In that case, your feet may be expecting your shoes to support you in a different way, and the blistering may decrease as you adapt to the new shoes. I'm not certain about achilles blisters, though I could see your heel possibly rubbing one side of the shoe if you're attempting to rely on more support/stiffer insole that's not there. If you were moving to a more supportive shoe its not uncommon to get blisters on the instep, for an opposite example. I'd give them a few more tries with some adaptations.

Forgot about the lacing, Wahine! Mine have been that way so long it didn't even come to mind. Good catch

(Or, it could just be the shoes. I've had one pair of Nikes, ever, and while I did everything I could to make them work, their heels just don't fit me. Sock-eaters.)