I was excited to read this because I read the The Tattooist of Auschwitz and I loved it. And this tells about a different war involving Japanese people. Different from the Nazis I used to read. So I said… hmmm…. This seems interesting. But I felt bored. I couldn’t connect with the characters. There were TOO many characters. It was a mess. I couldn’t feel that emotion I’m supposed to feel. For me, it was poorly written.

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for providing me an ARC in exchange of an honest review.

A lot of people have read books about the concentration camps in Germany and treatment of the prisoners. Equally important is how the Japanese dealt with their prisoner. This novel is based on real events and actual people. It’s amazing how many survived by sheer determination and how they created their own support system to help each other. The nurses were a big part of helping the prisoners survive. Used to working as a group and taking instructions from their supervisors they had their own little support system within the group. Of course, this closeness makes it harder on them if one of them dies. This book will touch you emotionally. I cried near the end. So many people endured the hardship and starvation with courage only to succumb shortly prior to the end of the war and rescue of the remaining people left in the camp. Besides the nurses there were many other people that gave it their best effort to help others. Their endurance of all the hardships and cruel treatment is hard to visualize somebody been able to survive. I highly recommend this book.

Singapore February 1942
English musician Norah Chambers sends her 8 year old daughter off on a ship desperate to save her from the Japanese army . Norah, who stays behind to care for her husband and ailing parents, knows she may never see her precious child again.
As Singapore falls, Norah, her husband, and her sister leave aboard the Vyner Brooke merchant ship along with many Australian Army nurses and countless others.
Two days later, the ship is bombed, leaving survivors to jump overboard. After surviving 24 hours in the sea, the Japanese captured them, separated men from the women, and brought them to POW camps.

This book is a true account of these POW women and their bravery during the worst of times. How they formed a deep and loving sisterhood in the depths of despair while starving and being tortured and what they did to keep their spirits up.

I loved how Morris tells us what happened to each of the survivors in her notes at the end of the book.

Thank you to netgally and St. Martin's Press for the arc in return for a voluntary, honest review .

I found Sisters Under the Rising Sun to be an amazing and inspirational book! Based on a true story , I found the resilience of the characters, the way they all rose to the occasion, and their sheer courage in facing and surviving the unthinkable to be simply amazing, particularly since they were young and many were children. I've loved all of Heather Morris's books, and this one is the best yet!

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. I have read several Heather Morris Books. This one takes place during World War II. It focuses around two sisters, Norah and Ena. They end up while in route to an Island run by the Japanese soldiers. They are separated from their husbands. They are put together with women who are Nuns and nurses. For over three years they are moved around different locations on the Island. The sisters along with the other women try and find a way to survive the horrible conditons on the Island. They are also taking care of a little girl named June who was separated from her parents. They find ways to keep alive and going. Even starting a choral group of singers Imitating instruments. As in her other historical fiction books, Heather Morris bases her book on real life people. I found this to be a very good read turning the kindle pages and rooting for the women in the book. I would give this book a 4.5.

In the midst of World War II, an English musician, Norah Chambers, places her eight-year-old daughter Sally on a ship leaving Singapore, desperate to keep her safe from the Japanese army as they move down through the Pacific. Norah remains to care for her husband and elderly parents, knowing she may never see her child again.

Sister Nesta James, a Welsh Australian nurse, has enlisted to tend to Allied troops. But as Singapore falls to the Japanese she joins the terrified cargo of people, including the heartbroken Norah, crammed aboard the Vyner Brooke merchant ship. Only two days later, they are bombarded from the air off the coast of Indonesia, and in a matter of hours, the Vyner Brooke lies broken on the seabed. After surviving a brutal 24 hours in the sea, Nesta and Norah reach the beaches of a remote island, only to be captured by the Japanese and held in one of their notorious POW camps. The camps are places of starvation and brutality, where disease runs rampant. Sisters in arms, Norah and Nesta fight side by side every day, helping whoever they can, and discovering in themselves and each other extraordinary reserves of courage, resourcefulness and determination.

Sisters under the Rising Sun is a story of women in war: a novel of sisterhood, bravery and friendship in the darkest of circumstances, I love the writing of Heather Morris so I am always on the lookout for any of her books about little known women in history. Besides Nesta and Nora, there are other unforgettable characters in the book, each with their part to play in survival. I appreciated the author telling about the history of these real life women after WWII ends. Be prepared to get out your Kleenex on this one. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting my request to read this amazing story of these women and nurses.

This was a very interesting read, of a group of women, British, Dutch, Australian and one North American who were imprisoned by the Japanese during WWII.
On the 12th of February 1942, Vyner Brooke was one of the last ships carrying evacuees to leave Singapore. It sailed south with 181 passengers embarked, most of them women and children. Among the passengers were the last 65 Australian nurses in Singapore.
But soon after leaving, their ship was hit by the Japanese air force and sunk. Quite a few made it to shore, on a remote Island. Soon they were taken by the Japanese to POW camps. Women and males separated, and they were held prisoners for three and a half years. The Nurses were quite a sisterhood and looked after everyone in their camp.
This is full of true characters, who will amaze you with their resilience to survive. It was a hard and brutal time where most of the time they were starving. But they organized themselves so that they had the best chance at survival. The group also prepared music recitals and other activities, to try and lift their spirits.
This was a very well written book, with an amazing cast of Characters, and makes you wonder if you could survive as they did.
I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy of this book.

Synopsis (from Netgalley, the provider of the book to review)
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A phenomenal novel of resilience and survival by the bestselling author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, Heather Morris.

Amid World War II, an English musician, Norah Chambers, places her eight-year-old daughter Sally on a ship leaving Singapore, desperate to keep her safe from the Japanese army as they move down through the Pacific. Norah remains to care for her husband and elderly parents, knowing she may never see her child again.

Sister Nesta James, a Welsh Australian nurse, has enlisted to tend to the Allied troops. But as Singapore falls to the Japanese she joins the terrified cargo of people, including the heartbroken Norah, crammed aboard the Vyner Brooke merchant ship. Only two days later, they are bombarded from the air off the coast of Indonesia, and in a matter of hours, the Vyner Brooke lies broken on the seabed.

After surviving a brutal 24 hours in the sea, Nesta and Norah reach the beaches of a remote island, only to be captured by the Japanese and held in one of their notorious POW camps. The camps are places of starvation and brutality, where disease runs rampant. Sisters in arms, Norah and Nesta fight side by side every day, helping whoever they can, and discovering in themselves and each other extraordinary reserves of courage, resourcefulness, and determination.

Sisters under the Rising Sun is a story of women in war: a novel of sisterhood, bravery and friendship in the darkest of circumstances, from the multimillion-copy bestselling author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, Cilka's Journey and Three Sisters.

The plot of this book reminds me a lot of the movie “Paradise Road” - there are so many similarities. Those parallels aside, this book is nonetheless excellent – strong writing, attention to history and characters that you give a darn about. Great for individual readers and book clubs alike --- and check out the movie as Glenn Close, Cate Blanchett, Jennifer Ehle, and Frances McDormand are stellar, as always, in it…it will only enhance the reading of this novel as you see what women went through and survived: we are strong than we think!
#shortbutsweetreviews

I've read several other Heather Morris books and when I saw this was available on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review I couldn't wait to get started. I've read quite a few books about World War II in Europe, but none about the South Pacific. I had no idea there were POW camps full of civilian women. The story mostly follows two sisters and a group of Australian nurses who are trying to escape Singapore. Their ship is sunk and they are forced into a POW camp by Japanese soldiers. They experience many heartbreaking cases of abuse but try to make the best of their situation. The story is based on a true one and includes a follow-up of what happens to some of the ladies after they are rescued.

Everything I have ever read by Heather Morris is always a treat and of the highest quality, and this book was no different. What sets her apart is her breathtaking prose, her excellent characterization, and the quality of her historical accuracy. Combine that with two incredible women struggling for survival amidst a POW camp and you are swept away yet glued to your seat! Absolutely wonderful! Both Norah and Nesta are wonderful heroines that show that courage can be found in all of us. I recommend all of her books, but I believe this one is my favorite and her best yet! TEN STARS!

Sisters of the Rising Sun is the story of Dutch, British, and Australian women and nurses who were captured when their boat was torpedoed by the Japanese in 1942. They had left Singapore and were imprisoned in the jungles of Indonesia for three and a half years. Many died of malnutrition and disease as they were beaten, tortured, and starved. The bond between the British women and Australian nurses was amazing and the things they did for each other were responsible for about 1/3coming home. They all went above and beyond their call of duty. The strength and resilience of these women are celebrated. The Japanese responsible for the reprehensible behavior were later punished as war criminals. The book is based on true people.
The first part of the book was a little slow and repetitive; however the last part of the book redeemed the author.

I have read many stories about the struggle, strengths, resiliencey of men and women during WWII with the nazi's but never anything about the role the Japanese played when they got involved with the War.

Sisters Under the Rising Sun, by Heather Morris, is the story of shipwrecked nurses who become POW's in a Japanese camp. I lived with these women as they go through deplorable conditions, starvation, and the atrocities the endured.

The story based on true events is engrossing and an eye opener. I love Heather Morris's books and l loved this one. Its a definite recommend

Thank you St. Martin's Press and Netgalley. All thoughts are my own in my review
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The truly amazing story of a band of women who became sisters of the heart in the Pacific as prisoners of the Japanese. Of all the stories recently published about women prisoners during WWII, this is one of the best, and most memorable.

A fantastic book, from start to finish! I appreciate Morris bringing this history to life. What strong women these nurses, nuns, and Dutch women were!!!

Sisters Under the Rising Sun, by Heather Morris, is not about a time/part of history with which I am familiar. The atrocities of war and the pain they caused are described in a way that is real. This story is heartbreaking, yet inspirational. Thank you, NetGalley and tSt. Martin’s Press, for providing me with an ARC ebook of this beautifully written, historical fiction novel, so that I could not only enjoy it but also provide an honest review.

Oh, so incredibly heartbreaking, and their strength and resilience, so unexpected. In squalor, captivity, starvation, disease and abuse, they still managed to find and spread joy. To create friendships, families and care for one another.

Theirs is not a story I had heard before, and I love that they were given a voice. The author's notes at the end are not to be missed.
I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I want to thank St Martins Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Sisters Under the Rising Sun by author Heather Morris. One of her previous books, Cilka’s Journey, is one of my favorites.
This time she chooses a very different venue.
“We will carry on looking up even when all around us is squalor and sickness.”
The year is 1943. Refugees are trying to escape from Singapore to avoid capture by the Japanese. Many are on the ship, Vynar Brooke, when it is attacked. Survivors are rounded up and subjected to unimaginable treatment in the jungles of Sumatra. The nurses and Sisters do their best to to keep as many as possible alive. Finding food, tending to the sick and keeping up morale is what is important. How about creating an orchestra with only voices!
Who will survive?
Will families reunite?
What happens to the young child who is being cared for by sisters she calls aunties?
The reader lives the horrors along with the prisoners. Many sacrifice for others. You are drawn in and feel the pain! Would think this may appeal more to women.The book will be published October 10th 2023.

A touching story that tells you the sad truth that lies in the country during war. From the nurses perspective was a very interesting read. Definitely touches the heart.

Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book.

Heather Morris is the master of weaving facts and history into an unforgettable historical fiction masterpiece. Sisters Under the Rising Sun tells the story of shipwrecked nurses who become POW's in a Japanese camp. In deplorable conditions, they form a bond so strong, they would die for each other. Survival and being reunited with their family and loved ones seem impossible as they struggle each day to endure.

So many books about WWII focus on the events that occurred in Europe. Sisters Under the Rising Sun tells us about the female prisoners of war who were captured by the Japanese in Singapore. This is an important book based on true events and I appreciate the author telling the stories of these brave women.

That being said, I found my interest in the book slagging at times. The writing occasionally seemed a little disjointed and I struggled to keep track of the characters. Although I’m glad to have learned more about the events in the Pacific, I’m ready to move on to a different genre.

I received an advanced readers copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.