Brice Mbonde wins NYC Big Book Award honor for Sower, Gon’s Infinity

By AI, Created 8:41 AM UTC, June 03, 2026, /AGP/ – Liverpool YA fantasy author Brice Mbonde traveled to New York to accept a Distinguished Favorite honor at the NYC Big Book Award dinner for Sower, Gon’s Infinity. The recognition boosts the profile of his Sower saga as the second book builds on strong reviews and expands his audience in high fantasy.

Why it matters: - The NYC Big Book Award honor gives Brice Mbonde added visibility in a crowded young adult fantasy market. - The recognition helps position the Sower saga as a rising franchise with commercial and critical momentum. - The award also strengthens the profile of Hasmark Publishing’s fantasy catalog.

What happened: - Brice Mbonde attended the NYC Big Book Award dinner and ceremony in New York this past month. - Mbonde accepted a Distinguished Favorite award in the Young Adult Fiction category for Sower, Gon’s Infinity. - The Liverpool-based author traveled to the United States to walk the red carpet and receive the honor on stage.

The details: - The NYC Big Book Award is an international competition judged by publishers, writers, editors and librarians. - Sower, Gon’s Infinity is published by Hasmark Publishing. - Printed Word Reviews called the novel a “bigger, bolder” sequel that raises the stakes of the series. - The review said the book blends multiple mythological traditions into a high-fantasy setting. - The review also said the story keeps its focus on inner peace even as the plot expands with artifacts and ancient rivalries. - The novel follows Apollon Sower as he moves from hunted orphan to a central figure in a global struggle against cosmic threats and internal darkness. - Dr. Zoe Lambert described the book as an exciting second installment about the demi-god Apollon Sower and praised its rich fantasy world. - Judy O’Beirn said the book follows a young orphan and his friends as they solve a mystery and find objects needed to survive death and destruction. - Printed Word Reviews also praised Mbonde’s debut, Apollon Sower and the Ensorcelled Scroll, as a “triumphant start” to the Sower Saga. - The debut was highlighted for combining classic chosen-one themes with a high-stakes magical system.

Between the lines: - The award and the reviews point to a pattern: Mbonde is building both critical credibility and series momentum. - The strongest response has centered on world-building, mythology and emotional stakes, which are key selling points in YA fantasy. - The back-to-back attention on the first two books suggests the series is gaining a clearer identity for readers and booksellers.

What’s next: - Both Sower, Gon’s Infinity and Apollon Sower and the Ensorcelled Scroll are available now through major online retailers and bookstores. - Mbonde is likely to keep leveraging the award recognition as he grows the audience for the Sower saga. - More information and full reviews are available at Printed Word Reviews.