diff --git a/backend/src/main/java/com/storycove/controller/StoryController.java b/backend/src/main/java/com/storycove/controller/StoryController.java
index f0ec16a..b2d26ca 100644
--- a/backend/src/main/java/com/storycove/controller/StoryController.java
+++ b/backend/src/main/java/com/storycove/controller/StoryController.java
@@ -691,8 +691,9 @@ public class StoryController {
         // Reading progress fields
         dto.setIsRead(story.getIsRead());
         dto.setReadingPosition(story.getReadingPosition());
+        dto.setReadingProgressPercentage(calculateReadingProgressPercentage(story));
         dto.setLastReadAt(story.getLastReadAt());
-        
+
         if (story.getAuthor() != null) {
             dto.setAuthorId(story.getAuthor().getId());
             dto.setAuthorName(story.getAuthor().getName());
diff --git a/backend/src/main/java/com/storycove/dto/StorySummaryDto.java b/backend/src/main/java/com/storycove/dto/StorySummaryDto.java
index 5d9bdc3..8e10dab 100644
--- a/backend/src/main/java/com/storycove/dto/StorySummaryDto.java
+++ b/backend/src/main/java/com/storycove/dto/StorySummaryDto.java
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ public class StorySummaryDto {
     // Reading progress fields
     private Boolean isRead;
     private Integer readingPosition;
+    private Integer readingProgressPercentage; // Pre-calculated percentage (0-100)
     private LocalDateTime lastReadAt;
     
     // Related entities as simple references
@@ -122,11 +123,19 @@ public class StorySummaryDto {
     public Integer getReadingPosition() {
         return readingPosition;
     }
-    
+
     public void setReadingPosition(Integer readingPosition) {
         this.readingPosition = readingPosition;
     }
-    
+
+    public Integer getReadingProgressPercentage() {
+        return readingProgressPercentage;
+    }
+
+    public void setReadingProgressPercentage(Integer readingProgressPercentage) {
+        this.readingProgressPercentage = readingProgressPercentage;
+    }
+
     public LocalDateTime getLastReadAt() {
         return lastReadAt;
     }
diff --git a/backend/src/main/java/com/storycove/service/TagService.java b/backend/src/main/java/com/storycove/service/TagService.java
index dffe50f..f142271 100644
--- a/backend/src/main/java/com/storycove/service/TagService.java
+++ b/backend/src/main/java/com/storycove/service/TagService.java
@@ -28,11 +28,12 @@ import java.util.UUID;
 @Validated
 @Transactional
 public class TagService {
-    
+
     private static final Logger logger = LoggerFactory.getLogger(TagService.class);
 
     private final TagRepository tagRepository;
     private final TagAliasRepository tagAliasRepository;
+    private SolrService solrService;
 
     @Autowired
     public TagService(TagRepository tagRepository, TagAliasRepository tagAliasRepository) {
@@ -40,6 +41,11 @@ public class TagService {
         this.tagAliasRepository = tagAliasRepository;
     }
 
+    @Autowired(required = false)
+    public void setSolrService(SolrService solrService) {
+        this.solrService = solrService;
+    }
+
     @Transactional(readOnly = true)
     public List<Tag> findAll() {
         return tagRepository.findAll();
@@ -142,13 +148,39 @@ public class TagService {
 
     public void delete(UUID id) {
         Tag tag = findById(id);
-        
-        // Check if tag is used by any stories
+
+        // Remove tag from all stories before deletion and track for reindexing
+        List<Story> storiesToReindex = new ArrayList<>();
         if (!tag.getStories().isEmpty()) {
-            throw new IllegalStateException("Cannot delete tag that is used by stories. Remove tag from all stories first.");
+            // Create a copy to avoid ConcurrentModificationException
+            List<Story> storiesToUpdate = new ArrayList<>(tag.getStories());
+            storiesToUpdate.forEach(story -> {
+                story.removeTag(tag);
+                storiesToReindex.add(story);
+            });
+            logger.info("Removed tag '{}' from {} stories before deletion", tag.getName(), storiesToUpdate.size());
         }
-        
+
+        // Remove tag from all collections before deletion
+        if (tag.getCollections() != null && !tag.getCollections().isEmpty()) {
+            tag.getCollections().forEach(collection -> collection.getTags().remove(tag));
+            logger.info("Removed tag '{}' from {} collections before deletion", tag.getName(), tag.getCollections().size());
+        }
+
         tagRepository.delete(tag);
+        logger.info("Deleted tag '{}'", tag.getName());
+
+        // Reindex affected stories in Solr
+        if (solrService != null && !storiesToReindex.isEmpty()) {
+            try {
+                for (Story story : storiesToReindex) {
+                    solrService.indexStory(story);
+                }
+                logger.info("Reindexed {} stories after tag deletion", storiesToReindex.size());
+            } catch (Exception e) {
+                logger.error("Failed to reindex stories after tag deletion", e);
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     public List<Tag> deleteUnusedTags() {
diff --git a/frontend/src/app/settings/tag-maintenance/page.tsx b/frontend/src/app/settings/tag-maintenance/page.tsx
index 1b3ae38..0da059a 100644
--- a/frontend/src/app/settings/tag-maintenance/page.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/app/settings/tag-maintenance/page.tsx
@@ -120,26 +120,27 @@ export default function TagMaintenancePage() {
 
   const handleDeleteSelected = async () => {
     if (selectedTagIds.size === 0) return;
-    
+
     const confirmation = confirm(
       `Are you sure you want to delete ${selectedTagIds.size} selected tag(s)? This action cannot be undone.`
     );
-    
+
     if (!confirmation) return;
-    
+
     try {
-      const deletePromises = Array.from(selectedTagIds).map(tagId => 
+      const deletePromises = Array.from(selectedTagIds).map(tagId =>
         tagApi.deleteTag(tagId)
       );
-      
+
       await Promise.all(deletePromises);
-      
+
       // Reload tags and reset selection
       await loadTags();
       setSelectedTagIds(new Set());
-    } catch (error) {
+    } catch (error: any) {
       console.error('Failed to delete tags:', error);
-      alert('Failed to delete some tags. Please try again.');
+      const errorMessage = error.response?.data?.error || error.message || 'Failed to delete some tags. Please try again.';
+      alert(errorMessage);
     }
   };
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/tags/TagEditModal.tsx b/frontend/src/components/tags/TagEditModal.tsx
index 7d61282..92c8dd2 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/tags/TagEditModal.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/tags/TagEditModal.tsx
@@ -129,7 +129,8 @@ export default function TagEditModal({ tag, isOpen, onClose, onSave, onDelete }:
       onDelete(tag);
       onClose();
     } catch (error: any) {
-      setErrors({ submit: error.message });
+      const errorMessage = error.response?.data?.error || error.message || 'Failed to delete tag';
+      setErrors({ submit: errorMessage });
     } finally {
       setSaving(false);
     }