The Shadow of Cairo tackles the story of a 14-year-old Egyptian girl, Maya, whose mother died during a minor surgery. The protagonist, in mourning and anger, chooses to believe that the surgeon who operated on her was distracted by various societal issues - the 'lurking monsters' of Egypt. Maya, heavily influenced by Superhero pop-culture, decides to become a superhero vigilante to fight those monsters and avenge her mother. After a series of realistic crime-fighting, where the protagonist attempts to make a change, Maya begins to question the monsters and her limited power.