, contentType: 'application/json', body: JSON.stringify({ items: [], page: { limit: 200, offset: 0, total: 0 } }) })
+    );
+}
+
+test('streams a grid skeleton on the collection detail then the manga grid', async ({ page }) => {
+    await mockCommon(page);
+
+    let release: () => void = () => {};
+    const gate = new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
+        release = resolve;
+    });
+    await page.route(`**/api/v1/collections/${collectionId}/mangas*`, async (route) => {
+        await gate;
+        await route.fulfill({
+            status: 200,
+            contentType: 'application/json',
+            body: JSON.stringify({
+                items: [
+                    { id: 'm1', title: 'Berserk', status: 'ongoing', alt_titles: [], description: null, cover_image_path: null, created_at: '2026-01-01T00:00:00Z', updated_at: '2026-01-01T00:00:00Z' }
+                ],
+                page: { limit: 200, offset: 0, total: 1 }
+            })
+        });
+    });
+
+    await page.goto(`/collections/${collectionId}`);
+    await expect(page.getByRole('heading', { name: 'Favourites' })).toBeVisible();
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('manga-grid-skeleton')).toBeVisible();
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('collection-manga-list')).toHaveCount(0);
+
+    release();
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('collection-manga-list')).toContainText('Berserk');
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('manga-grid-skeleton')).toHaveCount(0);
+});

frontend/e2e/detail-bookmark.spec.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,115 @@
+import { test, expect, type Page } from './fixtures';
+
+// The detail-page bookmark toggle should feel instant (optimistic) and never
+// fail silently: a rejected create/delete must roll the button back and
+// surface a toast.
+
+const mangaId = 'b1111111-1111-1111-1111-111111111111';
+
+async function mockDetail(page: Page) {
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/auth/config', (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({
+            status: 200,
+            contentType: 'application/json',
+            body: JSON.stringify({ self_register_enabled: true, private_mode: false })
+        })
+    );
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/auth/me', (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({
+            status: 200,
+            contentType: 'application/json',
+            body: JSON.stringify({
+                user: { id: 'u1', username: 'reader', created_at: '2026-01-01T00:00:00Z', is_admin: false }
+            })
+        })
+    );
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/auth/me/preferences', (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({ status: 200, contentType: 'application/json', body: '{}' })
+    );
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/me/bookmarks*', (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({
+            status: 200,
+            contentType: 'application/json',
+            body: JSON.stringify({ items: [], page: { limit: 50, offset: 0, total: 0 } })
+        })
+    );
+    await page.route(`**/api/v1/mangas/${mangaId}/chapters*`, (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({
+            status: 200,
+            contentType: 'application/json',
+            body: JSON.stringify({ items: [], page: { limit: 50, offset: 0, total: 0 } })
+        })
+    );
+    await page.route(`**/api/v1/mangas/${mangaId}/similar`, (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({ status: 200, contentType: 'application/json', body: JSON.stringify({ items: [] }) })
+    );
+    await page.route(`**/api/v1/me/read-progress/${mangaId}`, (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({ status: 404, contentType: 'application/json', body: '{"error":{"code":"x","message":"x"}}' })
+    );
+    await page.route(`**/api/v1/me/reactions/${mangaId}`, (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({ status: 404, contentType: 'application/json', body: '{"error":{"code":"x","message":"x"}}' })
+    );
+    await page.route(`**/api/v1/mangas/${mangaId}`, (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({
+            status: 200,
+            contentType: 'application/json',
+            body: JSON.stringify({
+                id: mangaId, title: 'Berserk', status: 'ongoing', alt_titles: [], description: null,
+                cover_image_path: null, created_at: '2026-01-01T00:00:00Z', updated_at: '2026-01-01T00:00:00Z',
+                authors: [], genres: [], tags: [], content_warnings: [], chapter_storage_bytes: 0
+            })
+        })
+    );
+}
+
+test('bookmark toggles optimistically before the request resolves', async ({ page }) => {
+    await mockDetail(page);
+
+    // Hold the create request open so we can observe the pre-response state.
+    let release: () => void = () => {};
+    const gate = new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
+        release = resolve;
+    });
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/bookmarks', async (route) => {
+        await gate;
+        await route.fulfill({
+            status: 200,
+            contentType: 'application/json',
+            body: JSON.stringify({
+                id: 'bk1', user_id: 'u1', manga_id: mangaId, chapter_id: null, page: null,
+                created_at: '2026-01-01T00:00:00Z'
+            })
+        });
+    });
+
+    await page.goto(`/manga/${mangaId}`);
+    const btn = page.getByTestId('bookmark-toggle');
+    await expect(btn).toHaveAttribute('aria-pressed', 'false');
+
+    await btn.click();
+    // Optimistic: reflects bookmarked state while the POST is still pending.
+    await expect(btn).toHaveAttribute('aria-pressed', 'true');
+
+    release();
+    // Stays bookmarked once the server confirms.
+    await expect(btn).toHaveAttribute('aria-pressed', 'true');
+});
+
+test('a failed bookmark rolls back and shows an error toast', async ({ page }) => {
+    await mockDetail(page);
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/bookmarks', (route) =>
+        route.fulfill({
+            status: 500,
+            contentType: 'application/json',
+            body: JSON.stringify({ error: { code: 'internal', message: 'boom' } })
+        })
+    );
+
+    await page.goto(`/manga/${mangaId}`);
+    const btn = page.getByTestId('bookmark-toggle');
+    await btn.click();
+
+    // Rolls back to un-bookmarked, and the failure is surfaced (not silent).
+    await expect(btn).toHaveAttribute('aria-pressed', 'false');
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('toast')).toBeVisible();
+});

frontend/e2e/detail-cta-preload.spec.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+import { test, expect, type Page } from './fixtures';
+
+// The detail page's Continue/Read CTA is the highest-intent link to the
+// heaviest route in the app. It should be programmatically preloaded so the
+// reader's data (and first page images) are warm before the tap — proven here
+// by the reader-only chapter-pages endpoint being requested on the detail page
+// without any click.
+
+const mangaId = 'c1111111-1111-1111-1111-111111111111';
+const chId = 'cc111111-1111-1111-1111-111111111111';
+
+async function mockDetailAndReader(page: Page) {
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/auth/config', (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({
+            status: 200,
+            contentType: 'application/json',
+            body: JSON.stringify({ self_register_enabled: true, private_mode: false })
+        })
+    );
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/auth/me', (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({ status: 401, contentType: 'application/json', body: '{"error":{"code":"x","message":"x"}}' })
+    );
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/auth/me/preferences', (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({ status: 401, contentType: 'application/json', body: '{"error":{"code":"x","message":"x"}}' })
+    );
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/me/bookmarks*', (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({ status: 200, contentType: 'application/json', body: JSON.stringify({ items: [], page: { limit: 50, offset: 0, total: 0 } }) })
+    );
+    await page.route(`**/api/v1/me/read-progress/${mangaId}`, (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({ status: 404, contentType: 'application/json', body: '{"error":{"code":"x","message":"x"}}' })
+    );
+    await page.route(`**/api/v1/me/reactions/${mangaId}`, (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({ status: 404, contentType: 'application/json', body: '{"error":{"code":"x","message":"x"}}' })
+    );
+    await page.route(`**/api/v1/mangas/${mangaId}/similar`, (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({ status: 200, contentType: 'application/json', body: JSON.stringify({ items: [] }) })
+    );
+    // Chapter list (detail + reader both use this).
+    const chapters = [
+        { id: chId, manga_id: mangaId, number: 1, title: null, page_count: 3, created_at: '2026-01-01T00:00:00Z' }
+    ];
+    await page.route(`**/api/v1/mangas/${mangaId}/chapters*`, (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({ status: 200, contentType: 'application/json', body: JSON.stringify({ items: chapters, page: { limit: 200, offset: 0, total: 1 } }) })
+    );
+    // Single-chapter fetch (reader only).
+    await page.route(`**/api/v1/mangas/${mangaId}/chapters/${chId}`, (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({ status: 200, contentType: 'application/json', body: JSON.stringify(chapters[0]) })
+    );
+    await page.route(`**/api/v1/mangas/${mangaId}`, (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({
+            status: 200,
+            contentType: 'application/json',
+            body: JSON.stringify({
+                id: mangaId, title: 'Berserk', status: 'ongoing', alt_titles: [], description: null,
+                cover_image_path: null, created_at: '2026-01-01T00:00:00Z', updated_at: '2026-01-01T00:00:00Z',
+                authors: [], genres: [], tags: [], content_warnings: [], chapter_storage_bytes: 0
+            })
+        })
+    );
+}
+
+test('programmatically preloads the reader from the detail CTA', async ({ page }) => {
+    await mockDetailAndReader(page);
+
+    // The chapter-pages endpoint is fetched only by the reader's load.
+    let pagesRequested: () => void = () => {};
+    const pagesHit = new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
+        pagesRequested = resolve;
+    });
+    await page.route(`**/api/v1/mangas/${mangaId}/chapters/${chId}/pages`, (route) => {
+        pagesRequested();
+        return route.fulfill({
+            status: 200,
+            contentType: 'application/json',
+            body: JSON.stringify({ pages: [{ id: 'p1', number: 1, image_path: 'x', width: null, height: null }] })
+        });
+    });
+
+    await page.goto(`/manga/${mangaId}`);
+    // Detail rendered (so ctaTarget is resolved to the first chapter).
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('manga-title')).toHaveText('Berserk');
+
+    // Preload fires the reader load (hence the pages endpoint) without a click.
+    await expect(pagesHit).resolves.toBeUndefined();
+});

frontend/e2e/detail-skeleton.spec.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+import { test, expect, type Page } from './fixtures';
+
+// The manga detail page streams its data bundle: a MangaDetailSkeleton shows
+// while the six calls load, then DetailView swaps in. A missing manga (404)
+// resolves to an inline not-found instead of the happy-path markup.
+
+const mangaId = 'f1111111-1111-1111-1111-111111111111';
+
+async function mockCommon(page: Page) {
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/auth/config', (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({
+            status: 200,
+            contentType: 'application/json',
+            body: JSON.stringify({ self_register_enabled: true, private_mode: false })
+        })
+    );
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/auth/me', (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({ status: 401, contentType: 'application/json', body: '{"error":{"code":"x","message":"x"}}' })
+    );
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/auth/me/preferences', (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({ status: 401, contentType: 'application/json', body: '{"error":{"code":"x","message":"x"}}' })
+    );
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/me/bookmarks*', (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({ status: 200, contentType: 'application/json', body: JSON.stringify({ items: [], page: { limit: 50, offset: 0, total: 0 } }) })
+    );
+    await page.route(`**/api/v1/mangas/${mangaId}/chapters*`, (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({ status: 200, contentType: 'application/json', body: JSON.stringify({ items: [], page: { limit: 50, offset: 0, total: 0 } }) })
+    );
+    await page.route(`**/api/v1/mangas/${mangaId}/similar`, (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({ status: 200, contentType: 'application/json', body: JSON.stringify({ items: [] }) })
+    );
+    await page.route(`**/api/v1/me/read-progress/${mangaId}`, (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({ status: 404, contentType: 'application/json', body: '{"error":{"code":"x","message":"x"}}' })
+    );
+    await page.route(`**/api/v1/me/reactions/${mangaId}`, (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({ status: 404, contentType: 'application/json', body: '{"error":{"code":"x","message":"x"}}' })
+    );
+}
+
+test('shows a detail skeleton while the bundle streams, then the page', async ({ page }) => {
+    await mockCommon(page);
+
+    let release: () => void = () => {};
+    const gate = new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
+        release = resolve;
+    });
+    await page.route(`**/api/v1/mangas/${mangaId}`, async (route) => {
+        await gate;
+        await route.fulfill({
+            status: 200,
+            contentType: 'application/json',
+            body: JSON.stringify({
+                id: mangaId, title: 'Berserk', status: 'ongoing', alt_titles: [], description: null,
+                cover_image_path: null, created_at: '2026-01-01T00:00:00Z', updated_at: '2026-01-01T00:00:00Z',
+                authors: [], genres: [], tags: [], content_warnings: [], chapter_storage_bytes: 0
+            })
+        });
+    });
+
+    await page.goto(`/manga/${mangaId}`);
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('manga-detail-skeleton')).toBeVisible();
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('manga-title')).toHaveCount(0);
+
+    release();
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('manga-title')).toHaveText('Berserk');
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('manga-detail-skeleton')).toHaveCount(0);
+});
+
+test('renders an inline not-found for a missing manga (404)', async ({ page }) => {
+    await mockCommon(page);
+    await page.route(`**/api/v1/mangas/${mangaId}`, (route) =>
+        route.fulfill({ status: 404, contentType: 'application/json', body: JSON.stringify({ error: { code: 'not_found', message: 'no' } }) })
+    );
+
+    await page.goto(`/manga/${mangaId}`);
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('detail-error')).toContainText('Manga not found');
+});

frontend/e2e/detail-tag-add.spec.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+import { test, expect, type Page } from './fixtures';
+
+// Adding a tag on the detail page should feel instant: the chip appears
+// optimistically while the request is in flight, and is reconciled with the
+// server's (normalized) tag on success.
+
+const mangaId = 'e1111111-1111-1111-1111-111111111111';
+
+async function mockDetail(page: Page) {
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/auth/config', (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({
+            status: 200,
+            contentType: 'application/json',
+            body: JSON.stringify({ self_register_enabled: true, private_mode: false })
+        })
+    );
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/auth/me', (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({
+            status: 200,
+            contentType: 'application/json',
+            body: JSON.stringify({ user: { id: 'u1', username: 'reader', created_at: '2026-01-01T00:00:00Z', is_admin: false } })
+        })
+    );
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/auth/me/preferences', (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({ status: 200, contentType: 'application/json', body: '{}' })
+    );
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/me/bookmarks*', (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({ status: 200, contentType: 'application/json', body: JSON.stringify({ items: [], page: { limit: 50, offset: 0, total: 0 } }) })
+    );
+    await page.route(`**/api/v1/mangas/${mangaId}/chapters*`, (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({ status: 200, contentType: 'application/json', body: JSON.stringify({ items: [], page: { limit: 50, offset: 0, total: 0 } }) })
+    );
+    await page.route(`**/api/v1/mangas/${mangaId}/similar`, (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({ status: 200, contentType: 'application/json', body: JSON.stringify({ items: [] }) })
+    );
+    await page.route(`**/api/v1/me/read-progress/${mangaId}`, (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({ status: 404, contentType: 'application/json', body: '{"error":{"code":"x","message":"x"}}' })
+    );
+    await page.route(`**/api/v1/me/reactions/${mangaId}`, (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({ status: 404, contentType: 'application/json', body: '{"error":{"code":"x","message":"x"}}' })
+    );
+    // Autocomplete suggestions endpoint — keep it empty/fast.
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/tags*', (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({ status: 200, contentType: 'application/json', body: JSON.stringify([]) })
+    );
+    await page.route(`**/api/v1/mangas/${mangaId}`, (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({
+            status: 200,
+            contentType: 'application/json',
+            body: JSON.stringify({
+                id: mangaId, title: 'Berserk', status: 'ongoing', alt_titles: [], description: null,
+                cover_image_path: null, created_at: '2026-01-01T00:00:00Z', updated_at: '2026-01-01T00:00:00Z',
+                authors: [], genres: [], tags: [], content_warnings: [], chapter_storage_bytes: 0
+            })
+        })
+    );
+}
+
+test('adds a tag optimistically before the request resolves', async ({ page }) => {
+    await mockDetail(page);
+
+    let release: () => void = () => {};
+    const gate = new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
+        release = resolve;
+    });
+    await page.route(`**/api/v1/mangas/${mangaId}/tags`, async (route) => {
+        await gate;
+        await route.fulfill({
+            status: 200,
+            contentType: 'application/json',
+            body: JSON.stringify({ id: 'tag1', name: 'action', added_by: 'u1' })
+        });
+    });
+
+    await page.goto(`/manga/${mangaId}`);
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('manga-title')).toHaveText('Berserk');
+
+    await page.getByTestId('tag-input').fill('action');
+    await page.getByTestId('tag-input').press('Enter');
+
+    // Optimistic: the chip shows while the POST is still gated.
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('manga-tags')).toContainText('action');
+
+    release();
+    // Still present after the server confirms (reconciled to the real tag).
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('manga-tags')).toContainText('action');
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('tag-chip-tag1')).toBeVisible();
+});

frontend/e2e/manga-list.spec.ts

@@ -63,6 +63,51 @@ test('home page renders the Mangalord heading and search input', async ({ page }
     await expect(page.getByTestId('empty')).toContainText('No mangas yet');
 });
 
+test('shows a skeleton grid while the catalog is loading, then the real grid', async ({ page }) => {
+    await mockAnonymous(page);
+
+    // Hold the catalog fetch open so the loading state is observable.
+    let release: () => void = () => {};
+    const gate = new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
+        release = resolve;
+    });
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/mangas*', async (route) => {
+        await gate;
+        await route.fulfill({
+            status: 200,
+            contentType: 'application/json',
+            body: JSON.stringify({
+                items: [
+                    {
+                        id: 'm1',
+                        title: 'Berserk',
+                        status: 'ongoing',
+                        alt_titles: [],
+                        description: null,
+                        cover_image_path: null,
+                        created_at: '2026-01-01T00:00:00Z',
+                        updated_at: '2026-01-01T00:00:00Z',
+                        authors: [],
+                        genres: []
+                    }
+                ],
+                page: { limit: 50, offset: 0, total: 1 }
+            })
+        });
+    });
+
+    await page.goto('/');
+
+    // Skeleton stands in for the grid while the fetch is pending.
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('manga-grid-skeleton')).toBeVisible();
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('manga-list')).toHaveCount(0);
+
+    // Once data lands, the real grid replaces the skeleton.
+    release();
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('manga-list')).toContainText('Berserk');
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('manga-grid-skeleton')).toHaveCount(0);
+});
+
 // Anti-drift guard: the desktop sort <select> and the mobile sort sheet must
 // both enumerate exactly SORT_FIELD_LABELS, in the same order. The desktop
 // select used to hard-code its <option>s, so a label rename in mangaSort.ts

frontend/e2e/nav-progress.spec.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,148 @@
+import { test, expect, type Page } from './fixtures';
+
+// The global nav progress bar (rendered once in the root layout) is the only
+// feedback most data routes have while a client-side navigation is pending:
+// they run `load` with `ssr = false`, so SvelteKit holds the previous page on
+// screen with no indication anything is happening. This drives a real
+// home -> detail navigation, holds the detail's `getManga` open, and asserts
+// the bar activates during the pending load and clears once it settles.
+
+const mangaId = 'm1111111-1111-1111-1111-111111111111';
+
+const listItem = {
+    id: mangaId,
+    title: 'Berserk',
+    status: 'ongoing',
+    alt_titles: [],
+    description: null,
+    cover_image_path: null,
+    created_at: '2026-01-01T00:00:00Z',
+    updated_at: '2026-01-01T00:00:00Z',
+    authors: [],
+    genres: []
+};
+
+const mangaDetail = {
+    id: mangaId,
+    title: 'Berserk',
+    status: 'ongoing',
+    alt_titles: [],
+    description: null,
+    cover_image_path: null,
+    created_at: '2026-01-01T00:00:00Z',
+    updated_at: '2026-01-01T00:00:00Z',
+    authors: [],
+    genres: [],
+    tags: [],
+    content_warnings: [],
+    chapter_storage_bytes: 0
+};
+
+async function mockCommon(page: Page) {
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/auth/config', (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({
+            status: 200,
+            contentType: 'application/json',
+            body: JSON.stringify({ self_register_enabled: true, private_mode: false })
+        })
+    );
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/auth/me', (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({
+            status: 401,
+            contentType: 'application/json',
+            body: JSON.stringify({ error: { code: 'unauthenticated', message: 'no' } })
+        })
+    );
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/auth/me/preferences', (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({
+            status: 401,
+            contentType: 'application/json',
+            body: JSON.stringify({ error: { code: 'unauthenticated', message: 'no' } })
+        })
+    );
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/genres*', (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({ status: 200, contentType: 'application/json', body: '[]' })
+    );
+    // Catalog list (Pattern B). Registered before the detail routes so the
+    // more-specific handlers below win for the /mangas/:id URLs.
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/mangas*', (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({
+            status: 200,
+            contentType: 'application/json',
+            body: JSON.stringify({ items: [listItem], page: { limit: 50, offset: 0, total: 1 } })
+        })
+    );
+    // Detail load's non-manga calls.
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/me/bookmarks*', (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({
+            status: 200,
+            contentType: 'application/json',
+            body: JSON.stringify({ items: [], page: { limit: 50, offset: 0, total: 0 } })
+        })
+    );
+    await page.route(`**/api/v1/mangas/${mangaId}/chapters*`, (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({
+            status: 200,
+            contentType: 'application/json',
+            body: JSON.stringify({ items: [], page: { limit: 50, offset: 0, total: 0 } })
+        })
+    );
+    await page.route(`**/api/v1/mangas/${mangaId}/similar`, (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({ status: 200, contentType: 'application/json', body: JSON.stringify({ items: [] }) })
+    );
+    await page.route(`**/api/v1/me/read-progress/${mangaId}`, (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({
+            status: 404,
+            contentType: 'application/json',
+            body: JSON.stringify({ error: { code: 'not_found', message: 'no' } })
+        })
+    );
+    await page.route(`**/api/v1/me/reactions/${mangaId}`, (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({
+            status: 404,
+            contentType: 'application/json',
+            body: JSON.stringify({ error: { code: 'not_found', message: 'no' } })
+        })
+    );
+}
+
+test('shows the nav progress bar during a pending navigation and clears it after', async ({
+    page
+}) => {
+    await mockCommon(page);
+
+    // Hold the detail's getManga open so the navigation stays pending long
+    // enough to observe the bar. Registered last => wins for the exact
+    // /mangas/:id URL over the catalog glob.
+    let releaseDetail: () => void = () => {};
+    const gate = new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
+        releaseDetail = resolve;
+    });
+    await page.route(`**/api/v1/mangas/${mangaId}`, async (route) => {
+        await gate;
+        await route.fulfill({
+            status: 200,
+            contentType: 'application/json',
+            body: JSON.stringify(mangaDetail)
+        });
+    });
+
+    await page.goto('/');
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('manga-list')).toBeVisible();
+
+    const bar = page.getByTestId('nav-progress');
+    // Idle on a settled page.
+    await expect(bar).toHaveAttribute('data-phase', 'idle');
+
+    // Client-side navigate into the (gated) detail page.
+    await page.locator(`a[href="/manga/${mangaId}"]`).first().click();
+
+    // Bar enters the loading phase while the detail load is in flight.
+    await expect(bar).toHaveAttribute('data-phase', 'loading');
+
+    // Let the load resolve; the detail renders and the bar settles back to
+    // idle (via a brief done phase).
+    releaseDetail();
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('manga-title')).toHaveText('Berserk');
+    await expect(bar).toHaveAttribute('data-phase', 'idle');
+});

frontend/e2e/search-skeleton.spec.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+import { test, expect, type Page } from './fixtures';
+
+// The search page streams its results: the chip cloud / controls stay put
+// while a re-query shows a results skeleton, which then swaps for the list.
+
+const mangaId = 'a9999999-9999-9999-9999-999999999999';
+const chapterId = 'c9999999-9999-9999-9999-999999999999';
+const pageId = 'p11111111-1111-1111-1111-111111111111';
+
+async function mockCommon(page: Page) {
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/auth/config', (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({
+            status: 200,
+            contentType: 'application/json',
+            body: JSON.stringify({ self_register_enabled: true, private_mode: false })
+        })
+    );
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/auth/me', (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({
+            status: 200,
+            contentType: 'application/json',
+            body: JSON.stringify({ user: { id: 'u1', username: 'tester', created_at: '2026-01-01T00:00:00Z', is_admin: false } })
+        })
+    );
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/auth/me/preferences', (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({ status: 200, contentType: 'application/json', body: '{}' })
+    );
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/me/page-tags/distinct*', (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({
+            status: 200,
+            contentType: 'application/json',
+            body: JSON.stringify({ items: [{ tag: 'funny', count: 38 }] })
+        })
+    );
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/files/**', (r) => r.fulfill({ status: 200, body: '' }));
+}
+
+test('shows a results skeleton while the tagged pages stream, then the list', async ({ page }) => {
+    await mockCommon(page);
+
+    let release: () => void = () => {};
+    const gate = new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
+        release = resolve;
+    });
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/me/page-tags?**', async (route) => {
+        await gate;
+        await route.fulfill({
+            status: 200,
+            contentType: 'application/json',
+            body: JSON.stringify({
+                items: [
+                    {
+                        tag: 'funny', page_id: pageId, chapter_id: chapterId, manga_id: mangaId,
+                        page_number: 5, chapter_number: 1, chapter_title: null, manga_title: 'Berserk',
+                        storage_key: `mangas/${mangaId}/chapters/${chapterId}/pages/0005.png`,
+                        tagged_at: '2026-01-01T00:00:00Z'
+                    }
+                ],
+                page: { limit: 100, offset: 0, total: 1 }
+            })
+        });
+    });
+
+    await page.goto('/search?tag=funny');
+    // The chip cloud / active tag renders immediately (distinct resolved).
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('search-active-tag')).toBeVisible();
+    // Results skeleton while the tagged-pages query is pending.
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('search-results-skeleton')).toBeVisible();
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('search-pages-list')).toHaveCount(0);
+
+    release();
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('search-pages-list')).toContainText('Berserk');
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('search-results-skeleton')).toHaveCount(0);
+});

frontend/e2e/streamed-load-errors.spec.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
+import { test, expect, type Page } from './fixtures';
+
+// Streamed loaders (bookmarks / collections / library / search) capture a
+// failed fetch into an in-band `error` field so the page renders an inline
+// message instead of either the framework error page (network failure —
+// a non-ApiError) or a misleading empty state (an HTTP error). These specs
+// drive each distinct loader shape into that error path.
+
+const collectionId = 'd2222222-2222-2222-2222-222222222222';
+
+async function authed(page: Page) {
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/auth/config', (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({
+            status: 200,
+            contentType: 'application/json',
+            body: JSON.stringify({ self_register_enabled: true, private_mode: false })
+        })
+    );
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/auth/me', (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({
+            status: 200,
+            contentType: 'application/json',
+            body: JSON.stringify({ user: { id: 'u1', username: 'reader', created_at: '2026-01-01T00:00:00Z', is_admin: false } })
+        })
+    );
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/auth/me/preferences', (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({ status: 200, contentType: 'application/json', body: '{}' })
+    );
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/files/**', (r) => r.fulfill({ status: 200, body: '' }));
+}
+
+test('bookmarks: a network failure renders inline, not the framework error page', async ({ page }) => {
+    await authed(page);
+    // A raw connection failure surfaces as a non-ApiError (TypeError) from
+    // fetch — the case that previously escaped to the framework boundary.
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/me/bookmarks*', (r) => r.abort());
+
+    await page.goto('/bookmarks');
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('bookmarks-error')).toBeVisible();
+});
+
+test('library: a network failure on one of the aggregated fetches renders inline', async ({ page }) => {
+    await authed(page);
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/me/collections*', (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({ status: 200, contentType: 'application/json', body: JSON.stringify({ items: [], page: { limit: 200, offset: 0, total: 0 } }) })
+    );
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/me/read-progress*', (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({ status: 200, contentType: 'application/json', body: JSON.stringify({ items: [], page: { limit: 100, offset: 0, total: 0 } }) })
+    );
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/me/page-tags/distinct*', (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({ status: 200, contentType: 'application/json', body: JSON.stringify({ items: [] }) })
+    );
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/me/page-tags?**', (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({ status: 200, contentType: 'application/json', body: JSON.stringify({ items: [], page: { limit: 100, offset: 0, total: 0 } }) })
+    );
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/me/bookmarks*', (r) => r.abort());
+
+    await page.goto('/library');
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('library-error')).toBeVisible();
+});
+
+test('search: a failed results query shows an error, not a false "no matches"', async ({ page }) => {
+    await authed(page);
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/me/page-tags/distinct*', (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({ status: 200, contentType: 'application/json', body: JSON.stringify({ items: [{ tag: 'funny', count: 3 }] }) })
+    );
+    // The streamed tagged-pages query fails with a server error.
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/me/page-tags?**', (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({ status: 500, contentType: 'application/json', body: JSON.stringify({ error: { code: 'internal_error', message: 'boom' } }) })
+    );
+
+    await page.goto('/search?tag=funny');
+    // The chip cloud / active tag renders (distinct resolved) ...
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('search-active-tag')).toBeVisible();
+    // ... and the failed results render as an error, not "No pages tagged".
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('search-results-error')).toBeVisible();
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('search-pages-empty')).toHaveCount(0);
+});
+
+test('collection detail: a failed content load shows an inline error, not an empty collection', async ({ page }) => {
+    await authed(page);
+    await page.route(`**/api/v1/collections/${collectionId}`, (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({ status: 200, contentType: 'application/json', body: JSON.stringify({ id: collectionId, name: 'Favourites', description: null, manga_count: 1 }) })
+    );
+    await page.route(`**/api/v1/collections/${collectionId}/pages*`, (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({ status: 200, contentType: 'application/json', body: JSON.stringify({ items: [], page: { limit: 200, offset: 0, total: 0 } }) })
+    );
+    await page.route(`**/api/v1/collections/${collectionId}/mangas*`, (r) =>
+        r.fulfill({ status: 500, contentType: 'application/json', body: JSON.stringify({ error: { code: 'internal_error', message: 'boom' } }) })
+    );
+
+    await page.goto(`/collections/${collectionId}`);
+    await expect(page.getByRole('heading', { name: 'Favourites' })).toBeVisible();
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('collection-content-error')).toBeVisible();
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('collection-empty')).toHaveCount(0);
+});

frontend/package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "mangalord-frontend",
-  "version": "0.109.1",
+  "version": "0.122.1",
   "private": true,
   "type": "module",
   "scripts": {

frontend/src/lib/components/BookmarkList.svelte

@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
                         alt=""
                         class="cover"
                         loading="lazy"
+                        decoding="async"
                     />
                 {:else}
                     <div class="cover cover-placeholder">

frontend/src/lib/components/CollectionsGrid.svelte

@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
                                 alt=""
                                 class="collage-cover"
                                 loading="lazy"
+                                decoding="async"
                             />
                         {/each}
                     {/if}

frontend/src/lib/components/ContinueReadingShelf.svelte

@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@
                                 alt=""
                                 class="cover"
                                 loading="lazy"
+                                decoding="async"
                             />
                         {:else}
                             <span class="cover cover-placeholder">

frontend/src/lib/components/HistoryList.svelte

@@ -89,6 +89,7 @@
                             alt=""
                             class="cover"
                             loading="lazy"
+                            decoding="async"
                         />
                     {:else}
                         <div class="cover cover-placeholder">

frontend/src/lib/components/HistoryList.svelte.test.ts

@@ -29,6 +29,16 @@ describe('HistoryList', () => {
         expect(cont.getAttribute('href')).toBe('/manga/m1/chapter/c9');
     });
 
+    it('renders covers with lazy loading and async decode', () => {
+        render(HistoryList, {
+            props: { entries: [entry({ manga_cover_image_path: 'mangas/m1/cover.jpg' })] }
+        });
+        const img = document.querySelector('img.cover') as HTMLImageElement;
+        expect(img).not.toBeNull();
+        expect(img.getAttribute('loading')).toBe('lazy');
+        expect(img.getAttribute('decoding')).toBe('async');
+    });
+
     it('appends the page number to the continue line only past page 1', () => {
         // The page suffix is a separate text node from "Continue Chapter N",
         // so assert against the link's normalized text rather than getByText.

frontend/src/lib/components/ListRowSkeleton.svelte

@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+    import Skeleton from './Skeleton.svelte';
+
+    /**
+     * Placeholder for a cover + two-line row list (bookmarks, history, tagged
+     * pages). Reserves the list height so rows swap in without a shift.
+     */
+    let {
+        count = 6,
+        coverWidth = '64px',
+        testid = 'list-row-skeleton'
+    }: { count?: number; coverWidth?: string; testid?: string } = $props();
+</script>
+
+<ul class="list" data-testid={testid} aria-hidden="true">
+    {#each Array(count) as _}
+        <li class="row" style="grid-template-columns: {coverWidth} 1fr;">
+            <Skeleton width={coverWidth} aspectRatio="2 / 3" radius="sm" />
+            <div class="meta">
+                <Skeleton variant="text" width="55%" radius="sm" />
+                <Skeleton variant="text" width="35%" radius="sm" />
+            </div>
+        </li>
+    {/each}
+</ul>
+
+<style>
+    .list {
+        list-style: none;
+        padding: 0;
+        margin: 0;
+        display: flex;
+        flex-direction: column;
+        gap: var(--space-3);
+    }
+
+    .row {
+        display: grid;
+        gap: var(--space-3);
+        align-items: center;
+    }
+
+    .meta {
+        display: flex;
+        flex-direction: column;
+        gap: var(--space-2);
+        min-width: 0;
+    }
+</style>

frontend/src/lib/components/ListRowSkeleton.svelte.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+import { describe, it, expect, afterEach } from 'vitest';
+import { render, screen, cleanup } from '@testing-library/svelte';
+import ListRowSkeleton from './ListRowSkeleton.svelte';
+
+afterEach(() => cleanup());
+
+describe('ListRowSkeleton', () => {
+    it('renders the requested number of rows', () => {
+        render(ListRowSkeleton, { props: { count: 5, testid: 'sk' } });
+        expect(screen.getByTestId('sk').querySelectorAll('.row').length).toBe(5);
+    });
+
+    it('defaults to 6 rows and is decorative', () => {
+        render(ListRowSkeleton, { props: { testid: 'sk' } });
+        const el = screen.getByTestId('sk');
+        expect(el.querySelectorAll('.row').length).toBe(6);
+        expect(el.getAttribute('aria-hidden')).toBe('true');
+    });
+
+    it('applies the cover width to the row template', () => {
+        render(ListRowSkeleton, { props: { coverWidth: '80px', testid: 'sk' } });
+        const row = screen.getByTestId('sk').querySelector('.row') as HTMLElement;
+        expect(row.style.gridTemplateColumns).toBe('80px 1fr');
+    });
+});

frontend/src/lib/components/MangaCard.svelte

@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@
                 alt=""
                 class="cover"
                 loading="lazy"
+                decoding="async"
             />
         {:else}
             <div class="cover cover-placeholder">
@@ -89,17 +90,8 @@
 </li>
 
 <style>
-    .manga-card {
-        display: flex;
-        flex-direction: column;
-        gap: var(--space-2);
-        list-style: none;
-        /* Grid items default to min-width: auto which equals the
-           intrinsic content size — long author / title strings then
-           push the cell past `1fr`. Forcing 0 lets the column control
-           the width and the children ellipsize inside it. */
-        min-width: 0;
-    }
+    /* `.manga-card` layout lives in tokens.css so the catalog cards and the
+       loading skeleton share one definition. */
 
     .cover-link {
         display: block;

frontend/src/lib/components/MangaCard.svelte.test.ts

@@ -49,6 +49,16 @@ describe('MangaCard badges & overlays', () => {
         expect(screen.queryByTestId('cover-progress')).toBeNull();
     });
 
+    it('renders the cover with lazy loading and async decode to keep grid paint smooth', () => {
+        render(MangaCard, {
+            props: { manga: { ...baseManga, cover_image_path: 'mangas/m1/cover.jpg' } }
+        });
+        const img = document.querySelector('img.cover') as HTMLImageElement;
+        expect(img).not.toBeNull();
+        expect(img.getAttribute('loading')).toBe('lazy');
+        expect(img.getAttribute('decoding')).toBe('async');
+    });
+
     it('renders the progress overlay clamped to 0..1 and reflects the value as a width style', () => {
         const { rerender } = render(MangaCard, {
             props: { manga: baseManga, progress: 0.4 }

frontend/src/lib/components/MangaDetailSkeleton.svelte

@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+    import Skeleton from './Skeleton.svelte';
+
+    /**
+     * Placeholder for the manga detail page while its data streams in. Mirrors
+     * the desktop overview (cover + meta column) and the chapter list so the
+     * page keeps its shape and swaps in without a big layout shift.
+     */
+    let { chapters = 6 }: { chapters?: number } = $props();
+</script>
+
+<div data-testid="manga-detail-skeleton" aria-hidden="true">
+    <div class="overview">
+        <div class="cover">
+            <Skeleton aspectRatio="2 / 3" radius="md" />
+        </div>
+        <div class="meta">
+            <Skeleton variant="text" width="70%" height="1.6rem" radius="sm" />
+            <Skeleton variant="text" width="40%" radius="sm" />
+            <div class="chips">
+                {#each Array(4) as _}
+                    <Skeleton width="72px" height="1.6rem" radius="pill" />
+                {/each}
+            </div>
+            <Skeleton variant="text" width="100%" radius="sm" />
+            <Skeleton variant="text" width="92%" radius="sm" />
+            <Skeleton variant="text" width="60%" radius="sm" />
+        </div>
+    </div>
+
+    <Skeleton variant="text" width="8rem" height="1.3rem" radius="sm" />
+    <ol class="chapter-list">
+        {#each Array(chapters) as _}
+            <li><Skeleton variant="text" width="100%" height="1.1rem" radius="sm" /></li>
+        {/each}
+    </ol>
+</div>
+
+<style>
+    .overview {
+        display: grid;
+        grid-template-columns: minmax(0, 200px) 1fr;
+        gap: var(--space-4);
+        align-items: start;
+        margin-bottom: var(--space-6);
+    }
+
+    /* Match the real overview: stack on phones, but keep the cover from
+       ballooning to full width. */
+    @media (max-width: 640px) {
+        .overview {
+            grid-template-columns: minmax(0, 1fr);
+        }
+        .cover {
+            max-width: 160px;
+        }
+    }
+
+    .meta {
+        display: flex;
+        flex-direction: column;
+        gap: var(--space-3);
+        min-width: 0;
+    }
+
+    .chips {
+        display: flex;
+        flex-wrap: wrap;
+        gap: var(--space-2);
+    }
+
+    .chapter-list {
+        list-style: none;
+        padding: 0;
+        margin: var(--space-3) 0 0;
+        display: flex;
+        flex-direction: column;
+        gap: var(--space-2);
+    }
+
+    .chapter-list li {
+        padding: var(--space-2) 0;
+        border-top: 1px solid var(--border);
+    }
+</style>

frontend/src/lib/components/MangaDetailSkeleton.svelte.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+import { describe, it, expect, afterEach } from 'vitest';
+import { render, screen, cleanup } from '@testing-library/svelte';
+import MangaDetailSkeleton from './MangaDetailSkeleton.svelte';
+
+afterEach(() => cleanup());
+
+describe('MangaDetailSkeleton', () => {
+    it('renders the overview + a default of 6 chapter-row placeholders', () => {
+        render(MangaDetailSkeleton);
+        const root = screen.getByTestId('manga-detail-skeleton');
+        expect(root.querySelector('.overview')).not.toBeNull();
+        expect(root.querySelectorAll('.chapter-list li').length).toBe(6);
+    });
+
+    it('honours the chapters prop', () => {
+        render(MangaDetailSkeleton, { props: { chapters: 3 } });
+        expect(
+            screen.getByTestId('manga-detail-skeleton').querySelectorAll('.chapter-list li').length
+        ).toBe(3);
+    });
+
+    it('is decorative (aria-hidden)', () => {
+        render(MangaDetailSkeleton);
+        expect(screen.getByTestId('manga-detail-skeleton').getAttribute('aria-hidden')).toBe('true');
+    });
+});

frontend/src/lib/components/MangaGridSkeleton.svelte

@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+    import Skeleton from './Skeleton.svelte';
+
+    /**
+     * Placeholder for a manga cover grid while it loads. Reuses the global
+     * `.manga-grid` and `.manga-card` layout (both single-sourced in
+     * tokens.css) so it lines up with the real grid at every breakpoint and
+     * content swaps in without a layout shift. The cover reserves its 2/3 box
+     * via `aspect-ratio` (height stays auto), matching MangaCard's cover.
+     */
+    let { count = 12 }: { count?: number } = $props();
+</script>
+
+<ul class="manga-grid" data-testid="manga-grid-skeleton" aria-hidden="true">
+    {#each Array(count) as _}
+        <li class="manga-card">
+            <Skeleton aspectRatio="2 / 3" radius="md" />
+            <Skeleton variant="text" width="80%" radius="sm" />
+        </li>
+    {/each}
+</ul>

frontend/src/lib/components/MangaGridSkeleton.svelte.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+import { describe, it, expect, afterEach } from 'vitest';
+import { render, screen, cleanup } from '@testing-library/svelte';
+import MangaGridSkeleton from './MangaGridSkeleton.svelte';
+
+afterEach(() => cleanup());
+
+describe('MangaGridSkeleton', () => {
+    it('renders 12 card skeletons by default', () => {
+        render(MangaGridSkeleton);
+        const root = screen.getByTestId('manga-grid-skeleton');
+        expect(root.querySelectorAll('.manga-card').length).toBe(12);
+    });
+
+    it('honours the count prop', () => {
+        render(MangaGridSkeleton, { props: { count: 4 } });
+        const root = screen.getByTestId('manga-grid-skeleton');
+        expect(root.querySelectorAll('.manga-card').length).toBe(4);
+    });
+
+    it('reuses the shared .manga-grid layout class', () => {
+        render(MangaGridSkeleton);
+        expect(screen.getByTestId('manga-grid-skeleton').classList.contains('manga-grid')).toBe(
+            true
+        );
+    });
+
+    it('is decorative so the container announces loading', () => {
+        render(MangaGridSkeleton);
+        expect(screen.getByTestId('manga-grid-skeleton').getAttribute('aria-hidden')).toBe('true');
+    });
+
+    it('reserves each cover as a 2/3 aspect box, not a collapsed zero-height one', () => {
+        render(MangaGridSkeleton, { props: { count: 1 } });
+        const card = screen
+            .getByTestId('manga-grid-skeleton')
+            .querySelector('.manga-card') as HTMLElement;
+        const cover = card.firstElementChild as HTMLElement;
+        expect(cover.style.aspectRatio).toBe('2 / 3');
+        // A definite height:0 would make aspect-ratio a no-op and collapse
+        // the cover — the exact layout-shift regression this guards.
+        expect(cover.style.height).toBe('');
+    });
+});

frontend/src/lib/components/NavProgress.svelte

@@ -0,0 +1,111 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+    import { navigating } from '$app/stores';
+
+    /**
+     * Thin top-of-viewport progress bar shown during client-side navigation.
+     * Most data routes run their `load` with `ssr = false`, so SvelteKit holds
+     * the previous page on screen while the next one's data resolves — with no
+     * feedback. This bar is that feedback: it trickles toward the right edge
+     * while a navigation is pending, snaps to full and fades out once it
+     * settles.
+     *
+     * Decorative (`aria-hidden`). Animates `transform`/`opacity` only (both
+     * compositor-friendly), and drops `will-change` when idle. Under
+     * prefers-reduced-motion the trickle keyframe is neutralized by the global
+     * override, leaving the `.loading` base transform as a static visible bar.
+     */
+
+    // idle: hidden. loading: trickling. done: snap to full, then fade to idle.
+    let phase = $state<'idle' | 'loading' | 'done'>('idle');
+    // Bumped whenever a *new* navigation begins. Keying the element on it
+    // remounts the bar so the trickle animation restarts even when one
+    // navigation supersedes another (the store stays truthy the whole time,
+    // just swapping Navigation objects).
+    let run = $state(0);
+    // Plain locals (not $state) so reading them in the effect doesn't make the
+    // effect depend on its own writes. `runCount` mirrors `run` so we can bump
+    // it without reactively reading the `run` state.
+    let runCount = 0;
+    let wasNavigating = false;
+    let doneTimer: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | undefined;
+
+    $effect(() => {
+        const isNavigating = !!$navigating;
+        if (isNavigating) {
+            clearTimeout(doneTimer);
+            run = ++runCount;
+            phase = 'loading';
+        } else if (wasNavigating) {
+            phase = 'done';
+            doneTimer = setTimeout(() => {
+                phase = 'idle';
+            }, 260);
+        }
+        wasNavigating = isNavigating;
+        return () => clearTimeout(doneTimer);
+    });
+</script>
+
+{#key run}
+    <div
+        class="nav-progress"
+        class:loading={phase === 'loading'}
+        class:done={phase === 'done'}
+        data-testid="nav-progress"
+        data-phase={phase}
+        aria-hidden="true"
+    ></div>
+{/key}
+
+<style>
+    .nav-progress {
+        position: fixed;
+        top: 0;
+        left: 0;
+        width: 100%;
+        height: 3px;
+        background: var(--primary);
+        z-index: var(--z-nav-progress);
+        transform: scaleX(0);
+        transform-origin: left;
+        opacity: 0;
+        pointer-events: none;
+    }
+
+    .nav-progress.loading {
+        opacity: 1;
+        /* Base (non-animated) target — this is what reduced-motion users see,
+           and the keyframe's end state, so disabling the animation still
+           leaves a clearly visible bar. */
+        transform: scaleX(0.9);
+        animation: nav-progress-trickle 8s cubic-bezier(0.1, 0.7, 0.3, 1) forwards;
+        will-change: transform;
+    }
+
+    .nav-progress.done {
+        opacity: 0;
+        transform: scaleX(1);
+        /* Complete to full quickly, then fade out. */
+        transition:
+            transform 120ms ease-out,
+            opacity 200ms ease-out 120ms;
+    }
+
+    /* The reader hides all its own chrome in fullscreen; the progress bar
+       would be the one visible element left, so hide it too. */
+    :global(html[data-reader-fullscreen='true']) .nav-progress {
+        display: none;
+    }
+
+    @keyframes nav-progress-trickle {
+        0% {
+            transform: scaleX(0);
+        }
+        50% {
+            transform: scaleX(0.65);
+        }
+        100% {
+            transform: scaleX(0.9);
+        }
+    }
+</style>

frontend/src/lib/components/NavProgress.svelte.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,100 @@
+import { describe, it, expect, afterEach, vi } from 'vitest';
+import { flushSync } from 'svelte';
+import { render, screen, cleanup } from '@testing-library/svelte';
+
+// A controllable stand-in for SvelteKit's `navigating` store: `null` when
+// idle, a Navigation-like object while a client-side navigation is pending.
+// Built via vi.hoisted (a minimal writable, so no import is needed before
+// the hoisted vi.mock factory runs).
+const { navigating } = vi.hoisted(() => {
+    let value: unknown = null;
+    const subs = new Set<(v: unknown) => void>();
+    return {
+        navigating: {
+            subscribe(fn: (v: unknown) => void) {
+                subs.add(fn);
+                fn(value);
+                return () => subs.delete(fn);
+            },
+            set(v: unknown) {
+                value = v;
+                subs.forEach((fn) => fn(value));
+            }
+        }
+    };
+});
+
+vi.mock('$app/stores', () => ({ navigating }));
+
+import NavProgress from './NavProgress.svelte';
+
+const nav = (path: string) => ({ from: null, to: { url: new URL(`http://x${path}`) } });
+
+afterEach(() => {
+    cleanup();
+    navigating.set(null);
+});
+
+describe('NavProgress', () => {
+    it('renders a decorative bar carrying the nav-progress testid', () => {
+        render(NavProgress);
+        const bar = screen.getByTestId('nav-progress');
+        expect(bar).toBeTruthy();
+        expect(bar.getAttribute('aria-hidden')).toBe('true');
+    });
+
+    it('is idle when not navigating', () => {
+        render(NavProgress);
+        const bar = screen.getByTestId('nav-progress');
+        expect(bar.dataset.phase).toBe('idle');
+        expect(bar.classList.contains('loading')).toBe(false);
+    });
+
+    it('enters the loading phase while a navigation is pending', () => {
+        render(NavProgress);
+        navigating.set(nav('/manga/1'));
+        flushSync();
+        const bar = screen.getByTestId('nav-progress');
+        expect(bar.dataset.phase).toBe('loading');
+        expect(bar.classList.contains('loading')).toBe(true);
+    });
+
+    it('snaps to done then returns to idle once navigation settles', () => {
+        vi.useFakeTimers();
+        try {
+            render(NavProgress);
+            navigating.set(nav('/manga/1'));
+            flushSync();
+            expect(screen.getByTestId('nav-progress').dataset.phase).toBe('loading');
+
+            navigating.set(null);
+            flushSync();
+            // Completes to full and fades, rather than snapping away instantly.
+            expect(screen.getByTestId('nav-progress').dataset.phase).toBe('done');
+
+            vi.advanceTimersByTime(300);
+            flushSync();
+            expect(screen.getByTestId('nav-progress').dataset.phase).toBe('idle');
+        } finally {
+            vi.useRealTimers();
+        }
+    });
+
+    it('restarts the bar when a new navigation supersedes a pending one', () => {
+        render(NavProgress);
+        navigating.set(nav('/manga/1'));
+        flushSync();
+        const first = screen.getByTestId('nav-progress');
+
+        // A second navigation begins before the first settles — the store
+        // stays truthy the whole time, just swapping objects.
+        navigating.set(nav('/manga/2'));
+        flushSync();
+        const second = screen.getByTestId('nav-progress');
+
+        expect(second.dataset.phase).toBe('loading');
+        // {#key run} remounts the element so the trickle animation replays
+        // rather than staying parked at its previous width.
+        expect(second).not.toBe(first);
+    });
+});

frontend/src/lib/components/SearchResultsSkeleton.svelte

@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+    import Skeleton from './Skeleton.svelte';
+
+    /**
+     * Placeholder for a tagged-page / chapter / manga results list while a
+     * search re-queries. Mirrors the TaggedPageRow shape (56px 2/3 cover +
+     * two text lines) so the list keeps its height as results swap in.
+     */
+    let { count = 6, testid = 'search-results-skeleton' }: { count?: number; testid?: string } =
+        $props();
+</script>
+
+<ul class="list" data-testid={testid} aria-hidden="true">
+    {#each Array(count) as _}
+        <li class="row">
+            <Skeleton width="56px" aspectRatio="2 / 3" radius="sm" />
+            <div class="meta">
+                <Skeleton variant="text" width="60%" radius="sm" />
+                <Skeleton variant="text" width="40%" radius="sm" />
+            </div>
+        </li>
+    {/each}
+</ul>
+
+<style>
+    .list {
+        list-style: none;
+        padding: 0;
+        margin: 0;
+        display: flex;
+        flex-direction: column;
+        gap: var(--space-3);
+    }
+
+    .row {
+        display: grid;
+        grid-template-columns: 56px 1fr;
+        gap: var(--space-3);
+        align-items: center;
+    }
+
+    .meta {
+        display: flex;
+        flex-direction: column;
+        gap: var(--space-2);
+        min-width: 0;
+    }
+</style>

frontend/src/lib/components/SearchResultsSkeleton.svelte.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+import { describe, it, expect, afterEach } from 'vitest';
+import { render, screen, cleanup } from '@testing-library/svelte';
+import SearchResultsSkeleton from './SearchResultsSkeleton.svelte';
+
+afterEach(() => cleanup());
+
+describe('SearchResultsSkeleton', () => {
+    it('renders the requested number of row placeholders', () => {
+        render(SearchResultsSkeleton, { props: { count: 3, testid: 'sk' } });
+        expect(screen.getByTestId('sk').querySelectorAll('.row').length).toBe(3);
+    });
+
+    it('defaults to 6 rows', () => {
+        render(SearchResultsSkeleton, { props: { testid: 'sk' } });
+        expect(screen.getByTestId('sk').querySelectorAll('.row').length).toBe(6);
+    });
+
+    it('is decorative (aria-hidden)', () => {
+        render(SearchResultsSkeleton, { props: { testid: 'sk' } });
+        expect(screen.getByTestId('sk').getAttribute('aria-hidden')).toBe('true');
+    });
+});

frontend/src/lib/components/ShelfSkeleton.svelte

@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+    import Skeleton from './Skeleton.svelte';
+
+    /**
+     * Placeholder for a horizontal home shelf (Continue reading / Recommended)
+     * while it loads. Reserves the shelf's vertical space so the catalog below
+     * doesn't get shoved down when the real shelf pops in after its late fetch.
+     * Dimensions mirror ContinueReadingShelf's 108×162 cards.
+     */
+    let { count = 6, testid = 'shelf-skeleton' }: { count?: number; testid?: string } = $props();
+</script>
+
+<section class="shelf" data-testid={testid} aria-hidden="true">
+    <Skeleton variant="text" width="10rem" height="1.1rem" radius="sm" />
+    <ul class="track">
+        {#each Array(count) as _}
+            <li class="card">
+                <Skeleton width="108px" height="162px" radius="sm" />
+                <Skeleton variant="text" width="80%" radius="sm" />
+            </li>
+        {/each}
+    </ul>
+</section>
+
+<style>
+    .shelf {
+        margin: 0 0 var(--space-5);
+        display: flex;
+        flex-direction: column;
+        gap: var(--space-2);
+    }
+
+    .track {
+        list-style: none;
+        display: flex;
+        gap: var(--space-3);
+        padding: 0 0 var(--space-2);
+        margin: 0;
+        overflow: hidden;
+    }
+
+    .card {
+        display: flex;
+        flex-direction: column;
+        gap: var(--space-1);
+        width: 108px;
+        flex: 0 0 auto;
+    }
+</style>

frontend/src/lib/components/ShelfSkeleton.svelte.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+import { describe, it, expect, afterEach } from 'vitest';
+import { render, screen, cleanup } from '@testing-library/svelte';
+import ShelfSkeleton from './ShelfSkeleton.svelte';
+
+afterEach(() => cleanup());
+
+describe('ShelfSkeleton', () => {
+    it('renders the requested number of card placeholders', () => {
+        render(ShelfSkeleton, { props: { count: 4, testid: 'sk' } });
+        expect(screen.getByTestId('sk').querySelectorAll('.card').length).toBe(4);
+    });
+
+    it('defaults to 6 cards', () => {
+        render(ShelfSkeleton, { props: { testid: 'sk' } });
+        expect(screen.getByTestId('sk').querySelectorAll('.card').length).toBe(6);
+    });
+
+    it('is decorative (aria-hidden)', () => {
+        render(ShelfSkeleton, { props: { testid: 'sk' } });
+        expect(screen.getByTestId('sk').getAttribute('aria-hidden')).toBe('true');
+    });
+});

frontend/src/lib/components/Skeleton.svelte

@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+    /**
+     * Decorative loading placeholder. Renders a muted block with a subtle
+     * shimmer that sweeps across it. Purely visual — `aria-hidden` keeps it
+     * out of the accessibility tree; the loading state should be announced by
+     * the container (e.g. `role="status"`).
+     *
+     * Under prefers-reduced-motion the shimmer gradient/animation is dropped
+     * entirely, leaving a flat `--surface-elevated` block.
+     */
+    let {
+        width = '100%',
+        height,
+        aspectRatio,
+        radius = 'md',
+        variant = 'block',
+        testid
+    }: {
+        width?: string;
+        height?: string;
+        /**
+         * `aspect-ratio` for the box (e.g. `'2 / 3'`). Lets a fluid-width
+         * placeholder reserve its shape without a hard-coded height — the
+         * height stays `auto` so the ratio actually applies.
+         */
+        aspectRatio?: string;
+        /** Corner radius, mapped to the design-token scale. */
+        radius?: 'sm' | 'md' | 'lg' | 'pill';
+        /** `circle` forces a pill radius (for avatars / dots). */
+        variant?: 'block' | 'text' | 'circle';
+        testid?: string;
+    } = $props();
+
+    const radiusClass = $derived(variant === 'circle' ? 'radius-pill' : `radius-${radius}`);
+
+    // A text line gets a sensible default height so callers don't have to; an
+    // explicit `height` still wins. Resolving it here (rather than in CSS)
+    // keeps a single source of truth for the box height and avoids an inline
+    // style silently shadowing a stylesheet rule.
+    const resolvedHeight = $derived(height ?? (variant === 'text' ? '0.9em' : undefined));
+
+    const style = $derived(
+        `width: ${width};` +
+            (resolvedHeight ? ` height: ${resolvedHeight};` : '') +
+            (aspectRatio ? ` aspect-ratio: ${aspectRatio};` : '')
+    );
+</script>
+
+<span class="skeleton {radiusClass}" data-testid={testid} aria-hidden="true" {style}></span>
+
+<style>
+    .skeleton {
+        display: block;
+        /* Flat base — this is the whole appearance under reduced motion. */
+        background-color: var(--surface-elevated);
+    }
+
+    @media (prefers-reduced-motion: no-preference) {
+        .skeleton {
+            background-image: linear-gradient(
+                90deg,
+                var(--surface) 0%,
+                var(--surface-elevated) 50%,
+                var(--surface) 100%
+            );
+            background-size: 200% 100%;
+            background-repeat: no-repeat;
+            animation: skeleton-shimmer 1.2s ease-in-out infinite;
+        }
+    }
+
+    .radius-sm {
+        border-radius: var(--radius-sm);
+    }
+    .radius-md {
+        border-radius: var(--radius-md);
+    }
+    .radius-lg {
+        border-radius: var(--radius-lg);
+    }
+    .radius-pill {
+        border-radius: var(--radius-pill);
+    }
+
+    @keyframes skeleton-shimmer {
+        from {
+            background-position: 200% 0;
+        }
+        to {
+            background-position: -200% 0;
+        }
+    }
+</style>

frontend/src/lib/components/Skeleton.svelte.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+import { describe, it, expect, afterEach } from 'vitest';
+import { render, screen, cleanup } from '@testing-library/svelte';
+import Skeleton from './Skeleton.svelte';
+
+afterEach(() => cleanup());
+
+describe('Skeleton primitive', () => {
+    it('renders an element carrying the given testid', () => {
+        render(Skeleton, { props: { testid: 'sk' } });
+        expect(screen.getByTestId('sk')).toBeTruthy();
+    });
+
+    it('is decorative (aria-hidden) so screen readers ignore it', () => {
+        render(Skeleton, { props: { testid: 'sk' } });
+        expect(screen.getByTestId('sk').getAttribute('aria-hidden')).toBe('true');
+    });
+
+    it('applies width and height as inline styles', () => {
+        render(Skeleton, { props: { testid: 'sk', width: '120px', height: '2rem' } });
+        const el = screen.getByTestId('sk') as HTMLElement;
+        expect(el.style.width).toBe('120px');
+        expect(el.style.height).toBe('2rem');
+    });
+
+    it('defaults width to 100% when omitted', () => {
+        render(Skeleton, { props: { testid: 'sk' } });
+        expect((screen.getByTestId('sk') as HTMLElement).style.width).toBe('100%');
+    });
+
+    it('maps the radius prop to a radius class', () => {
+        render(Skeleton, { props: { testid: 'sk', radius: 'lg' } });
+        expect(screen.getByTestId('sk').classList.contains('radius-lg')).toBe(true);
+    });
+
+    it('defaults to the md radius', () => {
+        render(Skeleton, { props: { testid: 'sk' } });
+        expect(screen.getByTestId('sk').classList.contains('radius-md')).toBe(true);
+    });
+
+    it('renders a pill radius for the circle variant', () => {
+        render(Skeleton, { props: { testid: 'sk', variant: 'circle' } });
+        expect(screen.getByTestId('sk').classList.contains('radius-pill')).toBe(true);
+    });
+
+    it('carries the skeleton base class for the shimmer', () => {
+        render(Skeleton, { props: { testid: 'sk' } });
+        expect(screen.getByTestId('sk').classList.contains('skeleton')).toBe(true);
+    });
+
+    it('emits aspect-ratio inline (and no fixed height) so a fluid box keeps its shape', () => {
+        render(Skeleton, { props: { testid: 'sk', aspectRatio: '2 / 3' } });
+        const el = screen.getByTestId('sk') as HTMLElement;
+        expect(el.style.aspectRatio).toBe('2 / 3');
+        // A definite height would defeat aspect-ratio and collapse the box.
+        expect(el.style.height).toBe('');
+    });
+
+    it('gives a text-variant line a default height without a caller-supplied one', () => {
+        render(Skeleton, { props: { testid: 'sk', variant: 'text' } });
+        expect((screen.getByTestId('sk') as HTMLElement).style.height).toBe('0.9em');
+    });
+
+    it('lets an explicit height override the text-variant default', () => {
+        render(Skeleton, { props: { testid: 'sk', variant: 'text', height: '1rem' } });
+        expect((screen.getByTestId('sk') as HTMLElement).style.height).toBe('1rem');
+    });
+});

frontend/src/lib/components/TaggedChapterRow.svelte

@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
 <li class="row" data-testid={testid}>
     <a {href} class="cover-link" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1">
         {#if primaryCover}
-            <img src={fileUrl(primaryCover)} alt="" class="cover" loading="lazy" />
+            <img src={fileUrl(primaryCover)} alt="" class="cover" loading="lazy" decoding="async" />
         {:else}
             <div class="cover cover-placeholder"></div>
         {/if}
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@
         {#if item.sample_storage_keys.length > 1}
             <div class="samples">
                 {#each item.sample_storage_keys.slice(1) as key (key)}
-                    <img src={fileUrl(key)} alt="" class="sample" loading="lazy" />
+                    <img src={fileUrl(key)} alt="" class="sample" loading="lazy" decoding="async" />
                 {/each}
             </div>
         {/if}

frontend/src/lib/components/TaggedMangaRow.svelte

@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@
 <li class="row" data-testid={testid}>
     <a {href} class="cover-link" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1">
         {#if primaryCover}
-            <img src={fileUrl(primaryCover)} alt="" class="cover" loading="lazy" />
+            <img src={fileUrl(primaryCover)} alt="" class="cover" loading="lazy" decoding="async" />
         {:else}
             <div class="cover cover-placeholder"></div>
         {/if}
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@
         {#if sampleStrip.length > 0}
             <div class="samples">
                 {#each sampleStrip as key (key)}
-                    <img src={fileUrl(key)} alt="" class="sample" loading="lazy" />
+                    <img src={fileUrl(key)} alt="" class="sample" loading="lazy" decoding="async" />
                 {/each}
             </div>
         {/if}

frontend/src/lib/components/TaggedPageRow.svelte

@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
             alt=""
             class="cover"
             loading="lazy"
+            decoding="async"
         />
     </a>
     <div class="meta">

frontend/src/lib/components/Toaster.svelte

@@ -0,0 +1,104 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+    import { toast } from '$lib/toast.svelte';
+    import X from '@lucide/svelte/icons/x';
+
+    // Errors get an assertive `alert` role so screen readers interrupt;
+    // success/info use the polite `status` role.
+    const roleFor = (kind: string) => (kind === 'error' ? 'alert' : 'status');
+</script>
+
+<div class="toaster" data-testid="toaster">
+    {#each toast.toasts as t (t.id)}
+        <div class="toast {t.kind}" role={roleFor(t.kind)} data-testid="toast" data-kind={t.kind}>
+            <span class="message">{t.message}</span>
+            <button
+                type="button"
+                class="dismiss"
+                aria-label="Dismiss notification"
+                onclick={() => toast.dismiss(t.id)}
+            >
+                <X size={16} aria-hidden="true" />
+            </button>
+        </div>
+    {/each}
+</div>
+
+<style>
+    .toaster {
+        position: fixed;
+        left: 0;
+        right: 0;
+        bottom: calc(var(--safe-bottom) + var(--space-4));
+        z-index: var(--z-toast);
+        display: flex;
+        flex-direction: column-reverse;
+        align-items: center;
+        gap: var(--space-2);
+        padding: 0 var(--space-4);
+        /* Let clicks fall through the gaps; individual toasts opt back in. */
+        pointer-events: none;
+    }
+
+    /* Sit above the mobile bottom nav so a toast never hides behind it. */
+    @media (max-width: 640px) {
+        .toaster {
+            bottom: calc(var(--app-bottom-nav-h) + var(--safe-bottom) + var(--space-3));
+        }
+    }
+
+    .toast {
+        pointer-events: auto;
+        display: flex;
+        align-items: center;
+        gap: var(--space-3);
+        width: 100%;
+        max-width: 30rem;
+        padding: var(--space-3) var(--space-3) var(--space-3) var(--space-4);
+        border: 1px solid var(--border);
+        border-left-width: 4px;
+        border-radius: var(--radius-md);
+        background: var(--surface-elevated);
+        color: var(--text);
+        box-shadow: var(--shadow-md);
+        font-size: var(--font-sm);
+    }
+
+    .toast.error {
+        border-color: var(--danger);
+        background: var(--danger-soft-bg);
+    }
+
+    .toast.success {
+        border-color: var(--success);
+        background: var(--success-soft-bg);
+    }
+
+    .toast.info {
+        border-color: var(--primary);
+    }
+
+    .message {
+        flex: 1;
+        min-width: 0;
+    }
+
+    .dismiss {
+        flex-shrink: 0;
+        display: inline-flex;
+        align-items: center;
+        justify-content: center;
+        width: 28px;
+        height: 28px;
+        padding: 0;
+        border: 0;
+        border-radius: var(--radius-sm);
+        background: transparent;
+        color: var(--text-muted);
+        cursor: pointer;
+    }
+
+    .dismiss:hover {
+        background: rgb(0 0 0 / 0.06);
+        color: var(--text);
+    }
+</style>

frontend/src/lib/components/Toaster.svelte.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+import { describe, it, expect, afterEach } from 'vitest';
+import { render, screen, cleanup } from '@testing-library/svelte';
+import Toaster from './Toaster.svelte';
+import { toast } from '$lib/toast.svelte';
+
+afterEach(() => {
+    cleanup();
+    toast.clear();
+});
+
+describe('Toaster', () => {
+    it('renders queued toasts with their message', async () => {
+        toast.info('Saved');
+        render(Toaster);
+        expect(await screen.findByText('Saved')).toBeTruthy();
+    });
+
+    it('gives errors an assertive alert role and others a status role', () => {
+        toast.error('Boom');
+        toast.success('Yay');
+        render(Toaster);
+        const toasts = screen.getAllByTestId('toast');
+        const error = toasts.find((t) => t.dataset.kind === 'error')!;
+        const success = toasts.find((t) => t.dataset.kind === 'success')!;
+        expect(error.getAttribute('role')).toBe('alert');
+        expect(success.getAttribute('role')).toBe('status');
+    });
+
+    it('removes a toast when its dismiss button is clicked', async () => {
+        toast.error('Dismiss me');
+        render(Toaster);
+        const btn = screen.getByLabelText('Dismiss notification');
+        btn.click();
+        await Promise.resolve();
+        expect(screen.queryByText('Dismiss me')).toBeNull();
+        expect(toast.toasts).toHaveLength(0);
+    });
+});

frontend/src/lib/styles/tokens.css

@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
     --danger: #b00020;
     --danger-soft-bg: #fff5f5;
     --success: #0a7d2c;
+    --success-soft-bg: #eaf7ee;
     --warning-soft-bg: #fff5d6;
     --warning-border: #d6a800;
     --focus-ring: #2563eb;
@@ -28,6 +29,9 @@
 
     --font-xs: 0.75rem;
     --font-sm: 0.875rem;
+    /* Alias of --font-base at the body size; named on the xs/sm/md/lg/xl
+       scale that some components reach for. */
+    --font-md: 1rem;
     --font-base: 1rem;
     --font-lg: 1.125rem;
     --font-xl: 1.5rem;
@@ -95,6 +99,9 @@
 
     --z-dropdown: 10;
     --z-sticky: 50;
+    /* Above the fixed header/app-bar (--z-sticky) so the nav progress bar
+       is never occluded, but below modals and toasts. */
+    --z-nav-progress: 60;
     --z-modal: 100;
     --z-toast: 1000;
 }
@@ -114,6 +121,7 @@
     --danger: #f87171;
     --danger-soft-bg: #3a1620;
     --success: #4ade80;
+    --success-soft-bg: #12301c;
     --warning-soft-bg: #3a2e10;
     --warning-border: #a37800;
     --focus-ring: #60a5fa;
@@ -341,6 +349,20 @@ img {
     gap: var(--space-4);
 }
 
+/* A single cover cell — the catalog/author/collection cards and the
+   loading skeleton share this so their layout can't drift. */
+.manga-card {
+    display: flex;
+    flex-direction: column;
+    gap: var(--space-2);
+    list-style: none;
+    /* Grid items default to min-width: auto which equals the intrinsic
+       content size — long author / title strings then push the cell past
+       `1fr`. Forcing 0 lets the column control the width and the children
+       ellipsize inside it. */
+    min-width: 0;
+}
+
 @media (max-width: 640px) {
     .manga-grid {
         grid-template-columns: repeat(4, minmax(0, 1fr));

frontend/src/lib/styles/tokens.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+import { describe, it, expect } from 'vitest';
+import { readFileSync } from 'node:fs';
+import { resolve } from 'node:path';
+
+// Guards against components referencing design tokens that were never
+// declared. `var(--x)` with no declaration silently falls through to the
+// inherited/initial value, so a typo'd or missing token degrades quietly
+// rather than failing loudly. These two were referenced by components
+// (RecommendationShelf, the manga detail page) but absent from tokens.css.
+
+const TOKENS = readFileSync(resolve(process.cwd(), 'src/lib/styles/tokens.css'), 'utf8');
+
+// Every design token must be declared at least once (in :root and/or a theme
+// override). We only assert declaration, not value.
+function declares(name: string): boolean {
+    return new RegExp(`${name}\\s*:`).test(TOKENS);
+}
+
+describe('design tokens', () => {
+    it('declares --font-md (referenced by RecommendationShelf)', () => {
+        expect(declares('--font-md')).toBe(true);
+    });
+
+    it('declares --success-soft-bg (referenced by the manga detail page)', () => {
+        expect(declares('--success-soft-bg')).toBe(true);
+    });
+
+    it('declares --success-soft-bg in the dark theme override too', () => {
+        const darkBlock = TOKENS.slice(TOKENS.indexOf("[data-theme='dark']"));
+        expect(/--success-soft-bg\s*:/.test(darkBlock)).toBe(true);
+    });
+});

frontend/src/lib/toast.svelte.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+import { describe, it, expect, afterEach, vi } from 'vitest';
+import { toast } from './toast.svelte';
+
+afterEach(() => {
+    toast.clear();
+    vi.useRealTimers();
+});
+
+describe('toast store', () => {
+    it('shows a toast with the given message and kind, returning its id', () => {
+        const id = toast.show('hello', 'info');
+        expect(toast.toasts).toHaveLength(1);
+        expect(toast.toasts[0]).toMatchObject({ id, message: 'hello', kind: 'info' });
+    });
+
+    it('stacks multiple toasts in insertion order with distinct ids', () => {
+        const a = toast.info('first');
+        const b = toast.error('second');
+        expect(toast.toasts.map((t) => t.message)).toEqual(['first', 'second']);
+        expect(a).not.toBe(b);
+    });
+
+    it('exposes kind helpers', () => {
+        toast.error('boom');
+        toast.success('yay');
+        expect(toast.toasts.map((t) => t.kind)).toEqual(['error', 'success']);
+    });
+
+    it('dismisses a toast by id', () => {
+        const id = toast.info('bye');
+        toast.dismiss(id);
+        expect(toast.toasts).toHaveLength(0);
+    });
+
+    it('auto-dismisses after the timeout', () => {
+        vi.useFakeTimers();
+        toast.show('temp', 'info', 3000);
+        expect(toast.toasts).toHaveLength(1);
+        vi.advanceTimersByTime(3000);
+        expect(toast.toasts).toHaveLength(0);
+    });
+
+    it('does not auto-dismiss when the timeout is 0 (sticky)', () => {
+        vi.useFakeTimers();
+        toast.show('sticky', 'error', 0);
+        vi.advanceTimersByTime(60_000);
+        expect(toast.toasts).toHaveLength(1);
+    });
+
+    it('clear() removes everything and cancels pending timers', () => {
+        vi.useFakeTimers();
+        toast.info('a');
+        toast.info('b');
+        toast.clear();
+        expect(toast.toasts).toHaveLength(0);
+        // A previously-scheduled auto-dismiss must not fire against a new toast.
+        const id = toast.info('c', 0);
+        vi.advanceTimersByTime(60_000);
+        expect(toast.toasts).toEqual([{ id, message: 'c', kind: 'info' }]);
+    });
+});

frontend/src/lib/toast.svelte.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+// App-wide transient notifications (toasts).
+//
+// A single client-side store; the <Toaster /> in the root layout renders it.
+// Mutated only from the browser (event handlers / catch blocks), so the
+// module-level singleton can't leak across SSR requests — SSR renders an
+// empty list and the client takes over after hydration.
+
+export type ToastKind = 'info' | 'success' | 'error';
+export type Toast = { id: number; kind: ToastKind; message: string };
+
+const DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_MS = 5000;
+// Errors linger longer — the user may need to read what failed.
+const ERROR_TIMEOUT_MS = 8000;
+
+class ToastStore {
+    toasts = $state<Toast[]>([]);
+    private nextId = 1;
+    private timers = new Map<number, ReturnType<typeof setTimeout>>();
+
+    /**
+     * Queue a toast. `timeoutMs = 0` makes it sticky (dismiss only via the
+     * close button / `dismiss`). Returns the id so callers can dismiss early.
+     */
+    show(message: string, kind: ToastKind = 'info', timeoutMs: number = DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_MS): number {
+        const id = this.nextId++;
+        this.toasts = [...this.toasts, { id, kind, message }];
+        if (timeoutMs > 0) {
+            this.timers.set(
+                id,
+                setTimeout(() => this.dismiss(id), timeoutMs)
+            );
+        }
+        return id;
+    }
+
+    error(message: string, timeoutMs: number = ERROR_TIMEOUT_MS): number {
+        return this.show(message, 'error', timeoutMs);
+    }
+
+    success(message: string, timeoutMs: number = DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_MS): number {
+        return this.show(message, 'success', timeoutMs);
+    }
+
+    info(message: string, timeoutMs: number = DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_MS): number {
+        return this.show(message, 'info', timeoutMs);
+    }
+
+    dismiss(id: number): void {
+        const timer = this.timers.get(id);
+        if (timer) {
+            clearTimeout(timer);
+            this.timers.delete(id);
+        }
+        this.toasts = this.toasts.filter((t) => t.id !== id);
+    }
+
+    clear(): void {
+        this.timers.forEach((t) => clearTimeout(t));
+        this.timers.clear();
+        this.toasts = [];
+    }
+}
+
+export const toast = new ToastStore();

frontend/src/routes/+layout.svelte

@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@
     import { theme } from '$lib/theme.svelte';
     import AppBar from '$lib/components/AppBar.svelte';
     import BottomNav, { type BottomNavTab } from '$lib/components/BottomNav.svelte';
+    import NavProgress from '$lib/components/NavProgress.svelte';
+    import Toaster from '$lib/components/Toaster.svelte';
     import IconButton from '$lib/components/IconButton.svelte';
     import Upload from '@lucide/svelte/icons/upload';
     import UserCircle from '@lucide/svelte/icons/user-circle';
@@ -198,6 +200,8 @@
     <title>{layoutTitle}</title>
 </svelte:head>
 
+<NavProgress />
+
 {#if showMobileChrome}
     <div class="mobile-app-bar-wrap" bind:this={appBarEl}>
         <AppBar title="Mangalord" testid="mobile-app-bar" />
@@ -268,6 +272,8 @@
     </div>
 {/if}
 
+<Toaster />
+
 <style>
     header {
         padding: var(--space-3) var(--space-4);

frontend/src/routes/+page.svelte

@@ -31,7 +31,10 @@
     import Chip from '$lib/components/Chip.svelte';
     import ContinueReadingShelf from '$lib/components/ContinueReadingShelf.svelte';
     import RecommendationShelf from '$lib/components/RecommendationShelf.svelte';
+    import ShelfSkeleton from '$lib/components/ShelfSkeleton.svelte';
+    import { session } from '$lib/session.svelte';
     import MangaCard from '$lib/components/MangaCard.svelte';
+    import MangaGridSkeleton from '$lib/components/MangaGridSkeleton.svelte';
     import Pager from '$lib/components/Pager.svelte';
     import SegmentedControl from '$lib/components/SegmentedControl.svelte';
     import Sheet from '$lib/components/Sheet.svelte';
@@ -47,6 +50,10 @@
     let mangas: MangaCardData[] = $state([]);
     let continueEntries = $state<ReadProgressSummary[]>([]);
     let recommendations = $state<MangaCardData[]>([]);
+    // True while the personal shelves are being fetched. Drives a reserved
+    // ShelfSkeleton (for logged-in users) so the catalog below isn't shoved
+    // down when the shelves resolve.
+    let shelvesLoading = $state(false);
     let search = $state('');
     let sort = $state<MangaSort>(DEFAULT_SORT);
     let order = $state<SortOrder>(defaultOrderFor(DEFAULT_SORT));
@@ -310,26 +317,31 @@
             // Filter UI still loads with an empty genre list rather than blocking.
         }
         await hydrateFromUrl();
+        // Fetch the personal shelves concurrently with the catalogue (rather
+        // than after it) so their reserved skeleton and the grid resolve
+        // together instead of the shelves popping in late and shoving the grid
+        // down. The `/me/*` calls are isolated: a failure (or 401 for guests)
+        // hides its own shelf via the *OrEmpty wrappers without touching the
+        // catalogue or the other shelf.
+        shelvesLoading = true;
+        const shelves = Promise.allSettled([listMyReadProgressOrEmpty(), listMyRecommendations()])
+            .then(([progressResult, recsResult]) => {
+                if (progressResult.status === 'fulfilled') {
+                    // Drop finished series (read to the end, nothing new) — a
+                    // "Continue reading" shelf is for what's still in progress.
+                    continueEntries = progressResult.value.items.filter((e) => !isCaughtUp(e));
+                }
+                if (recsResult.status === 'fulfilled') {
+                    // Personal "Recommended for you" feed (empty for guests / no
+                    // taste signals yet → shelf hidden).
+                    recommendations = recsResult.value;
+                }
+            })
+            .finally(() => {
+                shelvesLoading = false;
+            });
         await load();
-        // Fetch the personal shelves after the catalogue so the public browse
-        // path stays unauthenticated and unblocked. Both are independent
-        // `/me/*` calls, so fire them concurrently rather than in series.
-        // Each is isolated: a failure (or 401 for guests) hides its own shelf
-        // without touching the catalogue or the other shelf.
-        const [progressResult, recsResult] = await Promise.allSettled([
-            listMyReadProgressOrEmpty(),
-            listMyRecommendations()
-        ]);
-        if (progressResult.status === 'fulfilled') {
-            // Drop finished series (read to the end, nothing new) — a
-            // "Continue reading" shelf is for what's still in progress.
-            continueEntries = progressResult.value.items.filter((e) => !isCaughtUp(e));
-        }
-        if (recsResult.status === 'fulfilled') {
-            // Personal "Recommended for you" feed (empty for guests / no
-            // taste signals yet → shelf hidden).
-            recommendations = recsResult.value;
-        }
+        await shelves;
     });
 
     // Track viewport in a separate $effect so the listener cleans up on
@@ -484,12 +496,18 @@
     </a>
 </div>
 
-{#if continueEntries.length > 0}
-    <ContinueReadingShelf entries={continueEntries} />
-{/if}
+{#if shelvesLoading && session.user}
+    <!-- Reserve the shelf area for logged-in users so the grid below doesn't
+         jump when the real shelves resolve. -->
+    <ShelfSkeleton testid="shelf-skeleton" />
+{:else}
+    {#if continueEntries.length > 0}
+        <ContinueReadingShelf entries={continueEntries} />
+    {/if}
 
-{#if recommendations.length > 0}
-    <RecommendationShelf mangas={recommendations} />
+    {#if recommendations.length > 0}
+        <RecommendationShelf mangas={recommendations} />
+    {/if}
 {/if}
 
 <form
@@ -659,7 +677,10 @@
 </Sheet>
 
 {#if loading}
-    <p class="status" data-testid="loading">Loading…</p>
+    <div data-testid="loading" role="status">
+        <span class="visually-hidden">Loading manga…</span>
+        <MangaGridSkeleton />
+    </div>
 {:else if error}
     <p class="error" data-testid="error" role="alert">{error}</p>
 {:else if mangas.length === 0}
@@ -972,6 +993,18 @@
         color: var(--text-muted);
     }
 
+    .visually-hidden {
+        position: absolute;
+        width: 1px;
+        height: 1px;
+        padding: 0;
+        margin: -1px;
+        overflow: hidden;
+        clip: rect(0, 0, 0, 0);
+        white-space: nowrap;
+        border: 0;
+    }
+
     .error {
         color: var(--danger);
     }

frontend/src/routes/authors/[id]/+page.svelte

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 <script lang="ts">
     import MangaCard from '$lib/components/MangaCard.svelte';
+    import MangaGridSkeleton from '$lib/components/MangaGridSkeleton.svelte';
     import Pager from '$lib/components/Pager.svelte';
     import ArrowLeft from '@lucide/svelte/icons/arrow-left';
     import { goto } from '$app/navigation';
@@ -7,15 +8,8 @@
 
     let { data } = $props();
     const author = $derived(data.author);
-    const mangas = $derived(data.mangas);
-    const total = $derived(data.total);
     const currentPage = $derived(data.currentPage);
     const pageSize = $derived(data.pageSize);
-    const totalPages = $derived(
-        total != null && total > 0 ? Math.ceil(total / pageSize) : 1
-    );
-    const rangeStart = $derived(mangas.length === 0 ? 0 : (currentPage - 1) * pageSize + 1);
-    const rangeEnd = $derived((currentPage - 1) * pageSize + mangas.length);
 
     function goToPage(p: number) {
         if (p === currentPage) return;
@@ -45,28 +39,36 @@
     </p>
 </header>
 
-{#if mangas.length === 0}
-    <p class="status" data-testid="author-no-mangas">
-        No mangas attributed to this author.
-    </p>
-{:else}
-    {#if total != null}
-        <p class="meta" data-testid="author-shown-of-total">
-            Showing {rangeStart}–{rangeEnd} of {total}
+{#await data.mangas}
+    <MangaGridSkeleton />
+{:then result}
+    {@const mangas = result.items}
+    {@const total = result.total}
+    {@const totalPages = total != null && total > 0 ? Math.ceil(total / pageSize) : 1}
+    {@const rangeStart = mangas.length === 0 ? 0 : (currentPage - 1) * pageSize + 1}
+    {@const rangeEnd = (currentPage - 1) * pageSize + mangas.length}
+    {#if mangas.length === 0}
+        <p class="status" data-testid="author-no-mangas">
+            No mangas attributed to this author.
         </p>
+    {:else}
+        {#if total != null}
+            <p class="meta" data-testid="author-shown-of-total">
+                Showing {rangeStart}–{rangeEnd} of {total}
+            </p>
+        {/if}
+        <ul class="manga-grid" data-testid="author-manga-list">
+            {#each mangas as m (m.id)}
+                <MangaCard manga={m} testid={`author-manga-${m.id}`} />
+            {/each}
+        </ul>
+        <Pager page={currentPage} {totalPages} onChange={goToPage} testid="author-pager" />
     {/if}
-    <ul class="manga-grid" data-testid="author-manga-list">
-        {#each mangas as m (m.id)}
-            <MangaCard manga={m} testid={`author-manga-${m.id}`} />
-        {/each}
-    </ul>
-    <Pager
-        page={currentPage}
-        {totalPages}
-        onChange={goToPage}
-        testid="author-pager"
-    />
-{/if}
+{:catch}
+    <p class="status" role="alert" data-testid="author-error">
+        Could not load this author's mangas.
+    </p>
+{/await}
 
 <style>
     .back {

frontend/src/routes/authors/[id]/+page.ts

@@ -11,28 +11,27 @@ export const load: PageLoad = async ({ params, url }) => {
     const pageParam = Number(url.searchParams.get('page') ?? '1');
     const currentPage =
         Number.isFinite(pageParam) && pageParam >= 1 ? Math.floor(pageParam) : 1;
+    let author;
     try {
-        const [author, mangas] = await Promise.all([
-            getAuthor(params.id),
-            listAuthorMangas(params.id, {
-                limit: PAGE_SIZE,
-                offset: (currentPage - 1) * PAGE_SIZE
-            })
-        ]);
-        return {
-            author,
-            mangas: mangas.items,
-            total: mangas.page.total,
-            currentPage,
-            pageSize: PAGE_SIZE
-        };
+        // Awaited so a 404 surfaces as a real SvelteKit error (the framework
+        // not-found page) rather than the happy-path markup with undefined
+        // data. The author header is cheap, so blocking on it is fine.
+        author = await getAuthor(params.id);
     } catch (e) {
-        // 404 surfaces as a real SvelteKit error so the framework shell
-        // renders the standard not-found page instead of the route's
-        // happy-path markup with undefined data.
         if (e instanceof ApiError && e.status === 404) {
             error(404, 'Author not found');
         }
         throw e;
     }
+    return {
+        author,
+        // Streamed (not awaited) so the grid shows a MangaGridSkeleton while it
+        // loads instead of the whole page blocking on it.
+        mangas: listAuthorMangas(params.id, {
+            limit: PAGE_SIZE,
+            offset: (currentPage - 1) * PAGE_SIZE
+        }).then((m) => ({ items: m.items, total: m.page.total })),
+        currentPage,
+        pageSize: PAGE_SIZE
+    };
 };

frontend/src/routes/bookmarks/+page.svelte

@@ -1,27 +1,29 @@
 <script lang="ts">
     import BookmarkList from '$lib/components/BookmarkList.svelte';
+    import ListRowSkeleton from '$lib/components/ListRowSkeleton.svelte';
 
     let { data } = $props();
-    const authenticated = $derived(data.authenticated);
-    const bookmarks = $derived(data.bookmarks);
-    const error = $derived(data.error);
 </script>
 
 <h1>Bookmarks</h1>
 
-{#if error}
-    <p class="error" role="alert" data-testid="bookmarks-error">
-        Couldn't load bookmarks: {error}
-    </p>
-{:else if !authenticated}
-    <p class="hint" data-testid="bookmarks-signin">
-        <a href="/login">Sign in</a> to see your bookmarks.
-    </p>
-{:else if bookmarks.length === 0}
-    <p class="hint" data-testid="bookmarks-empty">No bookmarks yet.</p>
-{:else}
-    <BookmarkList {bookmarks} />
-{/if}
+{#await data.result}
+    <ListRowSkeleton />
+{:then r}
+    {#if r.error}
+        <p class="error" role="alert" data-testid="bookmarks-error">
+            Couldn't load bookmarks: {r.error}
+        </p>
+    {:else if !r.authenticated}
+        <p class="hint" data-testid="bookmarks-signin">
+            <a href="/login">Sign in</a> to see your bookmarks.
+        </p>
+    {:else if r.bookmarks.length === 0}
+        <p class="hint" data-testid="bookmarks-empty">No bookmarks yet.</p>
+    {:else}
+        <BookmarkList bookmarks={r.bookmarks} />
+    {/if}
+{/await}
 
 <style>
     .error {

frontend/src/routes/bookmarks/+page.ts

@@ -5,21 +5,26 @@ import type { PageLoad } from './$types';
 export const ssr = false;
 
 export const load: PageLoad = async () => {
-    try {
-        const page = await listMyBookmarks();
-        return { bookmarks: page.items, authenticated: true, error: null };
-    } catch (e) {
-        if (e instanceof ApiError && e.status === 401) {
-            return { bookmarks: [], authenticated: false, error: null };
-        }
-        // Anything else (502 upstream_unavailable from a backend
-        // restart, 500 internal_error) is rendered inline rather than
-        // re-thrown — SvelteKit's generic error.html is not the right
-        // UX for a transient API blip and the user is already
-        // authenticated as far as we know.
-        if (e instanceof ApiError) {
-            return { bookmarks: [], authenticated: true, error: e.message };
-        }
-        throw e;
-    }
+    // Streamed (the load itself doesn't await) so the list shows a skeleton
+    // while the single fetch — which is also the auth gate — is in flight.
+    return {
+        result: (async () => {
+            try {
+                const page = await listMyBookmarks();
+                return { bookmarks: page.items, authenticated: true, error: null as string | null };
+            } catch (e) {
+                if (e instanceof ApiError && e.status === 401) {
+                    return { bookmarks: [], authenticated: false, error: null as string | null };
+                }
+                // Anything else — an HTTP error (502 upstream_unavailable from
+                // a backend restart, 500 internal_error) or a raw network
+                // failure (a non-ApiError TypeError) — renders inline rather
+                // than re-thrown: SvelteKit's generic error.html is not the
+                // right UX for a transient API blip and the user is already
+                // authenticated as far as we know.
+                const message = e instanceof ApiError ? e.message : 'Something went wrong.';
+                return { bookmarks: [], authenticated: true, error: message };
+            }
+        })()
+    };
 };

frontend/src/routes/collections/+page.svelte

@@ -1,26 +1,30 @@
 <script lang="ts">
     import CollectionsGrid from '$lib/components/CollectionsGrid.svelte';
+    import MangaGridSkeleton from '$lib/components/MangaGridSkeleton.svelte';
 
     let { data } = $props();
-    const collections = $derived(data.collections);
 </script>
 
 <h1>Collections</h1>
 
-{#if !data.authenticated}
-    <p class="status">
-        <a href="/login">Sign in</a> to see and manage your collections.
-    </p>
-{:else if data.error}
-    <p class="error" role="alert">{data.error}</p>
-{:else if collections.length === 0}
-    <p class="status" data-testid="collections-empty">
-        You don't have any collections yet. Open any manga and use
-        <strong>Add to collection</strong> to start one.
-    </p>
-{:else}
-    <CollectionsGrid {collections} />
-{/if}
+{#await data.result}
+    <MangaGridSkeleton count={6} />
+{:then r}
+    {#if !r.authenticated}
+        <p class="status">
+            <a href="/login">Sign in</a> to see and manage your collections.
+        </p>
+    {:else if r.error}
+        <p class="error" role="alert">{r.error}</p>
+    {:else if r.collections.length === 0}
+        <p class="status" data-testid="collections-empty">
+            You don't have any collections yet. Open any manga and use
+            <strong>Add to collection</strong> to start one.
+        </p>
+    {:else}
+        <CollectionsGrid collections={r.collections} />
+    {/if}
+{/await}
 
 <style>
     .status {

frontend/src/routes/collections/+page.ts

@@ -5,16 +5,23 @@ import type { PageLoad } from './$types';
 export const ssr = false;
 
 export const load: PageLoad = async () => {
-    try {
-        const page = await listMyCollections({ limit: 200 });
-        return { collections: page.items, authenticated: true, error: null };
-    } catch (e) {
-        if (e instanceof ApiError && e.status === 401) {
-            return { collections: [], authenticated: false, error: null };
-        }
-        if (e instanceof ApiError) {
-            return { collections: [], authenticated: true, error: e.message };
-        }
-        throw e;
-    }
+    // Streamed so the grid shows a skeleton while the single fetch (also the
+    // auth gate) is in flight.
+    return {
+        result: (async () => {
+            try {
+                const page = await listMyCollections({ limit: 200 });
+                return { collections: page.items, authenticated: true, error: null as string | null };
+            } catch (e) {
+                if (e instanceof ApiError && e.status === 401) {
+                    return { collections: [], authenticated: false, error: null as string | null };
+                }
+                // An HTTP error or a raw network failure (a non-ApiError
+                // TypeError) renders inline rather than escaping to the
+                // framework error page for a transient API blip.
+                const message = e instanceof ApiError ? e.message : 'Something went wrong.';
+                return { collections: [], authenticated: true, error: message };
+            }
+        })()
+    };
 };

frontend/src/routes/collections/[id]/+page.svelte

@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
     import type { Manga } from '$lib/api/client';
     import { fileUrl } from '$lib/api/client';
     import MangaCard from '$lib/components/MangaCard.svelte';
+    import MangaGridSkeleton from '$lib/components/MangaGridSkeleton.svelte';
     import IconButton from '$lib/components/IconButton.svelte';
     import ArrowLeft from '@lucide/svelte/icons/arrow-left';
     import Pencil from '@lucide/svelte/icons/pencil';
@@ -22,10 +23,39 @@
     let { data } = $props();
     // svelte-ignore state_referenced_locally
     let collection = $state({ ...data.collection });
-    // svelte-ignore state_referenced_locally
-    let mangas = $state<Manga[]>([...data.mangas]);
-    // svelte-ignore state_referenced_locally
-    let pages = $state<CollectionPageItem[]>([...data.pages]);
+    // The manga/page lists are streamed and held as local mutable state so
+    // removals can be optimistic. They're seeded once the stream resolves; a
+    // skeleton shows until then.
+    let mangas = $state<Manga[]>([]);
+    let pages = $state<CollectionPageItem[]>([]);
+    let contentLoading = $state(true);
+    // Set when the streamed content fails to load, so we surface an inline
+    // error instead of a misleading "this collection is empty".
+    let contentError = $state<string | null>(null);
+
+    // Seed (and re-seed on navigation) from the streamed content. A monotonic
+    // guard drops a stale resolution that lands after a newer navigation.
+    let contentSeq = 0;
+    $effect(() => {
+        const content = data.content;
+        const seq = ++contentSeq;
+        contentLoading = true;
+        contentError = null;
+        content
+            .then((r) => {
+                if (seq !== contentSeq) return;
+                mangas = r.mangas;
+                pages = r.pages;
+                contentLoading = false;
+            })
+            .catch((e) => {
+                if (seq !== contentSeq) return;
+                mangas = [];
+                pages = [];
+                contentError = e instanceof Error ? e.message : 'Something went wrong.';
+                contentLoading = false;
+            });
+    });
 
     let editing = $state(false);
     let editName = $state('');
@@ -178,13 +208,19 @@
     {/if}
 </header>
 
-{#if mangas.length === 0 && pages.length === 0}
+{#if contentLoading}
+    <MangaGridSkeleton count={6} />
+{:else if contentError}
+    <p class="error" role="alert" data-testid="collection-content-error">
+        Couldn't load this collection's contents: {contentError}
+    </p>
+{:else if mangas.length === 0 && pages.length === 0}
     <p class="status" data-testid="collection-empty">
         This collection is empty.
     </p>
 {/if}
 
-{#if mangas.length > 0}
+{#if !contentLoading && mangas.length > 0}
     <section aria-labelledby="mangas-heading">
         <h2 id="mangas-heading" class="section-heading">Mangas</h2>
         <ul class="manga-grid" data-testid="collection-manga-list">
@@ -207,7 +243,7 @@
     </section>
 {/if}
 
-{#if pages.length > 0}
+{#if !contentLoading && pages.length > 0}
     <section aria-labelledby="pages-heading">
         <h2 id="pages-heading" class="section-heading">Pages</h2>
         <ul class="page-grid" data-testid="collection-page-list">

frontend/src/routes/collections/[id]/+page.ts

@@ -10,18 +10,11 @@ import type { PageLoad } from './$types';
 export const ssr = false;
 
 export const load: PageLoad = async ({ params, url }) => {
+    let collection;
     try {
-        const [collection, mangas, pages] = await Promise.all([
-            getCollection(params.id),
-            listCollectionMangas(params.id, { limit: 200 }),
-            listCollectionPages(params.id, { limit: 200 })
-        ]);
-        return {
-            collection,
-            mangas: mangas.items,
-            total: mangas.page.total,
-            pages: pages.items
-        };
+        // Awaited so the header renders immediately and 401/404 are handled by
+        // the framework (redirect / not-found) rather than the happy path.
+        collection = await getCollection(params.id);
     } catch (e) {
         if (e instanceof ApiError) {
             if (e.status === 401) {
@@ -34,4 +27,13 @@ export const load: PageLoad = async ({ params, url }) => {
         }
         throw e;
     }
+    return {
+        collection,
+        // Streamed so the manga/page grids show a skeleton while they load
+        // instead of the whole page blocking on them.
+        content: Promise.all([
+            listCollectionMangas(params.id, { limit: 200 }),
+            listCollectionPages(params.id, { limit: 200 })
+        ]).then(([mangas, pages]) => ({ mangas: mangas.items, pages: pages.items }))
+    };
 };

frontend/src/routes/library/+page.svelte

@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@
     import CollectionsGrid from '$lib/components/CollectionsGrid.svelte';
     import PageTagsList from '$lib/components/PageTagsList.svelte';
     import HistoryList from '$lib/components/HistoryList.svelte';
+    import ListRowSkeleton from '$lib/components/ListRowSkeleton.svelte';
+    import MangaGridSkeleton from '$lib/components/MangaGridSkeleton.svelte';
 
     let { data } = $props();
 
@@ -66,37 +68,42 @@
     />
 </div>
 
-{#if !data.authenticated}
-    <p class="hint" data-testid="library-signin">
-        <a href="/login?next=/library">Sign in</a> to see your library.
-    </p>
-{:else if data.error}
-    <p class="error" role="alert" data-testid="library-error">
-        Couldn't load library: {data.error}
-    </p>
-{:else if activeTab === 'bookmarks'}
-    {#if data.bookmarks.length === 0}
-        <p class="hint" data-testid="library-bookmarks-empty">No bookmarks yet.</p>
+{#await data.result}
+    {#if activeTab === 'collections'}
+        <MangaGridSkeleton count={6} />
     {:else}
-        <BookmarkList bookmarks={data.bookmarks} testid="library-bookmark-list" />
+        <ListRowSkeleton />
     {/if}
-{:else if activeTab === 'collections'}
-    {#if data.collections.length === 0}
-        <p class="hint" data-testid="library-collections-empty">
-            You don't have any collections yet. Open any manga and use
-            <strong>Add to collection</strong> to start one.
+{:then r}
+    {#if !r.authenticated}
+        <p class="hint" data-testid="library-signin">
+            <a href="/login?next=/library">Sign in</a> to see your library.
         </p>
+    {:else if r.error}
+        <p class="error" role="alert" data-testid="library-error">
+            Couldn't load library: {r.error}
+        </p>
+    {:else if activeTab === 'bookmarks'}
+        {#if r.bookmarks.length === 0}
+            <p class="hint" data-testid="library-bookmarks-empty">No bookmarks yet.</p>
+        {:else}
+            <BookmarkList bookmarks={r.bookmarks} testid="library-bookmark-list" />
+        {/if}
+    {:else if activeTab === 'collections'}
+        {#if r.collections.length === 0}
+            <p class="hint" data-testid="library-collections-empty">
+                You don't have any collections yet. Open any manga and use
+                <strong>Add to collection</strong> to start one.
+            </p>
+        {:else}
+            <CollectionsGrid collections={r.collections} />
+        {/if}
+    {:else if activeTab === 'page-tags'}
+        <PageTagsList initialItems={r.pageTags} initialDistinct={r.distinctPageTags} />
     {:else}
-        <CollectionsGrid collections={data.collections} />
+        <HistoryList entries={r.history} onClear={clearOne} testid="library-history" />
     {/if}
-{:else if activeTab === 'page-tags'}
-    <PageTagsList
-        initialItems={data.pageTags}
-        initialDistinct={data.distinctPageTags}
-    />
-{:else}
-    <HistoryList entries={data.history} onClear={clearOne} testid="library-history" />
-{/if}
+{/await}
 
 <style>
     .library-heading {

frontend/src/routes/library/+page.ts

@@ -26,30 +26,37 @@ export const load: PageLoad = async () => {
         distinctPageTags: [] as Awaited<ReturnType<typeof listMyDistinctPageTags>>,
         error: null as string | null
     };
-    try {
-        const [bookmarks, collections, history, pageTags, distinctPageTags] =
-            await Promise.all([
-                listMyBookmarks(),
-                listMyCollections({ limit: 200 }),
-                listMyReadProgress({ limit: 100 }),
-                listMyPageTags({ limit: 100 }),
-                listMyDistinctPageTags(undefined, 100)
-            ]);
-        return {
-            ...empty,
-            bookmarks: bookmarks.items,
-            collections: collections.items,
-            history: history.items,
-            pageTags: pageTags.items,
-            distinctPageTags
-        };
-    } catch (e) {
-        if (e instanceof ApiError && e.status === 401) {
-            return { ...empty, authenticated: false };
-        }
-        if (e instanceof ApiError) {
-            return { ...empty, error: e.message };
-        }
-        throw e;
-    }
+    // Streamed so the active sub-tab shows a skeleton while the one-shot fetch
+    // (also the auth gate) is in flight.
+    return {
+        result: (async () => {
+            try {
+                const [bookmarks, collections, history, pageTags, distinctPageTags] =
+                    await Promise.all([
+                        listMyBookmarks(),
+                        listMyCollections({ limit: 200 }),
+                        listMyReadProgress({ limit: 100 }),
+                        listMyPageTags({ limit: 100 }),
+                        listMyDistinctPageTags(undefined, 100)
+                    ]);
+                return {
+                    ...empty,
+                    bookmarks: bookmarks.items,
+                    collections: collections.items,
+                    history: history.items,
+                    pageTags: pageTags.items,
+                    distinctPageTags
+                };
+            } catch (e) {
+                if (e instanceof ApiError && e.status === 401) {
+                    return { ...empty, authenticated: false };
+                }
+                // An HTTP error or a raw network failure (a non-ApiError
+                // TypeError) renders inline rather than escaping to the
+                // framework error page for a transient API blip.
+                const message = e instanceof ApiError ? e.message : 'Something went wrong.';
+                return { ...empty, error: message };
+            }
+        })()
+    };
 };

frontend/src/routes/manga/[id]/+page.ts

@@ -4,30 +4,34 @@ import { listMyBookmarksOrEmpty } from '$lib/api/bookmarks';
 import { getMyReadProgressForManga } from '$lib/api/read_progress';
 import { getMyReactionForManga } from '$lib/api/reactions';
 import type { PageLoad } from './$types';
+import type { DetailData } from './types';
 
 export const ssr = false;
 
-export const load: PageLoad = async ({ params }) => {
-    const [manga, chapters, bookmarks, readProgress, reaction, similar] = await Promise.all([
+export const load: PageLoad = ({ params }) => {
+    // Streamed (the load doesn't await) so the page renders a
+    // MangaDetailSkeleton while the bundle loads instead of blocking
+    // navigation on all six calls. A getManga 404 / any hard failure rejects
+    // the bundle and is handled by the page's {:catch}.
+    const bundle: Promise<DetailData> = Promise.all([
         getManga(params.id),
         listChapters(params.id),
         listMyBookmarksOrEmpty(),
-        // Null when guest or never-read — page handles both cases.
+        // Null when guest or never-read — the page handles both cases.
         getMyReadProgressForManga(params.id),
-        // Null when guest or not reacted — seeds the like/dislike toggle.
         // Non-critical: any failure degrades to an unset toggle, never a
         // broken page.
         getMyReactionForManga(params.id).catch(() => null),
-        // Recommendations are non-critical: a failure here must not break
-        // the detail page, so fall back to an empty list.
+        // Recommendations are non-critical: fall back to an empty list.
         getSimilarMangas(params.id).catch(() => [] as MangaCard[])
-    ]);
-    return {
+    ]).then(([manga, chapters, bookmarks, readProgress, reaction, similar]) => ({
         manga,
         chapters: chapters.items,
         bookmarks: bookmarks.items,
         readProgress,
         reaction,
         similar
-    };
+    }));
+
+    return { bundle };
 };

frontend/src/routes/manga/[id]/types.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+import type { MangaCard, MangaDetail } from '$lib/api/mangas';
+import type { Chapter } from '$lib/api/chapters';
+import type { Bookmark } from '$lib/api/bookmarks';
+import type { ReadProgressForManga } from '$lib/api/read_progress';
+import type { Reaction } from '$lib/api/reactions';
+
+/**
+ * The manga detail bundle. Streamed from the loader (see +page.ts) and passed
+ * to DetailView once resolved, so the page can render a skeleton while it
+ * loads. Shape matches the loader's previous flat return.
+ */
+export type DetailData = {
+    manga: MangaDetail;
+    chapters: Chapter[];
+    bookmarks: Bookmark[];
+    readProgress: ReadProgressForManga | null;
+    reaction: Reaction | null;
+    similar: MangaCard[];
+};

frontend/src/routes/search/+page.svelte

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
     import TaggedPageRow from '$lib/components/TaggedPageRow.svelte';
     import TaggedChapterRow from '$lib/components/TaggedChapterRow.svelte';
     import TaggedMangaRow from '$lib/components/TaggedMangaRow.svelte';
+    import SearchResultsSkeleton from '$lib/components/SearchResultsSkeleton.svelte';
     import { CONTENT_WARNINGS, type ContentWarning } from '$lib/api/page_tags';
     import X from '@lucide/svelte/icons/x';
 
@@ -176,21 +177,29 @@
     </section>
 
     {#if data.contentSearch}
-        {#if data.results.length === 0}
-            <p class="hint" data-testid="search-content-empty">
-                No pages match this search.
-            </p>
-        {:else}
-            <ul class="list" data-testid="search-content-list">
-                {#each data.results as p (p.page_id)}
-                    <TaggedPageRow
-                        item={{ ...p, tag: '', tagged_at: '' }}
-                        showTagPill={false}
-                        testid={`search-result-${p.page_id}`}
-                    />
-                {/each}
-            </ul>
-        {/if}
+        {#await data.results}
+            <SearchResultsSkeleton />
+        {:then r}
+            {#if r.error}
+                <p class="error" role="alert" data-testid="search-results-error">
+                    Couldn't load results: {r.error}
+                </p>
+            {:else if r.results.length === 0}
+                <p class="hint" data-testid="search-content-empty">
+                    No pages match this search.
+                </p>
+            {:else}
+                <ul class="list" data-testid="search-content-list">
+                    {#each r.results as p (p.page_id)}
+                        <TaggedPageRow
+                            item={{ ...p, tag: '', tagged_at: '' }}
+                            showTagPill={false}
+                            testid={`search-result-${p.page_id}`}
+                        />
+                    {/each}
+                </ul>
+            {/if}
+        {/await}
     {:else}
     <!-- Tag filter. When a tag is selected it's shown as a chip with
          an x to clear; when none is, the input doubles as the entry
@@ -280,53 +289,61 @@
             </div>
         {/if}
 
-        {#if data.view === 'pages'}
-            {#if data.pages.length === 0}
-                <p class="hint" data-testid="search-pages-empty">
-                    No pages tagged with "{data.tag}".
+        {#await data.results}
+            <SearchResultsSkeleton />
+        {:then r}
+            {#if r.error}
+                <p class="error" role="alert" data-testid="search-results-error">
+                    Couldn't load results: {r.error}
                 </p>
+            {:else if data.view === 'pages'}
+                {#if r.pages.length === 0}
+                    <p class="hint" data-testid="search-pages-empty">
+                        No pages tagged with "{data.tag}".
+                    </p>
+                {:else}
+                    <ul class="list" data-testid="search-pages-list">
+                        {#each r.pages as p (p.page_id)}
+                            <TaggedPageRow
+                                item={p}
+                                showTagPill={false}
+                                testid={`search-page-row-${p.page_id}`}
+                            />
+                        {/each}
+                    </ul>
+                {/if}
+            {:else if data.view === 'chapters'}
+                {#if r.chapters.length === 0}
+                    <p class="hint" data-testid="search-chapters-empty">
+                        No chapters contain pages tagged with "{data.tag}".
+                    </p>
+                {:else}
+                    <ul class="list" data-testid="search-chapters-list">
+                        {#each r.chapters as c (c.chapter_id)}
+                            <TaggedChapterRow
+                                item={c}
+                                testid={`search-chapter-row-${c.chapter_id}`}
+                            />
+                        {/each}
+                    </ul>
+                {/if}
             {:else}
-                <ul class="list" data-testid="search-pages-list">
-                    {#each data.pages as p (p.page_id)}
-                        <TaggedPageRow
-                            item={p}
-                            showTagPill={false}
-                            testid={`search-page-row-${p.page_id}`}
-                        />
-                    {/each}
-                </ul>
+                {#if r.mangas.length === 0}
+                    <p class="hint" data-testid="search-mangas-empty">
+                        No mangas contain pages tagged with "{data.tag}".
+                    </p>
+                {:else}
+                    <ul class="list" data-testid="search-mangas-list">
+                        {#each r.mangas as m (m.manga_id)}
+                            <TaggedMangaRow
+                                item={m}
+                                testid={`search-manga-row-${m.manga_id}`}
+                            />
+                        {/each}
+                    </ul>
+                {/if}
             {/if}
-        {:else if data.view === 'chapters'}
-            {#if data.chapters.length === 0}
-                <p class="hint" data-testid="search-chapters-empty">
-                    No chapters contain pages tagged with "{data.tag}".
-                </p>
-            {:else}
-                <ul class="list" data-testid="search-chapters-list">
-                    {#each data.chapters as c (c.chapter_id)}
-                        <TaggedChapterRow
-                            item={c}
-                            testid={`search-chapter-row-${c.chapter_id}`}
-                        />
-                    {/each}
-                </ul>
-            {/if}
-        {:else}
-            {#if data.mangas.length === 0}
-                <p class="hint" data-testid="search-mangas-empty">
-                    No mangas contain pages tagged with "{data.tag}".
-                </p>
-            {:else}
-                <ul class="list" data-testid="search-mangas-list">
-                    {#each data.mangas as m (m.manga_id)}
-                        <TaggedMangaRow
-                            item={m}
-                            testid={`search-manga-row-${m.manga_id}`}
-                        />
-                    {/each}
-                </ul>
-            {/if}
-        {/if}
+        {/await}
     {/if}
     {/if}
 {/if}

frontend/src/routes/search/+page.ts

@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ export const load: PageLoad = async ({ url }) => {
     // backend; cw_exclude alone can't drive a search.
     const contentSearch = text !== '' || cwInclude.length > 0;
 
-    const empty = {
+    const base = {
         authenticated: true,
         tag,
         view,
@@ -70,6 +70,10 @@ export const load: PageLoad = async ({ url }) => {
         cwExclude,
         contentSearch,
         distinct: [] as PageTagSummary[],
+        error: null as string | null
+    };
+
+    const emptyResults = {
         pages: [] as TaggedPageItem[],
         chapters: [] as TaggedChapterAggregate[],
         mangas: [] as TaggedMangaAggregate[],
@@ -78,55 +82,54 @@ export const load: PageLoad = async ({ url }) => {
         error: null as string | null
     };
 
+    // The chip cloud + auth gate come from `distinct`, so it's awaited. A 401
+    // here means "not signed in"; any other error is surfaced inline. The
+    // view-specific results are streamed (see below).
+    let distinct: PageTagSummary[];
     try {
-        const distinct = await listMyDistinctPageTags(undefined, 100);
-
-        // Content search takes precedence over tag browsing.
-        if (contentSearch) {
-            const r = await searchPages({
-                text: text || undefined,
-                cwInclude,
-                cwExclude,
-                limit: 100
-            });
-            return { ...empty, distinct, results: r.items, total: r.page.total ?? 0 };
-        }
-
-        // No tag selected → just the chip cloud.
-        if (!tag) return { ...empty, distinct };
-
-        if (view === 'chapters') {
-            const r = await listTaggedChapters({ tag, order, limit: 100 });
-            return {
-                ...empty,
-                distinct,
-                chapters: r.items,
-                total: r.page.total ?? 0
-            };
-        }
-        if (view === 'mangas') {
-            const r = await listTaggedMangas({ tag, order, limit: 100 });
-            return {
-                ...empty,
-                distinct,
-                mangas: r.items,
-                total: r.page.total ?? 0
-            };
-        }
-        const r = await listMyPageTags({ tag, limit: 100 });
-        return {
-            ...empty,
-            distinct,
-            pages: r.items,
-            total: r.page.total ?? 0
-        };
+        distinct = await listMyDistinctPageTags(undefined, 100);
     } catch (e) {
         if (e instanceof ApiError && e.status === 401) {
-            return { ...empty, authenticated: false };
+            return { ...base, authenticated: false, results: Promise.resolve(emptyResults) };
         }
-        if (e instanceof ApiError) {
-            return { ...empty, error: e.message };
-        }
-        throw e;
+        // Any other HTTP error or a raw network failure (a non-ApiError
+        // TypeError) is surfaced inline rather than escaping to the framework
+        // error page.
+        const message = e instanceof ApiError ? e.message : 'Something went wrong.';
+        return { ...base, error: message, results: Promise.resolve(emptyResults) };
     }
+
+    // Streamed so the results list shows a skeleton while it (re-)queries on
+    // every tag / view / sort / text change instead of freezing the old list.
+    const results = (async () => {
+        try {
+            // Content search takes precedence over tag browsing.
+            if (contentSearch) {
+                const r = await searchPages({
+                    text: text || undefined,
+                    cwInclude,
+                    cwExclude,
+                    limit: 100
+                });
+                return { ...emptyResults, results: r.items, total: r.page.total ?? 0 };
+            }
+            // No tag selected → just the chip cloud, no results.
+            if (!tag) return emptyResults;
+            if (view === 'chapters') {
+                const r = await listTaggedChapters({ tag, order, limit: 100 });
+                return { ...emptyResults, chapters: r.items, total: r.page.total ?? 0 };
+            }
+            if (view === 'mangas') {
+                const r = await listTaggedMangas({ tag, order, limit: 100 });
+                return { ...emptyResults, mangas: r.items, total: r.page.total ?? 0 };
+            }
+            const r = await listMyPageTags({ tag, limit: 100 });
+            return { ...emptyResults, pages: r.items, total: r.page.total ?? 0 };
+        } catch (e) {
+            const message = e instanceof ApiError ? e.message : 'Something went wrong.';
+            return { ...emptyResults, error: message };
+        }
+    })();
+
+    return { ...base, distinct, results };
 };