Sabriel

Young necromancer saves the world!

Sabriel is the first novel in a series, set in an alternate-history England where magic is just over a wall. On one side, cars and electricity and firearms operate as they should, but on the other, magic holds sway. The titular character is the daughter of a great protector, and must take up the mantle when her father goes missing.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy series like The Golden Compass or Harry Potter. There's adventure and mystery, and discovering the Old Kingdom is a pleasure all its own.