diff --git a/backend/Cargo.lock b/backend/Cargo.lock
index 332ac16..77e9e38 100644
--- a/backend/Cargo.lock
+++ b/backend/Cargo.lock
@@ -1517,7 +1517,7 @@ checksum = "c41e0c4fef86961ac6d6f8a82609f55f31b05e4fce149ac5710e439df7619ba4"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "mangalord"
-version = "0.88.0"
+version = "0.89.0"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "argon2",
diff --git a/backend/Cargo.toml b/backend/Cargo.toml
index 88ade25..765d388 100644
--- a/backend/Cargo.toml
+++ b/backend/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name = "mangalord"
-version = "0.88.0"
+version = "0.89.0"
 edition = "2021"
 default-run = "mangalord"
 
diff --git a/frontend/e2e/reader-mode.spec.ts b/frontend/e2e/reader-mode.spec.ts
index b31cd8b..012bc90 100644
--- a/frontend/e2e/reader-mode.spec.ts
+++ b/frontend/e2e/reader-mode.spec.ts
@@ -66,6 +66,15 @@ async function mockReaderApis(page: Page) {
             body: JSON.stringify({ error: { code: 'unauthenticated', message: '' } })
         })
     );
+    // Anonymous reader: read-progress reads/writes are unauthenticated. Without
+    // this the GET/PUT fall through to the (absent) backend and stall the load.
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/me/read-progress/**', (route) =>
+        route.fulfill({
+            status: 401,
+            contentType: 'application/json',
+            body: JSON.stringify({ error: { code: 'unauthenticated', message: '' } })
+        })
+    );
     await page.route(`**/api/v1/mangas/${mangaId}`, (route) =>
         route.fulfill({
             status: 200,
@@ -126,6 +135,7 @@ test.beforeEach(async ({ context }) => {
         try {
             localStorage.removeItem('mangalord-reader-mode');
             localStorage.removeItem('mangalord-reader-gap');
+            localStorage.removeItem('mangalord-reader-brightness');
         } catch {
             // ignore — about:blank doesn't expose localStorage yet.
         }
@@ -181,6 +191,64 @@ test('gap select updates the inline gap on the continuous container', async ({ p
     await expect(container).toHaveAttribute('style', /gap:\s*64px/);
 });
 
+test('desktop reader nav exposes a brightness control that dims and undims the reader', async ({
+    page
+}) => {
+    // The brightness slider used to live only in the mobile settings sheet,
+    // so desktop users couldn't dim — and could be stuck dimmed by a value a
+    // phone had persisted. The desktop nav now carries its own slider.
+    await mockReaderApis(page);
+    await page.goto(`/manga/${mangaId}/chapter/${chapterId}`);
+
+    const slider = page.getByTestId('reader-brightness-desktop');
+    await expect(slider).toBeVisible();
+
+    const dim = () =>
+        page.evaluate(() =>
+            document.documentElement.style.getPropertyValue('--reader-dim')
+        );
+
+    // Default brightness is full → no dim overlay.
+    await expect.poll(async () => Number(await dim())).toBe(0);
+
+    // Dimming raises the overlay opacity…
+    await slider.fill('0.3');
+    await expect.poll(async () => Number(await dim())).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+
+    // …and restoring it clears the dim, so a desktop user is never stuck.
+    await slider.fill('1');
+    await expect.poll(async () => Number(await dim())).toBe(0);
+});
+
+test('a brightness value persisted by a phone is recoverable on desktop', async ({
+    page,
+    context
+}) => {
+    // Seed a dimmed value as if set on mobile, then open the reader on a
+    // desktop viewport: the dim applies and the desktop control reflects it.
+    await context.addInitScript(() => {
+        try {
+            localStorage.setItem('mangalord-reader-brightness', '0.3');
+        } catch {
+            // about:blank — ignore
+        }
+    });
+    await mockReaderApis(page);
+    await page.goto(`/manga/${mangaId}/chapter/${chapterId}`);
+
+    const slider = page.getByTestId('reader-brightness-desktop');
+    await expect(slider).toHaveValue('0.3');
+    await expect
+        .poll(async () =>
+            Number(
+                await page.evaluate(() =>
+                    document.documentElement.style.getPropertyValue('--reader-dim')
+                )
+            )
+        )
+        .toBeGreaterThan(0);
+});
+
 test('reader-mode preference set on one page is honored when the reader opens', async ({
     page,
     context
diff --git a/frontend/package.json b/frontend/package.json
index 18e80b3..50639c3 100644
--- a/frontend/package.json
+++ b/frontend/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "mangalord-frontend",
-  "version": "0.88.0",
+  "version": "0.89.0",
   "private": true,
   "type": "module",
   "scripts": {
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/manga/[id]/chapter/[chapter_id]/+page.svelte b/frontend/src/routes/manga/[id]/chapter/[chapter_id]/+page.svelte
index cd2b865..c59893f 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/manga/[id]/chapter/[chapter_id]/+page.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/manga/[id]/chapter/[chapter_id]/+page.svelte
@@ -1094,6 +1094,28 @@
 
         {/if}
 
+        <!-- Desktop brightness. On mobile this control lives in the reader
+             settings sheet; desktop has no sheet, so it sits inline here.
+             Shares the `brightness` state and the same `--reader-dim`
+             effect, so a value set on either form factor stays in sync. -->
+        <label class="brightness-field desktop-control">
+            <Sun size={16} aria-hidden="true" />
+            <span class="visually-hidden">Brightness</span>
+            <input
+                type="range"
+                class="brightness-slider"
+                min="0.3"
+                max="1"
+                step="0.05"
+                value={brightness}
+                oninput={(e) => {
+                    brightness = Number((e.currentTarget as HTMLInputElement).value);
+                }}
+                aria-label="Brightness"
+                data-testid="reader-brightness-desktop"
+            />
+        </label>
+
         <button
             type="button"
             class="reader-settings-btn mobile-control"
@@ -2181,6 +2203,20 @@
         width: 100%;
     }
 
+    /* Inline desktop brightness control in the reader nav. The slider is
+       full-width inside the mobile settings sheet; here it's capped so it
+       sits neatly beside the mode toggle. */
+    .brightness-field {
+        display: inline-flex;
+        align-items: center;
+        gap: var(--space-2);
+        color: var(--text-muted);
+    }
+
+    .brightness-field .brightness-slider {
+        width: 120px;
+    }
+
     @media (max-width: 640px) {
         /* Reader-nav sits at the viewport top — the global mobile
            chrome is hidden on this route so there's no app bar above