Now this series is heating up. At this point the inspiration of Sandman becomes very clear, as individual arcs full of grand ideas about magic, predestination, and religion in general build upon themselves to form the major plotline of the entire series. Lucifer is an intensely intriguing character, and Mike Carey has done a fantastic job of making us (the readers) actually trust him, while constantly stabbing us in the back. It's remains unclear whose side Lucifer is on (though generally he is merely on his own side), and this keeps you guessing at every little sentence, constantly wondering what horrible thing he has up his sleeve. But that's the very nature of Satan as he has been presented for millennia: he draws you in, tries to trick you with deceitful truths, and plays you against yourself without actually physically doing anything himself. This series is a mindbender and a huge joy to read, particularly if you love cons, fantasy, or both.