Heather Morris’ wheelhouse is telling stories about World War II and the aftermath. After three books located in Europe, she pivots to Asia Pacific with Sisters Under the Rising Sun, which follows a group of women in a prison camp after trying to flee Singapore. Once again, the book is full of both the indignities the women suffer, and the small things and support amongst each other that sustains their hopes and spirits. Also like her previous books, the primary protagonists are based on real people. I suspected this going in, which is always stronger motivation to read through a subject matter that can be very difficult to read in order to find out what happens to them. The book is very good and a reminder that people outside of the concentration camps of Europe also suffered horrific treatment. I don’t know that this book flowed quite as well as some of Morris’ previous stories. That might be attributed to a large cast of characters whose connections come from their circumstances more than their pasts. If you want a World War II story that is a little less traditional, this is a good choice, but one that may not be for every reader due to the conditions the women face in the story.

"Sisters under the Rising Sun" by Heather Morris is a heart-wrenching and compelling novel set against the backdrop of World War II, offering readers a powerful portrayal of the resilience and courage of two women, Norah Chambers and Sister Nesta James, as they navigate the horrors of war.

The story unfolds during the tumultuous period of the Japanese invasion of Singapore, where Norah Chambers faces an agonizing decision – to place her young daughter Sally on a ship bound for safety while she remains behind to care for her husband and elderly parents. This heart-rending choice sets the stage for a gripping narrative that explores the depths of a mother's love and sacrifice in the face of impending danger.

As the Vyner Brooke merchant ship sets sail, readers are taken on a harrowing journey alongside Norah and Sister Nesta James. The ship's bombardment off the coast of Indonesia thrusts them into a desperate struggle for survival, ultimately leaving them stranded on a remote island. Their ordeal doesn't end there, as they are captured by the Japanese and thrown into one of their notorious POW camps, where they must confront unimaginable hardship, starvation, and brutality.

The true essence of "Sisters under the Rising Sun" lies in its portrayal of the unbreakable bond that forms between Norah and Sister Nesta James as they endure the horrors of the POW camp. Their sisterhood transcends mere friendship; it becomes a lifeline, a source of strength, and a beacon of hope in the darkest of times. Their daily acts of courage, resourcefulness, and determination serve as a testament to the indomitable spirit of women in wartime.

The author's storytelling prowess shines through in this narrative, painting vivid scenes of suffering and resilience, allowing readers to feel the pain and triumph of the characters. The historical accuracy and attention to detail are commendable, immersing readers in the era's chaos and uncertainty.

Ultimately, "Sisters under the Rising Sun" is a poignant and inspiring tale of women who find courage and strength within themselves and each other when faced with the cruelest of circumstances. This novel is a testament to the enduring power of sisterhood, bravery, and friendship in the face of adversity. Readers will be moved by the characters' unwavering determination and left with a profound appreciation for the resilience of the human spirit, even in the midst of the darkest of times.

Sisters Under the Rising Sun
By: Heather Morris
Review Score: 4 Stars

Boogie’s Bulletpoints
-This book takes place in the Pacific theater during World War 2.

-You really feel how awful conditions were in the Japanese POW Camp.

-Morris does an amazing job of taking you into the camp, where you feel the resilience of these women.

-There is a ton of data in this book, and it does feel a bit slow at times, but that doesn’t take away from how powerful this story is.

———

Sisters Under the Rising Sun was kindly provided as an ARC by Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press. Thank you for allowing me to read this wonderful book!

Release Date: 10/24/23

Heather Morris always does such an amazing job of weaving true stories into powerful pieces of historical fiction. Sisters Under the Rising Sun is no exception to that.

I learned so much about the Japanese POW camp, which is a part of World War 2 I am not as familiar with. It is amazing what these women do to survive, as they attempt to make their camps more habitable, all while dealing with hunger and disease.

This was an amazing book, and so well written.

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Ms. Morris has knocked this one out of the ballpark. I have read many, many WWII books but none have displayed the cruelty and everyday life in the Japanese prisoner camps as well as this one. Her research was stellar. While reading and knowing this was a true story about these fine young women that endured more than we can imagine and so many lost their lives. They displayed such tenacity, ingenuity, braveness, loyalty, love for others and perseverance. They are all heroes. British and Australian.
This book will go into the top 5 of my 2023 reading list and I will definitely be reading it again more slowly, I rarely re-read, but this one deserves it.
I loved the Authors notes when she told us what became of these ladies after the war and of little June.
War is awful and ugly, but sadly the rules of war are not observed by our enemies and the prisoners suffer atrocities beyond what anyone should. This has been common for many and unfortunately the perpetrators either escaped or hid from their crimes.
All the books I have read by Ms. Morris have been 5 stars and I was so excited to be given the opportunity to read this one. I was provided an uncorrected ARC from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a voluntary review if I so wished, I thank them. This is a 10-star book, way beyond a 5. I give my highest recommendation I can give.

Sisters Under the Rising Sun is a story about more than just the POW camps in the Sumatran jungle. This historical fiction novel is heavily based on fact and allows readers an insight into a world of war from the point of view of Britain, Australian and Dutch women, which is not one frequently told. Heather Morris paints a vivid picture of what it was like for the women who survived the bombing of their boat in the sea, yet their story still seems unimaginable as a reader because of the catastrophe and strife they endured. The bonds Morris portrays between the women who banded together is beautifully described and one that is easily relatable as a female reader.

The book opens with John and Norah Chambers sending their little girl Sally off to what they pray to be safety, while they promise to follow soon after with the rest of the family. As we get to know the many characters, it is hard not to get attached to sisters Ena and Norah who informally adopt June, a little girl that reminds Norah of her own little girl. The image of Norah saying goodbye to her daughter are forever in the back of your mind as you read, making it that much more relatable to a reader.

The story does involve a lot of characters and did seem a little difficult to track who was where, and when, without getting confused. There were extra storylines that did not entirely add to the story, but overall, it gave a good understanding of a topic that is not given nearly as much discussion as it deserves.


Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel.

Wow. This book was heartbreaking, powerful, moving, and affirming. I really did not know much about the Japanese POW camps during the time of WWII. This book not only shifted my perception of what was happening in places other than Europe during that time, but also made me painfully aware of the atrocities that have been committed but go unknown. I am so grateful that i was given the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book prior to its publication. I want to sincerely thank Heather Morris for sharing the stories of these heroic women, men, and children. I also would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher St. Martin’s Press for allowing me the opportunity to have a small glimpse into the dark world they faced during this time. This was more than words, this was their lives, and this will stay with me for a long time.

I LOVED the plot and concept of this one: women living in Singapore end up in Japanese POW camps - I’ve never read any WWII fiction set in the Pacific, so I was highly excited for this one.

However, I was slightly let down. The story was really choppy and jumpy, and it was hard to tell when it was switching between Nesta and Norah. There was a lot of telling and not a ton of showing and diving deeper. Everything just moved a little too fast for me.

I don’t know, I just needed ~ more.

2.5 stars for the potential.

In typical Heather Morris fashion, this is based on true people and actual events. This particular story focuses on the female prisoners of war in a Japanese internment camp. This was a fast-paced read for me because I was so invested in the story. Norah was such a lovable character and her resolve was astounding. This is a great story of sisterhood and survival. Knowing that is based on actual events is heartbreaking, but it was a phenomenal read nonetheless! Definitely would recommend. 5/5 stars

*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for ARC in exchange for an honest review*

Another incredible, heartbreaking novel.

How do I begin? Sisters Under Rising Sun is not the first book that I read by Heather Morris; I should know that I would fall in love again. I have read most of <b> Heather Morris </b>, and there wasn't one I could get out of my head. I am not going to forget this one. I was excited when I found out Morris was writing a new book, and even happier when I came across ARC on NetGalley. I had to request it; I couldn't give up a chance to read it ahead of time. Heather Morris writes emotional books, but the World War is a challenging subject to write about. World War I/II is my favorite to read about in historical fiction. Reading historical fiction taught me a lot, and I thought I knew everything. I was wrong. Reading Sisters Under Rising Sun , I learned much more. I want to go back and re-read it to discover it all again.

How can I even begin to describe the emotions in this book? There were so many of them. I finished reading the book this morning, yet I cannot get it out of my mind. Sisters Under Rising Sun is a story that should be read by everyone who loves historical fiction. This book is one of the reasons that I love historical fiction. I knew I would fall in love, but I didn't know how much it would affect me. Of all her books that I have read so far, this is my favorite so far. You can tell that this is the genre she is passionate about and how much research goes into her novels. I love the author's note towards the end of the story; it made the book much more accurate. There is much more I can say about her writing, but that would take me all day.

There is so much that I can say about the characters. I don't have a favorite main character because I love them all. Norah, Sister Nesta James. Two brave women. After reading the book, I wondered how they had survived for as long as they did. Sisters Under Rising Sun is a story about war, friendship, bravery, survival, and hope. I loved that no matter what they had to endure or go through, they were always there for one another. Their friendship reminds me of a few of my closest friends, the ones I would do anything for.
Highly recommended, be prepared for the ride of a lifetime.

Heather Morris takes us on a journey through time and space to Singapore and the islands that were quickly occupied by the Japanese after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Looking for a safe haven, a shipload of people evacuating Singapore find themselves on a ship that is sunk by the Japanese. Those that were fortunate enough to live through the ordeal become prisoners of war in detention camps where they are physically and mentally abused and forced to live on a starvation diet while exposed to extreme heat and epidemics of tropical disease.

The author did her homework and researched this novel in depth. The main characters were based upon real women who became prisoners of sadistic Japanese prison officials. Among the detainees were numerous nurses, Dutch citizens and a noteworthy musical prodigy - Norah Chambers, who used her talent to achieve the seemingly impossible in uplifting morale under horrific circumstances.

The plot, itself, is clearly drawn and the characters and action are easy to follow. It was a good story and a very quick read. Unfortunately, for me I never felt connected to the characters. Their dialog was somewhat stilted. Their words never sounded like authentic conversation. I didn’t feel like they were speaking to me. They were speaking but lacked feeling in their words.

My thanks to NetGalley and Echo Publishing for providing me with a prepublication copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I will look forward to reading more books by this author in the future.

As someone who had read all of Heather Morris’s books, I was super excited for this ARC from NetGalley. I am thankful opportunity to read and review “Sisters Under the Rising Sun.”

Overall, I thought the book well-written and depicted with many vivid details. It was a story that reminded me of some past written stories centered around WWII. However, told I’m a different light. There were a lot of characters. Many intertwining storylines that I felt were difficult to sort in my mind while reading.

This is a story of strength, resilience, selflessness and tight bonds developed between characters. Truly a beautiful story.

I will preface this by saying that I have loved everything else that Heather Morris has written...until this one. I found this book to have way too many characters and very hard to follow. It was hard to become emotionally invested with the characters because of that which is usually this authors biggest strength..the emotion in the story. Instead, I found myself quite bored and counting down until it was done.

This is a story that needed to be told, women interned during WWII, they were along side the men, but separate.
As I have heard life was not easy and the length of time there was long, I can't even imagine, such courage, and you will learn of the atrocities that are committed, and the title of this read tells whom!
This read begins in Singapore as the area is being invaded, and people start fleeing, and we see the heartbreak as families are separated.
We are with the fateful sinking of the SS Vyner Brook, filled with Welch Australian Nurses, along with a large group of civilians, as we begin this journey. Yes, for the next three years and seven months, we focus on these brave woman and how some survived, and the author has done a wonderful job of bringing this story alive, we need to remember! We put names to these women and walk in their shoes, or bare feet, as they go about surviving and helping take care of each other.
It was not lost on me as to when the Red Cross packages came out!
I loved how the book was wrapped up and the updates given in the epilogue. A book not to be missed!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher St. Martin's Press, and was not required to give a positive review.

I honestly don’t know how to express how much I loved this book! I ended up reading it straight through simply because I couldn’t stop. It is the first book set during the war that I have read from that side of the world. What resilience and strength these people are showing.
The writing is on point as is the storyline. The characters are easy to connect to. It just cements the notion that I will be picking up any book this author writes!

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley.

This was a very good WWII book different than most because it is not about Jewish people and Evian takes place in different part of the world.It is about the jack. It is about Japanese and nurses.

I have read all of Heather Morris’ novels and was so excited to receive an ARC of her upcoming new release. As an avid reader or WWII historical fiction, I have not read many (if any) books focused on Japanese internment camps in Malaysia. I was immediately drawn in to the story of the two sisters and their times improviser by the Japanese. The novel is a story of perseverance through love, friendship, music, and faith. I throughly enjoyed the novel, and shed a few tears while reading. I will definitely recommend it to others.

Heather Morris has another great book relating to women in prison camps. Sisters Under the Rising Sun is based on the experiences of women held in a Japanese POW camp during WW2. Although there is much less detail about day to day struggles, deprivations, and abuses than in her other books, it is obvious that the women faced these things. But the remarkable depiction in this story is of the strength, grace, and determination of the women. They did not whine about their circumstances, but instead they helped and supported each other, caring for the children and the weak, and doing whatever was needed to make their camp livable. I have the utmost respect for these women who sacrificed their needs, their food, and their comfort when others were in greater need. Their courage during the years they spent in captivity is inspiring.

This is a historical fiction novel about several women who were captured during WWII and sent to live in a POW camp. This was a different story from all the other WWII historical fiction novels that I’ve read and it shed some light on the terrible conditions in these camps that I had not known about. The story follows Norah and her sister Edna who are civilians that lived in Singapore and get separated from their families and a group of Welsh nurses that were enlisted to help the Allied troops. It’s a story of sisterhood, strength, and resilience.

I really liked Heather Morris’s The Tattooist of Auschwitz, so I was looking forward to reading this one. While it was a unique telling I did struggle with the constant swapping of characters, I never was able to absorb myself in their storylines because of it. The conversations didn’t feel natural and were a little devoid of emotion. Due to this I had an overall hard time connecting with the characters which made it difficult to want to continue to read at times.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher St. Martins Press for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

oh wow. such a different take on WW2! I liked the different view point and the strong relationships that were built between the characters.

Heather Morris is an incredible author who weaves truthful events through the eyes of fictional characters. She places the reader in the middle of the story and we learn so much from reading her words. I have long been a fan of her writing and will continue to be. This is a story of unbelievable hardships endured by a group of women and nurses who become POW and imprisoned on an island controlled by the Japanese. They are abused, starved, and brutalized. Many died but the bonds that were formed by the women and children is simply amazing. The fact that she was able to create light moments with music in the middle of such horror touched my heart. How could anyone survive what they experienced? The only reason I do not give this a five star rating is the reading was just so hard. It is so sad. The bonds that these women were able to make to help each survive were just amazing. I learned a lot about the Australian nurses, nuns, Americans and the citizens trying to flee Singapore as the invasion began. I have not read a lot from this point of view and the story will stick with me for a long time.

I wish to thank NetGalley and St Martin’s Press, for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.