Not unlike Guy Gavriel Kay, Scott Oden has chosen a reasonably obscure historical context in which to place mostly fictional characters. Politics and assassination are always a fertile area and they are used well here, artfully combining in a volatile cocktail which also manages to turn an assassin into someone it does not feel entirely wrong to support. Again, I was put in mind of Kay's masterwork The Lions of Al-Rassan, and the assassin Ammar ibn-Khairan. Like Ammar, Oden's anti-hero Assad has little mercy for those who stand in his way, yet is by no means an uncaring stone cold killer. The cement that holds the story together is its credible medieval backdrop, which the author has taken care to keep as real as is feasible. This factor allows the work stand above those historical novels carelessly ruined by a 21st century feel. Another plus is that Oden's Muslim cast come across as authentic and with just enough depth to avoid them ever being the historical novel's equivalent to Star Trek red shirts. Many of those who cross Assad's path end up deader than a doornail, but the various killings mesh together to push the plot ever onwards. This drawing in of many threads also helps to make this adventure feel less like an Islamic Jack Bauer armed with a supernatural sword, and more like something that has the vital edge of believability. Detracting slightly from the realism are elements which bring to mind the games Prince of Persia and Assassin's Creed, but that is easily forgiven due to the artful quality of Oden's darkly vivid, often bloody, and sometimes break-neck prose.

Scott Oden has done a good job, providing strong characterisation and an intriguing story which strongly hints at a sequel. Just about the only thing missing is any trace of black humour, which in some circumstances, I felt would have been appropriate. This minor issue aside, I can recommend The Lion of Cairo to readers already enamored by historically based fiction, and especially to those wanting to try the genre for the first time.