Indentured

by David-Jack Fletcher, Max Booth III (Editor), Truborn Press (Editor)

The son.

Mike and his dad have never been close. Not when Mike was growing up, and not now, especially when his Dad is getting old and always asking for money. This time it’s for his teeth. He needs a whole new set. Sick and tired of playing piggybank to his father, Mike takes a shortcut—he buys a pair of used dentures and hopes they’ll fit.

The father.

Phil adores his son, but he’s getting old, cranky, and feels like a burden. When Mike gifts him desperately-needed dentures, he takes it as a sign their relationship is on the mend. When he puts them in, though, he discovers the dentures have a mind of their own.

The teeth.

Finding himself unable to control the urge to devour human flesh, long-buried secrets from Phil’s past threaten to destroy whatever future he has left. With nowhere left to turn and nobody else to trust, Phil turns to the one person he hopes can help his son.

Can this father and son discover the secret of the cursed teeth before anyone gets eaten alive? And will Phil be able to stop himself from eating Mike’s partner, who is smelling more and more delicious…

Indentured is a queer cannibal tale of familial bonds and cursed dentures.

343 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 23, 2025

About the author

David-Jack Fletcher's debut gay horror-comedy, The Haunting of Harry Peck, was published by Rack & Rune Publishing in February 2022 and became an international Amazon bestseller. *Unfortunately, Rack & Rune have shifted to Generative AI usage and he cannot support them anymore* Harry Peck is now in its second edition with Lethe Press. His 2023 multi award-winning novel, Raven’s Creek is available through all major retailers, published through his own press, Slashic Horror Press.
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2024 saw the release of his vampiric lore-inspired novel, The Count, which became Aurealis-Award nominated (!!) and in 2025 Lethe Press released his short story collection, Hell is Other People, Truborn Press released his cursed teeth novel, Indentured, and a very personal novel, He Will Have the World, released November through Slashic Horror Press.
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In 2025, he also helped to establish SQUIRM Books, a Young Adult queer horror press, and an imprint of Slashic. SQUIRM is run by the incredible Stephanie Sanders-Jacob and will begin publishing in April/May 2026.
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In 2026, his novel Umbilical will release through Horrorsmith Publishing.
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He is now searching for a home for his latest novel, Wires in the Gut.

David-Jack works as an academic, teaching across Media, Sociology, Cultural Studies, and related fields. He holds a PhD in Cultural Studies, a Post Grad. Certificate in Editing and Publishing, and (soon) a Grad. Dip in Information Studies. He is an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and mental health, and aims to bring awareness to the intersections of these areas in his fiction.
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For more information, visit his LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/djfletcher

Reviews

[Jamedi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Indentured is a queer cannibal horror novel, written by David-Jack Fletcher, and published by Truborn Press. A deliciously gory story that examines the erasure of LGTBQI+ people in the past, the extension of trauma cycles and the limits we can breach to help those that we love, all from the perspective of father and son haunted by the secrets of the past.

Mike was never close to his dad Phil; however, he still kept paying for his things now that he's old and sick. Now Phil needs a new set of teeth, but Mike feels too tired of paying for all, deciding to take a shortcut: buying a mysterious set of dentures, hoping they will fit. What he didn't expect is that the dentures to have a mind of their own, bringing back long time buried secrets from Phil's past, including his appetite for human flesh; without nobody else he can trust, Phil hopes Mike can help him, starting a fast-paced race to discover the secret behind the dentures, and in the process, rediscovering Phil's past to Mike, a turbulent and dark time that he did all the possible to run from.

It is fascinating how such a traumatic moment, like Phil's rediscovering his cannibal past, acts as the catalyzer that puts together Phil and Mike, a broken relationship, especially as Mike didn't trust Phil to accept him being queer; however, what we can see in Phil is a man that portrays as hating the queer community as his own version of mimicking with the environment, as advised by the antagonist of the story. While they dive deeper into Phil's past and the origin of the black dentures, we can see how the trust between father and son starts to be regained, even when we can see Phil succumbing to his purest animal instincts.

Fletcher's writing is quite visceral, but maintains a good pacing in the narrative structure, alternating flashbacks and different POVs to paint a complete picture of what's happening; but what especially shines is how well themes such as queerness acceptance in the older generations and the crave for power are integrated into the narration.

Indentured is a bold novel, perfect if you are looking for horror that is not afraid to break a few lines to deliver a relevant theme; totally a recommend if you are a lover of the genre.

[Danielle Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The teeth had clenched his jaw shut and ordered him down the street. A puppet master intent on destruction.”

I really cannot wait for this book to go live because I NEED to talk about it. I need other people to talk about it and I cannot wait to see how many people loved this book as much as I did.

This novel went HARD in every way possible. I feel like I could write a 10 page review because there is SO much to unpack and SO many elements and tropes, etc that were touched upon.

First, I really loved the back and forth chapters between the father and the son. Their relationship is complicated… to say the least. The LGBTQ+ representation is throughout the plot and characters which was also great to see. I’m a sucker for books revolving around cannibalism and this was both top tier and unique as hell. Then add some psychological horror, an unhinged pair of dentures, some family drama and you’ve got yourself a brilliant storyline that was told perfectly. I truly have zero critiques on this story or how any of it was done / played out. This is one of those books that will live rent free in my head forever and I’ll probably be annoying with how much I recommend it.

There were times I cringed, a couple gags, and almost a tear or two. It was a full range of emotions. I cannot praise this story and the author enough. This will be the first time I’ve made a claim that I’m giving a book way more than five stars, and I’m excited for it to be this one.

[Books For Decaying Millennials · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truborn Press provided me with an uncorrected ARC of this book, for review, prior to publication.

All views and opinions are my own.

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Dentures of questionable origin, cycles of trauma that move with the speed of a motor bike, Mounds of Fresh Long Pig Tartar. I ask you, What is not to love ?! AS a rule do my best to go into reading a book with a neutral stance. Thus was the case here, beyond the bits of information in the media kit from publisher. Even then, I can say that INDENTURED was far more than I anticipated.

Author David Jack-Fletcher has described himself as an author who writes about “the everydayness of LGBTQI+ individuals”. Perhaps it’s that dedication to representing everyday realities, insecurities, and the the banal patchwork of moments of life that make Indentured so unsettling, twisted and viscerally horrifying. The wire frame of perceived “normalcy”, built of the stories we tell ourselves, and those we tell each other. That wired frame is wound tight with these clever fictions, these omissions, these stories told out of fear, a need to belong or good old fashioned trauma repression. Bound up and wound that wire frame of normalcy becomes twisted and warped, often giving rise to the scariest thing of all, the truth. Like the two headed Janus, the things we think we are communicating, and the person we think we may be showing to the world, could very well be the polar opposite of what is actually communicated, the person the world sees a being different than what was intended. Fletcher presents his powerfully, and effectively through an examination of intergenerational Queerness in Australia, and the bonds of family. Family both born into, as well as found.

Dentures is about the power and seduction of addiction. It’s the heart wrenching pain of desires you are forced to hide. It speaks to how passion can transform into pain. How joy, can birth Rage.

Fletcher delivers all of this amidst a growing mountain of human flesh, and the spreading black veins of the dentures.

Maybe it’s my own sense of Humor that has the color and consistency of Tar, but I found so many moments bringing me to laughter. That potent combination of a painted backdrop, of everyday life, long soiled with blood amidst scenes of Grand Guignol level of horror.

[Milt Theo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Per the synopsis, "'Indentured' is a queer cannibal tale of familial bonds and cursed dentures". - Man, I love that line! Cannibals? Cursed teeth? Sold! Of course, going in, I had no idea I'd bitten off more than I could chew (yeah, pun intended!): the book's about a gay man in his forties, whose grumpy and seemingly homophobic dad needs dentures; but said gay man, who's already paying for everything, decides he's had it with giving the old dad money, and makes the HUGE mistake of skimping on new dentures: he buys a set from an estate sale instead! OK, he couldn't have known the set is cursed (these dentures turn you into a cannibal. Yeah, who could imagine?) But adding fuel to the fire, the dad is secretly a cannibal already! In fact, he's pathologically addicted to human flesh (preferably male), and all along he's trying to keep it under control. Enter said dentures (into his mouth). The poor guy has no excuse any longer to keep that craving in check - and his son's boyfriend, twenty years his junior, does smell yummy, doesn't he?

That's the premise of David-Jack Fletcher's book, as it slowly develops into an intricate tale of mortal danger, body horror, gore, cursed object, and father-son conflict. Fletcher stresses especially the complexity of the latter: both son and father are extremely strong characters, insightfully drawn, and character development in their cases is what drives the story forward. The father-son bond, actually, is the star of this story, and reaching the end, readers will surely experience both frustration at the many unexpected turns it takes (so many secrets!), and liberation from this emotional labyrinth whose exit has...teeth - literally!

And those cannibalistic dentures! Their backstory is well-worth exploring, perhaps in a separate novella: who doesn't want pearly teeth and a shining smile? (Ignore those fleshy bits between the teeth for the moment) The concept is surely underutilized in the genre, and Fletcher's unabashed enthusiasm for it justifies revisiting it in all its forms. Something to chew on, Mr. Fletcher!

if you like fast-paced, twisty horror novels that don't hesitate to break the mold, then this is the book for you! Highly recommend!

[Alison Faichney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Man, Fletcher takes cannibalism to some new heights in this twisted tale of familial bonds. This was my first work by Fletcher and his writing is fast paced and *very* vivid. Indentured tells the story of a strained relationship between father and son (Phil and Mike) and how it intersects with their own sexuality, shared history and with their uh…cannibalism and sentient dentures. If you’re still with me after this synopsis then this is likely a book you will enjoy. It moves very quickly and the gore goes hard.

It seemed to have more of a cinematic vibe for me especially concerning the pace. My complete lack of a relationship with my own crappy dad also likely made me struggle to empathize with both Mike and Phil. I couldn’t quite reconcile their decision making but I did appreciate their complex bond. When we start to get Phil’s backstory I never really understood his motivations.

If you’re looking for a fast paced cannibalism story with dimensional, queer characters, then I’d recommend this one. Some of the aftermath scenes definitely make an impression on the brain that will linger. The pacing made it difficult for me to connect with the characters and relate with them but I do feel as though there’s a big audience out there who would love this one.

[Micki-D · Rating 5 out of 5]

A queer tasty twisted horror story of familial bonds, blood and guts, cursed dentures, cannibalism and the past coming back to bite you in the a$$.

This book is gonna live rent free in my head for a very long time. Every time I look at my mom who needs new dentures I’m gonna think of this book and what not to do to get them.

Mike and Phil don’t have a good relationship and he’s annoyed his dad keeps asking for money. He refuses to pay for his dentures but when he find a pair at a yard sale he’s solid. I’m all for being cheap but somethings you just don’t buy second hand.

If you like fast paced unique twisted horror books with a bit of a psychological thriller to it and cursed objects look no farther.

I have Questions
1. who’s sells there ☠️ husband dentures at a yard sale?
2. who in there right minds buys said used dentures?
3. How did they get possessed? are they possessed?
4. Why am i reading this?
My questions from chapter 1 let’s see what 2 holds for us
1. Who the hell eats rotten dead meat from inside an old pair of dentures?
2. Who decided to use dentures when they know they are old and used?
3. Again I ask why am I reading this?

[Ian Gielen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A queer cannibal tale with a twist, this is one that has fun with its premise and steers it into disturbing new heights.

A story combining sentient cannibalistic dentures with an old man that is given them has all the characteristics of dark comedy but instead diverts off into territory with far more depth.

The story follows Mike, a gay man who in his 40's does not have the greatest relationship with his father Phil who is in a retirement home. Phil who has demons from deep in his past is at the stage where his teeth have fallen out and he can't walk and has money issues to boot. He asks Mike to pay for new teeth for him but by a stroke of luck, Mike finds a pair of dentures as part of a estate sale and gives them to his father. Little do either of them know, those dentures are sentient and drive those who wear them into cannibalism while they slowly take control of their body and uses them to satisfy its own urges.

This is a fast paced story that doesn't hold back on the gore but also focuses on the bonds between people, whether it be family, sexual, or love. I enjoyed the way it shifted between perspectives and delved into the past of Phil to expand on the story and give much more meaning to the events and the relationships between the characters involved. Its well written, well paced and has deep characters with complex relationships.

This is definitely up there as one of my favourite books of the year so far. Highly recommended!

[Jeff Clulow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was very intrigued by this title and wanted to see just how far the author could run with this idea. Have to say, I loved the ride – so much more than I expected. Fletcher is an excellent writer and the result is funny at times, deliciously gory at others, but also moving and heartfelt. The alternating viewpoint of the chapters is a brilliant device that teaches the reader just how little fathers and sons really know about each other. It’s a great human insight. I was also fascinated by the character of Tobias Brentwood and wanted to know more of his backstory. In another book perhaps? Overall, a very satisfying, entertaining, and often surprising read.

[Rainbeaux Harvest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Indentured!! Gawd dawg, this was a page turner. This story had me abandoning my other responsibilities. I needed to see this story to the end, no breaks!!

Mike is tired of being financially responsible for someone who doesn't want anything to do with him. He has the opportunity to save money and get his dad some dentures. When Phil puts in the dentures, his life changes.

[Zachary Ashford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a blast with this. Essentially, a story about masculinity, sexuality, toxic relationships, and love, both filial and romantic, it finds its groove in the framed narrative featuring a soured relationship between two cannibals and the impacts of that on the families involved. Great stuff.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

review to come.