Is there any way for an arcane spell-casting class other than wizard to obtain and use a spellbook without multi-classing into wizard?
I'm interested in this because a campaign my group is currently playing is in the process of switching into 5th edition from Pathfinder. I'm currently playing a Magus and (tentatively) switching into Fighter (Eldritch Knight). Problem is magical research is a large part of the character's fluff and I'm not sure how to do that as a spontaneous caster.
Conditions:
I don't want to drop the swordplay (I dual-wield with the War Caster feat), I'd like to have access to the spell Misty Step, and evocation spells at the very least. I'm not beyond dropping Eldritch Knight, though this seems to be the best fit so far for other fluff-related reasons. Bottom line: I'm a gish.
I'd also like to avoid Divine classes, as they don't fit the fluff of the character.
Options I've considered:
I've already picked up the Ritual Caster feat, so I can expand my library of spells that way (though only those tagged as rituals). I'm also aware of the Magic Initiate feat but this doesn't grant a spellbook. I could go wizard and gear myself towards physical combat, but that is obviously not an optimal choice. Multi-classing is also out, more so out of personal preference than anything; I'm not going to write it off completely, though. (I'm still interested in finding a method that doesn't involve wizard levels.) In the end, flavour is more important than optimization.
After taking a look at Warlock (with Pact of the Tome and the invocation Book of Ancient Secrets) I don't see much difference between that and the Ritual Caster feat. They both grant a book, but only allow Rituals¹. As a Human character the feat is much easier to pick up than investing in a 3 level dip that weakens my main class.
Note: I'm aware that, without the DMG, this may be a bit pre-emptive. I won't be accepting any answers (unless there is a definite, by-the-book, answer) until after it's released.
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Player's Handbook, page 110, "Eldritch Invocations", "Book of Ancient Secrets", emphasis mine:
On your adventures, you can add other ritual spells to your Book of Shadows.
Best Answer
There really isn't a way to gain a spell book as a gish type class. Wizards don't yet[1] have a viable melee archtype (though building one wouldn't be too hard, we have some models in the cleric domains).
There are however other ways to handle the problem you are facing.
Since your primary issue is in background type information and characterization, I would handle the majority of this mechanically by writing a custom background. This would give your proficiency in history and arcana (or another skill if you get it from your class), and a book that has arcane writings in it. Discovering the secrets of this book should be related to one of your character's BIFT.
Whether or not the development of the story around the book ends up providing you any future mechanical benefits is kind of up to you and your DM to hash out, but it seems like a very solid starting point for a new character in a game.
[1]: This answer was written before the Bladesinger archetype was published.