Sisters of the Rising Sun is the remarkable true story of a group of Australian nurses captured by the Japanese in WWII. These phenomenal women were held as prisoners of war along many British, Dutch & Australian women and children. Living in inhumane conditions, including (but not only) starvation, dehydration, rat infestation, squalor & disease they were held for three years and seven months.

My great uncle was a POW during this time. Wasting away to literal skin & bones, living off rancid maggot infested rice & unimaginable conditions.
This part of WWII isn’t often talked about. Women POW’s even less so.

Sisters of the Rising Sun honours these lives by telling their story.

This is the story of courageous, resilient, determined & under estimated women. They stood in solidarity, sacrificing their own needs and tirelessly caring for each other.

It was also a story of immense loss, brutality & sadness.

I am humbled by these women.

Thank you NetGalley & St Martin’s press for this ARC for my honest review.
This is a book I would highly recommend.

Thank you Heather Morris for telling these women’s stories.
This was a story I had never heard. A part of World War II I knew little about and I was immediately engrossed.I knew of the Japanese camps in other parts of south east Asia but nothing of these camps on the islands of Indonesia. The stories of Nesta, Norah, Ena, Vivian, Betty and Margaret are those that should be in history books.
This heartbreaking and heartwarming story is one that should not be missed.

I'd enjoyed Heather Morris's earlier novel "The Tattooist of Auschwitz" so was eager to get my hands on an upcoming new work from her... Unfortunately, I'm left perplexed as they feel like two different novels written by two different authors.

"Sisters Under the Rising Sun" takes a look into a forgotten aspect of WWII: the ex-pats living in Southeast Asia during the time of the war, many of whom are captured by the Japanese in their attempt to flee and held as Prisoners of War. The central characters include Norah Chambers, an English musician who is separated from her daughter Sally and as well as her husband John, who is weakened and still recovering from a bout with typhoid. She, John, sister Ena, and brother-in-law Ken are attacked on board the Vyner Brooke ship and captured by the Japanese once they make it to shore. The women and men are split up into different camps, so Norah and Ena eventualy meet the other imprisoned women, including Sister Nesta James, an Australian nurse; June, a young girl who is abandoned and alone; Betty Jeffrey and Vivian Bullwinkel, who are fellow Allied nurses... and a whole host of additional characters.

The premise of the story is fascinating and I enjoyed seeing how the women bonded together while imprisoned and made the best of their situation - forming their own impromptu medical unit and using their unneeded dresses and petticoats as gauze and bandages; making their own encoded newsletter so the Japanese soldiers wouldn't understand, etc. However, at least for me personally, a strong plot is not enough to overcome poor writing. There are just too many characters, from the beginning group of ex-pats, to the nurses, to additional POW who are introduced mid-way throughout the novel, to the Japanese soldiers and leaders, to keep track of. Because of that, there isn't sufficient time or depth devoted to any of them and I struggled to connect with or care about any one of them. The writing is another low point for me as well, with very basic and rudimentary sentence structures and descriptions, to the large chunks of quotes (speaking) and writing that are poorly integrated. I was also surprised at the number of grammatical errors in this ARC, especially given how close the publication date is.

This is definitely a disappointing review that I have to write, but unfortunately this is not a novel I'd recommend to other readers.

I enjoyed this story about a group of nurses from Australia who enlised in the Australian Army Nursing Service to help tend the war wounded. They were captured by the Japanese Army in February 1941 and liberated in September 1945. The women, along with captured men, were sent to a work/POW camp where conditions were deplorable and food was scarce. During their time being held captive, they were moved to several other camps which were equally disgusting. This story is about the women coming together and trying to survive with little food, few resources, llnesses and watching some of their friends die. This is a great story showing the strength, determination and resourcefulness of these women just trying to stay alive.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this very interesting and sad story.

Rounded up from 4.5
A group of expats fleeing Singapore on a merchant ship soon falls to the Japanese in 1942. On board was a nurse, Nesta, Norah and John, and many civilians and military personnel. Many drowned, but Nesta and Norah survive to reach a beach controlled by the Japanese. They remain prisoners for nearly four years, fighting to survive.
I absolutely adored The Tattooist of Auschwitz, so when I saw this one pop up on NetGalley, I pounced on it. This is a historical fiction, a story of resilience, solidarity, strength and courage, a horrible yet beautiful story, just as wonderful, researched and heart-wrenching as The Tattooist of Auschwitz. Heather masterfully depicts how something beautiful and deeply human can come out of inhumane atrocities.
I received an advance review of this book for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

"I have not told this story so the women internees of the Japanese prisoner of war camps in Indonesia will be remembered. I have told this story so they will be known. How can you've remembered if you've never been heard of? Their stories should stand alongside those of all male prisoners of war, their suffering no less; their courage to care for their fellow sisters who perished and their own survival should be acknowledged and honored.
Know now of them. Remember them."

Heather Morris has once again written another inspiring, heartfelt, powerful, unforgettable historical fiction novel. A story that very much needed to be told. One I could not put down and read in a day. I was so engrossed in the lives of these strong women who persevered daily.
This is a story that will stay with me for a very long time. A book based on true events, horrors that they witnessed, horrific conditions, friends made, friends lost and how these women were affected. A heartbreaking and compelling story that tugged at my heart and brought me to tears.
Love, loss, war, friendship, a sisterhood of women thrown together and surviving the best way possible as prisoners.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this book.

Heather Morris has such a talent for writing beautiful and powerful historical fiction novels. This book was powerful, captivating, and HEARTBREAKING.

Morris focused on true events that occurred during WWII when the women were imprisoned by the Japanese. From the first page, this book tore at my heart strings and quite literally never stopped. I LOVED how all the women bonded and came together over music. It was so special to feel the bits of joy they could find throughout such a traumatic and horrifying 3 years being held a prisoner.

Reading the Author’s Note at the end and hearing what happened to the characters I fell in love with (and others who I definitely have it out for 😡) was so amazing.

I wish the ending was a little longer as I believe it could’ve been that much more powerful. The ending (although tragically beautiful) felt very rushed with points overlooked in my opinion.

Thank you so much to Netgalley & St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Sisters Under The Rising Sun, by Heather Morris, Was based on true characters and fact during the 1940's. The wartime period that took place in Australia and forced a family and four nurses to leave to an island that was taken over by Japan. These characters were placed in a Japanese prison and was he'd captive along with thousands others. It was an in-depth detailed book that was quite long but interesting at the same time. I enjoyed previous books by Heather Morris.

Heather Morris does it again by taking history and making it a fictional novel with true facts of survival.

This book is centered around WWII but from a remote island in Singapore where men and woman were held prisoner.

She writes about the determination, bravery and strength of many nurses and families and how they go about their day to stay alive while the war rages on. We see how the war in Europe effected Japan.

In the beginning I was instantly grabbed but then that soon fizzled out bc I felt like I was standing on the outside looking in. While she does pour her heart into each character I felt like there were too many to keep track all at once. Once I was able to keep track of all of them it turned into a great book with a heart wrenching ending but I still felt like pieces were missing.

Like most of Morris ‘s books this will grab you by the heart and most likely break it.

I loved how she wrote true information at the end about each character she brought into the book. The brave men and woman of WWII need their names said in more than a history text book that no one reads.

Overall I liked this book and can’t wait to see what her next journey is going to be.

Thank you to Heather Morris, St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a story of survival. In this story, a group of women fight to survive the horrific conditions of imprisonment by the Japanese. Their stories will haunt you, but deserve to be told!

Although fictional this moving tale is based on the life of women who were internees of Japanese camps based in Indonesia during WW11. Their stories was overlooked by history and had to be told. Ms. Morris shares with us three years and seven months of their stay as POW. Among the internees were Dutch nuns, Dutch and English civilians as well as Australian nurses. The story mainly centers on Nesta, Ena and Norah who fought side by side to help whoever they could.

The novel is divided into three parts and is narrated from the perspectives of Norah and Nesta as they take turn chapter to chapter. It is said in a tone that is rather flat and neutral, I felt absolutely no bond with the characters they seemed cold and withdrawn. Could it be that relating a story second or third hands may have lost its sparkles down the line. The people represented here deserved full recognition. Unfortunately I found it difficult to be invested; the pacing is too slow, too monotonous and lacks vitality. I stayed with this story not because I enjoyed it but I wanted to know more about its historic facts. Overall I admit to be disappointed with the novel but still I appreciate that Ms. Morris brought to light a story of women in war, their sisterhood, their bravery and friendship. Although I may be overly critical here but I must say “Sisters Under the Rising Sun” is a rather exceptional story worth reading.

Heather Morris moves her ability to tell little known stories of World War II to the Pacific phase of the war. In this case, it is the story of Australian nurses and other women who are caught in the middle of the war. They become internees of the Japanese military spending three plus years as prisoners in various camps. These women face deprivation, cruelty, and beatings with dignity. Many die, but the survivors are true heroes. With little to work with, they take care of each other. Nesta James leads the nurses in caring for the women of the camp and Norah Chambers meets their emotional needs by creating beautiful music with just voices. This was a very emotional read that brought me to tears. Highly recommend.

Wow! I am a huge fan of this author of definitely did not disappoint… If you love historical fiction, this is the read for you!!!
Dive in and enjoy!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishers for this Advanced Readers Copy of Sisters Under the Rising Sun by Heather Morris!

Don't stop reading this book. Set during WW2, it tells the heart breaking story of Australian nurses (along with other women) who are captured and held as prisoners on an island somewhere near Indonesia/Singapore. It took a few chapters to get all of the characters straight, but once I did, I didn't want to stop reading.
Based on a true story, this heart breaking novel will potentially open your eyes to a WW2 story you likely have never heard before. I cried at the end. Heather Morris, you have done it again.
Thanks netgalley for an advanced copy of the book to read. All reviews are my own.

It’s WWII and Singapore is no longer safe. Norah Chambers, a musician from England, and her husband John make the heartbreaking decision to send their daughter off to hopeful safety. Norah and John later board the Vyner Brooke, along with a contingency of nurses from Australia. When the boat is attacked by Japanese enemies, not everyone survives. But for those who do, Japanese POW camps await.

Along with Norah and her sister Ena, Nesta St. James and her remaining nursing colleagues begin what becomes a three-and-a-half-year internment. Disease, starvation, depression, and cruelty become harsh realities. The women will come to rely on each other for help and hope. They use what little resources they have to lift one another up during the darkest of times – music, food, community, and friendship.

I was a big fan of this author, Heather Morris, before picking up this book and am even more so now. Morris shares stories that may otherwise remain unknown, painting a picture of equal parts hope and horror as she describes her characters’ harrowing journeys. As a historical fiction fan, I found the setting of this book interesting as so many WWII novels take place in Europe. An important piece of history, I highly recommend this book!

i was so excited to read this book, it was so different than what i initially thought t would be. Everything was explained in great detail, especially after they made it to the beach/jungles, Then we got to see all the relationships develop between the nurses and everything they had to do to survive.

These ladies took care of everyone and always tried to find some type of humor in their daily lives, i truly enjoyed the pact they made and why. There was one point when i thought that i didn't like it as much as her other stories but then i got to the last 100 pages and i was sobbing with every page i turned, it could not have ended better even though there were so many lives lost. This book was definitely a tearjerker but also showed how strong those women were, the love they had for each other and how they were all determined to survive. This was so different from her other books but no less amazing and totally heartwarming for me.

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for this arc. #SistersUnderTheRisingSun

Sisters Under The Rising Sun is the powerful story of women imprisoned in a Japanese War Camp Prison on a remote island.

The Women were Australian, British and Dutch and they all had in common the determination to survive the horrors of despicable conditions and treatment.

We meet Sister Nesta James who was being evacuated from Singapore along with many other Australian nurses.

There is Norah and her husband John who have had to leave their daughter behind in someone else’s care .

There are so many other characters that you will love and admire .

After they and many others are taken prisoner and the women are separated from the men , we discover the horrors and inhumane treatment of the women.

This is the story of sisterhood , strength, determination and the will to survive.

My review can’t possibly do the justice this book deserves , it’s a journey the reader must take.

Heather Morris ends the book with what happens to the women who were rescued and somehow this makes them more real .

Sisters Under the Rising Sun is historical fiction at its best .

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martins Press for a fascinating read .

True life experiences during WWII can make us pause and think about what if this happened today.

In 1942, Singapore was under attack by the Japanese Army. Virtually everyone in the city was in a state of complete disorder. Some people managed to get on the SS Vyner Brooke hoping to escape. The ship’s captain took off in a hurry when loud explosions were nearby. While they were in route, the Japanese saw them and fired. The ship went down.

The lucky survivors made it to Banka Island, east of Sumatra, Indonesia. However, they were immediately confronted by Japanese soldiers. For over three years, they lived under the control of the Japanese Army with very little food, clothes and shelter.

The story is about hardship with intolerable conditions like having rats running around and red ants in a hut when they were desperately trying to sleep. Some were sick from the water which wasn’t clean. Others felt severely depressed. To survive, they formed a tight bond with each other and created goals. They sang songs and built gardens. They tried to always stay positive.

I’ve read all of Heather Morris’s books and loved them but this one didn’t grab me as much. It started and continued at a slow pace. The emotional appeal wasn’t as apparent. I wish the author described more details about the prior life of characters in Singapore to get more of a sense who they were. In the end, she included a note of those she wrote about.

My thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read this advanced copy with an expected release date of October 24, 2023.

I absolutely loved both The Tattooist of Auschwitz and Cilka's Journey and so I was thrilled to see another book by Morris. This time Morris takes us to Asia during World War 2. The story is told from the nurses perspective. It is an emotional journey, however I feel Morris did a better job capturing the true horrors and emotions of war better in the novels based in Auschwitz. I still did enjoy this book, but it appears to me that Morris is more passionate about Auschwitz. I enjoyed the setting of the war in the Pacific as this seems to be less written about. A great read for anyone who is interested in historical fiction during the World War 2 ear. The book highlights the courage, bravery and sisterhood of those women who were held prisoners and their determination to survive.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.