Body Tox

The Bodies Duet #1

by S.K. Pryntz

Asher
When a reformed serial killer turns to the life of an assassin, he finds his new target is not the rich little princess she appears to be. Posing as a body guard to get close to her, the more he uncovers, the more intrigued he becomes. What will happen when he pulls free the last mask she hides behind ?

Echo
Being the daughter of a high security firms owner is taxing most days, and echo has to bide her time by getting her nails done, shopping the latest trends…and keeping her serrated golden dagger fresh with blood. Her past has set a path as an assassin to find the ones responsible for her mothers gruesome death. What will she do when a new nosy bodyguard is insistent on protecting her from the evil she is trying to extinguish? Can she keep her secret?

One contract. Two killers. Target? Eachother. How far is the line between protection and task, and what will happen when the means to achieve the ultimate goal is connected to both of their painful pasts?

Genres: Dark Romance, Dark, Horror, Enemies To Lovers, Horror Thriller, Romance, Contemporary Romance

254 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 31, 2024

About the author

What do you get when you have a horror lover with daddy issues?
A whorror author! I am all things gore and (w)horror!
My list of publications is the Reflections series, the connective Asylum Devils series, Bodies duet, Bloody Valentine from the St. Valentine series, and Mara of the Wellard asylum series.
I have a lot of works in progress and can't wait to share them with you all!

Reviews

[Heath Steph Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly, read your trigger warnings!

Everything starts off as a one sided game of cat and mouse.
Asher is just a completely unhinged yet delicious buffet of a man, so who cares if he likes a little 🩸 here and there😂. Echo reminds me of an adult version of an angry teenager that is just sick of people’s sh*t. She’s a total baddie though! The amount of one liners in this is top tier🤌🏻. You know you’re disturbed when you’re reading dark romance and you’re cracking up at the characters 😂. The morgue scene will forever live rent free in my brain and I am not mad about it😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨. I wish I had 🏀 🏀 the size of Echo’s because ya girl does not take 💩 from anyone. The constant deranged flirtation between them has me screaming “just h*mp already damn it!!” The spice. THE SPICE. Let’s just saying I’ve never seen anyone’s 👅 used in such a fashion that had me questioning my morals. Some of the situations that came to light had me like 😳🤢🙅🏼‍♀️. But always remember, revenge is a dish best served cold like a ☠️ body, especially when a 🥣 ☠️ is involved. I loveddddd this book so much! 10/10 would recommend for all of my dark romance lovers who can’t get enough of the insanity.🖤

Trigger List: Don’t say I didn’t warn you 😘

☠️Murder (on and off screen)
☠️Gore
☠️Self harm
☠️Scarification
☠️Sexual acts with severed body parts
☠️Taxidermy penis
☠️Desecration of corpse
☠️Serial killings
☠️Gas lighting
☠️Rape (experienced in detail)
☠️Sexual assault
☠️Drugging
☠️Occult
☠️Sacrificial practices
☠️Forced impregnation
☠️Animal demise (spoken past tense in flashback) ☠️Circumcision of adult male
☠️Assault
☠️Squirting
☠️Dark sexual encounters in church setting
☠️Knife cut Torture (detailed and explicit)
☠️Water boarding
☠️Needle torture
☠️Child SA (mentioned)
☠️Restraints/chained/immobilization
☠️Mmc has renfield’s syndrome
☠️Hematolagnia
☠️Bloodletting during sexual encounters
☠️Autosadism
☠️Breeding
☠️Asphyxiation
☠️Suffocation
☠️FF
☠️MF
☠️Voyeurism
☠️Public sex
☠️Ocular injury
☠️Miscarriage
☠️Circumcision on an adult
☠️Sacrificial practices
☠️Past of child sexual assault
☠️Attempted forced abortion
☠️Prostate massage
☠️Golden shower
☠️Anal play
☠️Anal sex
☠️Using a drugged female as a sex toy
☠️Masturbation f and m
☠️Stalking
☠️Decapitation
☠️Needles
☠️Pyromania
☠️Explosives
☠️Arrow insertion
☠️Burning
☠️Wax play
☠️Sodomy
☠️Religious taboo
☠️Unconventional views on religion
☠️Skin sewn masks
☠️Drowning
☠️Burning alive
☠️Poisoning
☠️Incest rape as child

[Neapolitan670 📚🖤 · Rating 5 out of 5]

⛔️🆁🅴🅰🅳 🆃🅷🅴 🆃🆁🅸🅶🅶🅴🆁 🆆🅰🆁🅽🅸🅽🅶🆂⛔️

Our MMC Asher is assigned as our FMCs bodyguard, it is all a ruse to enable him to get close enough to assassinate her, for reasons unbeknownst to him, he has a job to do and he will carry it out. That is until he learns what her life has been like, living in her guilded cage, yet there is worse he uncovers which leads him to falling for her amongst other attributes.

Our FMC Echo has secrets, hidden depths to her persona. She receives a text with a photo and a name, lo and behold he is infront of her. Little do they know that each other is on an assassins list.

The story line is well written, we are given insights into their lives, there were a few little giggles for me, mainly from Echo’s sense of humour. The way they come together is done so well, how they gel with one another, there camaraderie works brilliantly and their ferocity at the end to protect one another, that ending well 😱

[Jessi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is dark and intense—not for everyone. Be sure to check the trigger warnings!

But I loved every second of it! I need book 2 now! I couldn’t stop reading. Asher & Echo are completely unhinged and made for each other. The story kept me hooked the whole way through, and waiting for the next one is going to be torture!

[Crystal Emerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me be so for real right now. I have never picked up an S.K. book and been disappointed. She can write a spicy dark twisted romance in her damn sleep. And this book right here, it was…chef’s kiss. Now, it does end on a cliffhanger which is f*cking criminal BUT it’s gonna be okay… she softens the blow by giving us a sneak peak into book 2 of the duet because she is an angel and we must have faith in part two of the duet. Asher will burn it down for Echo. I have no doubts.

⛓ᴀsʜᴇʀ: a reformed serial killer, now an assassin, he finds his new target is not the rich little princess she appears to be. And he is a man obsessed, like sure he’s grumpy, he may have a thing for the taste of blood, but really Asher is so babygirl.

⛓️‍💥ᴇᴄʜᴏ: The daughter of a high security firms owner, she has to bide her time by shopping, getting her nails done and ohhh… keeping her dagger sharp and dripping with blood. Listen I love feminist rage and a baddie queen. Echo is no exception. I mean when you can drown a man in your pleasure and make him enjoy it… I bow to the master.

The twists and turns we endure are all apart of unraveling the larger story. Both assassins in a cat and mouse game first for fun, but little do they know they are working for the same people and hunting each other. Who doesn’t want love if it’s not dangerous, vengeful and sprinkled with forbidden elements. I mean… not I.

🅃🅁🄾🄿🄴🅂:
🔪αѕѕαѕѕιηѕ
🩸вσԃуցυαяԃ χ яιɕн ցιяℓ
🔪тαχιԃєяму 🍆
🩸"ցσσԃ вσу" χ "ցσσԃ ցιяℓ"
🔪ѕєяιαℓ υηℓινєя яσмαηɕє
🩸тσятυяє ѕмυт
🔪 вℓ00ԃ ρℓαу
🩸σɕɕυℓт
🔪ԃαяк & ѕριɕу
🩸тяιցցєяѕ ℓιкє α ɕνѕ яєɕιєρт

Overall Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Range of Emotions: 😏😈🥵😱😍🫣🫠🖤🥰🫨😨

⚠️Please, Please check TWs. Your mental health matters and this is not for the faint of heart.

‼️In summary, my beautiful dudes, add to cart, to TBR, this book is so good I mean SK knocked it out the park. I devoured it so quickly and I just want more. Asher & Echo are endgame.

[Fowzi A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holly hell!! This booook!!! I am always soooo grateful to be able to read this as an ARC cause I am such a fan SK ! She always has such a way of writing these darker theme story with such empowering characters!! And This one just hit! the way my jaw was dropping at unhingness of these characters and laughing at time had me going!!! And that ending WOW!! SK I need book 2 like yesterday!!! And the SPICE was definitely spicing with added unhinged 🤣🤯😮🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ If you fan splatterpunk, gory romance , and unhinged characters this ONE IS FOR YOU!!! As always please check your triggers !! 💕💕

[Marissa.Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sk Pryntz literally always wrecks me with her endings, but I always come crawling back with a thank you wanting more! This book was no different!

🖤body guard/rich girl occult
🖤@ss@sins
🖤who did this to you?
🖤good girl/good boy
🖤lots of 🩸 play

First of all check your TWs or go in blind, but don’t say I didn’t warn you. This one was dark, depraved, and absolute perfection!

Echo lived her life in a guilded cage after her mother was kill3d right in front of her, however, she was not the intended target. Echo was taken advantage of by a sadistic man who continues to haunt her memories making her into the @ss@ssin she was forced to become. Now her target…none other than the man who was hired to ki11 her.

Asher had a rough life and his only weakness is bl00d, and now his little Wraith, the only problem is she is his target. After years of carrying out hits and what he presumes as rescue missions, he learns the dark truth behind those missions. Needless to say the past comes back to haunt Asher and Echo in ways they both never imagined!

Asher gets revenge for his little wraith only to be left scrambling to try and save her after a plot twist you’ll never see coming. Oh the irony when they were both meant to 💀 each other, not fall in love. The ending of this freaking book, if I didn’t love my kindle so dearly it would have been through the wall! I cannot wait to read the next book, I will just been over here nursing my wounds from this one in the mean time.

Thank you so much to SK for allowing me to read this pre-release in exchange for my honest review

[Elorafae · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMFG!!

What a book!!! I need more, soooo much more…

How can you leave it on such an ending!?? What happens to Asher? What happens to Echo!?

I need to know….

I absolutely fell in love with Asher and Echo instantly, their crazy, twisted love hate relationship was everything. I adored how they tried to hate one another but yet were soo drawn to each other 😍

I cannot wait to see where their story leads, I enjoyed this cover to cover…

This was pretty heavy on trigger warnings (shopping list IYKYK) so make sure you check them out but if you are like me and triggers don’t impact you then this was everythingggggg!! Definitely not for squeamish peeps 🙈

[111rhyereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

YES YES ABSOLUTELY YES I AM OBSESSED OH MY GOD ECHO AND ASHER MY BELOVED I NEED THEM BOTH BIBLICALLY

[Karina Serrano · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not going to lie I’m fairly new to her books..
But so far the ones I’ve read never failed to keep me hooked and wanting more!
Literally would stay up late because I had to finish and see what would happen next!!

Well this book did not disappoint either!!
Freaking hooked me from the start, I even lost sleep trying to finish it ASAP!!🫢💀💀

ASHER FREAKING BALLARD & ECHO!!
My new freaking fave characters!! Both soo unstable & unhinged!
I swear the whole time I was like y’all better not kill each other!!

Omg that freaking reveal & turn of events left me 🤯🤯
& that ending!! WTH.. WHYYY??!! I NEED MORE I NEED TO KNOW WTH HAPPENS NEXT!!

10/10 recommend if you have no triggers and enjoy something dark!

But def check trigger warnings!!

[Jess Q · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautifully chaotic symphony of dark and twisted. Echo is a caged phoenix rising from burning ash and Asher is a hollowed soul assassin. Both bound by the higher powers to be snuffed out. I loved the twists and turns of this book. The plot turns, the pitch black! I loved it all!

The trigger warnings are extensive - please consider that all are listed for a reason !

Favorite Quotes:
“ not today little wrath, but you will bleed for me soon. I won’t hunt the week anymore, but I am no hero. I will take your life. It’s mine now.”

“I don’t want to taste you, I want to fucking devour you.”

“I want you. Now, and until you annoy me enough to kill you again.”

[requiemz.reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another 5⭐️ from S.D. Paine

First and foremost, this one is comin’ in hot with a grocery list of ‼️TWs‼️
Remember, your mental health and well-being is of primary importance. So pause and take note.

And now… for the twisted lovers of dark romance…What a book! As can be expected, based on this author’s MO, S.K. has managed to titillate and corrupt yet again. Echo and Asher’s deranged flirtation and chuckle worthy one-liners will become essential rent-free dark-mance 🍿. If you like your reads depraved with a touch of the forbidden and the kind of psychological thrills that come with a cat-and-mouse dynamic then stop reading this review and go get the darn book stat!
Regrets are for the unadventurous.

[Dru · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶🌶
🔥🔥🔥🔥

What an absolute rollercoaster! The moment I picked up the book, I was hooked. If I didn't have to work, I would have just devoured this in one sitting. It was so good!

What happens when you send out a contract for each assassin to terminate one another? Well, a bloody mess.

Echo and Asher were assassin couple goals. Asher and Echo's banter was *chef's kiss* and it was definitely an enemies-to-lovers trope, pretty much scorching hot enemies almost the whole book.

Both MC's have a dark past, and this book goes into details with the flashbacks of their traumatizing childhood. I liked reading about the events, and shown what happened versus being told about it. However, it is dark, and definitely can be triggering, but I think a very important part of the book.

The characters in this book were thought out, and even with the plot more character driven, there is definitely a well formed story. Usually I can guess what happens, but there truly were a few curve balls for me while I was reading. It definitely makes me wonder where the story is going to go next, and how much darker will it get?

I seriously want the next book now! This ends on a mighty cliff, so keep in mind this is not a standalone.

Tropes:
☑️ Touch her and 💀
☑️ Stabby/Badass Heroine
☑️ Assassin's
☑️ Dual POV’s (first person)
☑️ Enemies-to-Lovers
☑️ Bodyguard
☑️ 🔪 Play
☑️ 🩸Bløød Play
*Read the triggers for more kinks*


***I was given this as an ARC for free and writing a review voluntary. All opinions are my own.***

[Brit.Readz · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars for me.
Check your TWs. If you do not normally read dark romance then DO NOT start with this one.

This book was soooooooo good. I was not sure how I was going to like it. The TW are a little intimidating but I can see why they had to be written. I have read darker (I know crazy to think) but this book!!!

I loved the twists and turns. I loved the adrenaline that showed through on the actual page. How easy it was to envision the story in general. I loved the characters, the chemistry, the banter just all of it. I loved that Echo was a bad ass. Asher was a disguised bad ass. I was not expecting the turn it had, I also was fully not expecting the ending. There were no signs really leading up to that ending. I was dumbfounded. I want MORE!!!!! I know there has to be more coming so I can't wait to see how Asher and Echo get wild and crazy in what ever is next!

Also PS Alex can eff off.. AND that debt collector... ughh...

Thank you for writing this it was so so good!! For me I would have given it a 5 star if there wasn't a cliffy.... but overall very good and highly recommend to a seasoned DR reader!

[Christina (Bloodycrimsonreads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25 /5
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

•ARC Review•
Release date: October 31st
Book 1 of The Bodies Duet

I am so glad to have read Body Tox! I’ve been wanting to read an SK Pryntz book for quite some time now, because I knew that it would be dark and messed up just as I like it and it undoubtedly delivered. Honestly, with all those delicious and extensive trigger warnings… It couldn’t have been otherwise. I enjoyed the dynamic between Echo and Asher, how forward Echo was and how happy Asher was to “let” her lead sometimes. I read Body Tox in one sitting, I was completely engrossed in the story and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes dark stuff.

Thanks so much to SK Pryntz for the arc 🖤


🩸Bodyguard/rich girl
🩸Ser1al unal1v3rs/as$as1ns
🩸He gets tortur3d
🩸She’s endearingly annoying
🩸Cultish

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was a lot of potentially triggering content so be mindful of the warnings going in.

Echo and Asher are both psycho in their own ways but lovable psychos. There’s a good amount of banter and I couldn’t help but laugh at some of the things they said/thought.

The pacing felt a little off, in my opinion, but otherwise I loved this book. So much happens and yet there’s so much more to learn. The cliffhanger is a rough one, I need the next book!


I received an early copy and this is my honest review.

[Amber Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arc Review
🌟🌟🌟🌟
🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶
⚠️ Please read all triggers warnings and take them seriously⚠️

This book was 🔥🔥🔥 though I loved the banter between Echo and Asher they made me chuckle a bunch! While there were funny moments, there were a lot of moments that were not. Echos and ashers back stories are both incredibly sad, and I was so happy that they found each other. I'll be it under very unique circumstances! That ending hook line sinker, I need book two like now!

[Jonna Stugart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was thoroughly engrossed in this book from the second I picked it up. The character development is superb. The plot thickens incrementally, with surprising turns at every corner. This novel embodies all the qualities of exceptional literature. I wholeheartedly recommend it to readers prepared for its mature content and laundry list of trigger warnings. The author's sensual depictions are noteworthy. I highly anticipate the next installment. 😩🫶🏼

[Nyx Graves · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy in return for my honest review.

I HIGHLY suggest checking the TWs for this book! If you do not normally read dark romance, DO NOT start with this story... now that that's out of the way... holy sh*t! This book is INSANE! The twists and turns, characters, banter, gore, and literally everything else in this book is AMAZING! I was not expecting that ending and I definitely need more Echo & Asher!

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

4🌶

Holy 💩 balls! That was cray cray! I loved it!

Asher has my heart, and I absolutely loved Echo's sense of humour.

Two a$$a$$ins set to k!ll each other... A deeply disturbing, heart-wrenching, gut punching plot... Spice that's spicing... This book has me hooked, and I can't wait for the 2nd book!!

Congratulations, S.K. another great book!

[Korinna Romere · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rounding up from a 3.5 rating. This was good. I like the two assassins/k!llers in love trope so this already had a good chance of being enjoyed. There were a few parts that made my eyes go wide because I'd love the gore of it all. This was a good little gorey erotica. I'd say read it if you like those books. Asher is great. We like him a lot.

[Vix · Rating 5 out of 5]

Page turner

When I saw that this book had 3 pages of trigger warnings I just had to find out just how f*cked up this was. It's completely f*cked up!! This book is not for the faint hearted and do not read before you've checked all the trigger warnings!! AND what a cliff hanger ending!!!!! I need book 2 like yesterday !!!

[kotah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I seriously had such a blast with this book. This is DARK romance with a splash of horror erotica imo. It worked out very well. The cliffhanger. 💔

Echo & Asher forever. Two unhinged, blood addicted assassins. I’m keeping my eyes peeled for book 2 👀

[Kswag · Rating 5 out of 5]

Echo is at the center of the story for me. Her personality drew me in and carried me.

She's dark, imperfect, savage, and unpredictable. It's easy to become addicted to her unpredictable temperament. Her outer shell personality is gloomy and demented, which makes her appealing.

The origin narrative of Echo is really beautifully told, and the plot development will literally hit you in the face.

SK's done it again. She has crafted a fast-paced horror dark romance that is a total page turner.

AND that ending .. what in the actual…..

[Corrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need more. Asher & Echo are my whole personality. I love them with everything in me

[Shonte Holcomb · Rating 5 out of 5]

First and most important please…..🚨READ THE TRIGGER WARNINGS!!!🚨

Now that that’s said and done let’s get to the good stuff. SK strikes again and did not disappoint. To say that I am obsessed with this book is an understatement. She gave me everything a needed and more. Story gave me an unhinged Mr. & Mrs. Smith vibe, banter between Echo and Asher was phenomenal, and HOLY F**KING ENDING BATMAN!! If you like your MMC’s unhinged and your FMC’s just as bada**, then this is the book for you!

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite this being a darker read, check the trigger warnings, the banter between the main characters made me laugh out loud; I've even been randomly quoting the MCs. I loved this book and would definitely recommend it, I can't wait for the next one!
5 🌶️

[Alwaysdarkromance · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️

I devoured this book! It was so good. Asher and Echos story was so good I can’t wait for the next book. The darkness level in the book was amazing. I highly recommend!

[GroceReadsAfterDark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow is all I can say. You have it all mystery, love, spice and so much more. Make sure to check the trigger warnings because your mental health matters. I read this book in one sitting. It is written well and it pulls you in. Following the story of Asher and Echo is not something I thought I would be interested in. But boy was I wrong. This is one book I wish I could read for the first time again.

[Mysteriousenchantment · Rating 5 out of 5]

SK knows how to grab you by the throat, almost squeeze the life out of you, and then drop you on your ass with the books that she creates. She has proved to me time and time again that she is and always will be my favorite author. This book among the rest is PURE PERFECTION!!! The chemistry, the plot, the characters is truly amazing. Echo is one badass bitch and Asher is just as badass as she is. The chemistry and the pull between them is out of this world and I want so much more of it.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hello, Dark and demented. I finally got to read one of the author’s books and was far from disappointed. There is a shopping list of triggers, which just makes me giddy.

Here is what to expect

🩸Assassins
🩸Bodygaurd/Rich Girl
🩸blood
🩸Gore
🩸Dark Humor



Did anyone else laugh at a certain severed body part scene? He got what was coming to him.

Asher is assigned to be Echo’s bodyguard. Each has their plans and motives. Honestly, these two are two psychopaths. Asher is instantly attracted to Echo and knows there is more than meets the eye.

So much is revealed yet still many more secrets with twists. I honestly didn’t see that ending and still, I’m shocked. I can’t wait for the next book.