"Minimum Wage Magic" by Rachel Aaron.

    The title is "Minimum Wage Magic" by Rachel Aaron.
She has invented Detroit Free Zone which is both the
name of most of Detroit in 2115 and the living spirit of
Detroit.  DFZ dispossessed the Goddess Algonquin
who is the Goddess of the Great Lakes when Magic returned
(after a meteor struck) along with Dragons and other magical
beings.
   The protagonist is one Opal Yong-we who is having a bad
string of luck, you will find out why.  She works as a
Cleaner which means that if you cannot or will not pay your
rent the DFZ takes that space and seizes the property therein.
Cleaners like Opal pay the city for the privilege of
confiscating the defaulter's property and monetizing it.
Opal has studied magic at University level but did so
with tuition paid by her dad and it must be repaid. She
finds a defaulter dead on this deal with little to make money
from but a whole lot of trouble waiting in wings.
     So it is a rousing tale of derring-do and done with a
handsome armored former mercenary at her side with well-
trained reflexes.
     This is a relatively thin paperback and I can find no
publisher just directions to more books at www.RachelAaron.net
     I think I mentioned in the last year or so another novel
by this individual who also wrote under the name Rachel Bach.
     I have left the most important points about the story out
but it is somewhat heart-warming in the ending.  Lots of dragon involvement.
I found it to be good reading.
bliss
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