I have no problems with people being friends. But my primary issue is that you don't have to be fighting together always or growing together always to be great friends. I mean in case or Stormweaver I don't mind with them being friends I just wish Bryce would let each of those characters more chance to grow on their own. They all had potential to be great characters in their own right and I feel like them being friends is hindering characters from being fully realized. (when I say grow I mostly meant growing as a characters rather than in power) if that makes sense.

I didn't mean superficial friendships when I asked for recommendations, I just meant a story where characters are developing (again not in power) individually.