Yay, more chapters.
So I just finished reading Part 1.
I like that you brought back Vivenna, although it took me a bit to remember who she was. I was thinking about this, and I think part of this was because it has been a lot of chapters since we've last seen her. Along those lines I was trying to thinking when a better point would be to bring her back into the story. Speculatively, between what is now chapters 7 and 8 would be a great place to put your current chapter 12. Mostly because I love a good cliffhanger (even if they do keep you reading much longer than you have time to read).
Just a thought.
And while I'm thinking about it I have some questions about your setting. Where are these people get all their colorful clothing and other items? Before 1856 and the first chemical dyes, people had to rely on natural pgments that are short lived and difficult to manufacture. Natural pigments are typically less intense than chemical pigments. Natural piments also have a much, much smaller spectrum of hues than chemical pigments. So, assuming they don't have some mystical way of producing intensely hued dyes, who is making all these colors? They probably are exrtemely wealthy, conisdering the cultural importance, and they probably are oppressing hundred (thousands) of people (serfs, slaves, whatever) to maintain their pigment empire.
Just thinking a bit. I'll try not to do that so much.