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The threat has been identified, the TransDimensional Counterforce assembled. Now the true battle begins.

Lynn Raven thought she was fighting for glory and fortune. Instead, she finds she’s fighting for humanity’s very survival. But how do you defeat something you can’t see or understand?

The world’s best and brightest have come together to give humanity a fighting chance, and now Lynn has to find her place in the war effort. Boldness and competence are no longer a gaming mask to put on for the cameras, but a vital mindset shift she needs to survive. Can Lynn and her online persona, Larry, become one, and if they do, will it be enough?

The world doesn’t know the apocalypse it faces, and there are forces behind the scenes determined to re-shape society into their preferred image.

Lynn and her team will have to face enemies foreign, domestic, and alien, no matter what the cost.

The fight is at your door—what will you do?

At the publisher's request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management).

John Ringo is the New York Times best-selling author of the Black Tide Rising series, the Posleen War series, the Through the Looking Glass series, and more, including the Troy Rising series, of which Live Free or Die is the first installment. A veteran of the 82nd Airborne, Ringo brings firsthand knowledge of military operations to his fiction.

Lydia Sherrer is the award-winning and USA Today best-selling author of urban fantasy series Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus—the Lily Singer Adventures. She has most recently written a trilogy of Gamelit novels with New York Times best-selling author John Ringo.

Praise for Into the Real:
“The disturbing realism is balanced by dangerous monsters, clever tactics, explosive action, and a compelling twist at the end . . . immersive, highly technical near-future sf; perfect for dedicated gamers or for fans of Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One.” —Library Journal

“I found myself enjoying the story and Raven’s relationship with the AI that’s her guide in the game, and I was invested throughout. It wasn’t so much a coming-of-age story as a growing into and appreciating one’s own skin . . . I’m really looking forward to how things will play out from here.” —The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction

“Ringo and Sherrer have created a modern day Ender’s Game using the technology of Pokémon Go . . . The characters are vivid and interesting, and the action is strong enought to carry you away.” —Upstream Reviews

“The futuristic world of the gamers and the game itself will interest sf readers. . . . Teens will relate to Lynn, the main character, and if they are gamers, they will enjoy her gamer and VR adventures.” —Booklist

510 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 3, 2026

76 people are currently reading
35 people want to read

About the author

John Ringo

97 books1,835 followers
John Ringo is a prolific author who has written in a wide variety of genres. His early life included a great deal of travel. He visited 23 foreign countries, and attended fourteen different schools. After graduation Ringo enlisted in the US military for four years, after which he studied marine biology.

In 1999 he wrote and published his first novel "A Hymn Before Battle", which proved successful. Since 2000 Ringo has been a full time author.

He has written science fiction, military fiction, and fantasy.


Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
7 reviews1 follower
February 4, 2026
too good

This book came out yesterday, I speed read it and enjoyed it. I have recommended the series to my kids.

I am sad this is the last book in the series
84 reviews
February 8, 2026
Wow

What an awesome end to the series! I'm not into spoilers, but I have to say that the authors did a wonderful job continuing to build the characters, describe the action, and have everything resolve. The book completely engrossed me, just like the previous three did.

On the editing, I think I spotted maybe 2 errors, so well done!!

The entire series is well worth your time to read. I'm familiar with Lydia Sherrer's work through her Lily Singer books, and while this is a completely different theme from what she normally writes, I have to say that it does align with her normal attention to detail and character development. Absolutely awesome!

This series caused me to check out John Ringo, who I'd never read before. I read the Black Tide Rising series and enjoyed it completely. It was more detailed than I expected a zombie apocalypse series to be. I totally see why he'd choose to work with Lydia since their styles complement each other beautifully.

So definitely take the time to read and enjoy this book, and the previous three in the series of you haven't already. Just make sure you have some time for your reading since you'll have a difficult time walking away from the reading action!
2 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
December 21, 2025
This book is a satisfying conclusion to the Transdimensional Hunter series. The world-building is believable, the characters feel real, and if you're already invested in them through the previous books, you will enjoy how they continue to grow and cope with the challenges thrown at them in fighting the "invasion". There's a lot of wholesome, real-life wisdom to be gleaned along with entertainment here. You don't have to like gaming or fantasy, really, to enjoy this story, but if you do, you will, too. The book starts a little slowly, due to the training the fighter force must go through. A lot of boxes are checked. Like tactics and strategy? Check. Relationship building? Check. Brave action against impossible odds? Check. A little romance? Check. Unexpected twists and turns? Check. The world actually getting saved? Check! A very satisfying ending? Double check! The only big problem with the book is...it ended.
Truth in advertising: I'm Lydia's mother. I taught her everything she knows! (not really). She gave me (I demanded) a book early in exchange for a review. Her sister and nephews will be here for Christmas. Now they will fight over reading it!
31 reviews
February 5, 2026
Good story, dragged down by right wing ideology

I can suspend my disbelief of invisible aliens attacking the world, but the right is the calm helpful side and the left is only bad in all ways. I was waiting to see if a bunch of Trans kids would the ones who summoned the aliens in a demon ritual in a pizza place basement, that didn't have a basement. You got a hacker who is worried about the patriarchy, cause that would be a thing. I don't want to list the views of the author, but accept that anytime it's bad it's because of liberals. Not a right wing politician who ignores problem because the don't want to pay for fixing it, then flying off to some paradise island and leave the peasants to die. Who was it that freaked out about wearing masks, said we should inject bleach, told us to take horse tranquilizers to cure a disease, and that started rumors with no evidence that vaccine kill and cause autism? I know this is fantasy, but pretending the right is the sane and smart side is really out there.
Profile Image for Gwenyth.
12 reviews
February 5, 2026
Thank you!

These Transdimensional Hunter books have been a breath of hope in this difficult political time.
Centered on one young woman learning to fight unimaginable monsters in a near future U.S. while finishing high school, we participate vicariously as she to trust the team of four friends she fights with. Their persistence and courage lead them to the highest levels of competition and success.
Profile Image for John Garrett.
61 reviews1 follower
February 8, 2026
A fine finish to a great series.

I found myself admiring Lynn Raven as much as any character I've had the pleasure to come across in fiction.

My only quibble, and it's VERY minor, is that she's a LOT too opinionated. But maybe that's part of her charm. And her coming-of-age story is amazingly well written. Her mother is equally amazing.

I'll come back in about a year and re-read the series again.
Profile Image for Ed Hillenbrand.
64 reviews5 followers
February 6, 2026
A fitting conclusion for a great series. As one has come to expect with Ms. Sherrer's writing the character development is amazing and well thought out. Combined with Mr. Ringo's battle scenes it's a surefire page turner. I highly recommend this to any fan of sci-fi or just darn good writing. Enjoy! Read time 10-12 hours.
Profile Image for Jane Moore.
12 reviews
Read
February 6, 2026
Action-filled conclusion to the TD Hunter series!

So much packed into this last (we can hope for more stories, right?) book - twists and turns, action aplenty, new and familiar faces.
I went from laughs to happy smiles to worry for our heroes to tears a couple of times! More than once I was dazzled by the word pictures drawn by the authors.
78 reviews
February 4, 2026
Great finish to an excellent series

Fantastic read. Loved it. Kudos to the authors for such an entertaining four books. Get it and read it. I am sure you will love it too
1 review
February 5, 2026
I want more!!

I can’t believe this is the end of the series,I want more! I have enjoyed all the books of this series.
Profile Image for Jon.
287 reviews3 followers
February 5, 2026
Great story

Not often you can find a story that ties military and gaming so well together. Well worth the read for the entire series
44 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
February 3, 2026
Beyond The Rift is where the rubber meets the road, and TD Hunter teams become the TD Counterforce.

The teams now know the horrible truth, and that they are truly fighting to preserve the world.

Teenagers are now soldiers, and finding the cost of the fight they have taken on.

This book is a very satisfying conclusion to the Tetrology- real joys, real agonies, and maybe a path forward to truly save the world.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews

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