diff --git a/skald-core/src/forge.rs b/skald-core/src/forge.rs
index b50dcfb..b6f7790 100644
--- a/skald-core/src/forge.rs
+++ b/skald-core/src/forge.rs
@@ -106,10 +106,12 @@ impl Forge {
         let client = ClientBuilder::default()
             .base_url(&cfg.base_url)
             .token(&cfg.app_token)
-            // Generation passes at --effort max can run 10–20 min wall
-            // clock. clawdforge's server-side cap is 1800s — match it.
-            // Default 120s would strand any prose-craft pass.
-            .timeout(Duration::from_secs(1800))
+            // Generation passes at --effort max run 10–20 min wall clock;
+            // the max-effort whole-book prose audit can run past an hour.
+            // This is the client-side ceiling — set high enough to cover
+            // the slowest pass; each pass still sends its own server-side
+            // timeout_secs. Default 120s would strand any real pass.
+            .timeout(Duration::from_secs(7200))
             .user_agent(concat!("skald/", env!("CARGO_PKG_VERSION")))
             .build()?;
         Ok(Self {
@@ -219,7 +221,9 @@ impl Forge {
             model: Some(self.model.clone()),
             system: Some(SYSTEM_PROSE_AUDIT.to_string()),
             effort: Some(Effort::Max),
-            timeout_secs: Some(1800),
+            // A max-effort audit over a whole book genuinely runs long —
+            // 1800s strands it. 3600s covers a 50k+-word story.
+            timeout_secs: Some(3600),
             ..Default::default()
         };
         let r = self.client.run(body).await?;