Here are two recent book reviews:
“A truly engrossing tale that keeps you riveted until the end...leaving you with a hope for the future of humanity.”
“The survival and adventures of a young boy unexpectedly transform into a saga of how life in the ancient Middle Eastern empires might have been, while reminding readers of life lessons such as the importance of family and community and imagining a positive future. Powerful story.”
In The Shadow of Babylon
John’s premier novel ranked #1 on Amazon Kindle’s Bestseller List
“A wonderfully written, provocative novel! Schwartz deftly weaves the romantic experiences of a pre-historical shepherd into an extended homily that punctuates the trials of the Middle East.” —KIRKUS Review—
"The storyline took a few surprising twists and turns however, the author's dialogue contained some very thought-provoking philosophical phrases, particularly from the context of an ancient civilization. I enjoyed the book and intend to bookmark a few of the sections where the philosophical morphed into the spiritual."
"Powerful. A real adventure for the body, mind, and soul. Could not put it down. Highly recommend for all ages. Ayuba the Shepherd of Hamood will inspire, motivate, and encourage you to live in the present moment, think positively, and expect the best…"
An epoch-spanning thriller that’s part academic mystery and part historical fantasy. Schwartz deftly weaves the romantic experiences of a pre-historical shepherd into an extended homily that punctuates the trials of the Middle East as the contemporary narrative plunges along in the best page-turner fashion. Not only linked well rhetorically, but the prose here also is something to behold and is evocative without sacrificing concision, an absolute demand of the thriller genre. Many readers will be convinced that a literary discovery of this magnitude really might change the course of contemporary politics, so confident and convincing is the vision of the novel.
…A wonderfully written, provocative novel…
…vigorous, vivid and gritty- Robert Pinsky (U.S. Poet Laureate)