Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest historical fiction novel by Heather Morris and wonderfully narrated by Laura Carmichael.

Sisters Under the Rising Sun completely gutted me and left me in awe of the incredible resilience of the human spirit. A phenomenal story of women in war, this novel largely centers around the experiences of two women imprisoned in Japanese POW camps during World War 2. Norah, a wife, mother, sister, and gifted musician, fights for survival alongside Nesta, an Australian nurse. Through the eir years of internment, Norah, Nesta, and countless other women endure brutal conditions with courage, selflessness, and friendship.

I received both the ebook and audiobook versions of Sisters Under the Rising Sun, and I am so glad that I did. The audiobook’s presentation of the music created in the camps made it especially inspiring to listen to. The Captive’s Hymn is simply beautiful, and I truly enjoyed learning about the characters that contributed to this element of life in the camps.

I love when historical fiction draws so directly from real individuals and experiences, and this novel does just that. I have already started going down a rabbit hole to learn more about Norah and Nesta’s stories and those of their friends. While I have read countless WW2 novels set in Europe, this is the first I have read that is set in the islands of the Pacific. I cannot find the words to express my genuine gratitude to the author and narrator for sharing this unforgettable piece of history.

During WW2, some English and Australian women trying to flee Singapore become stranded as prisoners of war captured by the Japanese. This is a survival story based on true events and people. It’s a story of suffering which usually doesn’t cut it for me as a plot.

I liked the characters but sometimes there were too many and I got confused or disinterested in some of them. I found the whole story choppy. It’s hard to make things true to history while making a story flow. Some of the events didn’t really seem to make sense to me.

Thank you for the advanced copy out today, October 24, 2023!

Tattooist and Cilka's books were heart wrenching, loaded with details, and made you feel like you were walking with them all. I wanted so badly to enjoy this one, but it was cheeeeeesy. The dialog was meh and there was a lot of repetition. An eidetic memory for scores as detailed as Ravel? Convenient. There were scant details, though. I had no solid pictures of the camps in my head. They talked about their houses and drawers being pulled out and streets. I pictured the 'burbs surrounded by jungle. Huts? With rooms and kitchen drawers and room(ish) for a bunch of people? Huts with a garden/yard? There was not detail on the day to day other than the women wandering between houses and the hospital and seemingly having nothing really to do there.
I appreciate all the effort that goes into researching the hard to research. I doubt there were many details out there to flesh out the book, but this is where the fiction part comes in. I would have loved more details on the day to day. I got more information from the author's notes than I did the rest of the novel.

Once again, Heather Morris bases her novel on true events. Unlike many historical fiction books, this one shows us the Japan side of WWII versus the Nazis in Europe. I could not wait to finish the book to google the real story. Knowing that the 'characters' are real people, it's a hard book to read at times. I shed a lot of tears at the end. Make sure to read the author's note at the end to find out what happened to the real people.

In Sisters Under the Rising Sun, Heather Morris continues to give voice to the many women affected by WWII. Turning our gaze away from Europe the setting of Three Sisters, now we look closely to those on the Pacific Ocean side of the world. Women are just as brave, resourceful, resilient, and determined to survive, help others and remain steadfast through the war. Surviving a ruthless sinking of a merchant ship by the Japanese, Norah and Nesta along with many others are held in one of the Japanese POW interments.

These times are one of brutal situations that makes the heart hurt but it is also one of creating a sisterhood and holding tight to each other and the hope for freedom in the future days to come. It is also a story of music that couldn’t be silenced.

We shouldn’t never forget because then it might be allowed to happen again. Thank you, Heather Morris for bringing these characters alive through Sisters Under the Rising Sun. They are unforgettable.

An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

After reading Heather Morris’ previous book ‘Three Sisters’ (loved) and hearing so much about ‘The Tattooist of Auschwitz’ (haven’t read but definitely will), I couldn’t request this book fast enough. I knew very little about the Japanese invasion of the Pacific and the POW camps.

This book follows a group of Australian, English and Americans trying to leave Singapore to escape capture. Highlighted are the difficult decisions faced by families on sending their loved one ahead hoping they will be safe, being torn apart. The dedication of the nurses, putting themselves in harms way, to administer to others. The brutal massacre of innocent people. These woman are held prisoners for over 3 years. Their resiliency is amazing, as is any POW story. Unfortunately, somewhere along the line, this story was flat for me. I didn’t feel the pain, horrors as deeply as I did in her past book. It seemed almost to be glossed over. Yes, it is an important story to tell, I just felt the true story was lost. I appreciated the research and the Author’s Note. Would I read this author again, definitely. If you are someone who enjoys historical fiction but cannot handle the graphic atrocities, this book might be for you.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this ARC. This is my honest opinion.

I’m unsure that I can give this stars because I’m not sure where I land…. With her 3 previous novels I was hooked and taken along with her heartbreaking stories about friendships amidst horrors. But this one, I found the writing lacking depth. And I don’t know why because the other 3 were intricately woven but this just felt like a surface write. For me as a reader. Because I am not a seasoned author by any stretch of the imagination but it lacked the depth in writing.

The stories and voices that the Author uncovers, this time off the coast of Indonesia, is one of resilience and pain. Courage and loss. Their stories need to be told, and I appreciate the authors spotlight but something for me was lacking a bit. So just a like, not a love.

I do appreciate the gifted copy in return for an honest review. I am a lucky reader to have the opportunity to read it. And yea, the author is still an auto read because her last 3 books have found themselves onto my forever shelf

Survival and Sisterhood in a WWII Japanese Prisoner of War Camp

As the Japanese closed in on Singapore, families had to make hard decisions. John and Nora Chambers sent their eight-year-old daughter, Sally, away with Norah’s older sisters and cousins. Norah and John stayed behind. John was ill with Typhus and Norah wanted to care for her aging parents. Soon conditions became more dangerous and John and Norah were also forced to evacuate. They were on the SS Vyner Brooke, one of the last vessels to leave Singapore.

Also on the SS Vyner Brooke were a group of Australian nurses returning home. Before they can reach safety, the ship is hit by the Japanese and sinks. The survivors get to Banks Island were they are captured by the Japanese and sent to POW camps. This is the story of the courage it took to survive.

In the camps, the men and women were separated. Norah and her sister Ena meet Nesta James, a tiny, courageous nurse who has taken over as leader of the nurses after Matron was killed. Together the sisters and Nesta form a strong bond. The women try to keep each other cheerful with music and an attempt to have a camp newsletter. Although conditions were very primitive with little food and water, the women were determined to survive.

The book is beautifully written. The description of conditions in the camps contrasted at times with the beauty of the tropical surroundings was very moving. The research is exceptional. There are so many stories. It was a bit hard at remember the roles of so many characters. However, it was worth the effort. I was very pleased that the author included notes at the end to tell the fate of each woman. I can highly recommend this book.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Net Galley for this review copy.

Sisters Under the Rising Sun by Heather Morris ⭐️⭐️⭐️

A huge thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the eARC. Pub day is tomorrow, October 24!

A five-star story with a “leaves much to be desired” execution. I struggled with this one, which surprised me given that I have enjoyed Morris’ other books. The writing felt rudimentary and the dialogue felt overly simple and optimistic for the subject matter. The huge cast of characters prevented me from getting close to anyone. The choppy, long chapters made it hard to get into a flow. I just felt like I was witnessing something from a car window in passing instead of being immersed in the action.

Morris gets points for bringing this ambitious story to light and starting a conversation. I will continue to research and seek out information regarding these women. The themes of resiliency, friendship, and sisterhood were strong throughout, which provided some connectedness.

If nothing else, read this historical fiction as a jumping off point to learn more about women POWs.

Nesta and Norah terrifying escape from Singapore is almost over…or so they think. They are on a cargo ship leaving this horrible situation when their ship is bombed from the air. They spend 24 hours in the ocean when they finally reach a remote island. They are then captured by the Japanese and held in their notorious POW camps.

It is so hard to believe this happened and it is amazing, as brutal as it was, that any of the women survived. These women were put through hell on earth but by sheer luck, determination, intelligence and compassion, they withstood all this brutality.

This is not my favorite Heather Morris book. That would be Cilka’s Journey . But, I did learn a lot in this book. It is very well researched. It is just slow in places.

The narrator, Laura Carmichael, did an incredible job. As most of you know, a big trigger for me is when a narrator has to sing. Most narrators are not singers. Laura did an pretty bang up job on that part. Still not my favorite when a narrator has to burst out in song. But this one handled it like a champ.

Need a novel of resilience…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

After surviving the sinking of the SS Vyner Brooke by Japanese forces, sisters Norah and Ena, along with Australian nurses end up in a POW camp on a remote island under the Japanese command. This is a powerful story based on actual facts of the Japanese invasion of the Pacific Islands. Historical fiction fans need to read this book. Thanks to author Heather Morris, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley. I received a complimentary copy of this ebook. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Heather Morris has written several historical novels about World War II and the Holocaust. In Sisters Under the Rising Sun, she turns her attention to the Pacific front from World War II. Again she has based her novel on real people and their experiences. It is by no means an easy story to read, but the way the women who were held captive in Japanese prisoner camps endured the horrors and supported each other was very inspiring. I especially enjoyed the Author's Notes which included updates on each of the characters after the war ended. Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and the author for an advance copy to read and review.

Heather Morris always writes such beautiful, well researched stories. Sisters Under the Rising Sun was based on history I had never heard before.
The story of Sister Nesta, Norah, Sally, and the Vyner Brooke merchant ship were fascinating!

Sisters Under The Rising Sun is Morris' latest historical fiction, about the experiences of a group of women evacuating from Singapore in the wake of the Japanese invasion of the island. Told from the perspectives of Sister Nesta James, a Welsh Australian nurse, and Norah Chambers, a English civilian escaping Singapore with her ill husband after sending her young daughter ahead of her on an earlier ship. After Nesta and the other Allied nurses board the ship to safety along with hundreds of civilians, tragedy strikes and the ship is sunk by the Japanese. Surviving a brutal 24 hours adrift at sea Nesta and Norah along with a group of female survivors are sent to Japanese POW camps deep in the jungle. Years of starvation, disease, torture, and desperation to survive follow and the women must stick together to help each other survive captivity.

Overall, I rated this 3.5/5. I like Morris' writing, it truly feels like you're alongside the characters navigating every tragedy. I did find that there were a lot of characters to keep track of which made following the plot difficult at times. Nesta was definitely the stronger lead character from my perspective and I almost felt like she could have led the book herself.

Incredible story of hope, survival, and sisterhood
Heather Morris once again educates me on past history that I had no knowledge of. Sisters Under the Rising Sun is an incredible true story of a group of women held captive by the Japanese Army in the jungle of Sumatra for over 3 and half years. They are beaten, starved, sick, exhausted, but are survivors. They find their courage, resourcefulness, friendships, hopefulness, and the gift of music which uplifts them.

Reviewed by Comfy Chair Books/Lisa Reigel (October 20, 2023)
#SistersUnderTheRisingSun #HeatherMorris #HistoricalFiciton #WWIIFiction #StMartinsPress @heathermorrisauthor @stmartinspress #netgalley

I have read all of Heather Morris’ historical fiction novels and while I enjoyed this one, this was not my favorite. There’s something about this one, whether it’s the number of characters or the overly cheery disposition of prisoners of war that just didn’t work for me. I was often confused about who each of the people were and their relations to each other. I also thought it was almost cheesy the way they always had a happy thought and positive attitude, not once despairing, almost as if it was a commercial created by the Japanese to show they were being treated well; it was all so contrived and didn’t ring true. I was excited to see that a different part of WWII was going to be covered but this was not at all what I was expecting and I was a little disappointed that the same grittiness that’s in her previous novels is absent in this one.

SISTERS UNDER THE RISING SUN by Heather Morris is a powerful and gripping story of sisterhood, resilience and survival in the face of the unthinkable brutalities of war. Based on real events and people, it tells the story of many brave women who become imprisoned in Japanese prisoner of war camps after the fall of Singapore and their attempted escape by sea on board the ill-fated merchant ship, Vyner Brooke. English musician Norah Chambers, her sick husband, John, and her sister, Ena, are among those onboard the Vyner Brooke. Also onboard is West Australian nurse, Sister Nesta James. But only two days into their journey, the Japanese bomb the ship off the coast of Indonesia, leaving few survivors. After twenty-four hours at sea, both Nesta and Norah reach the beach of a remote island only to be captured by the Japanese and thrown in a POW camp. There they meet other women who have been captured. They form a strong sisterhood based on courage, determination and the will to survive. The utterly brutal conditions in the camps were hard to read about, but this was also a story of bravery, friendship and endurance under the direst conditions imaginable. The sacrifices these women made for each other were inspiring and their stories uplifting. This story, set in the Pacific arena during World War II, was lesser known to me. Despite the harrowing topic, this was a very well-researched and well-written book and I highly recommend it. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review an early copy.

Another great book by Heather Morris. I loved The Tattooist of Auschwitz, Cilka's Journey, and Three Sisters. This book transports us to a Japanese camp during WWII. Loved the characters, felt their pain and learned more about people's experiences during the war. Wonderful historical fiction.

Sisters Under the Rising Sun by Heather Morris was truly compelling and utterly unputdownable.
Morris writes the most beautiful historical fiction stories that stay with you long after you’re done reading them.
This is a beautifully told tale, Heather Morris captures the essence of the POW camps and World War II.
The characters were brave, scared and so determined that while I was reading this book I truly felt so inspired while also breaking my heart in two.
This story gives a voice to the females of World War II.
Norah and Nesta fight, help, survive and discover themselves in the making while trying to stay alive. They show courage, resourcefulness and determination. And it was so beautiful to read about these two.
Although upsetting, saddening and at times quite unimaginable, there is such a beautiful story at the heart of it all.
Sisters under the Rising Sun is a story of women in war: a novel of sisterhood, bravery and friendship in the darkest of circumstances.
By the end of the book I was sobbing. It was beautifully written. I never wanted to put it down.
I would encourage everyone to add this to their list of books to read.
It needs to be read and felt. This story is going to stay with me for a long time.

I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this ahead of its publication date in return for my honest review.

Sisters Under the Rising Sun is a story about found family, strength, perseverance, and friendship. Inspired by the true story of several WW2 Japanese POW camp internees in Indonesia, this story follows Australian nurse Nesta James and Englishwoman Norah Chambers as they flee Singapore early in WW2 and become prisoners of the Japanese military, moving from camp to camp over the course of 3 1/2 years until the end of the war.

I was so excited to read this as I loved and devoured the author’s previous WW2 books, The Tattooist of Auschwitz, Cilka’s Journey, and Three Sisters. This particular story was about a side of WW2 I knew little to nothing about so I was looking forward to diving in to another of Morris’s compelling, emotional stories.

Sadly, this was not that and I was so disappointed in that in fell flat in many ways, and was kind of, dare I say, dull in parts. There was a lot of telling rather than showing and I had a hard time forming any sort of emotional connection with any of the characters. I could certainly sympathize with their situation, which was abhorrent, but there was no depth when there definitely could have been! It was all surface level.

I felt like I was constantly missing something as I read, like I had mistakenly skipped pages. Things would happen off the page and that weren’t conveyed well in the writing so I was constantly trying to piece together new things that happened.

All this is not to say this was not a good story. There IS a compelling story here and I loved learning about this particular aspect of WW2. However, I don’t think the author did this story the justice it deserves in this particular book.

A big thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the digital ARC. My review is voluntary and honest.