Kayla  Cunningham

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Kayla Cunningham

Goodreads Author


Born
in San Luis Obispo, The United States
Website

Genre

Influences
J. K. Rowling, George R.R. Martin, Brandon Sanderson, J.R.R. Tolkien

Member Since
February 2012


Kayla Cunningham is the author of the award- winning contemporary romance novel, Fated to Love You. She holds two degrees in history and education and teaches GED courses at an adult prison while volunteering as a Hostage Crisis Negotiator. She is currently working on her Ph.D. in History and enjoys taking flying lessons with her husband. Kayla has a passion for traveling and meeting people from different cultures around the world. She was born in San Luis Obispo and raised in Santa Cruz, California. Cunningham just completed the second installment of the Chasing the Comet trilogy and has just completed Blood Oath, the first book in the Storm Breaker YA fantasy series.

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Popular Answered Questions

Kayla Cunningham I've seen a similar criticism that Sarah J Mass stole the idea of a female hunting from The Hunger Games. That criticism is weak because hunting for s…moreI've seen a similar criticism that Sarah J Mass stole the idea of a female hunting from The Hunger Games. That criticism is weak because hunting for survival is a fundamental part of human history, not something invented by any one book.

Why the Hunting Trope is Not a Copy From a Historical Basis:

Throughout history, women have hunted for survival, especially in societies where food was scarce or men were absent due to war or other duties.
Indigenous cultures, Viking societies, and even medieval peasant communities had women who learned archery, trapping, and tracking.

Realism in a Fantasy Setting:

If a character grows up in a harsh environment, hunting is a logical skill for them to have.

A strong, survival-oriented protagonist doesn’t automatically make a story derivative—it's about how the world, character, and plot shape that skill.
Countless Literary & Mythological Precedents:

Artemis (Greek Mythology): A legendary female hunter long before modern books.
Eowyn (The Lord of the Rings): A skilled warrior who defied expectations.
Aysha (The Snow Queen by Joan D. Vinge): A hunter in a dystopian sci-fi setting.
Jane from Tarzan: A survivalist with a deep knowledge of the jungle.
Historical female hunters & warriors: Boudica, Tomoe Gozen, and many others.

Katniss and ACOTAR Did Not Invent Female Hunters:

"The Hunger Games" and "A Court of Thorns and Roses" are just two modern examples in a long tradition of warrior women in fiction.

Their hunting skills serve different purposes in their stories. Just because your character hunts doesn’t mean they are a copy of these protagonists.

Final thought for critics:
A female protagonist who hunts is not unoriginal—it's practical, realistic, and historically grounded. Your world, characters, and story make it your own. Critics who make these claims ignore the vast history of women hunters in real life and fiction. As an author, I say write your book the way it needs to be written!(less)
Kayla Cunningham Absolutely! As a history teacher, the concept of prison labor camps, forced servitude, and brutal punishments for those who oppose the ruling power is…moreAbsolutely! As a history teacher, the concept of prison labor camps, forced servitude, and brutal punishments for those who oppose the ruling power isn’t exclusive to any one book or author—it’s deeply rooted in history across cultures and eras. Medieval rulers frequently exiled, imprisoned, or enslaved those who defied them, sentencing political dissenters and criminals to harsh labor in mines, quarries, or construction projects. The Tower of London, for instance, housed many political prisoners who faced execution or torturous conditions.

This practice extends beyond medieval Europe. Ancient Rome enslaved prisoners of war and criminals, forcing them into brutal labor or the gladiatorial arenas. Imperial China sentenced convicts to work on massive projects like the Great Wall, while feudal Japan exiled criminals to remote islands. Even Russia’s Tsars exiled dissidents to Siberian labor camps long before the infamous Soviet gulags. Penal colonies in Australia and forced labor systems in the Ottoman Empire also reflect this historical reality.

Fantasy often mirrors real-world history to create immersive and believable settings. A prison labor system in my book isn’t just a trope—it’s a reflection of how authoritarian regimes have functioned for centuries. If anything, it strengthens the authenticity of my world. Sarah J. Maas did not invent this concept, and countless books have used variations of it. What makes a story unique isn’t the existence of a labor camp but how it functions, who is affected, and why it plays a role in the broader plot. The execution, characters, and worldbuilding are what set stories apart. History is my inspiration, and it’s on my side!(less)
Average rating: 4.4 · 154 ratings · 123 reviews · 2 distinct worksSimilar authors
Blood Oath (Storm Breaker, #1)

4.28 avg rating — 90 ratings2 editions
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Fated to Love You

4.58 avg rating — 64 ratings2 editions
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* Note: these are all the books on Goodreads for this author. To add more, click here.

Blood Oath (Storm Breaker #1): Your Next Romantasy Read

If you love fantasy books filled with magic, dragons, vampires, fae, and high-stakes danger���welcome to your next obsession.

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Published on April 08, 2025 06:00
Blood Oath
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4.28 avg rating — 90 ratings

Quicksilver
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by Callie Hart (Goodreads Author)
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Blood & Steel
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by Helen Scheuerer (Goodreads Author)
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Heavenly Bodies
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Kayla’s Recent Updates

Kayla Cunningham is now friends with Katie Chambers
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Kayla Cunningham rated a book it was amazing
Rusalochka’s True Tale by Gemma Ray
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As both a romance writer and a history teacher, I found Rusalochka’s True Tale completely enchanting. It blends the emotional depth of a love story with the rich atmosphere of Slavic folklore in a way that feels timeless and deeply human. The romance ...more
Kayla Cunningham rated a book it was amazing
Ancilla by Sera Maddox Drake
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Ancilla is unlike anything I’ve read before! The story was raw, sensual, and deeply emotional. What begins as a BDSM romance quickly deepens into something more spiritual and psychological. The dynamic between Ancilla and Magister is intense. The wri ...more
Kayla Cunningham rated a book it was amazing
Winds of Ericiel II by Mae Camp
Winds of Ericiel II: WAR
by Mae Camp (Goodreads Author)
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I couldn’t wait to dive into Book Two after Prophecy, and WAR absolutely delivered. The stakes are so much higher this time, and the emotional intensity hit me harder than I expected. Catherine and Adrian’s relationship continues to evolve, and I lov ...more
Kayla Cunningham rated a book it was amazing
Winds of Ericiel I by Mae Camp
Winds of Ericiel I: Prophecy
by Mae Camp (Goodreads Author)
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This had romance and fantasy, which are my two favorite genres! I wasn’t sure what to expect going in, but I ended up really enjoying Winds of Ericiel. The world-building was rich, and I was pulled into the tension between Torthia and Lyria right awa ...more
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
“IT happened. There is no avoiding it, no forgetting. No running away, or flying, or burying, or hiding.”
Laurie Halse Anderson
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
“Censorship is the child of fear and the father of ignorance.”
Laurie Halse Anderson
Kayla Cunningham rated a book it was amazing
Seven Deadly Sinners by Joey Webb
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I thought that this collection was haunting, but in the best way. Each story dives deep into one of the deadly sins, blending horror with real human emotion. Some were eerie and subtle, others downright chilling. I especially loved the Southern Gothi ...more
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Thunderbird Rising by John H.   Thomas
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I picked up Thunderbird Rising because I love spy thrillers with high stakes and this one hooked me from the start. I was immediately drawn to Maxx King, a battle hardened former Ranger-turned-investigator navigating a dangerous web of cybercrime, es ...more
Kayla Cunningham is currently reading
Quicksilver by Callie Hart
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Quotes by Kayla Cunningham  (?)
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“Sometimes people rise above their past, sometimes not. And sometimes the people you least expect it from—like Raylan and my father—have a way of surprising you in the end.”
Kayla Cunningham, Fated to Love You

“I want you to know I have never loved anyone like I love you. More than Darcy loved Elizabeth or Heathcliff loved Cathy. I just don’t want to make you a widow.”

“I never really understood why Brontë is considered to be a romance writer. We were required to read Wuthering Heights in high school and I always believed that her novel showcased the bleakest aspects of human nature. The story provided readers with a small yet unforgettable glimpse into the depths of human cruelty. Personally, I never considered the story romantic because the love shared between Cathy and Heathcliff was fatal, not just for themselves but for those around them. Their souls were incompatible, and they were a toxic pairing. Despite their love, passion, jealousy, and desire for connection, they were unable to recognize this fact.”

“I was never a fan of Victorian romance novels.”

“It was never one of my favorites. It’s often viewed as one of the great romance novels of all time, but I think it represents something darker: the fatal, selfish side of love, obsession, and abuse. To this day, I have not encountered a more accurate depiction of how love can become selfish.”

“Why do you say that?” Xuan asked.

“Because I think you have to love someone in the way that I love you to truly understand what love means... and to understand how wrong the story is. My soul and yours are the same in a way that Catherine and Heathcliff’s could never be. Widow or not, I will never stop loving you, Xuan. You have mesmerized me. My very soul has been entangled completely by you over these past three years. If Brontë or Austen could write the greatest love story of all time they’d write our story. And whether you marry me or not, how I feel about you will never change.”
Kayla Cunningham, Fated to Love You

“Xuan being there didn’t make any sense. This wasn’t a fairy tale. Handsome boys don’t just magically appear screaming your name the moment you need them.”
Kayla Cunningham

Topics Mentioning This Author

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NetGalley Readers: Just Requested and Recently Approved June 2023 on 1884 724 Jan 17, 2026 11:25PM  
“You are my heart, my life, my entire existence."
-Ash”
Julie Kagawa, The Iron Queen

“The reason birds can fly and we can't is simply because they have perfect faith, for to have faith is to have wings.”
J.M. Barrie, The Little White Bird

“God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December.”
J.M. Barrie

“To live will be an awfully big adventure.”
J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan

“So come with me, where dreams are born, and time is never planned. Just think of happy things, and your heart will fly on wings, forever, in Never Never Land!”
J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan

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Comments (showing 1-5)    post a comment »
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message 5: by Kayla

Kayla Cunningham aprille wrote: "Hi, thanks for the add :) :)"

You're welcome! Nice to meet you.


message 4: by Kayla

Kayla Cunningham Sophia wrote: "Thanks for friending me, Kayla!"

Happy 4th! Can't wait to see some of your reads and recommendations!


message 3: by Kayla

Kayla Cunningham Sophia wrote: "Thanks for friending me, Kayla!"


Excited to meet you! I look forward to our "literature friendship."


Sophia Thanks for friending me, Kayla!


aprille Hi, thanks for the add :) :)


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