Sisters Under the Rising Sun by Heather Morris is a moving story of women in Japanese prisoner of war camps during World War II. This is based on a true story of real people. One of the groups of women we follow is a group of Australian army nurses deployed to Malaya. When the Japanese attacked they attempted to evacuate but their boat was sunk and they were captured. Thus began a three year and seven month journey of survival. Nesta was not in command of the nurses, but she was their leader, figuring out how to survive and, up until the last few months, working to cure the ills of others, when, due to lack of supplies and clean water the task became overwhelming. As it turned out, many of the supplies they needed had been sent by the Red Cross but were held by the Japanese. Norah was part of a group of survivors from another ship, non-military. She, her husband, John, and her sister, Ena evacuated the day after they sent their daughter out with with another sister’s family. Norah and John were separated almost immediately into men’s and women’s camps. Ena’s husband had stayed behind with the daughters’ parents as their father was too ill to travel. Along the way they came upon a little girl, five, called June, who had been separated from her mother. They became a family. The list goes on and on and Morris kindly fills the reader in with short biographies at the end of the book.

The women worked tirelessly to not lose their humanity along the way. Some of the Japanese were easier than others and sometimes life was almost decent. But, then it wasn’t. The courage of these women and the will to survive puts the rest of us to shame. It was a well-written book, very descriptive and interesting. It is hard to imagine that these things really happened, but sadly, this book is part of the documentation. No wonder the rules of war and the concern for innocent populations we see in today’s world.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Sisters Under the Rising Sun by St. Martin’s Press, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #StMartinsPress #HeatherMorris #SistersUnderTheRisingSun

During World War II, English musician Norah Chambers sends her daughter Sally away from Singapore to protect her from the advancing Japanese army. Norah stays behind to care for her family. Sister Nesta James, an Australian nurse, also ends up on a ship leaving Singapore, and they experience a harrowing journey. After their ship sinks, they survive at sea and are eventually captured by the Japanese and held in a POW camp. Together, they face unimaginable hardship, showing incredible courage and resilience. "Sisters under the Rising Sun" is a story of women's bravery and friendship in wartime, emphasizing the bond between Norah and Nesta.

I was elated to be granted the privilege of reading an Advance Reader's Copy of "Sisters Under the Rising Sun," written by Heather Morris. This is my third book by this author and certainly won't be my last. I am so grateful for the opportunity extended to me by NetGalley and St. Martin's Press.

Within the pages of "Sisters Under the Rising Sun," one discovers a heart-rending chronicle, masterfully woven, delving into the lives of several civilian women, children, and a group of gallant Australian nurses. Amidst the abundant plethora of historical fiction works that take place during World War II, the book stands out as a unique storyline that is written exceptionally well.

Sisters Under the Rising Sun by Heather Morris is a story of sisterhood, bravery and friendship in the darkness of war. As World War II spreads through the Pacific, Norah Chambers places her eight year old daughter on a ship leaving Singapore, hoping to keep her safe from the advancing Japanese army. Sister Nesta James, a Welsh Australian nurse, enlisted to tend to Allied troops but as Singapore falls to the Japanese, she joins a ship of terrified people. When their ship is sunk off the coast of Indonesia and surviving hours in the sea, the survivors find themselves on the beaches of a remote island, only to be captured by the Japanese and held in one of their notorious POW camps. With disease, brutality and starvation rampant, the survivors must find a way to fight back with resourcefulness, determination, and courage.
Heather Morris has gained a reputation for writing about little known stories filled with amazing inspiration of survival and courage. Sisters Under the Rising Sun is no exception. With most World War II stories focused on the European theater, it is great to finally see a story featuring events in the Pacific theater. The descriptions of what these people endured and survived is horrifying and yet inspirational. It is a testament to the strength and reliance of the human spirit to survive. There is a slow build to the events, but once the story builds up, it is a hard book to put down. I worried and hoped these amazing people survived and were reunited with their loved ones. If you enjoy World War II stories and want to read the different areas of the war, I highly recommend Sisters Under the Rising Sun.

Sisters under the Rising Sun is available in hardcover, eBook, and audiobook

Another knock out of the park historical fiction by Heather Morris. Unlike the previous works I have read by her this is not about the Nazi concentration camps but the Japanese interment camps. Following sisters, nurses and nuns throughout their interment in Japanese camps. Trying to flee Singapore and being captured after their ship was sunk these ladies survived the Ocean and in the end the Japanese. Throughout their interment music played an integral part in their mental health in their Ryder to give them the strength to survive.

Fleeing from Singapore in February 1942, caught between two fighting forces, with bullets raining down, it is a wonder that anyone survived. But many endured. This story tells of the fortitude and strength of these incredible people.

However horrible it was to survive near drowning it did not compare with the dreadful conditions that these brave folks lived through from February 1942 till they were liberated on September 11, 1945. Five different POW camps, all of which left more starving or dead.

This book is one everyone should read, to learn that one can survive, if you have friends around you. Received through St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley, these impressions are my own and were in no way solicited.

4.5 ⭐

I loved the authors note, as well as the historical snippets about the women in the book.

Nora and Enid, singers and sisters, are fleeing from the invading Japanese in Singapore. When their ship is bombed and sinks off shore, they barely make it to safety. On board the ship is also a group of Australian nurses. Nesta is second in command and the nurses take charge of helping as many people to safety as they can.

When they wash up on a small island, they each encounter different experiences, but one thing is clear. They are no longer safe and they have become prisoners of war.

This book is the story of the men and women held as prisoners of war for 3 1/2 years by the Japanese. The book is powerfully moving, but seemed a little slower than Heather Morris' other books.



Thank you to netgalley for a digital arc to review.

Sisters Under the Rising Sun
Author Heather Morris
Publishes today!

Thank you, @stmartinspress and @netgalley, for my #gifted e-arc! This was my first read by Heather Morris, and I have a few others of hers to get to on her backlist!

Sisters Under the Rising Sun is a powerful story of friendship, resilience, and survival; however, it was a little slow at times and did not sufficiently grasp my interest. Although it was well- researched and has a unique historical fiction setting.

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!