Well, that was a fun ride. This volume gives us more exposition to the world Fairy Tail is set in. We are introduced to illegal dark guilds infamous for their illicit activities outside of the approval of the council. Natsu and Lucy also go on a mission together to find and destroy a book that is inside a mansion. It's a very interesting arc that ended really heartwarmingly. Mashima does a good job of making side characters have dimension and have emotionally moving stories. We also get to meet Erza, a guild mate that Gray and Natsu are hilariously afraid of. Lucy, Gray, and Natsu accompany her to investigate her suspicions of a dark guild that plans on putting some very dark magic to use. I'm looking forward to how the manga develops the story in comparison to the anime, I'm already feeling like there are some slight differences. I'm enjoying every bit of it, though.