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The Accidental Champion #2
CivCEO 2
Now a Level 3 village, Tine has grown considerably since that fateful day Charles Morris got thrown in Liora by mistake and decided to become its Champion. With threats of uprising behind him, Charles could focus on bringing the Satisfaction and Happiness rates higher than ever, while also adding the basic structures that would generate enough weekly income to keep Tine growing steadily.
But as with the companies he used to run in his previous life, he’ll find that the bigger a village gets, the bigger the problems.
Follow our dear champion as he embarks on a delicate mission to switch governments. Follow him as he must select the best candidates for new advisor slots as they open and also find a way to up his Cultural Points in order to unlock new options in the Great Picture… all the while having to deal with a mighty warmonger and a mysterious group of thieves that could very well ruin everything he’s been working so hard for.
But as with the companies he used to run in his previous life, he’ll find that the bigger a village gets, the bigger the problems.
Follow our dear champion as he embarks on a delicate mission to switch governments. Follow him as he must select the best candidates for new advisor slots as they open and also find a way to up his Cultural Points in order to unlock new options in the Great Picture… all the while having to deal with a mighty warmonger and a mysterious group of thieves that could very well ruin everything he’s been working so hard for.
245 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 4, 2020
412 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
February 21, 2020
The author has only himself to blame for it taking me so long to get around to reading this book. His first book in the series was so good, and evoked such feeling of nostalgia for the Civilization series, that I downloaded the Unciv app. Forcing me down the rabbit hole of videogames, cutting my time to read.
If you liked the first book, I’m sure you’ll enjoy this one, if you haven’t read it, that is the place to start.
If you liked the first book, I’m sure you’ll enjoy this one, if you haven’t read it, that is the place to start.
December 1, 2021
Note: I listened to books 1-3 one right after another so they are all getting the same review. I only got about a third of the way through book 3 before giving up.
This book is the poster child for “actually stupid MC portrayed as smart”. The MC is transported to another world and starts running a town, all without any information gathering. For example, the MC was transported by a goddess who then abandons him. Does the MC ask for information about the gods and goddesses at any point in time? No. Later (end of book 1, I believe) a priest essentially forces information about the gods on the MC.
Does the MC ask what country the town is in? No. If the town owes taxes or fealty to anyone? If there is an ongoing war? Etc. No. The MC just encounters problems and generally tries to solve them without doing any research. About 1 time out of six the MC will actually ask the locals a question, but in general he just bumbles along. Frankly this is largely due to the author not actually thinking about his world as world. For example, at one point in time the MC aids the formation of a military alliance but then goes and sets up a mercenary group to be hired by the opposing side. The mercs are to change sides at a key time but doing this without ANY ATTEMPT TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE REST OF THE ALLIANCE IS INSANE. What if an alliance spy had gotten wind of the MC helping the enemy to hire mercs??? But the author doesn’t think like that. His characters only have spies when it suits the author, which, I guess, is just a long winded way of saying the characters are all pretty shallow and not thought out. The author even has one side character go from willing to abandon her god assigned tasks to avoid war to war mongering. (Basically, it seems that the author forgot his own premise applies to all the champions and not just the MC, that premise being that the gods assign their champions to specific towns to aid that town.) That was when I quit reading, so it is possible the author explains such a drastic change, but why should this part of the story differ from the rest of the two and one-third books I read? (Note that the motive the author appears to be attributing to the side character who takes up war mongering is anger at not getting to fight the war she had been desperate to avoid. Ridiculous.)
I am just stymied at how the MC never does any information gathering. At one point he is told by his magician that his understanding of magic is all wrong. Does the MC follow this comment up with about a thousand questions? No. Its not like magic is the single most important aspect of this new world!!! Bizarre. Then the MC specifically goes magic item shopping. Does the MC ask about a thousand questions of the sellers to find out more about his world? No. The MC doesn’t even window shop. He just identifies that most of the items are too expensive before leaving for a cheaper, less reputable market where the MC makes a lucrative deal while learning as little as possible about the world he is living in.
I generally like “empire building” story lines, which is why I got as far as I did. However, the characters are too shallow for this to be considered good writing and the villains in particular are just bullies (the MC even points out to a war mongering side character that he is nothing more than a bully at one point).
The author is not terrible which is why I’m giving more than 1 star. In particular he handles certain story twists well. Still, this author needs to raise his game significantly to be considered anything more than an okay amateur.
This book is the poster child for “actually stupid MC portrayed as smart”. The MC is transported to another world and starts running a town, all without any information gathering. For example, the MC was transported by a goddess who then abandons him. Does the MC ask for information about the gods and goddesses at any point in time? No. Later (end of book 1, I believe) a priest essentially forces information about the gods on the MC.
Does the MC ask what country the town is in? No. If the town owes taxes or fealty to anyone? If there is an ongoing war? Etc. No. The MC just encounters problems and generally tries to solve them without doing any research. About 1 time out of six the MC will actually ask the locals a question, but in general he just bumbles along. Frankly this is largely due to the author not actually thinking about his world as world. For example, at one point in time the MC aids the formation of a military alliance but then goes and sets up a mercenary group to be hired by the opposing side. The mercs are to change sides at a key time but doing this without ANY ATTEMPT TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE REST OF THE ALLIANCE IS INSANE. What if an alliance spy had gotten wind of the MC helping the enemy to hire mercs??? But the author doesn’t think like that. His characters only have spies when it suits the author, which, I guess, is just a long winded way of saying the characters are all pretty shallow and not thought out. The author even has one side character go from willing to abandon her god assigned tasks to avoid war to war mongering. (Basically, it seems that the author forgot his own premise applies to all the champions and not just the MC, that premise being that the gods assign their champions to specific towns to aid that town.) That was when I quit reading, so it is possible the author explains such a drastic change, but why should this part of the story differ from the rest of the two and one-third books I read? (Note that the motive the author appears to be attributing to the side character who takes up war mongering is anger at not getting to fight the war she had been desperate to avoid. Ridiculous.)
I am just stymied at how the MC never does any information gathering. At one point he is told by his magician that his understanding of magic is all wrong. Does the MC follow this comment up with about a thousand questions? No. Its not like magic is the single most important aspect of this new world!!! Bizarre. Then the MC specifically goes magic item shopping. Does the MC ask about a thousand questions of the sellers to find out more about his world? No. The MC doesn’t even window shop. He just identifies that most of the items are too expensive before leaving for a cheaper, less reputable market where the MC makes a lucrative deal while learning as little as possible about the world he is living in.
I generally like “empire building” story lines, which is why I got as far as I did. However, the characters are too shallow for this to be considered good writing and the villains in particular are just bullies (the MC even points out to a war mongering side character that he is nothing more than a bully at one point).
The author is not terrible which is why I’m giving more than 1 star. In particular he handles certain story twists well. Still, this author needs to raise his game significantly to be considered anything more than an okay amateur.
August 26, 2021
I enjoyed the first book's novelty so I didn't look too much into its bad sides, but this one is almost all bad.
Nothing really matters since the MC will just talk his way out of it without having to bend his morals even a little and everything just works out his way in the end. Almost no realism. I don't think anyone died from the sea of enemies the MC has just so he doesn't look bad to some imaginary puritan pacifist reader.
Also, time passes in large chunks where nothing happens while the MC keeps bitching about having to do so much and the Civ elements are pushed back to the back in favor of the simplistic plot.
At the end of the book, he pisses off a super powerful champion and I just had to wonder why the guy doesn't kill the MC since they have no nonaggression pact after the peace deal is finished.
I'm currently reading the 3rd book and hoped that it would be focused on the building of the new village and expanding his current ones, but it doesn't look like it's going that way since he's still running around like a headless chicken and somehow lucking out with random people.
Nothing really matters since the MC will just talk his way out of it without having to bend his morals even a little and everything just works out his way in the end. Almost no realism. I don't think anyone died from the sea of enemies the MC has just so he doesn't look bad to some imaginary puritan pacifist reader.
Also, time passes in large chunks where nothing happens while the MC keeps bitching about having to do so much and the Civ elements are pushed back to the back in favor of the simplistic plot.
At the end of the book, he pisses off a super powerful champion and I just had to wonder why the guy doesn't kill the MC since they have no nonaggression pact after the peace deal is finished.
I'm currently reading the 3rd book and hoped that it would be focused on the building of the new village and expanding his current ones, but it doesn't look like it's going that way since he's still running around like a headless chicken and somehow lucking out with random people.
May 21, 2020
Notes:
Low end of 3 Stars. While the ideas are cool, the character inconsistencies are all over the place and makes it hard to think that it's about ONE person. You need a solid character to pull off the strategies that are put into place. No one wants to read about a cardboard character that changes whenever the writer feels like it. I'm going to start reading the next book but I have zero problems on dropping the series if the characterizations stay bland & underdeveloped.
Low end of 3 Stars. While the ideas are cool, the character inconsistencies are all over the place and makes it hard to think that it's about ONE person. You need a solid character to pull off the strategies that are put into place. No one wants to read about a cardboard character that changes whenever the writer feels like it. I'm going to start reading the next book but I have zero problems on dropping the series if the characterizations stay bland & underdeveloped.
May 16, 2020
Wonderful! I flew through this book just like the first.
The scope of the book is becoming more and more similar to the Civilization games that I grew up playing and still play frequently and it had me giddy constantly. Adding culture/arts and “tech trees” to his growing city is perfect.
The climax was a bit anticlimactic but very in line with the story and the character, I shouldn’t have been surprised by it but was looking forward to what was coming, not that I’m disappointed.
Charles seems to fail a bit in this book as well and it was a good thing to add as it makes him seem imperfect, which we all are. He even failed once in a “sell” even if it was small. I’m not a fan of the Elves in this series but they’re an interesting addition.
Just as good as the first and looking forward to the third!
The scope of the book is becoming more and more similar to the Civilization games that I grew up playing and still play frequently and it had me giddy constantly. Adding culture/arts and “tech trees” to his growing city is perfect.
The climax was a bit anticlimactic but very in line with the story and the character, I shouldn’t have been surprised by it but was looking forward to what was coming, not that I’m disappointed.
Charles seems to fail a bit in this book as well and it was a good thing to add as it makes him seem imperfect, which we all are. He even failed once in a “sell” even if it was small. I’m not a fan of the Elves in this series but they’re an interesting addition.
Just as good as the first and looking forward to the third!
January 8, 2020
Good but first was better
While I very much enjoyed the book, I do have to say that the first one seemed to be better put together.
I thought the main character waffled back and forth a few times this time around, which goes against the premise of who he used to be.
Nonetheless, it's a cool story and continues to be a fresh take in the genre.
While I very much enjoyed the book, I do have to say that the first one seemed to be better put together.
I thought the main character waffled back and forth a few times this time around, which goes against the premise of who he used to be.
Nonetheless, it's a cool story and continues to be a fresh take in the genre.
January 22, 2025
I miss plot
October 29, 2021
Gaming fiction series based on Civilization continues. Forgot to mention in prior review: this and prior book were read "for free" through Kindle Unlimited.
Earth CEO dude continues making business deals in fantasy land and continues expanding his village. Continues to do certain "stupid things" because "he is a good guy" while also continuing to do some basically unethical and kinda evilish things (but it's okay, because he doesn't mean it that way!). On one hand, what I wrote; on other hand, people in the book call him on his hypocrisy.
Stuff happens. Life continues. Man still lives for almighty dollar. Still makes mistakes I wouldn't expect a half-way decent CEO to make, especially wouldn't expect to be made by this dude, at least as he described himself.
The "high" from freading a gaming fiction book set in a game I actually played myself grows thin. Rating bump lessened. Overall book readable and interesting. Interest slowly waning though.
Rating: 3.50
October 29 2021
Earth CEO dude continues making business deals in fantasy land and continues expanding his village. Continues to do certain "stupid things" because "he is a good guy" while also continuing to do some basically unethical and kinda evilish things (but it's okay, because he doesn't mean it that way!). On one hand, what I wrote; on other hand, people in the book call him on his hypocrisy.
Stuff happens. Life continues. Man still lives for almighty dollar. Still makes mistakes I wouldn't expect a half-way decent CEO to make, especially wouldn't expect to be made by this dude, at least as he described himself.
The "high" from freading a gaming fiction book set in a game I actually played myself grows thin. Rating bump lessened. Overall book readable and interesting. Interest slowly waning though.
Rating: 3.50
October 29 2021
October 16, 2022
Neil Hellegers should always be listened to at 1.4 speed. 😂
I'm still enjoying this tale. I like political intrigue in general. Even if the city building has been relegated to the background in favour of external affairs this volume, it's still important enough that I hope it will matter again in the next one.
I'm moving to the next volume right now.
I'm still enjoying this tale. I like political intrigue in general. Even if the city building has been relegated to the background in favour of external affairs this volume, it's still important enough that I hope it will matter again in the next one.
I'm moving to the next volume right now.
July 31, 2025
As my friend John would say: Well, yes! (Mildly drawn out/ sultry?)
January 12, 2020
Great book
I loved how the MC doesn’t just get everything handed to him and actually has to use his brains to work things out. I’m excited to see how he handles the next hurdles.
I loved how the MC doesn’t just get everything handed to him and actually has to use his brains to work things out. I’m excited to see how he handles the next hurdles.
April 2, 2021
This was worse than book 1. It was mainly an explanation of what is happening instead of what is happening, almost like a lecture. I honestly don't know how the world work beyond the basic building, what are the limits of magic, what are the limits of technology, how the population can act with such a low, low size (I don't think any village or city had around 1,000, but armies are described in the tens of thousand) and it just... it just seem so incomplete.
November 19, 2022
Interesting as the story introduces a rather new genre: Civilization manager. Unfortunately, the author seems not to know the genre well himself which results in having the characters act very naive and stupid. The world is extremely two dimensional and flat. The main character is supposed to be a genius but keeps acting like an impulsive bufoon throughout the entire series. Business talk, constant bribes and an utter incomprehension of the feelings of others dominate the series.
August 31, 2021
Who knew trade politics and pure settlement building could be so fun?! 👍🏽👍🏽
December 1, 2023
Alimander is the humility it-self, with his altruistic suggestion to take point in Charles's new mageocracy. The moral growth of the hero unit when adapting to his unusual champion could be what triggered some quest flag and brought about his moon-contemplative mood. After Charles's unwillingness to expire the elders to end the gerontocracy, Alimander tried using the suggestion bracelet, with subdued expectation more to Charles' liking, suggesting Charles to manipulate Agatha, when rebuffed, he again showed initiative granting Agatha's grandchild apprenticeship to pacify her. Also, the hints to moon's importance to Alimander in an upcoming story: moon shaped krukukx; withholding on drink while focusing on moon as winter comes.
In this book Charles's morals, rather lack of them, were brought to the forefront. When meeting the smugglers guild the representative played on Charles's defense of his own morally ambiguous actions to solicit his business partnership, which hadn't previously bothered him. When tasked by the elves' state to take action with possible negative consequences towards his fellow champion he readily agreed just for the chance to gain a leg up in the trade war he personally started, and then took another unethical action when blinded by the possibility of short term profit by trying to launder money under the keen eye of Nikos the slaver, aka the accountant. For a person who's main argument for the entire engagement versus traders' monopoly is fierce defensive stance of free trade, the unwillingness to approve private property rights under his own rule and readiness to engage in solicitation of labor from a clearly addicted person cloud the morality of his actions. Moments after having convinced the affable champion Peter, the person whom Charles views most like his apprentice, to hand over his misery struck village and to take on lordship as per Charles's request, Charles mentally had started to defend why not returning the village to Peter after the end of the two year agreement would be better for everyone and how to gain the most money on his 'friends' misfortune.
A Fantasy race was introduced, - elves - thought true to the common fairy tale norm of being long lived isolationists, here they live in mountain range not in a lush forest and are miserly traders with militaristic totalitarian, possibly xenophobic, views. The elves' trade center's magic isn't explained and the whole elves' magic and state remains a mystery. At times in the story Charles uses words 'population' and 'workers' interchangeably i.e. cp. 22. it's said that 15 workers are roughly 30% of Thymes population, when previously count 50 was mentioned as the number of active workers in Thymes. Also, a senate of 9 people in town of 50 sounds mad. Hopefully the senators do productive work outside of their one hour a week senate meeting as well.
Conclusion: 3/5. Truly an engaging fantasy world, it feels as if elements of the story besides those that directly concern the main scheme that the reader is presented in the moment as Charles's main focus are progressing on their own in the background and on the sparse occasion that they are mentioned new milestones for those elements have been reached. Like, the Savannah's magical research in the Twin cities, the Tenders being forced out of the traders guild by another trader, whom Charles had previously manipulated and the possible revenge of Silver Fools. The final chapters, similarly as for the previous book, have set up the intriguing beginning for the next book.
In this book Charles's morals, rather lack of them, were brought to the forefront. When meeting the smugglers guild the representative played on Charles's defense of his own morally ambiguous actions to solicit his business partnership, which hadn't previously bothered him. When tasked by the elves' state to take action with possible negative consequences towards his fellow champion he readily agreed just for the chance to gain a leg up in the trade war he personally started, and then took another unethical action when blinded by the possibility of short term profit by trying to launder money under the keen eye of Nikos the slaver, aka the accountant. For a person who's main argument for the entire engagement versus traders' monopoly is fierce defensive stance of free trade, the unwillingness to approve private property rights under his own rule and readiness to engage in solicitation of labor from a clearly addicted person cloud the morality of his actions. Moments after having convinced the affable champion Peter, the person whom Charles views most like his apprentice, to hand over his misery struck village and to take on lordship as per Charles's request, Charles mentally had started to defend why not returning the village to Peter after the end of the two year agreement would be better for everyone and how to gain the most money on his 'friends' misfortune.
A Fantasy race was introduced, - elves - thought true to the common fairy tale norm of being long lived isolationists, here they live in mountain range not in a lush forest and are miserly traders with militaristic totalitarian, possibly xenophobic, views. The elves' trade center's magic isn't explained and the whole elves' magic and state remains a mystery. At times in the story Charles uses words 'population' and 'workers' interchangeably i.e. cp. 22. it's said that 15 workers are roughly 30% of Thymes population, when previously count 50 was mentioned as the number of active workers in Thymes. Also, a senate of 9 people in town of 50 sounds mad. Hopefully the senators do productive work outside of their one hour a week senate meeting as well.
Conclusion: 3/5. Truly an engaging fantasy world, it feels as if elements of the story besides those that directly concern the main scheme that the reader is presented in the moment as Charles's main focus are progressing on their own in the background and on the sparse occasion that they are mentioned new milestones for those elements have been reached. Like, the Savannah's magical research in the Twin cities, the Tenders being forced out of the traders guild by another trader, whom Charles had previously manipulated and the possible revenge of Silver Fools. The final chapters, similarly as for the previous book, have set up the intriguing beginning for the next book.
May 20, 2022
4 My Nonexistent Army Will Have To Remain On Standby Stars
CivCEO book 2 in The Accidental Champion series by Andrew Karevik.
Definitely an uptick in the interpersonal more dramatic developments of this story. I am satisfied that I continued reading this series. It is unfolding in such fascinating directions. Secret alliances, thieves guilds, black markets, elves, and even dwarves. While I knew there were vampire adjacent creatures in this world it is wonderful to see more mainstream races, even if they are represented in completely surprising ways.
Elves that build in cold hard steel, and act in all things in the the same manner. Dwarves that don't mine, or live underground, but smuggle riches tools and trinkets. Just these additions to the story alone raised my appreciation for this work.
Charles has faced enemies on multiple fronts just through this second book alone. Namely, that of Nicos the warmonger. While he has many fear inducing titles, warmongering is his trade and means of aspiration. Forces in the South join together to escape his frightening stronghold on their prospects. At intriguing cast of Champions, each with their own intentions behind this takedown.
Charles also chose a patron in this novel. I'm honestly excited to see where the Goddess of the Arts will take his burgeoning civilization. I do, however, think he is so decidedly incompetent in some means. Like defense, the fact he doesn't even know how to save his own life let alone those of his Tinesh. He should have a police force by now, guards, soldiers, something! At the this point he's willfully ignoring that this world is a touch and violent place to succeed. I agree with Ginty he's parading around on this high horse as if to wave in everyone's face that he hasn't lost his values. I understand not wanting ones morality to dip simply because hard times have come calling. But that does not excuse the lack of security within his own town. The had a thieves guilds thriving in their town completely unknowingly. He needs to step up his game, and stop being so tunnel focused.
CivCEO book 2 in The Accidental Champion series by Andrew Karevik.
Definitely an uptick in the interpersonal more dramatic developments of this story. I am satisfied that I continued reading this series. It is unfolding in such fascinating directions. Secret alliances, thieves guilds, black markets, elves, and even dwarves. While I knew there were vampire adjacent creatures in this world it is wonderful to see more mainstream races, even if they are represented in completely surprising ways.
Elves that build in cold hard steel, and act in all things in the the same manner. Dwarves that don't mine, or live underground, but smuggle riches tools and trinkets. Just these additions to the story alone raised my appreciation for this work.
Charles has faced enemies on multiple fronts just through this second book alone. Namely, that of Nicos the warmonger. While he has many fear inducing titles, warmongering is his trade and means of aspiration. Forces in the South join together to escape his frightening stronghold on their prospects. At intriguing cast of Champions, each with their own intentions behind this takedown.
Charles also chose a patron in this novel. I'm honestly excited to see where the Goddess of the Arts will take his burgeoning civilization. I do, however, think he is so decidedly incompetent in some means. Like defense, the fact he doesn't even know how to save his own life let alone those of his Tinesh. He should have a police force by now, guards, soldiers, something! At the this point he's willfully ignoring that this world is a touch and violent place to succeed. I agree with Ginty he's parading around on this high horse as if to wave in everyone's face that he hasn't lost his values. I understand not wanting ones morality to dip simply because hard times have come calling. But that does not excuse the lack of security within his own town. The had a thieves guilds thriving in their town completely unknowingly. He needs to step up his game, and stop being so tunnel focused.
May 8, 2022
The first book was alright (3/5), but as others have said this main character cannot have been a successful businessman in real life. He makes mistakes that should have terrible consequences but he has 20 in luck so there's no problems. I thought it would build into something, but it seems it's just a bad book about one-dimensional characters in a setting I usually like. There's also a surprising lack of any city-building or trade for a book called CivCEO.
Also, pet peeve of mine: There's so many reincarnated people in the world that it hardly matters if you're reincarnated or not.
Actual spoilers:
Also, pet peeve of mine: There's so many reincarnated people in the world that it hardly matters if you're reincarnated or not.
Actual spoilers:
September 14, 2024
The main character continues to have an easy time of it. I don't think he runs into any issues that aren't resolved within 2 chapters. His economy continues to flourish and practicalities like who is operating these caravans or how one farm feeds his whole town are ignored.
The story is also wildly inconsistent. Nicos (?) his enemy is meant to field 70,000 troops but is scared off by Harold's army of 20,000 (10,000 from the last book doubled). Yet, while his allies are throwing this many citizens into combat our MC struggles to get 15 more people to immigrate to his town.
His nearest neighbour is never heard from again. When he needs to deal with thieves his wizard has an insta-fix. His morals wildly shift from "it's pure capitalism baby" to "everyone should be happy and loved and cared for and working and free and...". He also seems happy to cause wars and arm combatants but won't partake in them. In fact I don't think he's been in a single fight in this medieval fantasy world.
All in all this book takes all the easy-mode problems of the first and amplifies them. There is no tension or threat to the main character. The narration is good but I won't be reading any more of this series. Might be good for young teens.
The story is also wildly inconsistent. Nicos (?) his enemy is meant to field 70,000 troops but is scared off by Harold's army of 20,000 (10,000 from the last book doubled). Yet, while his allies are throwing this many citizens into combat our MC struggles to get 15 more people to immigrate to his town.
His nearest neighbour is never heard from again. When he needs to deal with thieves his wizard has an insta-fix. His morals wildly shift from "it's pure capitalism baby" to "everyone should be happy and loved and cared for and working and free and...". He also seems happy to cause wars and arm combatants but won't partake in them. In fact I don't think he's been in a single fight in this medieval fantasy world.
All in all this book takes all the easy-mode problems of the first and amplifies them. There is no tension or threat to the main character. The narration is good but I won't be reading any more of this series. Might be good for young teens.
August 23, 2024
If you enjoyed the first book in this series, you will also like the sequel. Karevik's hero, Charles, continues to try and develop his small village into a happy and productive place. He is envisioning it as a great seat of culture and prosperity. To get it there, he has to solve many problems, including his Council of Elders who are a little too conservative for him. I personally think that the government he replaces them with is going to cause him a lot more trouble in the future, but we will see.
Charles also runs into problems with a thieves guild which really doesn't like the idea that he will arrest and punish their members when they operate in his areas of control. He also has to deal with yet another imminent war--and Charles hates violence. This is another nice facet of the series that differentiates it from the LitRPG genre. The vast majority of LitRPG books are built around violence—as are most RPG games. Charles' constant efforts to find alternative solutions keep this book from being run of the mill.
Charles also runs into problems with a thieves guild which really doesn't like the idea that he will arrest and punish their members when they operate in his areas of control. He also has to deal with yet another imminent war--and Charles hates violence. This is another nice facet of the series that differentiates it from the LitRPG genre. The vast majority of LitRPG books are built around violence—as are most RPG games. Charles' constant efforts to find alternative solutions keep this book from being run of the mill.
February 2, 2020
This book is like an expansion of the first. The stakes get higher, the world grows larger, and new systems are introduced. I won't talk about the new systems as that would be a spoiler, but they make it even more like sid meier's civilization games.
I like the fact that the MC can make mistakes, and is not perfect. This book is all about building relationships, trade, and his community, as well as managing it.
I am eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.
My rating system:
1 star: Utter Trash
2 star: Did not finish
3 star: OK book, but will not read next in series.
4 star: Good book, will read next in series
5 star: Amazing book, can't wait till next book is out!
I like the fact that the MC can make mistakes, and is not perfect. This book is all about building relationships, trade, and his community, as well as managing it.
I am eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.
My rating system:
1 star: Utter Trash
2 star: Did not finish
3 star: OK book, but will not read next in series.
4 star: Good book, will read next in series
5 star: Amazing book, can't wait till next book is out!
October 19, 2023
There's a lot to like here, but CivCeo hits one note and sometimes it's off tune. The economics are surprisingly shallow for how the series sells itself, it's more like diplomacy 90% military 5% econ 5%.
More troubling is the inconsistency in the presentation of the MC. Often, he encounters some criminal element (smugglers, thieves, assassins, etc.) and his responses seem completely random. Sometimes he'll bribe bandits to rob everyone but him, sometimes he'll boldly tell the smugglers he wants no dealings with criminal elements on principle. Even if I want to be into the plot, it's hard when I really don't believe the MC is a person.
More troubling is the inconsistency in the presentation of the MC. Often, he encounters some criminal element (smugglers, thieves, assassins, etc.) and his responses seem completely random. Sometimes he'll bribe bandits to rob everyone but him, sometimes he'll boldly tell the smugglers he wants no dealings with criminal elements on principle. Even if I want to be into the plot, it's hard when I really don't believe the MC is a person.
April 3, 2021
This will be the last book in the series for me. I'm not into civilization emulators.
If our protagonist was breaking the system some way, and finding ways around meeting requirements, I might have enjoyed it more.
Although I do think he has a cheat.
This was better written than the other series I read that shared aspects with this. Even so, it is still boring.
3/5 Stars
If our protagonist was breaking the system some way, and finding ways around meeting requirements, I might have enjoyed it more.
Although I do think he has a cheat.
This was better written than the other series I read that shared aspects with this. Even so, it is still boring.
3/5 Stars
January 25, 2020
Good story continuation
Definitely a good read, but this book does not focus on the leveling or progression as the first book did. There were only two or three references the entire book about specific progression. This focused almost entirely of the story plot.
I liked the book but thought it might have been a little rushed and did not have the same detail and feel as the first book.
Definitely a good read, but this book does not focus on the leveling or progression as the first book did. There were only two or three references the entire book about specific progression. This focused almost entirely of the story plot.
I liked the book but thought it might have been a little rushed and did not have the same detail and feel as the first book.
February 6, 2020
If you are checking out book two, it is likely that you enjoyed book one. Book two continues to build off the world established in book one, with even shadier deals. I enjoyed this (still novel) approach to the litrpg genre. It's refreshing to see MCs solving problems with their brains and not long pointy sticks.
Reads like a game of Civilization. If that is intriguing to you, read it. And book one, if you haven't already done so.
Reads like a game of Civilization. If that is intriguing to you, read it. And book one, if you haven't already done so.
October 22, 2021
Okay Sequel
I really enjoyed the first book but book 2 was a bit underwhelming. Most of the characters from the first book don't appear in this one, introducing a whole set of new characters to get to know. Secondly almost everything just works out in Charles' favor no matter how much he might be up against a wall. In addition the plot seems to just jump from one point to another.
I really enjoyed the first book but book 2 was a bit underwhelming. Most of the characters from the first book don't appear in this one, introducing a whole set of new characters to get to know. Secondly almost everything just works out in Charles' favor no matter how much he might be up against a wall. In addition the plot seems to just jump from one point to another.
December 26, 2025
We continue with the businessman approach to ruling the world. This continues in the same vane with Charles brokering new trade agreements prepares his city for war and winter and negotiates with a madman and in the middle of it all the thieves come calling. This is thrilling and high paced without any bloodshed. I continue to enjoy this alternate style LitRPG and think most will as well.
Joseph McKnight
http://www.josephmcknight.com
Joseph McKnight
http://www.josephmcknight.com
January 12, 2020
The "Accidental" Champ (King of Champions)!
A good read.
Our hero/champion is doing well.
He does need to be a little more robust. He needs to be physical as well as smart. Why give him youth if he does not use it.
I like where this story is going. The Silver Fools and the Theives guild are a perfect foil for a business man.
I can't wait for book #3.
Cheers.
A good read.
Our hero/champion is doing well.
He does need to be a little more robust. He needs to be physical as well as smart. Why give him youth if he does not use it.
I like where this story is going. The Silver Fools and the Theives guild are a perfect foil for a business man.
I can't wait for book #3.
Cheers.
January 23, 2020
Diplomacy
It was smart. A story that had the CEO running all over the place making deals while managing his own village. A lot of negotiations. Fairly easy reading. And well, a bit dull. I liked the care and craftsmanship in the construction of this edition. No boom though.
Score: 7.5 out of 10
It was smart. A story that had the CEO running all over the place making deals while managing his own village. A lot of negotiations. Fairly easy reading. And well, a bit dull. I liked the care and craftsmanship in the construction of this edition. No boom though.
Score: 7.5 out of 10
February 10, 2020
I really like the storyline of this series and how Charles have to struggle with everything. The only issue that I have is that the time line is somewhat confusing. A lot weeks went past and it still felt like there was months left until winter. It could be that the travelling is condensed.
Please keep writing since I will love to read the next book.
Please keep writing since I will love to read the next book.
April 19, 2020
A great tale of intrigue and quick thinking
Definitely worth the read! The city building adventure continues as the hero encounters more challenge and opportunity, set-backs and luck. Focuses more on building a trade empire than city build up, much like a Civ game during mid-game play.
Definitely worth the read! The city building adventure continues as the hero encounters more challenge and opportunity, set-backs and luck. Focuses more on building a trade empire than city build up, much like a Civ game during mid-game play.
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