@cheezedoodle  
No. That is not headcanon, which is an explanation for why something happens in a story which is left without an actual explanation. That was an expectation. After all, she is the main character in this story. I did expect something more from a character that barely exists in the show anymore and is constantly screwed up for the sake of lazy writing. All that we got from this book (not even that if you would agree with me) is what we are already supposed to know about the character. And even them, I don’t think we actually saw Celestia actively doing something in the show except making bad decisions or getting beaten by other foes.
 
The problem is that there is a difference between what the author wanted to do with the story and what she ended up doing. And I’m not going to repeat myself because I just came out of a conversation turned sour about this same subject and I really don’t want to get into another. Sorry.
 
Look, I’ll admit, with gusto, that the intended message is very beautiful and that, having Celestia as my favorite character since the first episode I watched, I’d love to see that, but the execution was lacking. This is, of course, my opinion, but I thought that goes without saying.
 
I stand by what I said. I’ll admit that I could have been more careful, but not that I was wrong or that I’m responsible for what other people do with my comments.

@moonlightaveger  
Your headcanon is the idea that she must solve problems by taking direct action. The show has demonstrated she only takes direct action as a last resort (Nightmare Moon, parasprite infestation, Tirek). She prefers to guide others into making the correct decision or solving the problem themselves, as has been demonstrated numerous times. The benefactors of her guidance usually end up learning something about themselves or others in the process and end up stronger for it. Some people may interpret that as “doing nothing” but I believe that’s an unfair assessment.
 
“Solved a problem that wasn’t a problem to begin with”
 
The problem was her friend was essentially suffering from depression imposed by her own perceived failings. Celestia helped to lift her out of it.
 
And you may not have claimed it was bad, but your interpretation immediately sent two other folks off into rants.

@cheezedoodle  
By the way, what part of what I said invoked my headcanon?

@cheezedoodle  
The problem in this book is exactly what I said. You are the one seeing what you want to see. Specially when they tell me that Celestia solved a problem that wasn’t a problem to begin with and expect me to think that she is great for doing that. You can’t say someone is a good teacher by doing what a bad teacher isn’t doing. I never said that the book is bad. At worst I said that it’s not great.
 
And I’m tired of people accusing me of complaining that Celestia doesn’t fit my headcanon when she doesn’t have a character to speak of to begin with. But if she is ever going to have a character, I want it done with some respect to the character. If I’m to believe that she is a great teacher, show me that she is a good teacher.

@moonlightaveger  
You’re only seeing what you want to see.  
||  
Celestia is helping everyone in the story–Diamond Waves and her students–grasp their true potential. She’s a guiding hand just as she’s been for twilight at every turn. Self-confidence was just as important in this case. Everyone had the knowledge they needed, but lacked faith in themselves and each other. That lack of faith is what sent Di into her fatalistic depression and gave the students performance anxiety.
 
Celestia helped restore that faith, the key they all needed to succeed. All Luna did was provide the assist (And even then, it was indirect support).  
||  
Now if you put no value into building the confidence of others that’s your perogative. Just don’t try to tell others this is a bad story because it doesn’t fit your headcanon of Celestia.

@cheezedoodle  
That is not what I said. The problem is that Celestia never does anything. Luna does and it’s not even exactly shown because this IS Celestia’s story. It’s like in the cartoon. People talk about Celestia, but she never actually does anything. Celestia didn’t really teach either: she helped the students actualize what they already learned.
 
The whole problem is that we are being told that Celestia is a great teacher when the problem is actually that Diamond Waves was being a bad teacher. It doesn’t say “Celestia is awesome”. It says “Diamond Waves is a bad teacher.
 
Imagine the riots if Luna was treated the same way…

@Jerkface
 
@moonlightaveger
 
@ARchy4288
 
I don’t know where you get the idea that Luna dominates the story or renders Celestia useless. She doesn’t at all. This is 90% a Celestia story; Luna just provides assistance to the execution of Celestia’s plan to solve her friend’s problems.
 
It’s quite good, and gives some insight into how Celestia goes about teaching at her own school.

@ARchy4288  
Winky frown?

“On her next adventure, Princess Celestia helps Princess Nikki Grahme resolve the air con.”

@moonlightaveger  
;(

If anyone asked me, I’d say that this was another opprtunity to give Celestia some meaningful ability, like Luna’s dreamwalk.
 
There may be something…  
Since Celestia casts a spell that lifts Diamond Waves’s spirits, but it’s too quick and nothing like Luna’s and Cadance’s abilities in presentation.

@moonlightaveger  
It’s what every other writer does and they do nothing but make her seem useless weak whiny or stupid and make her he cause for the entire conflict. The villains in this show get both better screen time and more love from the show staff and fandom. ;(

Oh, I should say that Celestia’s fans MIGHT like that this book gives a little nod towards Celestia’s special talent shown in The Diary of the Two Sisters. And there is a beautiful scene where she is raising the sun.

@Jerkface
 
It seems to be the twilight sparkle and pander to the popular fandom show now. ;(
 
And since celestia is probably the most hated character in the fandom. Well… Her fans get nothing but heartbreak and disappointment. ;(
 
You know? :(

@ARchy4288  
I wouldn’t say “bashing” and “portrayed as useless”. These words seem too strong. I get the feeling that Berrow was trying to show Celestia as a cool headed pony, with a talent for teaching and understanding the situation with an outsider’s perspective, but it kinda falls flat because you never see her do anything and the problem is that another pony was being stupid. She does understand what is the problem and does know how to solve it, but all she really does is give a little nudge here and there to get things to solve themselves. It would be perfect if she wasn’t the main character in the story.

@moonlightaveger  
What a fucking cop out.
 
@ARchy4288  
I like you.  
Luna is good, but overrated.  
Cadance gets next to no attention.  
Celestia’s shoved aside way too often.  
Why can’t we have equal princess love?

To hell with these celestia bashing writers and this celestia hating fandom.

@moonlightaveger  
So more celestia bashing/portraying her as useless bullshit while focusing on other characters and snubbing her. Great. They really hate celestia and her fans and this stupid book does nothing but reinforce that idea.

It’s a cute story. You should read if you have the spare money and the time.  
Spoiler… Don’t read it if you want to read the book…
 
|| Actually, Luna ends up doing more than Celestia even if she barely appears in the book. Typical “Celestia” story with us being told how awesome she is, actually doing nothing and having her thunder stolen by the fact that Diamond Waves was actually a bad teacher. But you get what you pay for.||

@Jerkface  
Yeah, all of the books are written at like…a 2nd/3rd grade level.

I don’t bother with these books.  
Premise is meh.

Aw, no surfing?

This is a hardcover, btw.
 
If there’s any interesting information I’ll update this post later tonight.