First off let me thank St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a preview read of Heather Morris’ new book SISTERS UNDER THE RISING SUN. This book will be released OCTOBER 24, 2023….Heather is the author of the Tattooist of Auschwitz, Cilka’s Journey and Three Sisters and I loved those books!

This book is about another devastating time in which women are held in a POW camp during WWII. While leaving Singapore in fear of the Japanese, a group of civilians and Welsh Australian nurses board the SS Vyner Brook. They are bombarded from the air off the coast of Indonesia. They survive in the water for 24 hours, but are captured and sent to a POW camp for three and a half years! These camps are brutal…with starvation, disease and cruelty.

Sisters Under the Rising Sun is about two blood sisters who were captured…as well as “sister” nurses who were enlisted to tend Allied troops. These women stand side by side bonding, helping and courageously trying to live during this deplorable and helpless time. I was shocked to read about this horrific incident, as I had never heard of about this…I love learning about history I haven’t previously known about through fiction. It just brings the story to life.

I did have one down turn about this book, which I think that I understand Heather Morris’ reasoning ... in no way does that alter my rating.
~All the women in the POW camp (who were separated early on from the men) got along famously. No infighting, bullying, or even hostile quarreling. This had me shaking my head a bit, because I know women in the best of conditions. We often tend to be cranky and petty during certain situations that arise. These women didn’t get upset, weren't contentious or even jealous when others had more to eat and better conditions. They volunteered for difficult work and some did more than their fair share. With that said, while I did have difficulty believing that there was no animosity...I also think that the author was trying to put a “positive” outlook on this extremely difficult situation. I believe she just wanted to get the story out there so that we will know about this time in history. Many died there and I feel the author wanted to respect their memory.

I also felt it started to drag a bit toward the end. However, can you imagine how their lives “dragged a bit” being in a prison camp for 3.5 years?!?!

READ THIS BOOK! It is so important that these moments in history (horrific moments) NOT BE REPEATED!!!!

World War II was definitely a war that encompassed most of our world. Acclaimed Author Heather Morris has written several remarkable books dealing with the horrors of Jewish prisoners in Germany during the war. “Sisters Under the Rising Sun” reveals the cruelty of the Japanese internment camps. Author Morris is to be commended for creating another heartfelt and inspiring historical fiction book.

The story begins in February, 1942 in British Malaysia, just prior to its fall to the Japanese. Residents of Singapore are desperately trying to evacuate. Norah and her husband, and her sister are on one of the last boats to leave the endangered city. The boat is crammed with other citizens, including a group of Australian Army nurses, who vow to stay with the ship. When Japanese bombers attack, the boat rapidly sinks. The nurses do indeed stay until the end and this is just the beginning of their dedication.

The nurses and other survivors float in the ocean until they finally reach an island off Malaysia. The Japanese stationed there send the women and children to a camp, and the men are sent to another camp. It will be three and a half years until the war ends and they are released. Three and a half years of fear, deprivation, starvation, cruelty, terrible conditions- how do they stand it?

This large group of nuns, nurses, and women who range from the elite to housewives, to a missionary, bond together with hope and love. (At the end of the war, it was noted that the women fared better than the men.) These women work together, solve problems, love and comfort children, and administer medical care. One of the highlights of the book are the touching and beautiful artistic performances by the women, which readers will never forget.

Author Heather Morris is known for her stories of the Holocaust. As notable as those were, “Sisters Under the Rising Sun” is even more beautiful and moving. I like that this book delivers a strong message without being graphic. At the end of the book, the author shares the follow up stories of some of the characters who survived, who were all real people. Although many died in captivity, I was happy to learn that most of the women who survived lived to an old age!

“Sisters Under the Rising Sun” will be published October 24, 2023. I highly recommend this book. Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for an advance review copy. This is my honest review. 1st

Sisters Under the Rising Sun
By Heather Morris
Pub Date October 24, 2023
St. Martins Press
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Astonishing story, I highly recommend it,
I love this author.
5 stars

This was an incredibly difficult book for me to read. I had to just put it down and walk away many, many times. I did not know that women and children were captured and put into prisoner of war camps. The atrocities that humans do to other humans totally baffles me. The will to survive is inspiring! Sisters Under the Rising Sun would be a great tie in for a world history class for high school students. We must not forget.

Sisters Under the Rising Sun
I have read many novels of WWII and the Holocaust, including this author’s previous novel, The Tattoist of Auschwitz. Without exception,the novels I read were about the horrible treatment of Jews, the mass murders in the concentration camps, and how the Germans were able to execute 6 million Jews. This novel also takes place in WWII, but on the other part of the world, in the Pacific. After the fall of Singapore to the Japanese, the ship that holds refugees and nurses of the Australian army is bombed and sinks, with not many survivors.
The nurses and civilian survivors are captured and put into camps, where conditions were not much better than in the German concentration camps. There is no food, water, medicine, and constant disease taking toll of those who managed to survive. The heroes of this novel are the nurses who work to save lives under the worst conditions, while the Japanese keep moving their prisoners from camp to camp. As Nesta, the tiny nurse testifies after the war, they were held for 3 years and seven months. As you read about families torn apart and some reunited, you better get out those tissues. I’ve learned from this novel, because I didn’t know about these Japanese prisoner of war camps. In the afterword, the author tells us that the story is based on real people and events. 5 star book, mostly for the amount of research that went into the writing of this novel.
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley in exchange of an honest review, the opinions are my own.

This is another wonderful book by author Heather Morris. It tells the story of women POWs during WWII. But these internees are in Indonesia after they are forced to flee Singapore after the Japanese invasion. I didn’t know much about this part of WWII, but have since done my own research and reading about this time period because of this book. Nurses, families and children were on a ship trying to flee Singapore when it was sunk by the Japanese. The survivors were taken captive in Indonesia and subjected to horrible conditions for more than 3 1/2 years. The women who are the subject of this book, create a life for themselves and refuse to let their captures take their hope and dignity. This is truly a story of survival, loss and how complete strangers can come together to create a family that survives for years to come.

I have read about the internment camps during WWII by the Japanese in Indonesia. It was brutal, as depicted in this book.. I found it difficult to believe much of the dialogue among the nurses and women. It felt stilted and unnatural to me. Living in such abhorrent conditions, starving, watching many waste away from illness and malnutrition and disease and die and still such civility among the captives. This was a distraction for me. I did not feel this way reading Three Sisters and Cilka’s Journey. I did, however, like the fact that the author told us about some of the main characters, in the end of the novel. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Heather Morris’s ‘Sisters Under the Rising Sun’ is all about sisterhood...be it sisters by blood, sisters in Christ, or a broader sisterhood of women brought together by circumstance. She has written with compassion and sensitivity. The story is emotive, thought provoking, awe inspiring and puts your everyday problems into perspective.

Considering the book is a based on true events, it is very compelling. It's definitely one of only a few books that will stay with me a long time. The story is unforgettable and keeps you thinking about it well after you've put it down.

Although upsetting and saddening, there is such a beautiful story at the heart that makes me envious of the power and optimism the women have.
This is the fourth book I’ve read by Morris and I continue to appreciate the attention to detail. I immediately was able to picture the characters as they were excellently portrayed and I could imagine the whole story with clarity.

This book wasn't as brutal and as hard hitting as some of the prisoner of war books I've read although equally saddening, therefore I feel this could be read by slightly younger readers without offending or upsetting.

I can't recommend this book highly enough, it a definite must read and gets 5 stars for a heart wrenching, empowering, and unforgettable read.

This story begins in 1942 as Japan enters World War II, intending to take over the islands of the Pacific. In December of 1941, Guam, Wake Island and Hong Kong had already fallen, followed by the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaya, Singapore, and Burma.

As evacuees were being carried away from Singapore on the ’Vyner Brooke’, it wasn’t long before they were attacked by the Japanese Air Force, and the ship they were on was destroyed. Desperate to save their lives, many, but not all, made their way to Sumatra, Indonesia through sheer determination to survive. Many others, however, didn’t survive. This is the story of those who did manage to survive, but who were also captured by the Japanese. Men, women, and children were separated, then sent to prisoner-of-war camps, and were moved frequently, treated horribly, fed occasionally, but not enough to survive on. Most who died in the time that they were there, died of starvation, cruelty, or disease brought on by their living conditions.

This is based on the stories of real people who shared their personal stories, the horrors they witnessed, the brutality they endured, the friends they made as time passed, and how the death of so many that had been their friends affected them.

I’ve read a lot of stories of this era, of this war, but this one moved me to the point of tears. This heartbreaking story of war, loss, friendship, love, and memories that will haunt these women throughout their lives is one I will not forget any time soon.



Pub Date: 24 Oct 2023

Many thanks for the ARC provided by St. Martin’s Press

This historical fiction novel, based on a true story and real people, was better than average.
The Sisters are the Australian nurses who signed up to work with the military during WWII.
There are other characters as well. Norah and Ena are 2 of them and they really are sisters.
The thing these women have in common is being ship-wrecked off the coast of a Japanese-held island.
The deprivations and tragedies they suffer are the meat of this book.
I read this book right after reading another historical fiction novel based in Germany during WWII.
This was much better, and it kept me turning the pages to see what would happen.
And, I learned a great deal as well.
Yes, I recommend this book. I would give it 4-1/2 stars if I could.

Oh my gosh. What can I say about this book? It's heartbreaking and beautiful and inspiring. It's the story of women persevering in horrific conditions while somehow becoming more compassionate. The truth of the women and children held in Japanese POW camps during WWII deserves to be told and Heather Morris has done it justice. A must read.

5 stars! Heather Morris has written another incredible novel and I highly recommend it!

This compelling story details the bombing of the HMS Vyner Brooke off the coast of Singapore and depicts how the survivors spent 3.7 years in 5 different POW camps during World War II. Many of the survivors were Australian nurses who continued to sacrifice and care for others even in the worst of circumstances. The women were subjected to incredible neglect and suffering by the Japanese, but they remained defiant against their oppressors. The women came together to support one another, sharing their resources, endeavoring to maintain morale, and care for each other no matter the consequences. They used the power of song to lift their spirits and keep their hope alive.

Heather Morris shines a light on a horrific event in the Pacific and it is a story that is worthy of being told. When I finished the book what most resonated with me was the resilience of the women and the forever friendships that were forged amidst a backdrop of war. Their story is one that will stay with me for a long time.

I received an advance digital review copy of this book; all opinions are my own.

Heather Morris has written another enlightening historical fiction about atrocities caused by imprisonment as the result of the second world war. Little did I know about Japanese camps and their prisoners especially women. This is an excellent novel of faith, resistance, heartbreak, and self-sacrifice of many for the well-being of many.

Heather Morris adds another inspiring story of real WWII survivors to her others which include The Tattooist of Auschwitz and Cilka’s Journey. Based on interviews and historical records, Morris tells the stories of a group of women, including a group of Australian nurses and two sisters, Norah and Ena, who are captured by the Japanese as they attempted to escape the attacks on Singapore. The women spend over 3 and 1/2 years being moved from prison camp to prison camp, but in the midst of everything they find reason to survive, even forming a voice orchestra to lift spirits. This is a story of determination and perseverance, and dedication on the part of the nurses who despite being denied their rights as nurses continued to minister to those in need. It is also a story of the atrocities of war and the war crimes that were committed upon innocent civilians and nurses.
Heather Morris states that these women need to be remembered by name so she has given them voice in this story—sister Nesta James, Norah and Ena Chambers, Mrs, Hinchi, and so many others.
Recommended for readers of historical fiction, especially WWII.

Sisters Under the Rising Sun by Heather Morris Ms Morris says that she has not told the story so the women internees of the Japanese prisoner of war camps in Indonesia will be remembered, she has told it so they will be known. An excellent telling of their stories. They will be in my thoughts for a long time. A courageous, inspiring and exceptional group of women. Nesta and Nora, Ena and little June, Vivian, Mrs Hinch and many more. “Know now of them. Remember them.” Highly recommended.

Thank you to Austin Adams, St. Martin's Publishing Group for recommending the book, and to the publisher, Heather Morris and NetGalley for opportunity to preview the book.

I received a free e-arc of this book from Netgalley. This is an account of the wonen internees of the Japanese POW camps in Indonesia during WWII. I was astounded at the conditions these women and children lived in for more than 3 years. Simple things like water and toilets have never been so appreciated by me. I read this book in an afternoon because it was so hard to put down. I was a bit teary by the end and then reading the biographies of some of the main characters was emotional too as sometimes we forget these were real people and not just characters in a book.