Dr. C. Lillefisk's Sirenology is a delightful exploration of mermaids and other underwater wonders. I truly enjoyed the fun and intriguing elements throughout the book, complemented by captivating photographs. The unique and creative illustrations breathe life into the world of mermaids, surpassing even our wildest imaginations. This book is a fantastic read for anyone fascinated by the mythical and the magical beneath the sea!

Dr. C. Lillefisk's Sirenology by Jana Heidersdorf (and, of course, the good Dr. Cecilia Lillefisk) dives deep into the murky waters of siren lore, and it’s about as charmingly eccentric as you’d expect from a "serious" study on mythical sea creatures. If you've ever wondered what an academic paper written by a scientist who may or may not have spent a little too much time alone on a boat would look like, this is your book.

The narrative oscillates between absurdly detailed scientific "findings" and an undercurrent of dry humor that makes you question just how real Dr. Lillefisk's discoveries really are. Spoiler: they're not. But the beauty here is in the commitment—this book treats sirens as though they're the subjects of a nature documentary, with the same level of seriousness as David Attenborough talking about penguins.

For those who enjoy tongue-in-cheek takes on science, mythology, and academia, Sirenology will swim right into your heart. But if you’re looking for something that takes itself seriously, well... you might find yourself feeling like a fish out of water. I’d give it a solid 8/10 for originality, humor, and for making me actually consider a career in mythical marine biology.

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A fictional non-fiction story, which I find will be perfect for fans of The Resurrectionist by Hudspeth, and even Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries by Fawcett. These are not your childhood mermaids, or even your edgy teen mermaids who are tricksters or predators, but all kinds of mermaids from all waters of life.

Divided up into zones of existence, Sirenology takes us through the life, reproduction, child-rearing, death, and hunting habits of more than twenty mermaid species, inter-related and far flung as their DNA allows. From mentions of generational tool-making learned from humans to references of the Barnum mermaid monkey, an entire area of study is compiled in this short title.

Any childhood lover of the "ology" books would enjoy the gorgeous illustrations and cross-sections contained within, as well as the chance to reference it as a resource when such an opportunity arises. It will be the perfect shelf item to display, fit for fantasy lovers, dark academics, and encyclopedia aficionados.

Reads like non-fiction on a fantasy topic. It reminded me of Dinotopia which I loved growing up. A great book for creative people. Highly recommend.

NetGalley review

From the format I receive it looks like such a fun and interesting book. The version I received seemed to be missing photos, and some pages didn’t match up to the next page or even paragraph.
I would absolutely purchase this to add to my bookcase. Even for kids who have an interest in this.

Dr. C. Lillefisk's Sirenology is a beautifully illustrated fantasy encyclopedia of incredibly unique and creative mermaids! This book dives into mermaids who spend their entire lives lying still, building ecosystems on their back; mermaids with grotesque weaponized features; mermaids in lakes, oceans, streams, and beyond. It reads like the musings of a obsessive scientist working toward understanding of mysterious creatures. The artwork is beautiful with a distinct sketching quality - playing into the idea these were drawn by Dr. C. Lillefisk herself. While I feel some of the information of the mermaids could have gone a bit deeper to provide a more encompassing context for the illustrations, I enjoyed the read. If you are looking for a unique take on mermaid reading with accompanying artwork, Dr. C. Lillefisk's Sirenology is for you!

This anthology of sirens was mystical, magical, and wonderfully amazing to read and discover. I loved all the illustrations and the detailed descriptions of all the categories of sirens.