Our Werewolves Are Different: The Wolf King is a Talking Animal who has learned to take human guise as he sees fit.Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Nice job, Jack, May, and Phillip, for releasing the Wicked Queen back into the world with her minions.Actually subverted with Malevolent, as that is not her real name, but a pseudonym forced on her by her fellow fairy queens when she was exiled.

Most notably The Black Forest and Malevolent. Names to Run Away from Really Fast: A few.May is able to use a knife to cut herself free of her bonds and escape the closet she's locked in, and she and Jack are able to escape the house with the witch's broom. Locking MacGyver in the Store Cupboard: Occurs twice in the candy house segment.Kiss of Life: Overlapping with Dude, She's Like in a Coma, Jack does not want to try this with an unconscious May at his grandfathers persistence.It Was a Gift: Jack's sword, given to him while he was in the mouth of a giant.I'm a Humanitarian: Many of the monsters, especially the witch and the giant that Jack and May run afoul of.Gingerbread House: Jack and May find themselves in one after fleeing The Huntsman.It seems a bit empathic, as it seems to prefer May to Jack. Flying Broomstick: Jack and May steal one from a Witch.Failure Hero: In one way or another, Jack keeps finding ways to fail.Fate Worse than Death: May's grandmother informs Jack that if he miscasts a spell, one of the possible consequences is that he will cease to exist.Falling into the Plot: The plot is kicked off when May falls out of the sky and lands roughly in front of Jack.Fairy Tale Free-for-All: Several classic fairy tale characters appear in supporting roles.Fairy Godmother: Merriweather, to both Phillip and May.Jack is frequently mistrusted just for carrying one. Evil Weapon: What everyone assumes about the swords of The Eyes.Even Evil Has Standards: Despite having a serious grudge against Malevolent, The Wolf King refuses to slaughter her when she's rendered helpless by Jack's bridle, and so he frees her instead.Even Evil Has Loved Ones: The Wicked Queen still clearly cares for May, in her own way.Downer Ending: The first novel ends with May learning that her Grandmother is actually the Wicked Queen, and that she, Jack, and Phillip have just unwittingly unleashed her on the world.May is particularly snarky until she trades her sarcasm to an imp in exchange for Jack's safety. Deadpan Snarker: Jack and May have their moments.Chekhov's Gun: The magic bridle, a magic bean that once belonged to Jack's father, and an enchanted knife taken from a witch's cabin.Break the Cutie: Sorry, May, but your Grandmother is the Wicked Queen.Jack: I should be able to just stick out my arms, and have a princess fall right into them!

Half upon a time