Chapter 1 – A Necklace Full of Secrets
Nelson wasn’t supposed to be digging up Mum’s flowerbeds. But then, Nelson was never supposed to do most of the
Sometimes, the most magical adventures begin when everyone else has gone to sleep
Join A.J. Priest’s Night Riders — where one girl, one loyal dog, and four donkeys are about to go on the most magical adventure of their lives.
DISCOVER THE STORY
About The Night Riders: A Magical Rescue
The Night Riders: A Magical Rescue is a heartwarming children’s fantasy adventure for readers aged 7–10, filled with humour, friendship, mischief and Christmas-time excitement. Weeks after Nelson digs up a mysterious star-shaped necklace in the garden, nine-year-old Ashleigh already knows it can do something extraordinary: it lets her talk to animals and gives the family’s four donkeys the power to fly.
Then, five days before Christmas, Ashleigh realises she has left her beloved teddy bear, Molly, at school. With the school closed for the holidays, Ashleigh, Nelson, Misty, Myles and Doughnut set out on a daring midnight rescue. It is the Night Riders’ very first adventure — and it quickly becomes much more than a simple teddy-bear rescue.
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Every great adventure starts somewhere. For Ashleigh and the Night Riders, it started in a garden, with a mischievous dog and a necklace full of secrets.
The Night Riders:
A Magical Rescue
Five days before Christmas, Molly the teddy bear is left behind at school. One girl, one talking dog and three flying donkeys set out on a secret midnight rescue — the very first adventure of the Night Riders. But when two burglars break into the school on the same night, the rescue becomes far bigger, funnier and more dangerous than Ashleigh ever imagined.
More titles coming soon.
ISBN: Paperback: 979-8-89604-910-4 | Hardback: 979-8-89604-911-1 | eBook: 979-8-89604-909-8
BEGIN THE ADVENTURE TODAY!
Follow Ashleigh and the Night Riders on a magical journey available now on Amazon.
MEET THE AUTHOR A.J. PRIEST
I’ve always believed the best stories come from the people and places we love most. The Night Riders grew from the magical weekends I spent creating adventures with my children, inspired by family life, the countryside, and the wonder of childhood.
My hope is that these stories spark young imaginations, make readers laugh, and remind them that courage, friendship, and a little bit of magic can be found in the most ordinary places.
✨ FESTIVE SEASON FEATURE
A MAGICAL ADVENTURE FOR CHRISTMAS
Set just five days before Christmas, A Magical Rescue is packed with frosty fields, midnight mischief, a determined teddy-bear rescue, talking animals and flying donkeys. A warm, funny adventure for young readers aged 7–10 and a great choice for family reading over the Christmas season.
WHAT READERS & REVIEWERS ARE SAYING
A magical first adventure filled with humour, heart and Christmas-time excitement. See what reviewers, parents and readers are saying about The Night Riders: A Magical Rescue.
★ FEATURED EDITORIAL REVIEW
★★★★★
“Packed from cover to cover with infectious humor, heart and adventurous mayhem.”
— Jim Cox, Midwest Book Review
“Especially and unreservedly recommended” for family, elementary school, middle school and community library Fantasy Fiction collections.
❄️ PARENT REVIEW • PERFECT COSY WINTER READ
★★★★★
“A modern classic in the making.”
“My 8-year-old and I have been reading this together at bedtime, and it has quickly become a household favourite. It’s warm, beautifully imaginative, and the perfect cosy winter read.”
— Parent review
★★★★★
“A riotous midnight adventure with real heart underneath it.”
“The humour is properly funny rather than merely child-friendly; my Year 4s laughed out loud at Nelson, then went quiet at exactly the right moments.”
— Hazel Corrigan, Year 4 teacher, Herefordshire
★★★★★
“This is the sweet spot for seven to tens.”
“It reads aloud wonderfully — short chapters, clean sentences, a laugh on nearly every page.”
— Priya Ashworth-Vale, children’s librarian, Leeds
★★★★★
“Priest writes animals who actually sound like animals...”
“…stubborn, hungry, permanently unimpressed by human plans — rather than children in fur coats. Nelson is the best talking dog I’ve read in years, but it’s Noodles who stays with you.”
— Duncan Aldwych, children’s author, Bristol
★★★★★
“Pure chaos, pure joy.”
“My eight-year-old read it in two sittings and now insists our Labrador is holding back.”
— Tom Braithwaite, book blogger, Manchester
The Story Unfolds
Follow Ashleigh’s journey from a magical discovery to a daring midnight rescue.
Each chapter brings more wonder, mischief, and adventure with the Night Riders.
Chapter 2 – The Last Day of School
One more day of school. One Christmas jumper with a flashing nose. One beloved teddy bear called Molly. One very
Chapter 3 – Operation Teddy Rescue
The house was quiet. Mum and Dad were asleep. Nathan was snoring. And somewhere across the frosty fields, Molly was
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