The Relic Master by Catherine Fisher

The Relic Master is science fiction / fantasy at its best, tightly plotted and beautifully written. We are introduced to the world of Anara through the eyes of Raffi, an apprentice to Galen of the Old Order, outlaws that are intimately connected with the world around them, practice magic and follow the teachings of the Makers, shadowy god-like beings that came from beyond the stars. They are pursued by the Watch who belive the magic of the Old Order is illusion. The Old Order uses relics, odd pieces of debris of the Makers' culture that are tantalisingly recognisable to us, a CD, a watch. On their pilgramage to Tasceron, a post apocalypic city devastated by the war between the Order and the Watch, they are joined by the Watch spy Carys and a Sekoi, an indigenous Anaran half cat half human being. Fisher writing is so good everything is believable and well realised, an author I'm happy to have found.