core/utils.py:
- estimate_tokens: improved heuristic 4 chars/token → 3.5 chars/token (more accurate)
- truncate_to_tokens: added keep_head=True mode for head+tail truncation (better
context retention for story summaries that need both opening and recent content)
- load_json: explicit exception handling (json.JSONDecodeError, OSError) with log
instead of silent returns; added utf-8 encoding with error replacement
- log_image_attempt: replaced bare except with (json.JSONDecodeError, OSError);
added utf-8 encoding to output write
- log_usage: replaced bare except with AttributeError for token count extraction
story/bible_tracker.py:
- merge_selected_changes: wrapped all int() key casts (char idx, book num, beat idx)
in try/except with meaningful log warning instead of crashing on malformed keys
- harvest_metadata: replaced bare except:pass with except Exception as e + log message
cli/engine.py:
- Persona validation: added warning when all 3 attempts fail and substandard persona
is accepted — flags elevated voice-drift risk for the run
- Lore index updates: throttled from every chapter to every 3 chapters; lore is
stable after the first few chapters (~10% token saving per book)
- Mid-gen consistency check: now samples first 2 + last 8 chapters instead of passing
full manuscript — caps token cost regardless of book length
story/writer.py:
- Two-pass polish: added local filter-word density check (no API call); skips the
Pro polish if density < 1 per 83 words — saves ~8K tokens on already-clean drafts
- Polish prompt: added prev_context_block for continuity — polished chapter now
maintains seamless flow from the previous chapter's ending
marketing/fonts.py:
- Separated requests.exceptions.Timeout with specific log message vs generic failure
- Added explicit log message when Roboto fallback also fails (returns None)
marketing/blurb.py:
- Added word count trim: blurbs > 220 words trimmed to last sentence within 220 words
- Changed bare except to except Exception as e with log message
- Added utf-8 encoding to file writes; logs final word count
Co-Authored-By: Claude Sonnet 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>
Major changes to marketing/cover.py:
- Split evaluate_image_quality() into two purpose-built functions:
* evaluate_cover_art(): 5-rubric scoring (visual impact, genre fit, composition,
quality, clean image) with auto-fail for visible text (score capped at 4) and
deductions for deformed anatomy
* evaluate_cover_layout(): 5-rubric scoring (legibility, typography, placement,
professional polish, genre signal) with auto-fail for illegible title (capped at 4)
- Added validate_art_prompt(): pre-validates the Imagen prompt before generation —
strips accidental text instructions, ensures focal point + rule-of-thirds + genre fit
- Added _build_visual_context(): extracts protagonist/antagonist descriptions and key
themes from tracking data into structured visual context for the art director prompt
- Score thresholds raised to match chapter pipeline: ART_PASSING=7, ART_AUTO_ACCEPT=8,
LAYOUT_PASSING=7 (was: art>=5 or >0, layout breaks only at ==10)
- Critique-driven art prompt refinement between attempts: full LLM rewrite of the
Imagen prompt using the evaluator's actionable feedback (not just keyword appending)
- Layout loop now breaks early at score>=7 (was: only at ==10, so never)
- Design prompt strengthened with explicit character/visual context and NO TEXT clause
Co-Authored-By: Claude Sonnet 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>
