This is adapted from my Goodreads review:
Scott has created a dozen stories, some of them more grounded in reality than others. Some have speculative elements (more fantasy and horror than science fiction). If you are a reader who prefers minimal prose, this story collection may not be for you, although it was for me. Scott is clearly a poet in disguise and does not believe in suppressing poetry in fiction. The lines are absolutely gorgeous. There are moments where the stories are mysterious and leave much to the imagination, and moments where everything feels rendered in 4K with stunning imagery. You can experience every sense to an intense degree. The writer also has a good diverse case with many queer characters.
Some stories are a little stranger and harder to talk about (the crucifixion story and the angels one), while some stories are more slice-of-life and easier to understand (the chinchilla one). I googled it and saw some article about a fantasy mall story in the collection that was good (it's the longest story in the book and appears toward the end) and I took a chance.
The mall story is like nothing I've ever read before, in the best way possible. It's part YA (teen coming of age and trying to figure out life), part fantasy (or at least fantasy tropes being toyed with), part poem, part video game, but also something original and new. I found myself just staring at the ceiling after I read it trying to figure out exactly what I read and why it moved me so much. I'm still trying to find the words.
Ultimately, this is a very strange and under-the-radar story collection that I wish more people knew about. It's experimental but not too much and slipstream but not too much. It's super duper lyrical. It was not anything like I was expecting, but it also surpassed my expectations. I cannot wait to see what this author does next.