diff --git a/src/renderer/book/chapter-list.ts b/src/renderer/book/chapter-list.ts
index f7fd273..d070173 100644
--- a/src/renderer/book/chapter-list.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/book/chapter-list.ts
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ export function createChapterListFeature(ctx: BookCtx): ChapterListFeature {
     "#3b82f6", "#8b5cf6", "#78716c", "#18181b",
   ];
   const HEX_RE = /^#[0-9a-fA-F]{3,8}$/;
+  let animateNextRender = false;
 
   let colorPopover: HTMLDivElement | null = null;
   function closeColorPopover() {
@@ -299,12 +300,29 @@ export function createChapterListFeature(ctx: BookCtx): ChapterListFeature {
     }
   }
 
-  async function persistOrder() {
+  async function persistOrder(scrollSelected = false) {
     if (!state.meta) return;
     state.meta.chapterOrder = state.ordered.map((c) => c.id);
     const res = await api.reorderChapters(state.meta.chapterOrder);
     if (res && "error" in res) await alertMessage("Could not reorder chapters", (res as { error: string }).error);
-    else renderChapterList();
+    else {
+      renderChapterList();
+      if (scrollSelected) keepSelectedVisible();
+    }
+  }
+
+  // After renderChapterList() rebuilds the list, DOM focus is lost and the
+  // moved row can end up outside the visible scroll area. Restore focus so
+  // repeated Alt+Arrow presses keep working, and scroll the selected row
+  // into view so it follows the move.
+  function keepSelectedVisible() {
+    if (!state.selectedId) return;
+    const row = chapterList.querySelector(
+      `li.chapter-row[data-id="${CSS.escape(state.selectedId)}"]`
+    ) as HTMLElement | null;
+    if (!row) return;
+    row.focus({ preventScroll: true });
+    row.scrollIntoView({ block: "nearest" });
   }
 
   function moveSelectedDown() {
@@ -313,8 +331,10 @@ export function createChapterListFeature(ctx: BookCtx): ChapterListFeature {
     if (i < 0 || i >= state.ordered.length - 1) return;
     state.ordered = moveInList(state.ordered, i, i + 1);
     state.meta!.chapterOrder = state.ordered.map((c) => c.id);
+    animateNextRender = true;
     renderChapterList();
-    void persistOrder();
+    keepSelectedVisible();
+    void persistOrder(true);
   }
 
   function moveSelectedUp() {
@@ -323,8 +343,10 @@ export function createChapterListFeature(ctx: BookCtx): ChapterListFeature {
     if (i <= 0) return;
     state.ordered = moveInList(state.ordered, i, i - 1);
     state.meta!.chapterOrder = state.ordered.map((c) => c.id);
+    animateNextRender = true;
     renderChapterList();
-    void persistOrder();
+    keepSelectedVisible();
+    void persistOrder(true);
   }
 
   // ---- pointer-based reordering ----
@@ -333,10 +355,65 @@ export function createChapterListFeature(ctx: BookCtx): ChapterListFeature {
   let dragStartY = 0;
   let dragMoved = false;
   let dragJustHappened = false;
-  let animateNextRender = false;
   let dragGhost: HTMLElement | null = null;
   let dragPlaceholder: HTMLElement | null = null;
   let dragOffsetY = 0;
+  let dragClientX = 0;
+  let dragClientY = 0;
+  let dragScrollRaf = 0;
+
+  function updateDropTarget(clientX: number, clientY: number) {
+    const overEl = document.elementFromPoint(clientX, clientY);
+    const overLi = overEl?.closest("li.chapter-row") as HTMLElement | null;
+    chapterList.querySelectorAll(".chapter-row").forEach((n) => {
+      n.classList.remove("drop-target", "drop-before", "drop-after");
+    });
+    if (overLi && overLi.dataset.id !== draggingId) {
+      overLi.classList.add("drop-target");
+      const before = clientY < overLi.getBoundingClientRect().top + overLi.offsetHeight / 2;
+      overLi.classList.add(before ? "drop-before" : "drop-after");
+      if (dragPlaceholder) {
+        if (before) chapterList.insertBefore(dragPlaceholder, overLi);
+        else chapterList.insertBefore(dragPlaceholder, overLi.nextSibling);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  function stopDragScroll() {
+    if (dragScrollRaf) cancelAnimationFrame(dragScrollRaf);
+    dragScrollRaf = 0;
+  }
+
+  // Continuously scroll the chapter list while the dragged ghost is held
+  // near its top/bottom edge, so chapters above/below the fold are reachable.
+  // pointermove alone is not enough: it stops firing when the pointer holds
+  // still, which is exactly when the user expects the list to keep scrolling.
+  function tickDragScroll() {
+    dragScrollRaf = 0;
+    if (!dragMoved || draggingId === null) return;
+    const rect = chapterList.getBoundingClientRect();
+    const EDGE = 48;
+    const MAX_SPEED = 14;
+    let dy = 0;
+    if (dragClientY < rect.top + EDGE) {
+      const strength = Math.min(1, (rect.top + EDGE - dragClientY) / EDGE);
+      dy = -(2 + MAX_SPEED * strength);
+    } else if (dragClientY > rect.bottom - EDGE) {
+      const strength = Math.min(1, (dragClientY - (rect.bottom - EDGE)) / EDGE);
+      dy = 2 + MAX_SPEED * strength;
+    }
+    if (dy !== 0) {
+      chapterList.scrollTop += dy;
+      if (dragGhost) dragGhost.style.top = `${dragClientY - dragOffsetY}px`;
+      updateDropTarget(dragClientX, dragClientY);
+    }
+    dragScrollRaf = requestAnimationFrame(tickDragScroll);
+  }
+
+  function startDragScroll() {
+    stopDragScroll();
+    dragScrollRaf = requestAnimationFrame(tickDragScroll);
+  }
 
   chapterList.addEventListener("pointerdown", (e) => {
     if (e.button !== 0) return; // left button only
@@ -353,6 +430,8 @@ export function createChapterListFeature(ctx: BookCtx): ChapterListFeature {
 
   document.addEventListener("pointermove", (e) => {
     if (dragPointerId === null || draggingId === null) return;
+    dragClientX = e.clientX;
+    dragClientY = e.clientY;
     if (!dragMoved) {
       if (Math.abs(e.clientY - dragStartY) < 4) return; // movement threshold
       dragMoved = true;
@@ -375,27 +454,16 @@ export function createChapterListFeature(ctx: BookCtx): ChapterListFeature {
         src.replaceWith(dragPlaceholder);
       }
       document.body.classList.add("dragging-active");
+      startDragScroll();
     }
     if (dragGhost) dragGhost.style.top = `${e.clientY - dragOffsetY}px`;
-    const overEl = document.elementFromPoint(e.clientX, e.clientY);
-    const overLi = overEl?.closest("li.chapter-row") as HTMLElement | null;
-    chapterList.querySelectorAll(".chapter-row").forEach((n) => {
-      n.classList.remove("drop-target", "drop-before", "drop-after");
-    });
-    if (overLi && overLi.dataset.id !== draggingId) {
-      overLi.classList.add("drop-target");
-      const before = e.clientY < overLi.getBoundingClientRect().top + overLi.offsetHeight / 2;
-      overLi.classList.add(before ? "drop-before" : "drop-after");
-      if (dragPlaceholder) {
-        if (before) chapterList.insertBefore(dragPlaceholder, overLi);
-        else chapterList.insertBefore(dragPlaceholder, overLi.nextSibling);
-      }
-    }
+    updateDropTarget(e.clientX, e.clientY);
   });
 
   document.addEventListener("pointerup", (e) => {
     if (dragPointerId === null) return;
     dragPointerId = null;
+    stopDragScroll();
     document.body.classList.remove("dragging-active");
     if (!dragMoved || !draggingId) {
       draggingId = null;
@@ -437,6 +505,22 @@ export function createChapterListFeature(ctx: BookCtx): ChapterListFeature {
     draggingId = null;
   });
 
+  // If the OS cancels the gesture (touch interruption, alert, etc.),
+  // stop scrolling and restore the list so no ghost/placeholder is left behind.
+  document.addEventListener("pointercancel", () => {
+    if (dragPointerId === null) return;
+    dragPointerId = null;
+    stopDragScroll();
+    document.body.classList.remove("dragging-active");
+    dragGhost?.remove();
+    dragGhost = null;
+    dragPlaceholder?.remove();
+    dragPlaceholder = null;
+    draggingId = null;
+    dragMoved = false;
+    renderChapterList();
+  });
+
   addChapterBtn.addEventListener("click", () => void create());
 
   return {