(Have you tried Devon Monk's Allie Beckstrom books? I'm not totally caught up on them, but they have some IMO very interesting worldbuilding, and I feel like it's reasonably grounded in the setting, although I grew up just outside the city rather than actually in it, so I can't say for sure. And IIRC, there were definitely non-romantic relationships involved, although a great deal is complicated by how the magic works in this world. They're definitely the most interesting of the modern UF subgenre that I've read recently, and I don't believe they have any vampires or werewolves or other typical supernatural beasties.)
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(Have you tried Devon Monk's Allie Beckstrom books? I'm not totally caught up on them, but they have some IMO very interesting worldbuilding, and I feel like it's reasonably grounded in the setting, although I grew up just outside the city rather than actually in it, so I can't say for sure. And IIRC, there were definitely non-romantic relationships involved, although a great deal is complicated by how the magic works in this world. They're definitely the most interesting of the modern UF subgenre that I've read recently, and I don't believe they have any vampires or werewolves or other typical supernatural beasties.)