You can buy spell books for mage skills only.
I maxed several skills with just books, and got a level or two for some. There are a couple spells which seem to be offered more (or less) frequently than others, though this can vary in different games. I do not remember seeing spell books for Seeking Flame, Master Summoner, Transfer Powers or Summon Demonic Aide; in my case, it would be relatively easy to max Telekinesis, Aura of Guarding, Spellshield, Fade From Sight, Freeze, Summon Skeleton, Banish and Resurrect.

There is a random spell book in the back of Kistandalius' shop in Ars Magicana. Save, then pay the minstrel outside to recite some poetry. The mage will come out to listen, giving you just enough time to run in and grab the spell book, and the knife from the chest.

There is a Restoration spell book in the sewers somewhere, which needs Telekinesis (or a teleporter stone tossed down beside it) to get.

There is a Fear spell book in Iona's dungeon, by the house of madness.

I vaguely recall a couple others....


The best people to buy spell books from are Kistandalius or Blake in Ars Magicana and Corinna or Mpenzak in Verdistis. Any NPC has a chance to offer one, though, so it can help to try trading with everyone you can. If you Quick-Save before talking to a merchant, hitting the alt key or running your mouse over them, you can Quick-Load if they don't have what you want. After you talk to them, their inventories will be reset some time later (length seems to vary a bit between NPCs).


Also, (slightly modified) from the post on the old forum;
"(¯`*.§þîЀ(r)еЀ(c)¤²°`¯Devine FAQ) *WARNING!* BIGGEST SPOILER ON THE FORUM!!!!!!!!!

Free Skills

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minor spoiler

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  • Trader's Tongue: At the blue boar inn talk to a trader named El'Gammon, standing in front of the bar. Buy all 5 useless items he offers you, then talk to him again.
  • Trader's Tongue: read 3 books in the Merchant guild library. 1st book, bottom left-hand room, middle table. 2nd book, on top of bookshelf in north part of same room. 3rd book, northwest door, behind one of the covered chairs near the north wall.
  • Identify: gained from doing the broken wheel quest for the stuck cart drivers.
  • Alchemy: do easy quest for the alchemist in the dark forest.
  • Restoration: learn from Goemoe in Aleroth after you heal both sick soldiers
  • Restoration: talk to the statue in Nericon's garden and correctly answer 3 questions (based on the book from its followers outside)
  • Restoration: Tell Mardeneus who killed George and why.
  • Lock pick: learn from rob after joining thieves guild (can also choose Evade Trap or Pickpocket)
  • Lock pick: Agree to a lockpicking bet in the thieves' guild, then speak to him again without opening all of the doors. The four doors to the right of the corridor require Lockpick levels 1-4, the door to the left requires level 5.
  • Aura of command: side with the bees when you go to retrieve the imp council member, then defeat the wasps without killing any bees (ie no warrior's spin attack, or area effect spells).
  • Banish: Summoner in Verdistis.
  • Bless: Save the kid from Vampire in the Dark Cave, then help the Knight fighting Trolls.

Also

  • Boomerang: complete both warrior guild tests
  • either Augment Defense or Augment Damage (game can give either): defeat the instructor in the warriors guild
  • Elemental Strike: equip all 5 pieces of the Dragon armour set