How Did I Miss This?

I'm not sure where I've been these passed fifteen years (the land of YA I think), but somehow I missed out on an incredible book series. The first book came out in 1996... and I'm just reading it now. And it's INCREDIBLE!!! Back in high school (mumble, mumble years ago) I read nothing but fantasy and sci-fi... this books is already one of my favorites in the genre!