The Old Kingdom

Garth Nix's Old Kingdom books, also known as the Abhorsen series, are set in a land where Charter Magic holds back Free Magic and the dead do not always stay dead. They follow the Abhorsens, necromancers whose task is to lay the dead to rest rather than raise them. Sabriel began the series in 1995, and Lirael and Abhorsen continue the story as one long tale; Goldenhand follows on from them. Clariel and Terciel and Elinor are prequels written later, so most readers start with Sabriel, though the books also work in story order.