Sisters under the Rising Sun

Ever since a friend convinced me to read The Tattooist Of Auschwitz I've eagerly awaited every new book by Heather Morris. Her books led to me expanding my reading into survivor stories and historical fiction.

I still rate The Tattooist Of Auschwitz and Three Sisters as the very best so I couldn't wait to read this.

Sisters Under The Rising Sun recounts the stories of British civilians and Australian nurses who after surviving the sinking of their evacuation ship were interred in Japanese POW camps. From an English European perspective I had much less awareness of these camps than of the Holocaust.

Starvation rations, tropical diseases, the blazing sun, monsoons and storms. The resilience, hope and determination of these women was incredible.

I was frequently moved to tears, this is a very moving book. Bleak, heart wrenching, yet life affirming as this sisterhood of survivors hang onto hope.

Heather Morris's research included time spent with close relatives of these women, while this distances it slightly compared to the first hand recollections retold in The Tattooist Of Auschwitz and Three Sisters, this is a vitally important account of that time and these lives.

If you loved The Tattooist Trilogy this book is a must, if you've never read any biographical historical survivor stories, this book will move you to tears and leave you in awe of these women's hope and determination.

Thanks to Bonnier Books UK, Zaffre

Wow! What an amazing book! If you read one historical novel this year then this should be it!
After reading the previous novels by Heather Morris I was really looking forward to this, though a bit apprehensive as it’s based in a different world to the previous books. But I didn’t need to be, yes, it’s a harrowing account once again that draws you into their world, but it is so well written it’s truely amazing! Heather Morris truly has a gift when it comes to writing.

As usual, Heather Morris writes with dignity and enormous knowledge about an appalling situation, giving the stage to the personalities and treating them with the utmost respect. I hope that every story like this can be told by someone who so obviously cares about the people involved. I loved this book and I can't recommend it highly enough

Wow, this book makes you smile, cry, all mixed emotions about the bravery of women in WW2. This gives a very small insight into the hardships faced by "normal ladies from Australia". The Australian nurses who gave so much to so many. A story about which not a lot is known.

Credit to Heather Morris for all the background work and for bringing this story to life,

A story that needs to be out in the open and not hidden away under the carpet.

Excellent writing and the detail is amazing.

I loved the follow-up at the end telling us what had happened to the ladies featured in the book.

I was so excited to see a new book available by Heather Morris, like many I devoured the heart-wrenching tattooist some years ago.

Sisters under the rising sun is another devastatingly, heart wrenching read which is set in the Japanese prisoner of war camps during the Second World War.
An emotional read that brought me to tears as I witnessed the cruel and despicable conditions they had to endure. Although it also demonstrated how strong and courageous women can be when faced with adversity. I’m in awe of these women whose inspirational story I genuinely knew nothing about.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bonnier Books UK, Zaffre for early access to this phenomenal 5 ⭐️ novel.

Thank you for my copy of this book to read and review.

A real heartbreaking, emotional read about the brave women struggling to survive the Prisoner of War camps in WW2.

The fact that this story is based on real events makes it even more harrowing.

Well-researched and sensitively written. I particularly liked the authors notes about the individual women at the end.

Sisters Under the Rising Sun tells the story of Norah and Nesta and the incredible women and children who endured the Japanese Prisoner of War camps during World War II. I will forever be in awe of these women's courage, kindness and compassion. As with all of Heather Morris' books, I couldn't put it down and would highly recommend.

Thank you to Heather Morris,  NetGalley, and the publishers for providing an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Publication date: 28th September 2023.

I love Heather Morris, and this book did not disappoint. I have read lots of WW2 fiction, however this is the first I have read set in Japan. I hadn’t even realised until this that there were Australian nurses there and have never considered the POW camps there. Although a work of fiction, found this book very informative.
I loved the bond that the women in the camp formed, and how they kept each other going. It made the book very strong and powerful. I thought this book focused more on the friendship and ‘camp life’ than the authors other books, rather than the war.

I’ve read most of Heather Morris’ previous books, which, like this one, are fictionalised versions of stories of incredible people who lived through World War Two, and all of them have been moving, emotional and inspiring. Sisters Under the Rising Sun is no different. It tells a story that I haven’t heard of before (but I’m so glad I know of now) which is that of the women held in Japanese POW camps during the war, including British women, Dutch women and a group of stunningly brave Australian nurses. Sisters Under the Rising Sun is the harrowing, often brutal, yet ultimately inspirational story of their time in captivity and the way these women banded together and held each other up through unimaginable suffering and loss.

This is a work of fiction but is very closely based on the real individuals who lived through these terrifying circumstances, as is evident by the clear amount of research done by the author and the testimony of the women’s families. It is a remarkable tale that cannot fail to get under the skin of the reader. I know that people don’t really know how they would cope in a situation like the one in Sisters Under the Rising Sun, but I cannot comprehend just how incredibly brave and resilient these women were, in the face of starvation, disease, death and constant fear. Their stories deserve to be told and widely known – and this book is a testament to their courage. It is a story, ultimately, of sisterhood and female friendship which, at its best, is one of the most powerful forces imaginable. Highly recommended.

Another very powerful book by Heather Morris based on a true story to remind us of the atrocities of WW2. Set in the Far East this begins with the fall of Singapore. Sisters Norah and Ena Chambers flee on the Vyner Brooke ship with Norah's sick husband John. Also on the ship are a group of Australian Naval nurses led by SIster Nesta James. The ship is bombed and sunk. Those who survive are captured by the Japanese and interned in the most inhumane and barbaric conditions. With barely enough food, the women set about surviving. They are looking after a 5 year old girl, June whose mother perished in the sinking. Separated from the men, Norah doesn't know if she will ever see John again, or her 8 year old daughter Sally, who they sent away earlier with their other sister. This is the story of the 3 years and 7 months these brave women were interned, the atrocities they witnessed and the amazing things they did to remain alive and keep their spirits up. Wonderful. #netgalley #sistersundertherisingsun

What a book! Thank you to Heather Morris who tells us about an important part of history, but tells us in such a readable way.
It’s inspiring, emotional and uplifting. How these women managed to survive captivity in the jungle for 3 years and 7 months is a testament to how they worked as a team, as a family and how they supported and encouraged one another.
Thank you Netgalley, I appreciate being able to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

What an absolutely stunning and heart rending read. I have read the other books written by Heather Morris about Auschwitz and thoroughly enjoyed (if that's the right word) them. This book is written in the same way and has much the same effect. In this book her subject is the experience of female prisoners in Japanese prisoner of war camps. Numerous tissues still needed but you finish the book feeling you have had a historically accurate and meticulously researched experience.
Although it is a work of fiction it is based very definitely in facts and those are always my favourite sort of books and the best way I feel to learn about history in a non academic way. Heather's books always pluck at the heartstrings often revealing the atrocities ordinary people suffered in the name of war. Atrocities the majority of readers will hopefully only ever know about through books like this. It is extremely important that these experiences are never forgotten so they are not repeated. Thank you Heather for making them accessible and memorable in the least painful way. Recommended to everyone as a must read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

A fantastic book by a fantastic author!

If you have read any of her books, you will know and love the writing style and stories already. I literally could not put it down, it is heart wrenching and heart warming in equal measure. I rarely cry at books but a small minority get me. This one included.

Nesta, Norah and Ena will take you on their journeys and keep you gripped until the very last pages.

Singapore 1942 in all it's detail. Trying desperately to escape. Taking you to the islands and POW camps. Fabulous characters. Beautiful detail.