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The Accidental Champion #3
CivCEO 3
Charles’ crazy wager paid off. After facing near annihilation, he managed to upend Nicos the warmonger and secure a new strip of land near the coast. With Tine growing steadily, he can now turn his attention to developing this new village and turning it into a new powerhouse.
But as always, nothing ever goes as planned. For one, the borders of his new territory do not quite reach the water, so he cannot build a Seaport until he levels up his village. He cannot even access the resource tiles such as the fish, making this place completely depend on Tine for food.
On top of that, Charles still needs to find a way to reinstate Tanders who’s been chased away from Igithor by rival Henderson Aimes (with the help of the Silver Fools.) One of the possible options is to recruit more Heroes to retake the guildhall, especially since his loyal wizard Alamander has yet to return from his secret leave.
But to get access to those special units, he first needs to build a Hall of Heroes. And for that, he needs rare artifacts…
Follow our dear champion as he juggles a dozen different problems at the same time yet again, embarks on perilous expeditions and strives to strike those new deals that will finally turn Tine into a real trade empire.
But as always, nothing ever goes as planned. For one, the borders of his new territory do not quite reach the water, so he cannot build a Seaport until he levels up his village. He cannot even access the resource tiles such as the fish, making this place completely depend on Tine for food.
On top of that, Charles still needs to find a way to reinstate Tanders who’s been chased away from Igithor by rival Henderson Aimes (with the help of the Silver Fools.) One of the possible options is to recruit more Heroes to retake the guildhall, especially since his loyal wizard Alamander has yet to return from his secret leave.
But to get access to those special units, he first needs to build a Hall of Heroes. And for that, he needs rare artifacts…
Follow our dear champion as he juggles a dozen different problems at the same time yet again, embarks on perilous expeditions and strives to strike those new deals that will finally turn Tine into a real trade empire.
299 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 28, 2020
163 people are currently reading
85 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
May 22, 2020
Notes:
I give up. I made myself read this one to the end and there are too many things wrong with the series for me to continue. There was potential but it fizzled away with each book until I don't care.
I give up. I made myself read this one to the end and there are too many things wrong with the series for me to continue. There was potential but it fizzled away with each book until I don't care.
April 5, 2020
The overall story continues to be good, but this particular book is not as good as the first one and some of the same issues we saw with the last book are also present. The MC continues to make poor decisions and continues to escape consequences due to his plot armor.
This book also has a distinct lack of crisis, with the major issues being resolved in the first 1/4 of the book.
I'll continue to read the series, as this is a nice change to the usual and has some cool concepts not present in other books in the genre.
This book also has a distinct lack of crisis, with the major issues being resolved in the first 1/4 of the book.
I'll continue to read the series, as this is a nice change to the usual and has some cool concepts not present in other books in the genre.
October 21, 2022
Still having fun reading this series.
It's becoming clearer to me that I really enjoy political intrigue.
The MC always tries to act upright, and his hypocrisy and shifty morals are often shoved down his throat in a most satisfying way.
It's becoming clearer to me that I really enjoy political intrigue.
The MC always tries to act upright, and his hypocrisy and shifty morals are often shoved down his throat in a most satisfying way.
October 13, 2022
Fun and quite satisfying. It’s so interesting to me. I like this style fantasy and world building…on to the next installment.
September 6, 2024
4.25. A fun cozy LitRPG. There was more character development in this one, which I was grateful to see. Hoping book 4 contunies that trend. Yes, litrpg is about the game more that the book's characters, but Charles needed more development and I'm glad to finally have some.
July 31, 2025
Really wish we had a map. As the plot thickens, I wonder what will come after the trading monopoly thing seeing as the next book is not the last
April 16, 2020
The MC is still at it. Now he’s building a new city a a seafaring trade empire
The plot was ... loose. The story had a good pace, the characters and world grew, but the conflict was understated to the point of being missable. There were two conflict/resolutions one mid book that had mystery and intrigue and died pretty quickly. Then the overarching one that was the main for the book that was more of a way stop for plot points in the series. A couple of side-quest plots popped in that could have been explored more and expounded upon. Then the book slammed to a stop when a new element was introduced.
Still is was an enjoyable read, fast paced, a few typos to be edited, and added to the world and experience. I think you’ll enjoy it.
The plot was ... loose. The story had a good pace, the characters and world grew, but the conflict was understated to the point of being missable. There were two conflict/resolutions one mid book that had mystery and intrigue and died pretty quickly. Then the overarching one that was the main for the book that was more of a way stop for plot points in the series. A couple of side-quest plots popped in that could have been explored more and expounded upon. Then the book slammed to a stop when a new element was introduced.
Still is was an enjoyable read, fast paced, a few typos to be edited, and added to the world and experience. I think you’ll enjoy it.
June 6, 2020
Not nearly as good as the first two.
Charles seems to fly through every encounter and conflict that is made with resolutions that seem a bit silly. The plot armor is strong with this one. There isn’t much at stake ever, although the author tries to make it so, and as the ending came closer I gained a foreboding feeling that never came to fruition.
It’s nice to have a more laid back book but this one also seems to try and have high tensions and those two aspects really clash for me.
7/10
Charles seems to fly through every encounter and conflict that is made with resolutions that seem a bit silly. The plot armor is strong with this one. There isn’t much at stake ever, although the author tries to make it so, and as the ending came closer I gained a foreboding feeling that never came to fruition.
It’s nice to have a more laid back book but this one also seems to try and have high tensions and those two aspects really clash for me.
7/10
August 28, 2021
This book was boring as hell and a slog to get through. In combination with the super moralizing of the MC that was supposed to be a very experienced CEO where there's no chance he didn't do some shady shit in his life made me drop this series at last.
I don't even want to get started on how truly shallow everything in the world is. The only reason I didn't give it 1 star is because I still enjoyed the Civ parts of the series, even though it's as barebones as the rest of the book.
I don't even want to get started on how truly shallow everything in the world is. The only reason I didn't give it 1 star is because I still enjoyed the Civ parts of the series, even though it's as barebones as the rest of the book.
April 20, 2021
It's an okay story, but the novelty of a Civ Litrpg is wearing off, and I'm not really invested in any of the characters. The MC is getting boring.
There isnt really any conflict in the story that makes you worried for the MC, his success seems to have been a given since the beginning.
I'm moving on to other series.
There isnt really any conflict in the story that makes you worried for the MC, his success seems to have been a given since the beginning.
I'm moving on to other series.
April 7, 2021
3 books and I still don't know how population work, how technology advances, how is the continent divided nor even how magic actually work or its worth beyond "makes products". This work is so very, very shallow.
September 2, 2021
Quite the enjoyable series. Very much looking forward to book 4. 👍🏽👍🏽
January 22, 2022
My Rating System:
5- Perfect for my taste, could not physically stop reading/listening, wanted more afterword.
4- Almost perfect, could not stop reading/listening, probably wanted more afterword.
3- Enjoyed the book, could see others loving it, need to think if I want more.
2- Can see why others might like the book, but I could not, I do not want more.
1- What is this? What went wrong? Why did they do this? This doesn't make any sense! (No idea who it is for but definitely not for me).
[Audiobook Version]
I've started to enjoy the series more after coming back to it a few months later. I liked the first two books well enough, but I didn't really care too much about the story the first time around. However, I started the series again and it's been more enjoyable this time. For starters, the narration in this series was well done. Neil Helleger, was a perfect fit for this series and made the series more enjoyable for me. Secondly, when I started re-listening to the series again, I focused less on the background plot and more on the day-to-day activities. This may the series way more enjoyable and has been perfect to listen to while working on other small tasks.
5- Perfect for my taste, could not physically stop reading/listening, wanted more afterword.
4- Almost perfect, could not stop reading/listening, probably wanted more afterword.
3- Enjoyed the book, could see others loving it, need to think if I want more.
2- Can see why others might like the book, but I could not, I do not want more.
1- What is this? What went wrong? Why did they do this? This doesn't make any sense! (No idea who it is for but definitely not for me).
[Audiobook Version]
I've started to enjoy the series more after coming back to it a few months later. I liked the first two books well enough, but I didn't really care too much about the story the first time around. However, I started the series again and it's been more enjoyable this time. For starters, the narration in this series was well done. Neil Helleger, was a perfect fit for this series and made the series more enjoyable for me. Secondly, when I started re-listening to the series again, I focused less on the background plot and more on the day-to-day activities. This may the series way more enjoyable and has been perfect to listen to while working on other small tasks.
December 5, 2020
Another great installment in a series that makes me want to load up Civ 5 like when I was a kid. The subtext of the series was always about making money and growing a civilization built on money making and not war, which I could understand.
I had some ideological issues with the book (see below in spoiler section for details), but it was definitely enjoyable and I look forward to the next installment.
*** Potential spoilers along with a CW/TW for colonialism and exploitative capitalism****
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This book starts delving into inter-continental trade, trade routes, a Columbian exchange situation, and other practices which give off wayyyy to many colonial and exploitative Capitalist vibes. The protagonist has always been ethical and treated others fairly, even limiting his own profit to do so. How the author handles the opportunity to exploits the natives / if he employs colonization as a plot point will decide if continue this series.
I had some ideological issues with the book (see below in spoiler section for details), but it was definitely enjoyable and I look forward to the next installment.
*** Potential spoilers along with a CW/TW for colonialism and exploitative capitalism****
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
This book starts delving into inter-continental trade, trade routes, a Columbian exchange situation, and other practices which give off wayyyy to many colonial and exploitative Capitalist vibes. The protagonist has always been ethical and treated others fairly, even limiting his own profit to do so. How the author handles the opportunity to exploits the natives / if he employs colonization as a plot point will decide if continue this series.
December 3, 2025
Charles Morris moves from miracle survival to expansion headaches in CivCEO 3, the third entry in Andrew Karevik’s Accidental Champion series. The story picks up after a high-stakes wager that gives Charles a new strip of coastal land along with fresh problems to juggle. I sit at around 4 out of 5 stars for this one. The book keeps the addictive city builder vibe from earlier volumes and adds more risk, political tension, and logistical strain. On Goodreads the volume currently holds a rating a bit above four stars from over a thousand readers, so wider reception lines up with that impression.
• Expansion, scarcity, and long-term planning
Karevik leans hard into the headache of running not one village but two interconnected settlements. The new territory sits near the sea yet falls short of the shoreline, so no Seaport and no direct access to fish until further upgrades arrive, which leaves the outpost dependent on Tine for food and trade support.
• Responsibility, ethics, and leadership choices
Charles still uses spreadsheets, projections, and deals as main tools, yet the human cost of each decision shows up more clearly here. Pressure around food, safety, and fair treatment highlights tensions between efficiency and empathy, and the narrative keeps asking whether growth matters more than sustainable lives for villagers and workers.
• Loyalty, trust, and political pressure
Alliances from earlier books face new tests as rival leaders, mercantile interests, and guild politics close in on Charles’s projects. Some allies ask for stronger commitments, others question his priorities, and every new concession changes the balance inside Tine and around the new settlement. Stakes feel higher not because of a single war, but because several factions expect results at the same time.
Charles remains the core draw of the series. An older ex CEO with a heart condition, he approaches every challenge like a boardroom crisis, full of projections, negotiation, and contingency planning. Across this volume, that mindset bends in small but meaningful ways, especially when numbers conflict with the safety or morale of his people.
Supporting figures gain more personality. Tanders, Alamander, and other recurring allies bring a mix of loyalty and friction, and new faces in guild and regional politics give Charles fresh counterparts during negotiations. Villagers still receive less page time than leadership figures, yet several key individuals step forward enough to make policy decisions feel personal rather than abstract. Antagonistic forces lean more on pressure and constraints than cartoon villain speeches, which fits the economic focus of the saga.
Karevik continues with straightforward prose centered around systems, resources, and decision trees rather than lush description. The tone stays practical and analytic, which suits an MC who thinks in spreadsheets, and the author layers in more humor, frustration, and fatigue as pressure climbs. Stat windows and mechanical detail appear regularly, though they feel more like live dashboards during high-stress planning than like early tutorials.
Pacing feels tighter than in the first book and roughly on par with the second. Once the new strip of land comes into play, crises stack quickly: supply issues, external threats, guild problems, and village politics often overlap. Readers who enjoy crunchy city builder sequences and negotiation scenes will fly through chapters, while anyone who wants frequent physical combat or constant exploration will likely find stretches that move slower than expected.
What I Liked
I loved the way this sequel leans even harder into infrastructure puzzles. Watching Charles juggle production chains, construction priorities, and the needs of two settlements scratches the same itch as a long night with Civilization or a city builder PC session. New territory and the Hall of Heroes objective provide clear medium-term goals, and the search for rare artifacts adds treasure-hunt energy without turning the book into a pure dungeon crawl.
The series also benefits from higher stakes. Near-annihilation from previous events still looms in character memories, and several plot threads remind readers that failure would cost lives, not simply Happiness percentage. Combined with strong audiobook narration by Neil Hellegers, the whole package works well for binge listening or long reading sessions.
What I Disliked
Some of the same weaknesses from earlier volumes remain. Side characters still trail behind systems and plot in depth, so emotional beats around friendship, romance, or loss land softer than they might with fuller arcs. Certain challenges resolve through a smart conversation and a clever trade rather than extended struggle, which occasionally lowers tension during moments that look dire at first glance. Readers who already felt that Charles rarely faces lasting failure will notice that pattern again, even with higher overall pressure this time.
Recommendation
CivCEO 3 delivers a strong middle entry for readers who enjoy LitRPG that treats economics and logistics as the main battleground. Goodreads ratings for this volume, along with Storytel scores, suggest that fans view this as one of Andrew Karevik’s more successful sequels, and my own reading experience matches that view.
I recommend this book for progression fantasy readers with a soft spot for 4X strategy, management sims, and older protagonists who solve problems with negotiation and planning instead of solo sword duels. Newcomers should start with the first CivCEO volume, since the series builds both mechanics and relationships step by step. Readers who bounced off book one or two due to heavy stats, low physical action, or a perception of low stakes will likely keep those same reservations here, so adjust your TBR priorities accordingly.
• Expansion, scarcity, and long-term planning
Karevik leans hard into the headache of running not one village but two interconnected settlements. The new territory sits near the sea yet falls short of the shoreline, so no Seaport and no direct access to fish until further upgrades arrive, which leaves the outpost dependent on Tine for food and trade support.
• Responsibility, ethics, and leadership choices
Charles still uses spreadsheets, projections, and deals as main tools, yet the human cost of each decision shows up more clearly here. Pressure around food, safety, and fair treatment highlights tensions between efficiency and empathy, and the narrative keeps asking whether growth matters more than sustainable lives for villagers and workers.
• Loyalty, trust, and political pressure
Alliances from earlier books face new tests as rival leaders, mercantile interests, and guild politics close in on Charles’s projects. Some allies ask for stronger commitments, others question his priorities, and every new concession changes the balance inside Tine and around the new settlement. Stakes feel higher not because of a single war, but because several factions expect results at the same time.
Charles remains the core draw of the series. An older ex CEO with a heart condition, he approaches every challenge like a boardroom crisis, full of projections, negotiation, and contingency planning. Across this volume, that mindset bends in small but meaningful ways, especially when numbers conflict with the safety or morale of his people.
Supporting figures gain more personality. Tanders, Alamander, and other recurring allies bring a mix of loyalty and friction, and new faces in guild and regional politics give Charles fresh counterparts during negotiations. Villagers still receive less page time than leadership figures, yet several key individuals step forward enough to make policy decisions feel personal rather than abstract. Antagonistic forces lean more on pressure and constraints than cartoon villain speeches, which fits the economic focus of the saga.
Karevik continues with straightforward prose centered around systems, resources, and decision trees rather than lush description. The tone stays practical and analytic, which suits an MC who thinks in spreadsheets, and the author layers in more humor, frustration, and fatigue as pressure climbs. Stat windows and mechanical detail appear regularly, though they feel more like live dashboards during high-stress planning than like early tutorials.
Pacing feels tighter than in the first book and roughly on par with the second. Once the new strip of land comes into play, crises stack quickly: supply issues, external threats, guild problems, and village politics often overlap. Readers who enjoy crunchy city builder sequences and negotiation scenes will fly through chapters, while anyone who wants frequent physical combat or constant exploration will likely find stretches that move slower than expected.
What I Liked
I loved the way this sequel leans even harder into infrastructure puzzles. Watching Charles juggle production chains, construction priorities, and the needs of two settlements scratches the same itch as a long night with Civilization or a city builder PC session. New territory and the Hall of Heroes objective provide clear medium-term goals, and the search for rare artifacts adds treasure-hunt energy without turning the book into a pure dungeon crawl.
The series also benefits from higher stakes. Near-annihilation from previous events still looms in character memories, and several plot threads remind readers that failure would cost lives, not simply Happiness percentage. Combined with strong audiobook narration by Neil Hellegers, the whole package works well for binge listening or long reading sessions.
What I Disliked
Some of the same weaknesses from earlier volumes remain. Side characters still trail behind systems and plot in depth, so emotional beats around friendship, romance, or loss land softer than they might with fuller arcs. Certain challenges resolve through a smart conversation and a clever trade rather than extended struggle, which occasionally lowers tension during moments that look dire at first glance. Readers who already felt that Charles rarely faces lasting failure will notice that pattern again, even with higher overall pressure this time.
Recommendation
CivCEO 3 delivers a strong middle entry for readers who enjoy LitRPG that treats economics and logistics as the main battleground. Goodreads ratings for this volume, along with Storytel scores, suggest that fans view this as one of Andrew Karevik’s more successful sequels, and my own reading experience matches that view.
I recommend this book for progression fantasy readers with a soft spot for 4X strategy, management sims, and older protagonists who solve problems with negotiation and planning instead of solo sword duels. Newcomers should start with the first CivCEO volume, since the series builds both mechanics and relationships step by step. Readers who bounced off book one or two due to heavy stats, low physical action, or a perception of low stakes will likely keep those same reservations here, so adjust your TBR priorities accordingly.
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.
September 4, 2020
Really awesome all around!!
This book has just gotten better and better. The way the author has elevated the conflict with the trades and also avoided the mc becoming to op has been amazing there is a lot of creative ideas as well with a touch of a Alice in wonderland vibe really loving this series.
This book has just gotten better and better. The way the author has elevated the conflict with the trades and also avoided the mc becoming to op has been amazing there is a lot of creative ideas as well with a touch of a Alice in wonderland vibe really loving this series.
September 13, 2021
Quite an enjoyable book and series, with a focus on growing the community and wealth, rather than slaying foes. New cultures are introduced as well as many new issues to be solved. I'm very happy with the main character and some of the side characters. His risk taking is integral to the story and well presented. An excellent change of pace from other LitRPG novels.
January 29, 2023
Entertaining Read
Charles is putting together a trading company made up of his allies with the intent to trade with a great city on another continent. The projected profits are great. Bumps in the road occur as slavery rears it's head. I like the action, humor, and intrigue. I look forward to the next book.
Charles is putting together a trading company made up of his allies with the intent to trade with a great city on another continent. The projected profits are great. Bumps in the road occur as slavery rears it's head. I like the action, humor, and intrigue. I look forward to the next book.
October 20, 2023
By this book, the MC is going completely off the rails. Sometimes he's super pro assassination, sometimes he won't kill a random enemy. Sometimes he does idiot heroics, sometimes he claims he can't because it's a bad idea. Sometimes he hates crime, sometimes he sponsors it. He's less a main character and more a random number generator deciding his principles for that day.
January 28, 2025
Interesting piece of the series. I like the building, I also like the new trading partners, all very amusing, and Charles just keeps digging himself a larger hole, though certainly he's doing so with style. It's a bit mundane, but the story is worth reading, and I'll likely read more in this series.
December 30, 2025
This time we change tactics and although this is still so about trade, I love the new direction. The series continues to be fun and entertaining as Charles negotiates his way to ruling the world. I am glad I picked up this series and look forward to book 4.
Joseph McKnight
http://www.josephmcknight.com
Joseph McKnight
http://www.josephmcknight.com
June 16, 2020
I really lucked out here
Didn't realize books 3 & 4 had been released so now I get to read lots of CivCEO goodness. Really loving the expansion, exploration and looking forward to some tradie beat down that's probably not too far on the horizon.
Didn't realize books 3 & 4 had been released so now I get to read lots of CivCEO goodness. Really loving the expansion, exploration and looking forward to some tradie beat down that's probably not too far on the horizon.
August 4, 2020
Trading far and wide
Welp, good 'ole Charles can't stay put. He's always got to be up to something, and this time it stretches across the ocean. Fascinating and fun, I'm really starting to enjoy the worldbuilding in this series. Looking forward to the next book!
Welp, good 'ole Charles can't stay put. He's always got to be up to something, and this time it stretches across the ocean. Fascinating and fun, I'm really starting to enjoy the worldbuilding in this series. Looking forward to the next book!
September 10, 2021
This series has quickly become my favourite of all written franchises. The consideration and care put in to the exchanges and the slow but oh so steady world-building. As an Economics and Isekai fan (a very small intersection, I'm sure), it feels like this series was crafted just to appeal to me.
October 3, 2021
Excellent!
Good story, I like the plot. The characters are mostly believable, even the wise goats and the trading bunnies. The ending is a zinger, maybe changing the story. Who wants to irritate a dragon?
Good story, I like the plot. The characters are mostly believable, even the wise goats and the trading bunnies. The ending is a zinger, maybe changing the story. Who wants to irritate a dragon?
February 29, 2024
It was a little odd that the main conflict of the book was essentially wrapped up by the 60% mark but I guess I can appreciate the author going with that instead of needlessly stretching it out for the entire page count.
April 17, 2024
Great expansion of his trade union
Not really a union, just sort of trade allies, but he take great advantage of new information: new continents to trade with. Everything works out amazingly smoothly, plus a great surprise ending.
Not really a union, just sort of trade allies, but he take great advantage of new information: new continents to trade with. Everything works out amazingly smoothly, plus a great surprise ending.
May 6, 2024
A total blast.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It was fun and entertaining. The story and characters were incredibly interesting and engaging. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next. This book is definitely worth checking out.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It was fun and entertaining. The story and characters were incredibly interesting and engaging. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next. This book is definitely worth checking out.
April 15, 2020
Another winner. We saw a bit of character development on Charles' side and some new trade! I liked his choices too! I'm looking forward to book 4.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews