Fantasy - 3 kingdoms with different magic specialties, one of them made golems, woman learning magic. Spoilers.

[Jeff]

Each Kingdom had a book that channeled the magic power for that Kingdom, it was hidden somewhere in the Palace usually.

One of the protagonists was a young woman who was being trained in magic - I think she could create or manipulate physical objects - I remember that she created a staircase.

Another protagonist was a young man who used runes on a swords and sang complex magical songs to give him fighting expertise. There were a few swordsmen like this, I think they were mercenaries.

-- SPOILERS --


There was a thief who used tattoos that made him very strong and invisible. He stole one of the magic channeling books.

[Ky]

This is one of the Apprentice Adept books by Piers Anthony. I can't find a link for the whole series so here's the first book: Split Infinity as a starting point. Second book: Blue Adept Third book: Juxtaposition I think it's the second or third book, can't remember for sure which.