Volume 18 fitted expectations, a bit of world building, a bit more on Fran's past and meeting some new entertaining characters. Most of it was a self-contained plot though, somewhat predictable, and maybe for now at least a bit too good of an ending (there might be unforeseen consequences down the line). The end fight that took up the last 25% or so was a bit too long for me as well, and I was speed reading at times, but I have never been a big fan of long drawn out battles. All in all, an entertaining read.