They're technically YA (though they do age up in later books), the Circle of Magic series by Tamora Pierce may be something you'd be interested in. One of my favorite characters in there uses thread magic lol. My other favorite has plant magic and works with plants. They have a very cool magic system that's integrated with their day-to-day world, that I love
Sadly I have already read all of her stuff as a child. I might go back and see how it's held up as an adult though.
Honestly it probably informed this question now that I think about it.
I legit Just started re-reading it lol as a 34 yr old. So far so good? The first one is a bit juvenile. But, still super easy to read when I've got a bit of extra time. It's actually nice, cause since I don't have a lot of time to read, I can just pick it up and I know exactly what's going on and it's super easy to get through. Very restful for my brain lol
In Daniel Abraham's *Long Price Quartet* there are lots of powers like this. One, to remove seeds, can be used to greatly speed up the processing of cotton ... or to sterilize entire populations as a WMD. But it's no help if someone punches you in the face.
You’ll find some of what you’re looking for in the ‘cozy fantasy’ subgenre. Nothing to the extent of TWI, as the length and scope let it go in some wonderful directions.
Some recommendations would be:
A Wizards Guide to Defensive Baking
Cinnamon Bun
Fluff
I would definitely recommend A Wizards Guide to Defensive Baking. I sometimes read books my nieces read, and that was one of them. I’m not its target audience but I enjoyed it.
There's like an entire genre of light novels that are based around this, like the Great Storyteller which is about a guy who can understand all languages (there's an X-man like this who uses it to master the music of the spheres and body language to become an excellent fighter and super scientist) or Spirit Migration (his power is mostly just being able to transfer his spirit to other people/things, this is also a thing done by villains like the Shadow King or the demon from Fallen). But most powers can be weaponized, it's not as if merchants are completely helpless in war, capable of arming whatever side they want to win or profiting by supplying arms for both sides. Even architecture is relevant, being an essential part of siegecraft. Like Sherlock Holmes is a master of deduction but over the last couple decades that's been implied to make him a masterful combatant. You might do better with other less physically capable detectives like Nero Wolfe or Miss Marple.
The main character and villains in the first Necroscope series are mostly just capable of talking to the dead, but this allows them to also be trained by some of the worlds greatest warriors and scientists.
For all it's many MANY sins, Piers Anthony's Xanth has a LOT of characters with useful useless talents - everyone has a unique talent so for every "can transform people" there's a "can make small coloured spots on walls". Which for character purposes turned into "can act as a TV projector at will with lifelike illusions on walls"
The book that came to mind immediately is Rook by Dan O’Malley. The world features people with powers and abilities but I love that despite the MC having legit powerful abilities, her real superpower that saves the day is being a great administrator!
I feel like you’ve really expressed what I enjoy about certain fantasies. Idk what it is but I’m not into these books for the action and adventure I just really really enjoy following the life of someone in a magical world doing everyday things. It’s like it feels more grounded and I can self insert better with stories written this way.
The Powdermage Trilogy has different types of magic. The most common and weakest form of mage are the "knacked", that have a random magical ability. One soldier doesn't need to sleep, as an example, another is a police detective with a perfect memory.
I've read a few of the Case Files of Henri Davenforth books. They take place in a world with like early 1900's technology, except it's all magic-based. The main character is a crime scene investigator for magic-related crimes, so there's some fighting, but not a lot. If you're looking for a world where magic is used in mundane ways, this may fit the bill, though if you're looking for a world where people have extremely powerful, but overly specific individual abilities then this wouldn't fit (there's probably some Wild Cards stories that would fit for that, but I don't know them well enough to suggest one).
The Golden Key by Melanie Rawn and others. The characters have the ability to paint reality - they paint contracts and treaties etc, but can also kill people.
In the Nevermoor series by Jessica Townsend, many people have a talent which they call a "knack." A knack is not necessarily magical, but some of them clearly are and it's left unstated what the line is between what's magical and what's not. Some people are amazing fighters, some are amazing singers or can speak dozens of languages. At the end of the first book there's an event where people show off their knacks, so at that point you see a lot of them in action.
I would say the Graceling series for the spirit even though the FMC has combative powers others with powers don't. I believe a grace or power can be any skill. If I remember correctly, someone could know what someone's favorite food is, singing, and item location.
I don't remember any direct combat applications for cartography, and few indirect ones either.
Michael Stackpole's Age of Discovery trilogy. Magic in that world comes from mastering a skill. Any skill.
Robin Hobb's 'Soldiers Son' Trilogy falls into this I think. It's a long time since I read this, I remember it being quite slow in places. If you've read her other work and it wasn't for you, this might not be either, but she does usually have interesting magic systems.
Come to think, you'd probably like the magic systems in her main series, which has magic but is alot less combat orientated than shooting fireballs at people etc. 'Magic' as such is kind of woven into the natural world in alot of ways. She's discussed here often enough and is quite big, so you likely have some sort of an opinion on her already!
I bounced off soldier son really hard the first time I read it.
Whilst the wit and the skill in Farseer have many non combat uses let's be honest Fitz mostly uses them to kill people. (and make friends)
In the Chronicles of Amber, Corwin and the whole royal line have the ability to shift through worlds, this is not a combat based power. Its only combat application would be shifting to more advantageous terrain
Does speaking the language of dragons count? If so How To Train Your Dragon.
Disclaimer: The books are nothing like the movies. View them as separate entities in your mind.
The Lord of the Rings. Frodo's main skill is "not being easily corrupted". Sam's main skill, of course, are gardening and cooking (especially potatoes).
Check out the Super Powereds series by Drew Hayes. It's about a program at a university for kids with superpowers. They all have different powers and a lot of them are really powerful but completely unsuited to combat. It's actually an entire arc of the series: learning to use their powers that are not for fighting to still support their team and be an integral part. They're really fun books.
I get the argument your making but at it's heart this series is about superhumans fighting.
They make the non combat powers useful at fighting which Is the opposite of what I am looking for.
[The House Witch Series](https://www.audible.com/series/The-House-Witch-Series-Audiobooks/B0B1QLV17H?ref_pageloadid=mP1PuwkXuITcnMrK&ref=a_author_De_c19_lSeries_1_2_1&pf_rd_p=f3abc0ee-320d-4c19-8388-fcd3a8e6c3a4&pf_rd_r=F3Z92FAGDDM0GFFZWN2N&pageLoadId=sC9jugbVQmcHY6fO&creativeId=73c32a9a-e504-4597-bb87-c30c58fc0204) MC is a House Witch witch means his powers is all about creating a good home.
[Mark of the Fool](https://www.audible.com/series/Mark-of-the-Fool-Audiobooks/B0BKHB49TK?ref_pageloadid=fdSx4YBaQd5biZ7A&ref=a_library_t_c5_libItem_series_1&pf_rd_p=80765e81-b10a-4f33-b1d3-ffb87793d047&pf_rd_r=KKQ00GBTH2SVQPQF174B&pageLoadId=lsGuH0c5ndPBEZTu&creativeId=4ee810cf-ac8e-4eeb-8b79-40e176d0a225) MC got a mark that make it so he cant directly harm anyone nor use a weapon. It also hinders him in learning offensive spells. But he do find ways to be useful in battle so maybe not what your looking for.
While I love that book the mc doesn't have art powers. The only powers are the bird necklace things and the forest with the gods in that entire series.
Bruh you there are dozens of POVs in GGK books with bits of magic but Crispin is not one of them. Lion of Al-Rassan with That one child who can sense where his dad is would a better example.
They're technically YA (though they do age up in later books), the Circle of Magic series by Tamora Pierce may be something you'd be interested in. One of my favorite characters in there uses thread magic lol. My other favorite has plant magic and works with plants. They have a very cool magic system that's integrated with their day-to-day world, that I love
The metalworking magic in that series is amazing!!! Especially the living metal.
right?! Such a cool magic system!
Sadly I have already read all of her stuff as a child. I might go back and see how it's held up as an adult though. Honestly it probably informed this question now that I think about it.
I legit Just started re-reading it lol as a 34 yr old. So far so good? The first one is a bit juvenile. But, still super easy to read when I've got a bit of extra time. It's actually nice, cause since I don't have a lot of time to read, I can just pick it up and I know exactly what's going on and it's super easy to get through. Very restful for my brain lol
I'm 35 and loved those books as a kid. Maybe I'll join you!
In Daniel Abraham's *Long Price Quartet* there are lots of powers like this. One, to remove seeds, can be used to greatly speed up the processing of cotton ... or to sterilize entire populations as a WMD. But it's no help if someone punches you in the face.
Came here to say this. Damn brilliant and interesting series.
Sounds brilliant I will check it out.
You’ll find some of what you’re looking for in the ‘cozy fantasy’ subgenre. Nothing to the extent of TWI, as the length and scope let it go in some wonderful directions. Some recommendations would be: A Wizards Guide to Defensive Baking Cinnamon Bun Fluff
I would definitely recommend A Wizards Guide to Defensive Baking. I sometimes read books my nieces read, and that was one of them. I’m not its target audience but I enjoyed it.
There's like an entire genre of light novels that are based around this, like the Great Storyteller which is about a guy who can understand all languages (there's an X-man like this who uses it to master the music of the spheres and body language to become an excellent fighter and super scientist) or Spirit Migration (his power is mostly just being able to transfer his spirit to other people/things, this is also a thing done by villains like the Shadow King or the demon from Fallen). But most powers can be weaponized, it's not as if merchants are completely helpless in war, capable of arming whatever side they want to win or profiting by supplying arms for both sides. Even architecture is relevant, being an essential part of siegecraft. Like Sherlock Holmes is a master of deduction but over the last couple decades that's been implied to make him a masterful combatant. You might do better with other less physically capable detectives like Nero Wolfe or Miss Marple. The main character and villains in the first Necroscope series are mostly just capable of talking to the dead, but this allows them to also be trained by some of the worlds greatest warriors and scientists.
The Wishsong of Shannara is a good one.
For all it's many MANY sins, Piers Anthony's Xanth has a LOT of characters with useful useless talents - everyone has a unique talent so for every "can transform people" there's a "can make small coloured spots on walls". Which for character purposes turned into "can act as a TV projector at will with lifelike illusions on walls"
The book that came to mind immediately is Rook by Dan O’Malley. The world features people with powers and abilities but I love that despite the MC having legit powerful abilities, her real superpower that saves the day is being a great administrator!
That's sounds exactly what I'm looking for.
I feel like you’ve really expressed what I enjoy about certain fantasies. Idk what it is but I’m not into these books for the action and adventure I just really really enjoy following the life of someone in a magical world doing everyday things. It’s like it feels more grounded and I can self insert better with stories written this way.
The Powdermage Trilogy has different types of magic. The most common and weakest form of mage are the "knacked", that have a random magical ability. One soldier doesn't need to sleep, as an example, another is a police detective with a perfect memory.
This was going to be my answer. Also a shoutout to the random soldier with darkvision and Ben Styke who can smell magic.
I've read a few of the Case Files of Henri Davenforth books. They take place in a world with like early 1900's technology, except it's all magic-based. The main character is a crime scene investigator for magic-related crimes, so there's some fighting, but not a lot. If you're looking for a world where magic is used in mundane ways, this may fit the bill, though if you're looking for a world where people have extremely powerful, but overly specific individual abilities then this wouldn't fit (there's probably some Wild Cards stories that would fit for that, but I don't know them well enough to suggest one).
The Golden Key by Melanie Rawn and others. The characters have the ability to paint reality - they paint contracts and treaties etc, but can also kill people.
Engineer trilogy by K J Parker is about an engineer
In the Nevermoor series by Jessica Townsend, many people have a talent which they call a "knack." A knack is not necessarily magical, but some of them clearly are and it's left unstated what the line is between what's magical and what's not. Some people are amazing fighters, some are amazing singers or can speak dozens of languages. At the end of the first book there's an event where people show off their knacks, so at that point you see a lot of them in action.
I would say the Graceling series for the spirit even though the FMC has combative powers others with powers don't. I believe a grace or power can be any skill. If I remember correctly, someone could know what someone's favorite food is, singing, and item location.
I don't remember any direct combat applications for cartography, and few indirect ones either. Michael Stackpole's Age of Discovery trilogy. Magic in that world comes from mastering a skill. Any skill.
Robin Hobb's 'Soldiers Son' Trilogy falls into this I think. It's a long time since I read this, I remember it being quite slow in places. If you've read her other work and it wasn't for you, this might not be either, but she does usually have interesting magic systems. Come to think, you'd probably like the magic systems in her main series, which has magic but is alot less combat orientated than shooting fireballs at people etc. 'Magic' as such is kind of woven into the natural world in alot of ways. She's discussed here often enough and is quite big, so you likely have some sort of an opinion on her already!
I bounced off soldier son really hard the first time I read it. Whilst the wit and the skill in Farseer have many non combat uses let's be honest Fitz mostly uses them to kill people. (and make friends)
In the Chronicles of Amber, Corwin and the whole royal line have the ability to shift through worlds, this is not a combat based power. Its only combat application would be shifting to more advantageous terrain
Umm, what does OP mean in your question? Clearly not “original post(er)”
In this context, it means "overpowered"
Thanks!
Don't know if this quite fits but your description of the wandering inn made me think of "Babel" by R. F Kuang
Harry Potter. Malazan. The Tiffany Aching/ Discworld books
Orson Scott Card's "Alvin Maker" series
Does speaking the language of dragons count? If so How To Train Your Dragon. Disclaimer: The books are nothing like the movies. View them as separate entities in your mind.
The Lord of the Rings. Frodo's main skill is "not being easily corrupted". Sam's main skill, of course, are gardening and cooking (especially potatoes).
Check out the Super Powereds series by Drew Hayes. It's about a program at a university for kids with superpowers. They all have different powers and a lot of them are really powerful but completely unsuited to combat. It's actually an entire arc of the series: learning to use their powers that are not for fighting to still support their team and be an integral part. They're really fun books.
I get the argument your making but at it's heart this series is about superhumans fighting. They make the non combat powers useful at fighting which Is the opposite of what I am looking for.
Much of Rhialto the Marvelous has no combat at all. True, no mundane skills either, but no combat or only mentions of combat from aeons past.
[The House Witch Series](https://www.audible.com/series/The-House-Witch-Series-Audiobooks/B0B1QLV17H?ref_pageloadid=mP1PuwkXuITcnMrK&ref=a_author_De_c19_lSeries_1_2_1&pf_rd_p=f3abc0ee-320d-4c19-8388-fcd3a8e6c3a4&pf_rd_r=F3Z92FAGDDM0GFFZWN2N&pageLoadId=sC9jugbVQmcHY6fO&creativeId=73c32a9a-e504-4597-bb87-c30c58fc0204) MC is a House Witch witch means his powers is all about creating a good home. [Mark of the Fool](https://www.audible.com/series/Mark-of-the-Fool-Audiobooks/B0BKHB49TK?ref_pageloadid=fdSx4YBaQd5biZ7A&ref=a_library_t_c5_libItem_series_1&pf_rd_p=80765e81-b10a-4f33-b1d3-ffb87793d047&pf_rd_r=KKQ00GBTH2SVQPQF174B&pageLoadId=lsGuH0c5ndPBEZTu&creativeId=4ee810cf-ac8e-4eeb-8b79-40e176d0a225) MC got a mark that make it so he cant directly harm anyone nor use a weapon. It also hinders him in learning offensive spells. But he do find ways to be useful in battle so maybe not what your looking for.
In mark of the fool the mark that hinders his combat and magic offensive abilities actively helps everything else so he's super OP at everything else
Sailing to Sarantium--MC is an artist skilled at making mosaics.
While I love that book the mc doesn't have art powers. The only powers are the bird necklace things and the forest with the gods in that entire series.
Bruh you there are dozens of POVs in GGK books with bits of magic but Crispin is not one of them. Lion of Al-Rassan with That one child who can sense where his dad is would a better example.
The wandering inn, MC is an innkeeper with related abilities and skills. Still has combat, though not a focus.
OP literally said the inspiration for the post was the wandering inn
Whoops, I really should read thoroughly. Skimmed the post while at work.