The Zaragoza Chronicles: Beginnings by A.J Ayeni

Synopsis
The richest family in the world also controls the most powerful company. They offer a full scholarship to only two bright yet disadvantaged scholars from every country. Altruism or something else entirely?

The year is 2040 and wealthy organizations have become the de-facto governments of the world dictating the public policy of many people’s lives.
One organization stands above the rest, the Zaragoza Consultancy Agency, born out of crises from World War II, no other company has reached their levels of success.

Resulting in their family becoming the richest in the world, showcasing this obscene wealth each year by offering the all-inclusive Zaragoza New Beginnings Scholarship (ZNBS) to be used from college, until the end of each student’s professional career and a guaranteed job at the ZCA after their studies are completed.

The catch is, the ZNBS is only offered to two scholars from each country.

Their benevolence is not all what it seems, and the true stipulations of their generous scholarship is not the only murky thing about their family and the conglomerate they control.

For its prestige and glamour, no one who has received the ZNBS has been able to talk about it, or the mysterious orientation that is completed before it is awarded.

Until a rag-tag group of international scholars form the Zaragoza Resistance Coalition (ZRC) and attempt to unmask the shadowy company from the inside-out….

Review
The Zaragoza Chronicles: Beginnings is, as the title implies, the first in a new fantasy, gothic, thriller series from debut author A.J Ayeni. This book is set in 2040, where the world is run by the most wealthy organisations, with the Zaragoza Consultancy being the most powerful. As a philanthropic gesture, each year they offer two students from each country a place on their Zaragoza New Beginnings Scholarship ZNBS to be used for college and into their working lives, as the students will also be offered jobs in the Zaragoza Consultancy Agency ZCA. However, it may not be all it seems, with talk of trials and no past students to talk to. But this years students are different, they want answers, and what they find takes them on a path not taken before.

The Zaragoza Chronicles: Beginnings is one of those books that crosses so many genres, from fantasy, gothic, supernatural and adventure, resulting in a gripping and intriguing read. Whereas there are a quite a few central characters, the book is narrated by Femi, a Nigerian American student, who is the glue that holds their group together. Like many of the other students, he is of mixed race and comes from a country where there is still a lot of poverty. From the start he is wary of the scholarship, why do they always choose students with links to the poorer countries, why is there no mention of previous students and just what do the Zaragoza family gain through this. It is interesting to see the story through Femi’s eyes, even the experiences and feelings of the other students. It is his meeting with Rafi, someone who has the same views of him, who also thinks there are sinister goings on, that is the start of the Zaragoza Resistance Coalition, a group of like minded students. Strangely, Rafi is the third American student on the scholarship when there are only meant two from each country. He is an Indigenous American and takes on the role of mentor to the group, he has the passion for their cause, and is convinced of a conspiracy. There is a full cast of diverse characters, from different countries, different backgrounds who all have their own reasons for taking up the scholarship.

A.J Ayeni maybe a debut author, but with this book shows skill and understanding of creating the perfect gothic thriller that has a touch of the supernatural . He builds anticipation, that left me with butterflies in my stomach, by slowly revealing clues, and through the revelations of the students. Talk of the power of the Zaragoza family, a pledge of fealty shown through signing a document with blood, a Non Disclosure Agreement and the taking part in trials, all filled me with a feeling with dread, and add to this the supernatural element I was completely immersed in this book. It is interesting that in the 2040 A.J Ayeni creates the world is still facing some of the same important issues we face today; poverty, corruption, the power of money and racism. Difference is still something that causes division, whether it is your race, the tone of your skin, or your intelligence, and A.Y Ayeni explores this through the diversity of the students and their life experiences.

The Zaragoza Chronicles:Beginnings is a fabulous start to what seems to be a thrilling series. A.J Ayeni has created such real characters, capturing their different qualities and personal traits, and their natural interactions with each other. The plot had me completely gripped, turning each page with great speed to see where this book was going to take me next, and it never disappointed. From life and death situations, to trials and supernatural occurances this is captivating, dark and thought provoking, and I can’t wait to read what happens to Femi and his friends next.