Temptation

Pascalle, a shy girl with an unusual male name, lives in a small seaside town where traditions put enormous pressure on her. She’s forced to follow prescribed norms: get married, take care of her parents in old age, and obey rules that are alien to her. This town, steeped in superstition, seems to smother her will and won’t let her go.

Everything changes with the arrival of a Singer—a woman full of freedom and charisma, clearly different from the locals. She offers Pascalle as a wedding gift a trip.

Where will this unusual friendship lead? Will Pascalle find herself and free herself from suffocating obligations?

The novel “The Artifice” was included in the long list of the “Licey” Prize in 2023.

The audiobook is a multi-voice dramatization, where each character sounds unique. The author, Darya Promch, voiced one of the main heroines. Among the recording participants: Katya Lann, Elena Vener skaya, Ilya Dementyev, Aleksey Tsoy, and Elena Ponedelina. The story is accompanied by original music, adding a cinematic effect.