This was one of my first steps into fantasy/paranormal series back when I originally read it in middle school, and has stuck with me so much over the years that I recently re-read it. It is one of my absolute favorite books of all time, and the series itself is vastly under-rated, and not discussed nearly enough. 

First off, the world in this series is so fantastic. Really, it is two worlds in one. There is our world, and then there is the magical world that is separated from ours by a wall. The people in our world don't really know about magic, except for those who live near the wall. The closer to the wall you are, the more magical effects you will feel. For example, technology stops working the closer you get to it and more people are born near the wall with magical abilities. This borderland near the wall is a dangerous place to be, because its inhabitants are the first to be hit if something crosses over. 

Secondly, the magic system in this book is excellent. This book revolves around a type of necromancy, which believe me, I am tired of zombies too. But this isn't zombies. The main character is what this series calls an Abhorsen. She goes into Death (which is basically the River Styx), and makes sure the spirits there are contained. She wears a set of bells that each have a separate purpose, and require the wearer to have an expert knowledge in order to control, otherwise, they could end up traveling down the river themselves. The spirits range from the neutral, to the tricky, to the terrifying. 

Lastly, the supporting characters are excellent. Her companion is a talking cat. Need I say more? 

(Also, the villain in this novel rivals Voldemort.)

Overall, this story is an excellent one. The heroine is strong, without being unrealistic. The world is fantastic, foreboding, and full of surprises. 5/5 stars.