diff --git a/client/src/features/author/components/AuthorCard.vue b/client/src/features/author/components/AuthorCard.vue
index 2b88e382e..52f64a517 100644
--- a/client/src/features/author/components/AuthorCard.vue
+++ b/client/src/features/author/components/AuthorCard.vue
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import type { AuthorSummary } from '@bookorbit/types'
 import { BookCopy, Check, ExternalLink, Loader2, MoreHorizontal, RefreshCw, Trash2 } from 'lucide-vue-next'
 import { DropdownMenu, DropdownMenuContent, DropdownMenuItem, DropdownMenuTrigger } from '@/components/ui/dropdown-menu'
 import { bookCoverStyle } from '@/features/book/lib/book-cover'
+import { toDisplayCoverUrl } from '@/features/book/lib/metadata-fetch'
 
 const props = defineProps<{
   author: AuthorSummary
@@ -25,7 +26,10 @@ const emit = defineEmits<{
 
 const initial = computed(() => props.author.name.trim().charAt(0).toUpperCase() || '?')
 const fallbackStyle = computed(() => bookCoverStyle(props.author.name || String(props.author.id)))
-const imageSrc = computed(() => props.author.imageUrl ?? undefined)
+const imageSrc = computed(() => {
+  const display = toDisplayCoverUrl(props.author.imageUrl)
+  return display || undefined
+})
 const hasImage = computed(() => Boolean(imageSrc.value) && !imageFailed.value)
 
 const imageFailed = ref(false)
diff --git a/client/src/features/author/components/AuthorHeader.vue b/client/src/features/author/components/AuthorHeader.vue
index cc907a7b6..9ee596093 100644
--- a/client/src/features/author/components/AuthorHeader.vue
+++ b/client/src/features/author/components/AuthorHeader.vue
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import { computed, ref, watch } from 'vue'
 import type { AuthorDetail } from '@bookorbit/types'
 import { MoreHorizontal, Pencil, RefreshCcw, Trash2, UsersRound, X } from 'lucide-vue-next'
 import { DropdownMenu, DropdownMenuContent, DropdownMenuItem, DropdownMenuSeparator, DropdownMenuTrigger } from '@/components/ui/dropdown-menu'
+import { toDisplayCoverUrl } from '@/features/book/lib/metadata-fetch'
 
 const props = defineProps<{
   author: AuthorDetail
@@ -54,7 +55,11 @@ const previewProviderLabel = computed(() => {
 const showMenu = computed(() => props.canUpdate || props.canMerge || props.canDelete)
 
 const imageLightboxOpen = ref(false)
-const canOpenImageLightbox = computed(() => Boolean(props.imageUrl))
+const displayImageUrl = computed(() => {
+  const display = toDisplayCoverUrl(props.imageUrl)
+  return display || null
+})
+const canOpenImageLightbox = computed(() => Boolean(displayImageUrl.value))
 const bioExpanded = ref(false)
 
 watch(resolvedBio, () => {
@@ -71,7 +76,7 @@ watch(resolvedBio, () => {
           :class="canOpenImageLightbox ? 'cursor-zoom-in' : ''"
           @click="canOpenImageLightbox && (imageLightboxOpen = true)"
         >
-          <img v-if="imageUrl" :src="imageUrl" :alt="`${author.name} portrait`" class="h-full w-full object-cover" />
+          <img v-if="displayImageUrl" :src="displayImageUrl" :alt="`${author.name} portrait`" class="h-full w-full object-cover" />
           <div
             v-else
             class="flex h-full w-full items-center justify-center bg-gradient-to-br from-primary/20 to-primary/5 text-3xl font-semibold text-primary"
@@ -162,7 +167,7 @@ watch(resolvedBio, () => {
 
   <Teleport to="body">
     <div
-      v-if="imageLightboxOpen && imageUrl"
+      v-if="imageLightboxOpen && displayImageUrl"
       class="fixed inset-0 z-50 flex items-center justify-center bg-black/80 backdrop-blur-sm"
       @click="imageLightboxOpen = false"
     >
@@ -172,7 +177,12 @@ watch(resolvedBio, () => {
       >
         <X class="size-5" />
       </button>
-      <img :src="imageUrl" :alt="`${author.name} portrait`" class="max-h-[90vh] max-w-[90vw] rounded-lg object-contain shadow-2xl" @click.stop />
+      <img
+        :src="displayImageUrl"
+        :alt="`${author.name} portrait`"
+        class="max-h-[90vh] max-w-[90vw] rounded-lg object-contain shadow-2xl"
+        @click.stop
+      />
     </div>
   </Teleport>
 </template>
diff --git a/client/src/features/author/components/AuthorListRow.vue b/client/src/features/author/components/AuthorListRow.vue
index 4f8f99076..fa183c228 100644
--- a/client/src/features/author/components/AuthorListRow.vue
+++ b/client/src/features/author/components/AuthorListRow.vue
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 import { computed, ref, watch } from 'vue'
 import type { AuthorSummary } from '@bookorbit/types'
 import { ArrowRight, BookCopy, Check, Clock3, Loader2 } from 'lucide-vue-next'
+import { toDisplayCoverUrl } from '@/features/book/lib/metadata-fetch'
 
 const props = defineProps<{
   author: AuthorSummary
@@ -23,6 +24,10 @@ const lastAddedLabel = computed(() => {
 
 const imageFailed = ref(false)
 const initial = computed(() => props.author.name.trim().charAt(0).toUpperCase() || '?')
+const imageSrc = computed(() => {
+  const display = toDisplayCoverUrl(props.author.imageUrl)
+  return display || undefined
+})
 watch(
   () => props.author.imageUrl,
   () => {
@@ -56,8 +61,8 @@ function handleClick(event: MouseEvent) {
 
       <div class="h-8 w-8 shrink-0 overflow-hidden rounded-md border border-border/60 bg-muted/30">
         <img
-          v-if="author.imageUrl && !imageFailed"
-          :src="author.imageUrl"
+          v-if="imageSrc && !imageFailed"
+          :src="imageSrc"
           :alt="`${author.name} portrait`"
           class="h-full w-full object-cover"
           loading="lazy"
diff --git a/client/src/features/book/composables/useCoverEditor.ts b/client/src/features/book/composables/useCoverEditor.ts
index 757341f15..6937f4842 100644
--- a/client/src/features/book/composables/useCoverEditor.ts
+++ b/client/src/features/book/composables/useCoverEditor.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { onUnmounted, ref, type Ref } from 'vue'
 import { api } from '@/lib/api'
 import { useCoverVersions } from './useCoverVersions'
+import { toDisplayCoverUrl } from '../lib/metadata-fetch'
 
 export function useCoverEditor(bookId: Ref<number>) {
   const uploading = ref(false)
@@ -19,9 +20,10 @@ export function useCoverEditor(bookId: Ref<number>) {
 
   function setUrl(url: string) {
     if (previewSrc.value?.startsWith('blob:')) URL.revokeObjectURL(previewSrc.value)
+    const normalizedUrl = url.trim()
     pendingFile.value = null
-    pendingUrl.value = url || null
-    previewSrc.value = url || null
+    pendingUrl.value = normalizedUrl || null
+    previewSrc.value = normalizedUrl ? toDisplayCoverUrl(normalizedUrl) : null
     error.value = null
   }