The ruling Asharites of Al-Rassan have come from the desert sands, but over centuries, seduced by the sensuous pleasures of their new land, their stern piety has eroded. The Asharite empire has splintered into decadent city-states led by warring petty kings. King Almalik of Cartada is on the ascendancy, aided always by his friend and advisor, the notorious Ammar ibn Khairan -- poet, diplomat, soldier -- until a summer afternoon of savage brutality changes their relationship forever. Meanwhile, in the north, the conquered Jaddites' most celebrated -- and feared -- military leader, Rodrigo Belmonte, driven into exile, leads his mercenary company south. In the dangerous lands of Al-Rassan, these two men from different worlds meet and serve -- for a time -- the same master. Sharing their interwoven fate -- and increasingly torn by her feelings -- is Jehane, the accomplished court physician, whose own skills play an increasing role as Al-Rassan is swept to the brink of holy war, and beyond. Hauntingly evocative of medieval Spain, The Lions of Al-Rassan is both a brilliant adventure and a deeply compelling story of love, divided loyalties, and what happens to men and women when hardening beliefs begin to remake -- or destroy -- a world.

蓋伊·加夫裏爾·凱生於1954年11月7日。加拿大文壇享有國際聲譽的奇幻大師之一。

20世紀70年代，《魔戒之王》的作者托爾金去世後，凱應邀前往英國協助托爾金之子剋裏斯托弗·托爾金整理乃父留下的文稿。在此後的三年中，隨著托爾金的遺作《精靈寶鑽》順利完成，凱自己也狂熱地愛上瞭奇幻文學。數年之後，凱模仿托爾金風格而成的奇幻小說“費奧納瓦織錦”三部麯上市，並獲大奬。

之後，凱結閤自己的興趣開始創作“仿曆史奇幻小說”，這種小說是將真實曆史中的人和事進行改編，構建一個完整的架空世界，既具有結構緊湊、有理有序、容易被讀者接受的優點，又能藉此抒發悠遠的曆史情懷。在此之前，雖然也有人做過嘗試，但凱卻是獲得突破性成就的第一人。現在與大傢見麵的《提嘉娜》、《阿拉桑雄獅》和《亞波娜之歌》，即是凱最具代錶性的經典之作。

截至目前，凱已獲得幻想文壇多個大奬，如世界幻想文學奬、加拿大極光奬、卡斯帕最佳推理小說奬等等。