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The Westerners: An Aether Gun Story
In the West, even silence has a cost.
In the shadow of the Davis Mountains, fifteen-year-old Emory Cade's quiet life is shattered when her brother vanishes as the Texas National Army is taking over the town. What begins as a desperate search for family leads Emory into a world of secrets buried beneath the desert stone-where soldiers guard a strange machine and rumors of something called Aether run like wildfire.
Drawn in by a woman who seems to know more than she says, Emory discovers that her bond with her brother is only the beginning of what ties her to the struggle. As reality begins to blur and the lines between truth and illusion bend, Emory must decide who she can trust-and how much of herself she's willing to risk.
The Westerners is a story of family, survival, and the spark of rebellion in a land where space and silence is dangerous, and even the stars seem to hold their breath. This book contains adult language and violence. It is intended for mature readers.
Praise for The Westerners:
"The characters just jump off the page!” — Amazon reviewer, 5★
“So real, I almost wonder if the author knows something we don’t!” — Amazon reviewer, 5★
"A story so compelling that it deserves a close examination!" — Amazon reviewer, 4★
In the shadow of the Davis Mountains, fifteen-year-old Emory Cade's quiet life is shattered when her brother vanishes as the Texas National Army is taking over the town. What begins as a desperate search for family leads Emory into a world of secrets buried beneath the desert stone-where soldiers guard a strange machine and rumors of something called Aether run like wildfire.
Drawn in by a woman who seems to know more than she says, Emory discovers that her bond with her brother is only the beginning of what ties her to the struggle. As reality begins to blur and the lines between truth and illusion bend, Emory must decide who she can trust-and how much of herself she's willing to risk.
The Westerners is a story of family, survival, and the spark of rebellion in a land where space and silence is dangerous, and even the stars seem to hold their breath. This book contains adult language and violence. It is intended for mature readers.
Praise for The Westerners:
"The characters just jump off the page!” — Amazon reviewer, 5★
“So real, I almost wonder if the author knows something we don’t!” — Amazon reviewer, 5★
"A story so compelling that it deserves a close examination!" — Amazon reviewer, 4★
85 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 23, 2025
8 people are currently reading
931 people want to read
About the author
Dustin Lee
2 books17 followersDUSTIN LEE writes sweeping, genre-bending fiction with soul — stories that span post-apocalyptic thrillers, literary Westerns, historical sagas, and love stories, all bound by the emotional gravity of grief, hope, and desire. His work is gritty, lyrical, and obsessed with the kind of truth that doesn’t flinch.
He is the co-founder of Death Do We Party Press, where he leads creative development and champions stories that feel like relics — books meant to be kept, not just read.
Born and raised in Texas, Dustin draws from the dust, silence, and mythology of the American landscape. He’s the kind of writer who builds worlds from heartbreak and lets you live there a while. His words have roots, and they know how to ache, and they know how to nourish.
When he’s not writing, he’s making music, building bonfires, or exploring backroads and bookstores with his wife and their three sons — his fiercest joy and greatest adventure.
He is the co-founder of Death Do We Party Press, where he leads creative development and champions stories that feel like relics — books meant to be kept, not just read.
Born and raised in Texas, Dustin draws from the dust, silence, and mythology of the American landscape. He’s the kind of writer who builds worlds from heartbreak and lets you live there a while. His words have roots, and they know how to ache, and they know how to nourish.
When he’s not writing, he’s making music, building bonfires, or exploring backroads and bookstores with his wife and their three sons — his fiercest joy and greatest adventure.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 7, 2025
The Westerners drops readers into a stark, near-dystopian setting of the American West—one that feels both familiar and otherworldly. From the opening pages, I was drawn in by the atmosphere: dusty, tense, and humming with mystery, strange technology, and some kind of military presence. Dustin Lee captures that uneasy balance between frontier grit and speculative mystery exceptionally well, especially early on.
The story’s short length, however, makes for a mixed reading experience. At times, it felt as though I’d picked up a book already in progress; scenes unfold quickly and without much introduction, and I occasionally found myself wishing for more time to settle into the world and its characters. The people we meet are interesting and distinct, but the short length doesn’t allow enough space to fully connect with them.
And just as I started to settle in, it was suddenly over. If The Westerners was written as a prelude to The Aether Gun series, a hook to reel you in, it succeeds in that purpose. It left me wanting more of this world. I’ll be continuing on with the series to see where Lee takes the story next.
Thank you to Dustin Lee and Goodreads for the free Kindle copy.
The story’s short length, however, makes for a mixed reading experience. At times, it felt as though I’d picked up a book already in progress; scenes unfold quickly and without much introduction, and I occasionally found myself wishing for more time to settle into the world and its characters. The people we meet are interesting and distinct, but the short length doesn’t allow enough space to fully connect with them.
And just as I started to settle in, it was suddenly over. If The Westerners was written as a prelude to The Aether Gun series, a hook to reel you in, it succeeds in that purpose. It left me wanting more of this world. I’ll be continuing on with the series to see where Lee takes the story next.
Thank you to Dustin Lee and Goodreads for the free Kindle copy.
February 10, 2026
Good story, probably better if you are familiar with other books in the series
The Westerners blends light science fiction with echoes of the TV show Revolution. The writing is strong and the story lands well, with a tight pace that keeps things moving. Marketed as a standalone prequel to the Aether Gun series, it works on its own, though coming in without reading the later books left me wanting a bit more background. I suspect many of the reveals carry more weight for readers already familiar with the series. That said, the premise is compelling, and I especially enjoyed the portrayal of a fractured United States divided into regions with their own governments and militaries. I’d definitely consider reading the next book in the series.
The Westerners blends light science fiction with echoes of the TV show Revolution. The writing is strong and the story lands well, with a tight pace that keeps things moving. Marketed as a standalone prequel to the Aether Gun series, it works on its own, though coming in without reading the later books left me wanting a bit more background. I suspect many of the reveals carry more weight for readers already familiar with the series. That said, the premise is compelling, and I especially enjoyed the portrayal of a fractured United States divided into regions with their own governments and militaries. I’d definitely consider reading the next book in the series.
January 7, 2026
A hard book to place - it starts off feeling like a laconic, beautifully written Texas yarn then veers into an action thriller a few chapters in. There are some lovely turns of phrase in here, and the setting feels real and believable. The main character is compelling. But there’s also a lot of unanswered questions - like why a Resistance spy might help some teenage girl who’s a stranger, or what the Aether Gun is - and the plot ends very quickly without a resolution. An intriguing prequel, but a little confusing.
December 28, 2025
Short Fun Apocalyptic Read
The Westerners from the get go ropes you into the mysterious world and what’s going on. Set in pandemic era in Texas, the author does a great job at creating an eerily ambient atmosphere. I give it 4 stars because the plot moves wildly fast, describing many months of the story in a single paragraph. I wanted more out of the book but I I’ll have to continue reading the whole series.
The Westerners from the get go ropes you into the mysterious world and what’s going on. Set in pandemic era in Texas, the author does a great job at creating an eerily ambient atmosphere. I give it 4 stars because the plot moves wildly fast, describing many months of the story in a single paragraph. I wanted more out of the book but I I’ll have to continue reading the whole series.
November 7, 2025
The author did a good job of setting the stage for this quick fast paced book. You are introduced to Emory and Derrick, a brother and sister who live in a run down trailer with a mom who is an addict. The eerie town they live in is taken over by government officials and military. Then Derrick disappears. From there the book follows Emory and other characters journey to find him and the truth.
November 8, 2025
This is a fast-paced story that feels very current. We’re introduced to teenaged siblings, Emory and Derrick, who have to fend for themselves in rural Texas. The sense of unease grows quickly in the little town as movement becomes curtailed. When Derrick disappears, Emory vows to find him, even if it means entering enemy territory.
I hope we get a sequel.
I hope we get a sequel.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews