Sisters Under the Rising Sun by Heather Morris. This is my fourth novel by Ms. Morris. She is an extremely gifted and wonderful historical fiction writer. This story is based on a true story. It is about the Vyner Brook Tragedy. The Vyner Brook was a merchant ship. It was carrying evacuees from Singapore when the Japanese Air Force hit the ship and sunk it. The survivors of the sinking ultimately swam to a remote island and were captured by Japanese soldiers.

The book is the story of how the survivors endured prisoner of war camps run by the Japanese. This is an aspect of World War II that I have not read about. When you think of captives/prisoners you think of Jewish concentration camps or Vietnam War POW camps. Up until I read this book I had no idea that the Japanese kept people in camps. The people who survived the sinking of the Vyner Brook were held hostage for three years and seven months. They were moved multiple times. They endured horrific circumstances including torture, disease, starvation or even death.

As in her other books, Ms. Morris has the ability to clearly remind us that even though one has suffered unspeakable events it is possible to keep looking up. The focus of this tragedy is on a woman’s camp. Among the survivors are a group of Australian Army nurses and two sisters. (The Army nurses were also referred to as sisters.) Collectively, the ‘sisters’ lean upon their personalities, careers and each other to survive. Their ability to care for and help others even when they themselves are suffering is not only noble but unfathomable.

The characters are rich, deep and unforgettable. As you are reading you remember that these are based on the lives of real people which is even more devastating. How the ‘sisters’ relied on each other and the other prisoners was remarkable. Each incident, each illness, each punishment, each move, makes the reader feel the sadness of how horrific humans can be to each other.

The setting was different for me and I felt it was a fresh perspective for World War II. You can picture the jungle, the dirt, the heat, the squalor and horrid living conditions these women endured. I am awed that every time I read one of Heather Morris’ books she brings another important part of history into the spotlight. Her readers will have much to learn in this book. I recommend you read, after the book ends, about the real women who this book was written about. They are unforgettable. I can’t wait to see what Heather Morris has in store for us next! Well done.

I would like to thank Heather Morris, St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for Sisters Under the Rising Sun by Heather Morris. This is a phenomenal book (being released on October 24th) by the talented Morris. She so artfully tells this heavy story of Nesta James, Norah Chambers and the other women and children who are interned in camps by Japan during WWII. Nesta is one of the Australian nurses helping the Allied troops in the Pacific front, and Norah has a music background and had sent her daughter off on another ship several days ahead of her in hopes of keeping her daughter safe.

Nesta, Norah, Norah’s sister Ena, and others board a ship as they flee Singapore in an attempt to escape the Japanese army. Their ship is bombarded and sinks. They endure the waters and eventually come ashore, only to be captured by the Japanese army and imprisoned in one POW camp after another.


Morris tells shares the stories of these brave and strong women so that we may know, rather than remember, them. While this is historical fiction, it is clear that Morris heavily researched these women and events; I appreciated the end notes with the biographical information about all of the main characters.

I loved this book and know it will remain with me a long time.


Thank you to Morris, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the eARC. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Wow, what a compelling read about a section of WWII I knew nothing about. This made me want to learn more!

I was super excited when I was approved for this book on NetGalley. I enjoyed Heather Morris’ The Tattooist of Auschwitz, so I couldn’t wait for this one!

I didn’t love this one but I didn’t hate it either. It was an ok read I was just wanting more. I struggled getting through some parts and it just felt so “blah” at times. I never really invested in the characters and they sort of fell flat for me. There were some things that happened that just seemed super unrealistic. I can’t really pinpoint what was missing but I had a hard time staying engaged.

I loved the premise of this book and I think it’s so super important to speak of the women who were captured by the Japanese during WWII and held as POWs. These women suffered through horrible and devastating circumstances and I appreciate Morris telling their stories.

I’m sure many will love this one and it is a good read! If you enjoy historical fiction and reading about heroic women, this one is for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for a honest review.

In 1942, the Japanese are attacking all over Eastern Asia when it is decided to evacuate Singapore. The Vyner Brooke, a merchant ship, is filled with civilians as well as a contingent of nurses from Australia but is bombed and sunk. There are many deaths but also many survivors who manage to reach the island of Sumatra, but the joy of survival is quickly overcome with the reality of becoming prisoners of war. For the next 3 years and 7 months, these captives endure hardship after hardship - hunger, disease, and cruelty from their captors. The stories of several women of incredible fortitude under awful conditions are inspirational to say the least.

When I saw another historical fiction ARC by Heather Morris, I jumped at the chance. The first three (the journey of three sisters during the Holocaust) were all captivating. While this story was very interesting, particularly since it covered an aspect of the war in the Pacific that I was not familiar with, the writing was not nearly as captivating as the earlier books - choppy with so many main characters to follow. That being said, the afterword did give further insight into these heroines and their life after the war. Their ability to survive the inhumanities was still moving, so while not the greatest historical fiction novel ever written, it might be worth your time. My thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review the ARC.

Another beautifully moving historical fiction story based on the lives of real women who survived WWII. This time bestselling author Heather Morris highlights the bravery of the women held in Japanese POW camps and the courage it took to survive the harsh conditions, starvation and abuse there. This was uniquely excellent on audio as music plays a key part of the story, with the women using songs to bolster their spirits and several are included on the audiobook.

There is also excellent narration by Downton Abbey actress, Laura Carmichael. I highly recommend listening to this book if you are able or so inclined. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy and St. Martin's Press for sending me a beautiful finished copy in exchange for my honest review! This book is perfect for fans of other WWII stories like Angels of the Pacific by Elise Hooper.

I was provided a free advanced copy of this book from @netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
This story follows some remarkable women through their struggles as prisoners in Japanese POW camps during WWII. The storyline mostly focuses on two sisters, and a nurse with the Australian military as their ship fleeing Singapore is sunk by the Japanese, and then they are taken into captivity. It spans many years, and shows the ways these women (and their fellow captives) overcame their circumstances to continue to have hope.
I think my struggle with this book was the large number of characters and time span. We follow these women for over three years and get to know a lot of the many women at the camp. But I felt like we only skimmed the surface of who they were. I didn't feel as connected to them as I did with the characters in her other books. I understand her desire to make this story known and share the details of these brave women. It was still a good story, although difficult at times.
It is set to be published on Tuesday, 24 October, so if you enjoy learning about WWII and especially lesser known parts of it, you'll enjoy this story!
#NetGalley #SistersUnderTheRisingSun

Heather Morris has done it again! This was such a good read. I couldn't put it down! Nora and Nesta's stories are incredible and so worthy of being told. Heather Morris always handles difficult situations with such care, and this story is no different. I'm inspired, heartbroken and in awe of the women depicted in this story, as I knew I would be! I especially loved the historical section at the end that gave the real life history of many of the characters in the book. This story is full of courage, resilience and the power of friendships to get people through the darkest of times. I'm so grateful this story was told.

If you loved Heather Morris's other work, you'll love this one too!

Thanks to Netgalley and Heather Morris for the advanced copy to review.

As Singapore is falling Norah and John make the difficult decision to send their daughter away with the help of an aunt with the expectation of following the next day but their ship is sunk and they become captives of the Japanese for the next three and a half years.

I felt the book was easy to read but it just didn't depict the horrors that the women lived through. Having read Unbroken that showed the brutality and cruelty of the Japanese and there were a couple instances where the brutality was depicted but mostly it seemed like the women were slapped as punishment. There was little food, some rice that had bugs in it, but they still managed to hold concerts and keep the camp cleanish. At times it seemed more like a summer camp.

The Australian nurses were a big part of the story but even though there were a lot of characters none were really developed. I would have loved to know more about Nesta and her motivation.

I love historical fiction and this would definitely fit in this category.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a digital copy.

I was intrigued by this book because I have read the Tattooist of Auschwitz and enjoyed it. I was also interested in the time period of this book: The Fall of Singapore. I have never read a book about that so I was excited to learn more! With that said, I struggled with parts of the plot. I didn't really care for the music/production part of it and it didn't come off realistic. I also didn't care for a lot of the characters but that may be because I didn't think there was enough character development for me to want to care about them. This author usually gets straight to the point with her books-which I do appreciate but it sometimes doesn't pull me in emotionally. I am bummed I didn't like it very much because I was excited but I would still read more from this author!

As a fan of the authors other books, it pains me to say that this didn’t work for me. I can’t really pinpoint what was missing but I had a really hard time staying engaged. I put the book down for long periods and was not anxious to return to it. I enjoyed it just fine but it was missing something that would have elevated it for me. An emotional connection between the characters perhaps? Their connection felt forced/off. I’m sad to say I liked it, didn’t love it.

This book undoubtedly has many commendable aspects, and I can appreciate why it resonates with many readers. However, I struggled with the writing style to the point where I had to set the book aside at the halfway mark. While I did appreciate the prominent themes of friendship/sisterhood and support among the women, these elements didn't ring true to me, nor did they portray the kind of strong, relatable women with fears and vulnerabilities I would expect from them under their circumstances.

The dialogue within the story struck me as unrealistic. It felt artificial and overly optimistic, lacking the authentic tone I would expect from women under the stress they should have been under. This, unfortunately, prevented me from fully stepping into their shoes and sharing their feelings and I could not connect to any of the characters.

What an incredible telling of a true story. Strength, friendship and survival during WWII and being Japanese prisoners of war. This story starts at the fall of Singapore and takes us through the end of the war.
Numerous point of views throughout the story,
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

@heathermorrisauthor 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 you summed up my review in a single statement :: “I have not told this story so the women internees of the Japanese prisoner of war camps in Indonesia will be remembered. I have told this story so they will be known. How can you be remembered if you’ve never been heard of? Their stories should stand alongside those of all male prisoners of war, their suffering no less; their courage to care for their fellow sisters who perished and their own survival should be acknowledged and honored. Know now of them. Remember them.”
4/5 @goodreads stars - publication date :: 10/24/23 .
Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the ARC
#ww2history #womensfiction #womensupportwomen #literature #bookstagram #goodreads #stmartinspress #tbr #netgalley #netgalleyreads

I loved Heather Morris' other books and was looking forward to read this. Was not my favorite. Did not fit with Heather's other books. A bit boring.

"Sisters Under the Rising Sun" is a truly riveting account of the harrowing experiences of Australian nurses during World War II when they were captured as prisoners of war. This compelling book offers a poignant look at the indomitable spirit of humanity and unwavering perseverance in the face of unimaginable adversity. The author's vivid storytelling immerses readers in the nurses' journey, creating a powerful narrative that is both heart-wrenching and inspiring. A must-read for anyone interested in wartime history and the remarkable strength of individuals during the darkest of times.

I think that my expectations of this were too high. I absolutely LOVED Morris's other books and this one just didn't engage me the same way. I found it very slow and that chapters went by with little happening. The characters were incredibly well developed, but a little boring. There was not nearly as much "drama" as I wanted - i half read and half listened to this and I wasn't in love with either option. The strength of the women in this book was inspiring, how they turned a horrific situation into something liveable was unreal. The historical portion was well researched and easy to follow - as with all of Heather Morris's books. But I just did not find this one to be un-put-down-able like her previous books.
Thank you netgalley for my advanced reader and audio copies.

Having read and loved all of Heather Morris's previous historical fiction novels, I was excited to be granted an early copy of Sisters Under the Rising Sun. While I also enjoyed this inspiring story of survival and friendship, it is not my favorite novel by this author.

Sisters Under the Rising Sun tells a WWII story that has not, to my knowledge, been told before--the story of women who became prisoners of war held by the Japanese and the horrible treatment they endured. That by itself is an admirable feat, and the stories that inspired the novel are incredibly moving. I especially liked the role that music played in bringing the women together and lifting their spirits. Reading this book is an eye-opening experience!

I felt like the book was a bit of a slow starter, and the ending was a bit abrupt, though based on real life events. There were also a lot of characters, and it was very difficult to keep track of who was who within the story. Once the story got moving, it was a bit easier to follow, and I would recommend this to WWII historical fiction enthusiasts, especially if you like those with a different spin on the genre.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the digital ARC of Sisters Under the Rising Sun by Heather Morris. The opinions in this review are my own.

A story of resilience and survival in the face of starvation, war, and death. Sisters Under the Rising Sun is set in the women’s prisoner of war camps manned by the Japanese. As the women use music to cling to hope that they will be rescued by Allied forces, their confidence wanes by the day, and their continued movement to different camps takes its toll when combined with illness, starvation, and the deaths of some of their brightest lights keeping their spirits up. This story is a lesson in courage and inner strength.
While I love Heather Morris’s other books, I struggled with Sisters Under the Rising Sun. I felt too much of the story was dialogue with very little description of the characters or plot development. I struggled to picture any of the characters, unlike previous books of hers, and it felt like a lot of the dialogue was stiff and didn’t flow smoothly. I wanted so badly to love this one, it just wasn’t my favourite.
Big thanks to NetGalley and St Martins Press for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

In Sisters Under the Rising Sun, Heather Morris continues her ability to bring to life the horror of war as it touches so many innocent lives. Here she shows us the brutality shown to women by their Japanese captors as they are held in prisoner of war camps following the sinking of the ship they were on when trying to escape Singapore ahead of the Japanese invasion. She has written about a part of the war that is virtually unknown to many in a way that will not and cannot be forgotten. Brought together in this POW camp are a group of Sisters who had joined the war to provide nursing care, and women and children of different nationalities who are all struggling to survive. The story that unwinds tells of sisterhood and community and the strength to be drawn from others in their joint quest for survival. Overcoming the brutality, starvation and disease while being moved from camp to camp, the story focuses on one main group of women who have become leaders and close friends as they work together to save the lives of as many as they can. The characters of Nesta, Mrs. Hinch, Norah, Ena and June, along with many others, keep the women "looking up" so they can see the beauty above and not the squalor of their confines. After 3 1/2 years, a diminished number are rescued. When reading historical fiction by Heather Morris, it is important to read the Author Notes where she closes with letting readers know the stories of the main characters of her books. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this advance reader copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #NetGalley #SistersUndertheRisingSun